- The US has proposed a $100,000 fee on international graduates seeking to work after completing their studies under the OPT programme.
- The move has followed a similar $100,000 annual fee already imposed on employers sponsoring foreign workers through the H-1B visa route.
- Education experts have warned that the fee could have pushed the cost of an American education beyond the reach of many Kenyan families, particularly in STEM fields.
Kenyan students hoping to build careers in the United States after graduation could soon face a costly new hurdle, following reports that Washington is weighing a US$100,000 (about KSh13 million) fee on international graduates seeking permission to work after finishing their studies.
If adopted, the proposal would upend a pathway that has, for decades, allowed foreign graduates to gain professional experience in the US before transitioning to permanent employment. Education experts warn that the fee could push many talented students away from American universities altogether, forcing families to rethink the financial risks of studying abroad.
The US has long been a top destination for Kenyan students seeking globally recognised degrees, advanced research facilities and a chance to work internationally after graduation. That appeal is now being tested.
What the proposed fee targets
According to reports, the charge would apply to graduates enrolled in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies. Under the current system, most graduates can work for one year, while those in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields can stay for up to three years.
For many Kenyan students, OPT has served as the crucial link between finishing university and starting a career, giving them the chance to gain industry experience, repay education loans and establish themselves professionally before applying for longer-term work visas. A US$100,000 charge, education consultants say, could put that pathway out of reach for most families.
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A costlier path to an American education
Every year, Kenyan students gain admission to American universities through government scholarships, institutional partnerships, private sponsorship and family savings. While scholarships often cover tuition, many students still rely on income earned after graduation to cover living costs, clear loans and support relatives at home.
Adding a six-figure fee on top of an already expensive undertaking, consultants warn, would place US education beyond the reach of many middle-income households. The proposal also lands at a time when international education costs have already climbed due to inflation, rising tuition and higher living expenses in major American cities.
Part of a broader immigration crackdown
The proposed graduate work fee follows closely on the heels of a separate US$100,000 annual fee already introduced for employers sponsoring foreign professionals through the H-1B visa programme.
Taken together, the two measures would squeeze both ends of the employment pipeline: the H-1B fee makes it costlier for companies to hire skilled foreign workers, while the proposed OPT charge would hit students immediately after graduation, before most have secured permanent jobs. Analysts say the combined effect could discourage firms from recruiting international graduates altogether, shrinking opportunities for young professionals trying to launch careers in the US.
STEM students face the biggest hit
Engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare and other STEM disciplines are expected to bear the brunt of the changes. These fields have traditionally offered the strongest employment prospects, drawing many Kenyan students into software engineering, cybersecurity, data science, medicine and research.
Should post-study work become prohibitively expensive, education analysts expect students to increasingly look toward countries with friendlier post-study pathways, including Canada, Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Ripple effects for US universities
American universities have long relied on international students, who contribute billions of dollars annually through tuition, accommodation, research and local spending. A drop in overseas enrolment driven by the proposed fee could translate into declining applications, particularly from students in developing countries whose families already make significant financial sacrifices to fund an American education.
Analysts note that rival countries competing for global talent are likely to seize the moment, promoting friendlier immigration rules and more affordable post-study work options to attract the students America turns away.
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An opening for Kenya to invest at home
The developments also present Kenya with a chance to strengthen its own higher education system. Experts argue that improving research funding, expanding postgraduate opportunities, investing in innovation hubs and deepening ties between universities and industry could encourage more young Kenyans to build successful careers without leaving the country.
With Kenya positioning itself as a regional technology and innovation hub, increased investment in universities, digital infrastructure and research institutions could help reduce reliance on overseas employment while still attracting international partnerships.
No final decision yet
US authorities have stressed that the proposed fee has not been formally adopted and that no decision should be treated as final until officially announced. Even so, the plan has already triggered widespread debate among universities, employers, immigration experts and students around the world.
For Kenyan students preparing university applications, the uncertainty is a reminder to carefully weigh study destinations, scholarship opportunities, visa regulations and post-graduation employment prospects before committing to one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. If implemented, the policy would do more than change immigration rules, it could reshape global talent competition, redefine the value of an American degree, and influence where the next generation of Kenyan professionals chooses to study, innovate and build their careers.
By Hillary Muhalya
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