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Nigerian Students Face Fresh Hurdle as US Proposes $70,000 OPT Fee
Nigerian Students Face Fresh Hurdle as US Proposes $70,000 OPT Fee
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The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 fee for each international student entering the OPT programme for the first time.
A further $30,000 fee has been proposed for subsequent OPT participation, potentially increasing costs for institutions supporting foreign graduates.
OPT allows eligible F-1 students to gain work experience related to their studies, while qualifying STEM graduates can receive an additional 24 months.
Channel
The proposal is not yet a requirement and remains open to public comments, with higher education groups expected to scrutinise the plan.
October 08, () – Nigerian students and other international graduates in the United States could face a fresh hurdle in securing post-graduation work opportunities following a proposal by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to impose a $70,000 fee on participation in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme.
Under the proposed rule, a $70,000 fee would apply to each student’s initial participation in OPT, while a $30,000 fee would be imposed for subsequent participation or renewal.
The proposed charges form part of measures by the US government to tighten oversight of the international student immigration system and address what DHS described as fraud and abuse associated with the OPT programme.
Although the proposal could have significant implications for Nigerian students studying in the United States, the proposed $70,000 charge would not be paid directly by students under the arrangement outlined by DHS.
The fees would be imposed on eligible educational institutions participating in the programme.
However, the scale of the proposed charges could still affect international students if universities reassess their willingness or ability to support OPT participation because of the additional financial burden.
OPT is a work authorisation programme available to eligible F-1 international students. It allows graduates to obtain temporary employment related to their academic field after completing their studies in the US.
Generally, eligible students can receive up to 12 months of OPT. Graduates in qualifying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines may qualify for an additional 24-month extension, giving them up to 36 months of post-completion practical training.
The programme has become an important pathway for international graduates seeking to gain professional experience in the US after completing their studies.
For Nigerian students, who constitute a significant portion of the African international student population in the United States, any restriction or additional institutional cost surrounding OPT could affect decisions about studying in the country and pursuing post-graduation employment there.
DHS said the proposed fees are intended to strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, combat fraud, and ensure that the OPT programme does not undermine employment opportunities for US workers.
The proposal is part of the broader Trump administration’s efforts to tighten immigration controls and increase scrutiny of foreign students and workers in the United States.
The move has, however, raised concerns within the higher education sector, with institutions and education stakeholders likely to examine the potential consequences of imposing such a substantial fee on universities for supporting international graduates.
Speaking on Thursday in Port Harcourt, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Port Harcourt, told that the proposed cost may discourage educational institutions from facilitating OPT participation and could make US universities less attractive to international students who depend on post-graduation work experience.
For international students, the concern extends beyond the financial implication. OPT often provides graduates with an opportunity to transition from academic study into professional employment and, in some cases, explore longer-term employment-based immigration options.
A reduction in access to OPT could therefore have wider implications for students who have invested substantial sums in US education with the expectation of obtaining practical work experience after graduation.
DHS has not yet made the proposed fees mandatory. The measure is currently at the proposal stage and is subject to a public comment process before the department decides whether to issue a final rule.
This means Nigerian students currently studying in the US should not assume that they are immediately required to pay $70,000 to obtain OPT.
If the proposal is eventually approved, however, universities would have to contend with the new financial obligations, potentially influencing how institutions handle applications from international graduates seeking practical training.
Background
The Optional Practical Training programme is administered under the US F-1 student visa system and allows eligible international students to obtain temporary employment directly related to their fields of study.
Students generally qualify for up to 12 months of OPT, while those who graduate from qualifying STEM programmes can receive a further 24-month extension.
The programme has long been a major consideration for international students choosing US universities because it provides an opportunity to obtain professional experience after graduation.
The proposed $70,000 initial fee and $30,000 subsequent fee represent a significant potential change to the cost structure surrounding the programme.
DHS says the proposal is aimed at protecting the integrity of the immigration system and US workers, but its potential impact on universities and international graduates is expected to remain a major issue during the public consultation process.
Until DHS completes that process and issues a final decision, the proposed charges remain unfinalised and are not currently a mandatory $70,000 payment for Nigerian students.
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