US considers $100,000 fee for international students seeking residency

The administration of US President Donald Trump is currently reviewing the possibility of imposing a $100,000 fee on every international student wishing to reside and work in the country after completing their education. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, citing sources, the decision is still being discussed at the Department of Homeland Security level, meaning it remains unclear whether the White House will approve it.

It is also yet to be determined whether this fee would be paid directly by the international students or by their US-based employers. If implemented, the fee would be collected through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows international graduates from US universities to work on student visas for up to three years. The WSJ report noted that 419,000 international students were working in the US through this programme in 2024.

Such a move would have a significant impact on universities that rely on international students as a guaranteed source of revenue, as well as on Silicon Valley and Wall Street firms that frequently recruit foreign graduates for technology-related positions. Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security stated that US authorities would implement visa validity restrictions for foreign journalists, students, and exchange programme participants. Last month, The Washington Post reported that US campuses are beginning to face financial difficulties due to the declining number of international students resulting from the Trump administration’s increasingly strict immigration policies.