United States Department of Homeland Security don propose $70,000 fee for international students wey wan work inside the country. The move na latest one from Trump administration as e dey tighten rules around foreign students and immigration.
Under the proposed rule, schools go pay the fee for every international student wey join Optional Practical Training programme. OPT na programme wey allow eligible foreign students work for jobs wey relate to their field of study while dem still dey school or after graduation.
International students normally fit work for one year after dem finish their studies through OPT. But graduates for some science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields fit get extra two years.
The proposed fee go be $70,000 for each student initial OPT application and $30,000 for each renewal, according to report from AP News.
The policy fit affect Nigerian students and other international students wey rely on OPT to gain work experience inside United States after dem finish their studies.
American universities rely well well on international students, including those from Nigeria and other countries, for tuition revenue. Technology companies and other businesses also dey recruit international graduates for technical and specialised positions.
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, association wey dey represent international education, talk say OPT dey allow international students gain practical experience while e dey help employers fill labour shortages, especially for STEM fields.
Aw talk for written statement say: ‘Driving away the talents, perspectives, and aspirations of international students will only hurt American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership.’
But DHS talk say the proposed fee na to address wetin e call fraud and abuse inside the programme. The department describe OPT as ‘pipeline for cheap foreign labor.’
Public go get 60 days to submit comments on the proposal before DHS fit decide whether to finalise and implement the rule. The proposal fit still face legal challenges from higher education organisations and business groups, and that one fit delay how e go take start.
The proposed OPT fee na part of broader effort by Trump administration to tighten immigration rules and increase scrutiny of international students inside United States.
Last year, the administration terminate legal status of thousands of international students, and some of dem later dey detained or deported.
The administration also finalise one rule this summer wey seek to limit international students stay inside US to four years unless dem receive approval from federal government to remain longer.
Higher education leaders criticise the measure. Dem argue say e go create additional burdens for universities, and dem note say some degree programmes dey designed to last longer than four years. A federal court block the rule from taking effect in September.
Doug Rand, former senior adviser at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during Biden administration, predict say the proposed OPT fee go face legal challenges. He compare am with $100,000 fee wey dem impose on H-1B work visas, wey technology companies and universities dey use well well to recruit skilled workers.
Rand argue say high fees no be the solution. For email, e talk say: ‘When we educate international students at our universities, and they want to work and apply their talents here after graduating, of course we should embrace them — not use an exorbitant fee as a pretext to send them packing.’
