Trump administration proposes $70,000 fee for international students seeking work visas

The Trump administration has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students who want to work in the U.S. after graduation, marking a significant policy shift targeting foreign scholars, PBS NewsHour reported.

This fee is part of broader measures by the administration that have increased visa vetting, terminated legal statuses for thousands of students, and imposed limits on student visa durations, according to PBS NewsHour.

Additional restrictions and fee increases have been applied to H-1B employment visas, which many international students depend on to remain in the U.S. post-graduation, PBS NewsHour noted.

Experts cited by PBS NewsHour say these policies aim to reduce the foreign-born population in the U.S. and have already negatively impacted international student enrollment and university revenues, with a projected drop of 111,000 students and up to $3.4 billion in lost revenue in 2026.

The Department of Homeland Security justified the proposed fee in a rule published on October 8, requiring universities to pay the fee for each international student seeking work authorization after graduation, PBS NewsHour reported.