The Trump administration is considering a proposal that could significantly increase the cost of working in the United States after graduation for international students. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the administration is weighing a $100,000 fee for students seeking work authorisation under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme.
The proposal has not been approved or implemented, and several details including who would pay the fee and when it could come into effect remain unclear. Even so, it has raised concerns among international students, particularly Indians, for whom OPT has long been one of the biggest advantages of studying in the US.
