On October 8, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a proposed rule creating new fees for colleges and universities recommending F-1 students for Optional Practical Training.

The proposed rule is currently not in effect, and OPT application fees remain unchanged. At this time, the Department of Homeland Security is accepting public comments on this proposed rule. All comments must be submitted by November 9, 2026.  DHS is required to then review the comments before publishing a final version of the rule. The rule would go into effect 60 days after it is published, and the fee(s) would apply only to those applications filed on or after the effective date.

What’s Being Proposed?

The proposed rule requires schools to pay the following fees prior to issuing a Form I-20 to a student for pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT, and the STEM Extension of OPT. 

• A $70,000 fee will apply to the initial OPT recommendation (either pre- or post-completion OPT)
• A $30,000 fee will apply for any additional OPT recommendations after the first recommendation (e.g., for post-completion OPT and/or the STEM Extension of OPT)

While the school recommending the OPT would be responsible for paying the fee, DHS indicates that these costs may be passed on to the student and/or to employers.

Public Comment Period

The Department of Homeland Security is accepting comments on the proposed rule from the public through November 9, 2026. Any individual or organization may comment, and comments may also be made anonymously. 

Contact Us

ISSS is actively engaged in assessing the impact of the proposed rule. We will strive to bring additional information to the Brown community as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us at isss@brown.edu and put “OPT Fee Rule” in the subject line. You may also contact your ISSS advisor with any questions.