Recent US immigration reporting highlights a proposal for substantial Optional Practical Training (OPT) fees, continuing legal challenges involving the reported $100,000 H-1B fee, and expanded online-presence screening for certain visa applicants.
1. Proposed OPT Fees: $70,000 and $30,000
A report published on 27 October 2026 describes a Department of Homeland Security proposal to introduce substantial fees associated with OPT.
Initial training period: Proposed fee of $70,000.
Subsequent training periods: Proposed fee of $30,000.
Potential impact: The proposal reportedly could allow schools to pass costs on to students or employers.
Important: These figures are proposed amounts, not confirmed fees currently payable by students. The proposal’s scope and status must be distinguished from an enacted and effective rule.
2. H-1B Visa: Legal Challenge Over the Reported $100,000 Fee
Business Today reported that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had begun approving some H-1B petitions filed without the reported $100,000 payment, relying on court orders blocking fee collection in relevant cases.
Fee collection could potentially resume if the relevant court orders are reversed or lifted.
Employers and H-1B beneficiaries, including Indian professionals, should distinguish reported approvals from a final nationwide resolution of the legal dispute.
The outcome may depend on the scope of the applicable court orders and the circumstances of each petition.
3. Expanded Online-Presence Screening
Recent reporting indicates that expanded online-presence screening has applied to additional nonimmigrant visa categories since 1 October 2026.
Applicants affected by these requirements should be aware that screening procedures may vary by visa category and individual circumstances.
What Applicants and Employers Should Know
Treat the OPT fee figures as proposed, not final.
Follow developments in the H-1B fee litigation before making payment or hiring decisions.
Understand the applicable online-presence screening requirements for the relevant visa category.
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