一个代表近600所美国高校的联盟已敦促国土安全部（DHS）撤回其针对“选择性实习培训”（OPT）提出的费用结构，警告称高达10万美元的初始培训费和STEM延期费可能使该计划对许多国际学生变得遥不可及。
A coalition representing nearly 600 US colleges and universities has urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its proposed fee structure for Optional Practical Training (OPT), warning that charges of up to $100,000 for initial training and a STEM extension could make the programme inaccessible to many international students.
“高等教育与移民校长联盟”在一封意见信中提出了异议，回应的是国土安部于10月8日发布的一项拟议规则。根据该提案，高校在推荐学生参加初始OPT前需支付7万美元，随后如再次推荐（包括STEM OPT延期）还需支付3万美元。
The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration submitted its objections in a comment letter responding to a DHS proposed rule published on October 8. Under the proposal, colleges and universities would have to pay $70,000 before recommending a student for initial OPT and another $30,000 for a subsequent recommendation, including a STEM OPT extension.
在11月9日提交的信函中，该联盟呼吁国土安全部全面撤回该提案，并保持OPT计划完整无缺。联盟认为，该部门未能充分证明费用数额的合理性，也未展示这些费用将如何防止欺诈和保护美国工人。联盟警告称高校将面临财务负担该组织表示，拟议收费加上额外的行政开支，将迫使院校承担巨额成本、向学生或雇主寻求资助，或限制OPT推荐名额。
In its November 9 submission, the alliance called on DHS to withdraw the proposal in its entirety and keep the OPT programme intact. It argued that the department had not adequately justified the fee amounts or demonstrated how they would prevent fraud and protect American workers. Alliance warns of financial burden on universitiesThe organisation said the proposed charges, along with additional administrative expenses, would force institutions to absorb substantial costs, seek contributions from students or employers, or limit the number of OPT recommendations.
联盟在提交材料中引用估算称，如果大学必须为一名学生支付全部10万美元以获取初始OPT和STEM延期，OPT启动人数可能下降79%。
Citing estimates in its submission, the alliance said OPT starts could decline by 79% if universities had to pay the full $100,000 for a student to access initial OPT and a STEM extension.
信函还强调了对院校的潜在财务影响。一所拥有不足500名国际学生的学院估算，这些费用每年可能使其耗资约540万美元，超过了其来自F-1学生的净学费收入总额。
The letter also highlighted the potential financial impact on institutions. One college with fewer than 500 international students estimated that the fees could cost it approximately $5.4 million annually, exceeding its total net tuition revenue from F-1 students.
另一所拥有约 6000 名国际学生的公立院校估算，平均每年成本将超过 6000 万美元。该联盟主张，院校的支付能力不应决定其他方面符合条件的学生能否获得实践培训机会。国际学生招生与美国就业岗位面临风险该联盟还警告称，拟议费用可能会阻碍学生选择美国进行高等教育。引用“进步研究所” 2026 年 10 月对 734 名在读及曾就读国际学生的调查，联盟称 69% 的受访者表示，在拟议费用结构下，他们“很可能”或“绝对不会”入读。在 STEM（科学、技术、工程、数学）专业受访者中，这一比例为 70%。
Another public institution with around 6,000 international students estimated an average annual cost of more than $60 million. The alliance argued that institutions' ability to pay should not determine whether otherwise eligible students can access practical training. International enrolment and US jobs at riskThe alliance also warned that the proposed fees could discourage students from choosing the US for higher education. Citing an October 2026 Institute for Progress survey of 734 current and former international students, it said 69% would probably or definitely not have enrolled under the proposed fee structure. Among STEM respondents, the figure was 70%.The submission cited NAFSA estimates that international students contributed $42.9 billion to the US economy and supported 355,736 jobs during the 2024-25 academic year.
提交材料引用 NAFSA（国际教育者协会）估算，2024-25 学年国际学生为美国经济贡献了 429 亿美元，并支撑了 355,736 个就业岗位。材料还称，该学年约有 29.4 万名国际学生参加了 OPT。
It also said approximately 294,000 international students participated in OPT during that period.
联盟表示，限制实践培训准入可能影响大学研究、雇主合作伙伴关系以及本土学生的机会。
The alliance said restricting access to practical training could affect university research, employer partnerships and opportunities for domestic students.OPT allows eligible F-1 international students to undertake temporary employment directly related to their field of study.
OPT 允许符合条件的 F-1 国际学生从事与其专业领域直接相关的临时工作。国土安全部的提案目前正处于公众意见征询阶段，联盟对其法律依据及该部门为收费提出的理由均提出质疑。
The DHS proposal is now the subject of public comments, with the alliance questioning both its legal basis and the department's justification for the charges.