More than 17,000 Bangladeshi students are studying in the United States, but a Trump administration proposal to impose a $70,000 fee on international students seeking post-study work experience could sharply raise the cost of a US education.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed requiring students on F-1 visas to pay $70,000 for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows foreign graduates to gain work experience related to their studies.
The fee would be a steep increase from the roughly $500 students currently pay.
According to US State Department Open Doors data cited by the US Embassy in Dhaka, 17,099 Bangladeshi students were enrolled in US higher education institutions in the latest recorded academic year, up 26% year on year.
The rise has placed Bangladesh among the top 10 countries sending international students to the US, with graduate-level programmes accounting for a large share of enrolment.
Under the DHS proposal, F-1 students would have to pay $70,000 to a certified institution for on-the-job training under OPT. An additional work-training programme would cost $30,000, according to a government notice posted online on Wednesday.
DHS said the proposed rules were intended “to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers.”
“DHS is now setting a fee to ensure employers, students, and institutions are engaging in appropriate activities consistent with admission as an F-1 nonimmigrant,” the agency said.
Under the current system, international students can undertake work training for up to 20 hours a week while their academic programme is in session and receive a limited period of work authorisation after graduation.
Students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields can qualify for an additional period of OPT.
For many foreign students, OPT serves as a bridge between graduation and longer-term employment in the US. A $70,000 charge could therefore weigh heavily on decisions about whether to study and work there.
The potential burden would come on top of tuition, accommodation, health insurance, travel and other expenses already borne by Bangladeshi families.
OPT can also lead to employment under the H-1B visa programme, which allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialised occupations.
US technology companies have long relied on H-1B workers, while many engineers, scientists and other professionals have used the programme to move from US universities into employment and, in some cases, permanent residency.
The Trump administration has separately pursued higher fees and other restrictions on H-1B visas, adding further uncertainty for international students seeking a path into the US labour market.
The latest proposal also contrasts with a pledge Donald Trump made during the 2024 presidential campaign, when he said he wanted to make it easier for foreign graduates to remain in the US and suggested they could automatically receive a Green Card after completing their studies.
The proposed rule is expected to face legal challenges.
Doug Rand, director of the Talent Mobility Fund, which works to attract foreign STEM professionals, criticised the move on LinkedIn.
“This proposed rule isn’t going to fare well in the courts, just as the 100k H-1B fee and other restrictionist policies have been struck down,” Rand wrote on Wednesday.
The DHS proposal is not yet final. It will undergo a 30-day public comment period before the department can issue a final rule.
DHS said that, once finalised, it would wait another 60 days before putting the rule into effect, giving schools, students and employers time to prepare.
If implemented, the measure would turn OPT from a relatively modest administrative expense into a potentially prohibitive cost for many international students, including Bangladeshis.
