A US$70,000 work permit after graduation. That is the proposal on the table. Your F-1 status may already open a different door.
DHS announced on October 7, 2026, and published in the Federal Register on October 8, a proposed US$70,000 fee for a student's first OPT work permit and US$30,000 for every later period, including the STEM extension. With the proposed H-1B fee on top, a STEM graduate's route to a U.S. career may cost over US$200,000 in fees alone. A student already in the U.S. on an F-1 may file for EB-5 and a Green Card at the same time, and may get a work permit through that filing instead. Quantum Global plans your status, funds and filing as one timeline, the way we have for 170+ families.
- No OPT, no H-1B lottery. EB-5 does not depend on an employer or a school recommendation
- Concurrent filing. F-1 students in the U.S. may file the Green Card application alongside the EB-5 petition
- Work permit through the Green Card process, which may replace OPT while the case is pending
- One team for status planning, parents' source-of-funds paperwork, project review and attorney coordination
Find out if EB-5 can replace OPT in your plan
Rashika Daga, our CEO, reviews your details personally and comes back within one hour with a clear answer: yes, not yet, or no.
The student route to a U.S. career just got a price tag
Most international students follow one path: study on an F-1, work on OPT, win the H-1B lottery, then wait for a Green Card. Two proposals from DHS would make that path very expensive.
| Step | Cost today | Proposed new cost |
|---|---|---|
| First OPT work permit | About US$470 | US$70,000 |
| STEM OPT extension (extra two years for science and tech graduates) | About US$470 | US$30,000 |
| H-1B work visa (lottery) | Standard fees | + US$103,265 |
| Total for a STEM student | A few thousand dollars | Over US$200,000 |
These are proposals, not final rules
Nothing has changed yet. The public can comment until about November 7, 2026. If approved, the rule starts 60 days after the final version is published.
The school pays, but can pass it on
The OPT fee is officially charged to the university and the H-1B fee to the employer. Both may recover the cost from the student or employee.
Graduating in the next 6-12 months?
Students whose OPT is recommended before any final rule takes effect avoid the fee. Timing matters, and so does having a plan that does not depend on it.
Status has to stay clean
Since May 2026, USCIS has been stricter with people applying for a Green Card from inside the U.S. Keeping valid status while you plan is the first job, before any money moves.
If EB-5 is the plan, the calendar is already moving
OPT fee comments close
The 30-day public comment period on the proposed US$70,000 OPT fee ends. A final rule could follow and would take effect 60 days after publication.
EB-5 filing fees more than double
USCIS has finalized new fees. The I-526E petition fee rises from US$3,675 to US$7,850 and the I-829 from US$3,750 to US$5,000 for filings postmarked on or after November 30. Filing before then saves about US$4,000 on the petition alone.
Minimum investment adjusts
The US$800,000 minimum is scheduled for its first inflation adjustment under the Reform and Integrity Act, expected to take it to roughly US$900,000-950,000.
EB-5: a Green Card through investment, filed while you are still on F-1
EB-5 grants permanent residency in exchange for a qualifying US$800,000 investment in a job-creating U.S. project. A student already in the U.S. on an F-1 may apply for EB-5 and the Green Card at the same time. This is called concurrent filing.
A work permit, without OPT
While the Green Card application is in process, the student may receive a work permit (EAD) through it, so the OPT recommendation and its proposed fee may not be needed at all.
No H-1B, no lottery, no H-1B fee
EB-5 is based on the investment, not on an employer. There is no cap lottery to lose and no proposed US$103,265 employer fee to be passed down.
The family plans for a Green Card
Instead of years of temporary visas stacked end to end, the family plans once, for permanent residency, with the student as the applicant.
We plan your visa status, funds and filing as one timeline
A student's EB-5 involves a university, a DSO, parents in another country, an attorney, a project sponsor and USCIS, each responsible for one piece. We own the whole picture, so the EB-5 option is open when you need it.
Status planning first
We check graduation date, OPT timing and travel plans before any money moves, so the EB-5 option stays open and your status stays valid.
Parents' source-of-funds support
Most students are funded by their parents. We prepare the gift paperwork, bank records and money-transfer plan, including India's US$250,000 per person per year remittance limit.
Independent project checks
We study every EB-5 project ourselves and say no to many. You get a shortlist, not a sales pitch.
