US Proposes $70,000 Fee for Colleges per International Student OPT Application
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 fee for colleges for each international student’s initial application to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, with a $30,000 fee for renewals. OPT allows foreign students to work in jobs related to their studies for up to one year post-graduation, with STEM graduates eligible for an additional two years. The proposal aims to address visa fraud but may impact universities reliant on international tuition and industries employing foreign graduates. Public comments are open for 60 days before finalization.
First-hand measurement across 8 sources
We measured how 8 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is negative (32/100). Lens Score 47/100.
Outlets measured: thefinancialexpress, thetribune, firstpost, indiatoday, indiatvnews, economictimes, moneycontrol, news18. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (28–45/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
news18 broke this story on 7 Oct, 03:31 pm. Other outlets followed.
