Tag: International

New Price Tag on OPT: Proposed $70,000 Fee and What It Means for Institutions

Vanessa Agudelo, Kate Lee Carey and Shannon Noonan On October 8, 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would impose substantial new fees on schools that recommend F-1 students for optional practical training (OPT). Under the proposal, a school would owe $70,000 for a student’s first OPT recommendation and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT recommendation for that same student, including a STEM OPT extension. The rule is not final, and institutions, employers and students that rely on OPT should understand what is being proposed, seriously consider submitting a comment and start planning now in case it is adopted. Comments are due by November 9, 2026, and can be submitted at the link above.

DHS Ends Student Visa ‘Duration of Status’ – Key Changes and How Universities Can Prepare

Vanessa Agudelo, Kate Lee Carey and Shannon Noonan

On July 17, 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule that eliminates the long-standing practice of Duration of Status (D/S) and replaces it with a fixed period of admission for F and J visa holders. The rule, which takes effect September 15, 2026, will impact hundreds of thousands of F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, their dependents, and the institutions and employers that support them. Institutions need to be prepared to assist students and handle the new administrative demands. Here is what schools need to know and what they should be doing right now.