DHS Proposes High OPT Fees, PERM Suspensions, University Visa Fraud Probes
DHS proposed charging universities $70,000 for each F-1 student's first OPT work authorization and $30,000 for later OPT requests, with the fees applying only after the rule takes effect. The Trump administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and several other companies from the PERM labor certification program and opened investigations into alleged J-1 visa fraud at multiple major universities. The October Visa Bulletin showed movement in some employment-based categories but retrogression for certain Rest of World applicants, while a federal judge temporarily halted a policy affecting biometric collection from detained immigrants with pending applications.
EXPANDED:
DHS unveiled the OPT fee plan on October 7, 2026. Under the proposal, schools would owe $70,000 for a student’s first OPT recommendation and $30,000 for later ones. It would not apply retroactively, would not be employer-specific, and USCIS could not approve OPT until payment. DSOs could not enter recommendations in SEVIS before payment. Public comments close November 9, 2026; if finalized, DHS would delay implementation 60 days. Current OPT remains 12 months per degree level, with a possible 24-month STEM extension.
At an October 8, 2026 briefing, Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini were suspended from PERM. New and pending labor certification applications involving them would not proceed. He cited nearly three million foreign worker requests since 2009, more than 230,000 H-1B approvals, and over 100,000 permanent labor certifications. Separately, J-1 fraud inquiries target Pittsburgh, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Brown, UC Davis, Caltech, Arizona State, and MIT. The October Visa Bulletin advanced many categories but retrogressed some employment-based Rest of World dates. A judge temporarily blocked a biometric-collection policy for detained applicants.
Count? First paragraph: DHS(1) unveiled2 the3 OPT4 fee5 plan6 on7 October8 7,9 2026.10 Under11 the12 proposal,13 schools14 would15 owe16 $70,00017 for18 a19 student’s20 first21 OPT22 recommendation23 and24 $30,00025 for26 later27 ones.28 It29 woul