A stronger application
We work with the immigration attorney to build a complete file and prepare the student for interview questions.
Everything in one place
Attorney, project, paperwork and timelines handled by one team across India, the UAE and the U.S.
Honest advice
If EB-5 is not right for a family, we say so. Clarity before commitment.
Parents can start with less. Ask about partial filing.
Some USCIS-approved projects accept a partial initial investment, with the balance funded on an agreed schedule. Filed correctly, that can let a student submit the I-526E, lock in a priority date and today's US$800,000 minimum while the family completes the funding, and before the minimum is scheduled to rise on January 1, 2027.
Availability depends on the project and the family's source-of-funds position. Partial-payment structures must be documented in the petition and confirmed by your immigration attorney; terms vary by project.
- 1
Document the first tranche
We prepare the parents' gift paperwork and the lawful plan for the balance, the way USCIS expects to see it.
- 2
File while status is valid
Counsel files the I-526E, and where eligible the concurrent I-485 and work-permit application, with the priority date fixed.
- 3
Complete the investment on schedule
The family funds the remainder to the agreed timetable while the petition is processed; we track every milestone.
From a student visa to a Green Card, without the OPT fee
EB-5 follows a defined process set by U.S. law and USCIS policy. For a student, the order of the steps is what keeps the option open.
- Status check – graduation date, OPT timing, travel plans and current status reviewed before anything else
- Funding plan – parents' source-of-funds file, gift documentation and the transfer plan under India's remittance rules
- Project selection – the student and family choose from independently reviewed, USCIS-approved projects
- I-526E filed – counsel files the petition; where a visa number is available, the I-485 and work-permit application may be filed at the same time
- Work permit and travel document – may be issued while the case is pending, replacing the need for OPT
- Green Card, then I-829 – conditional residency, then conditions removed once job creation is confirmed
The complexity is real. So is the outcome.
I’ve personally navigated the EB-5 visa process, so I understand just how complex and daunting it can be. This experience inspired me to create a fresh approach in this industry.
We’re committed to supporting you every step of the way. Being available in your time zone and meeting you in your city means we can provide personalized assistance throughout your journey.
Your needs are our top priority. We value transparent communication and are dedicated to protecting your investment. If you’d like to chat about the EB-5 program, I’d be happy to speak with you personally. My goal is to help you ask the right questions so you can make informed decisions.
Please feel free to reach out – we’re here to help.
“Quantum Global made navigating 400+ pages of complex EB-5 project documents effortless.”
“Their thorough due diligence highlighted what truly mattered. End-to-end services meant I never had to chase three different advisors.”
What students and parents ask before the call
No. It is a proposed rule, announced by DHS on October 7, 2026, and published in the Federal Register on October 8. The public can comment for about 30 days, and if a final rule is issued it would take effect 60 days after publication. Legal challenges are expected. Nothing has changed for students today, but a plan that depends on OPT now carries a cost it did not carry a month ago.
Yes, if you are in valid status. Where a visa number is available for your country of birth, you may file the I-485 adjustment of status and a work-permit application at the same time as the I-526E. We confirm what applies to you on the call.
Yes, and it is the most common structure for students. The investment can be a documented gift. We prepare the gift paperwork, the parents' source-of-funds records and the transfer plan, including India's US$250,000 per person per year remittance limit, so the file stands up to USCIS scrutiny.
The investment is US$800,000 for Targeted Employment Area and rural projects, which covers most regional-center offerings. Administrative, legal and USCIS fees sit on top, and we itemize every one on the first call. USCIS filing fees rise on November 30, 2026 (the I-526E goes from US$3,675 to US$7,850), and from January 1, 2027 the minimum investment is scheduled to adjust for inflation.
No. EB-5 capital must remain at risk, and immigration outcomes are decided by USCIS. The student must keep valid status throughout. What we control is the quality of the due diligence and the petition, which is where most avoidable problems come from.
Then you will have a Green Card plan that does not depend on a lottery, an employer or a future rule. Most families who start EB-5 as students do so for that reason, not for any one proposal.
It depends on USCIS processing times, the project category and your country of birth. Every family gets a realistic estimate for their own situation on the call, not a headline number.
Find out if EB-5 can replace OPT in your plan
Six details. Our CEO reviews them personally and tells you plainly whether EB-5 fits your family, and what the timing looks like against your graduation date.