Career & Visa News
News and Openbound analysis on hiring, sponsorship and policy for international talent in the U.S.
7 news stories. Page 1 of 1.
Proposed new OPT fee would decimate the international talent pipeline
Zuzana Čeplá Wootson, deputy director of federal policy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, argues that proposed OPT fees would harm students, employers and US competitiveness.
News · Source: The PIE News · Source published
Proposed $70,000 OPT Fee: A Regulatory Change That Could Effectively Shut Down OPT for Many Students
The Department of Homeland Security is scheduled to publish a major proposed change to Optional Practical Training in the Federal Register tomorrow, October 8, 2026, U.S. time. The proposal would fundamentally change how F-1 students obtain OPT. Under the current system, an eligi
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Openbound updated
DHS Proposes $70,000 Fee for F-1 Student OPT Program
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a major change to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for F-1 international students. Under a proposed rule published on October 8, 2026, schools would be required to pay a $70,000 fee the first time an F-1 student
News · Source: Visa Lawyer Blog · Openbound updated
NewsFlash! DHS Proposes $70,000 Initial OPT Fee and $30,000 Fee for Subsequent OPT
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a proposed rule on October 7, 2026, that would require Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified schools to pay $70,000 before first recommending an F-1 student for optional practical training (OPT), and $30,000 before
News · Source: Murthy Law Firm · Openbound updated
Your Employee’s H-1B Change of Status Is Now in Effect: Next Steps for Employers
Compliance considerations for employers of new H-1B workers who changed status from F-1 OPT, STEM OPT, or another status For many employers, October 1 marked the day a new group of employees moved into H-1B status. Cap-subject petitions approved with a change of status took effec
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Openbound updated
OPT Delays in 2026: Why the 14-Month Rule Makes a Timely Decision Essential
If you are an F-1 student waiting on a post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) approval, or an employer waiting to onboard a recent graduate, you already know how stressful the wait can be. What many students and employers do not realize is that OPT is one of the few im
News · Source: Reddy Neumann Brown · Openbound updated
US: OPT fee proposal exposes divide in Indian applicants
Proposed OPT fees threaten the appeal of US study for Indian students relying on loans, but advisers report mixed responses among applicants.
News · Source: The PIE News · Openbound updated