Trump administration proposes $70,000 fee for Nigerian, other foreign students seeking US jobs
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking to work in the country, in the latest move by the Trump administration to tighten rules around…
The Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the United States for up to 12 months after graduation, with extensions of up to 24 months for those in STEM fields. For decades, it has served as a key pathway for foreign graduates, including thousands of Nigerians, to gain work experience in the US and often transition into longer-term employment visas such as the H-1B. The programme has been especially popular with Nigerian students pursuing postgraduate studies in STEM-related courses, given the limited job opportunities and economic pressures back home.
The proposed $70,000 fee marks the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration aimed at restricting pathways for foreign nationals to live and work in the US, following earlier moves to raise H-1B visa costs and tighten student visa vetting. If implemented, the fee could significantly reduce the number of international students able to afford work authorisation after graduation, disproportionately affecting students from countries like Nigeria where such sums are prohibitively high. Coverage so far has focused on the announcement itself, with details on implementation timelines, exemptions, and the formal rule-making process yet to be reported.