🇺🇸 The real cost of working in the US for foreign students just got a $70k markup That's the first Optional Practical Training card, the one that lets an F-1 student work in their field after school. An extension would be another $30K. STEM grads can currently add 24 months.

1 SOURCE CONFIRMED · FIRST SEEN 2026-10-08 02:30 UTC

KINDNews

DIRECTION▼ Bearish

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STORY SIZESTANDALONE

FIRST SEEN2026-10-08 02:30 UTC

LAST UPDATE2026-10-08 02:30 UTC

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01 THE MACHINE READ

WHY IT MATTERS.

Steep OPT fees could reduce foreign STEM labor supply, raising costs for tech and research employers.

Immigration fees raise skilled-labor costs

CATALYST TO WATCH

Final rule and employer response

MAIN RISK

Demand may be inelastic

FULL DISPATCH

🇺🇸 The real cost of working in the US for foreign students just got a $70k markup That's the first Optional Practical Training card, the one that lets an F-1 student work in their field after school. An extension would be another $30K. STEM grads can currently add 24 months. The agency says the program turned into a pipeline for cheap labor, with fake worksites and pay-to-stay setups. ICE has flagged more than 10,000 fraud cases in it. $500 is paperwork. $70K is the price of keeping the job. Companies that were hiring the cheap version just lost the discount. Source: Fox News / Writer: Lucas

02 THE STORY SO FAR