Trump Administration Considers $100,000 Fee for International Students Seeking U.S. Employment

The Trump Administration has announced that it is considering a plan to impose a $100,000 (approximately 140 million won) fee on foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities and seek employment locally. This proposal is fueling controversy, as it is expected to heavily impact both the millions of international students residing in the United States and the hiring practices of American companies.

The Associated Press and Yonhap News Agency

On July 30 (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources, reported that a plan is under review to impose a fee on the use of Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows foreign university graduates on student visas to work in the U.S. for one to three years. In 2024, the number of foreign nationals working through OPT reached approximately 419,000.

According to WSJ, if implemented, this measure would further intensify President Trump's policies aimed at restricting nearly all forms of legal immigration. In particular, it is expected to significantly affect not only universities that rely on attracting foreign students as a stable source of income, but also major companies in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street, which have actively recruited foreign graduates to secure technical talent.

The Trump Administration previously attempted to impose a $100,000 fee on the H-1B visa, commonly referred to as a professional work visa. However, this effort was halted after the Boston federal appellate court intervened. As a result, the administration is now turning to OPT as the next avenue for its proposal. WSJ also noted that the fee for the H-1B visa ended up applying only to foreign hires recruited from outside the U.S. due to industry backlash, meaning major companies in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street were relatively less affected. Since these companies typically hire international students and then transition their student visas to H-1B visas, this new fee directly targets them through OPT.

Sources stated that the proposed fee is still under review by the Department of Homeland Security, and it remains uncertain whether the White House will ultimately approve it. It has not yet been decided whether the cost burden will fall on the foreign student, the university, or the employer.

It is also reported that this fee will likely be added to the student visa extension procedures announced by the Trump Administration earlier this month. Under the new requirements, foreign students seeking to use OPT would need to submit a separate application for visa extension. Previously, the student visa remained automatically valid throughout the study period and for up to three years of employment authorization after graduation.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is also working on a comprehensive overhaul of OPT regulations, with the revised rules expected to be released as early as this fall. OPT is considered one of the core programs attracting international students to the United States. Supporters of the program argue that ending OPT would force the majority of international graduates to leave the country immediately after graduation, resulting in an outflow of skills and expertise gained at U.S. universities. On the other hand, immigration restriction advocates have long called for stricter regulation of OPT, arguing that companies hire international graduates right after graduation and pay them lower salaries than American graduates without any mechanism to prevent this.

Meanwhile, the Trump Administration is also reviewing a plan to require a $100,000 security deposit from individuals applying for U.S. permanent residency from abroad, in addition to the measures involving the H-1B visa and OPT. This deposit would only be refunded after the applicant immigrates to the United States and obtains citizenship.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.