Proposed $70,000 OPT Fee: What Kenyan Students in the USA Need to Know
A proposed U.S. immigration rule could dramatically increase the cost of practical training for international students, raising concerns for Kenyan students, their families and universities. However, the proposed fees are not currently in effect.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed requiring certified educational institutions to pay $70,000 before recommending an international student for initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) and $30,000 for subsequent OPT recommendations. Published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2026, the proposal is open for public comments through November 9, 2026.
For the Kenyan diaspora, the announcement raises an important question: could gaining professional experience after studying in America become financially out of reach?
What Is OPT, and Why Does It Matter?
Optional Practical Training allows eligible international students holding F-1 status to gain temporary work experience related to their academic studies.
Students generally qualify for up to 12 months of OPT. Eligible graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics can obtain a further 24-month STEM OPT extension, potentially providing three years of practical experience.
For a Kenyan graduate, this opportunity can help turn classroom learning into professional skills. An engineering graduate might gain experience on infrastructure projects, while a computer science graduate could develop software alongside experienced colleagues.
That experience can strengthen a graduate’s career prospects, whether they eventually return to Kenya or pursue another lawful opportunity abroad. It also helps explain why the proposed OPT fee has attracted attention beyond university campuses.
Who Would Pay the Proposed Fees?
The proposal places the payment obligation on Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified schools, rather than directly billing students.
However, that distinction does not necessarily protect students from the financial burden. Yale University’s international student office explains that DHS allows schools to source the money from international students, employers or the wider student population.
For Kenyan families, the practical concern is therefore who would ultimately absorb the cost. A university might seek employer support, establish its own funding arrangements or require a student contribution.
Those possibilities should not be presented as settled university policies. Families would need clear information from the institution concerned before making financial commitments.
The Proposal Covers More Than Post-Graduation OPT
Describing the measure only as a fee for working after graduation misses an important detail.
The proposed charges would apply to recommendations for different types of OPT, including pre-completion training, post-completion training and STEM extensions. The trigger would be the school’s OPT recommendation, rather than simply a change of employer.
An initial recommendation followed by a later qualifying recommendation could therefore involve $100,000 in proposed fees. That figure represents two separate charges; it is not a universal annual fee for every international student.
This distinction matters when students compare headlines with their individual circumstances.
Is the $70,000 OPT Fee Already in Effect?
No. As of October 8, 2026, the measure remains a proposed rule.
Yale states that existing OPT and STEM OPT rules and fees remain in effect and that its office continues processing recommendations normally. It also notes that a final rule would need a future effective date, and that whether or when DHS will finalize the proposal remains unknown.
The public comment deadline should therefore not be confused with an implementation date.
Kenyan students should also avoid assuming that the announcement automatically cancels an existing work authorization. Questions about a pending application, upcoming graduation or future STEM extension require attention to the student’s actual timeline and any eventual final regulation.
Why DHS Says the Fees Are Necessary
DHS describes the proposal as an effort to address fraud, strengthen immigration oversight and protect American workers.
In its explanation, the department cites an investigation involving more than 10,000 F-1 students reportedly associated with highly suspect employers. It describes concerns involving false employment claims, questionable worksites and missing employment records. These are the agency’s stated findings and justification for the proposal.
Such allegations should not be generalized to all international students. Kenyan graduates pursuing legitimate training should be discussed separately from the misconduct DHS says it is targeting.
Higher Education Concerns About the Proposal
NAFSA: Association of International Educators has opposed the proposed fee structure, warning that discouraging international talent could harm innovation, economic growth and workforce development. The organization says OPT provides valuable practical experience and supports employers in fields requiring specialized skills.
For universities, the proposal creates questions about affordability and recruitment. If prospective students believe practical training will carry an additional cost beyond their means, some could reconsider where they study.
For Kenyan families, this is a potential planning consequence rather than a confirmed outcome. The eventual effect would depend on the final regulation, institutional funding decisions and students’ responses.
Claims that domestic tuition will definitely rise should likewise be treated cautiously. A possible budget pressure does not establish that every university will increase its fees.
What Kenyan Students and Families Should Do Now
A useful next step is to request a written update from the university’s international student office.
Students can ask how the proposal might relate to their anticipated graduation date, whether the institution has issued guidance and where future updates will appear. Families considering U.S. study should distinguish confirmed education costs from possible future expenses.
Yale advises students against abrupt decisions about studies, travel or employment and encourages consultation with an international student adviser about individual timelines.
Kenyan diaspora organizations can also help by sharing dated, authoritative information and explaining the difference between a proposal and an enforceable requirement.
Public Comments Remain Open
Students, universities, employers and other interested parties can submit comments through Regulations.gov using Docket No. ICEB-2026-0100.
The official deadline for comments on the proposed rule is November 9, 2026.
For Kenyan students in the USA, the proposal deserves close attention. Its potential financial impact is substantial, but decisions should be guided by the final policy and reliable university advice—not by headlines suggesting the fees already apply.
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