WASHINGTON, Oct 7 — The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday proposed a new rule that would impose new fees for F-1 non-immigrant students seeking to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary employment authorisation connected to a student’s field of study, reported Xinhua.
The proposed rule would establish a US$70,000 (RM286,300) fee per F-1 non-immigrant student for initial OPT and a US$30,000 per F-1 non-immigrant student for any subsequent OPT, according to a statement on the department’s website.
DHS is proposing the fees “to combat fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers,” the statement said.
“Imposing this new fee structure on Optional Practical Training is the latest in a series of developments that creates deep uncertainty for international students,” NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, said in a statement.
