US proposes $70,000 OPT fee for foreign students

The United States government is considering a major increase in the cost of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposing a $70,000 fee for international students.
Under the proposed policy, educational institutions would be responsible for paying the charge for each foreign student taking part in OPT. The programme currently provides eligible international students with an opportunity to gain work experience in the US in areas connected to their studies.
The proposed fee would apply to initial OPT applications, while a renewal could attract a separate $30,000 charge, according to the Associated Press.
OPT ordinarily permit...