STEM OPT: I-983 & Reporting Guide Checklist
Complete step-by-step — who fills what, when to submit, 6-month evals, and job changes
Overall Progress
0 of 62 items completed
10 days
Report By
after starting work
Every 6 mo
Eval Cycle
throughout STEM OPT
150 days
Max Unemployed
total (incl. OPT period)
I-983
Key Form
employer must sign
Phase 1: Understand the I-983 Before You Start
Know who fills what — most mistakes happen here
The I-983 has 6 sections. Students fill Sections 1 and 5. The EMPLOYER fills Sections 2, 3, and 4. Both sign Section 6. Never fill in the employer sections yourself — USCIS explicitly prohibits student self-attestation on behalf of the employer.
Download the latest version of Form I-983 from ICE.gov
FormSection 1 — Student Information: YOU fill this (your name, SEVIS ID, degree, school, degree level)
ActionSection 2 — Employer Information: EMPLOYER fills this (company name, EIN, E-Verify ID, address, your job title, location, start date, hours per week)
ActionSection 3 — Goals, Objectives & Oversight: EMPLOYER fills this (your specific STEM learning objectives, how the job relates to your degree, how employer will supervise and mentor you)
ActionSection 4 — Salary & Hours: EMPLOYER fills this (must confirm your pay is same or higher than similarly situated US workers — the non-displacement rule)
ActionSection 5 — Student Attestation: YOU fill and sign (confirm you understand the training plan)
ActionSection 6 — Employer Signature: Authorized employer representative signs and dates (HR manager, direct supervisor, or company owner — NOT you)
ActionPhase 2: Filling Section 1 — Your Part (Student)
Complete this before sending to your employer
Your legal name (exactly as it appears on your passport)
ActionSEVIS ID number — starts with N, found on your I-20 (top right)
ActionYour school name and address
ActionYour degree level (Bachelor's / Master's / PhD)
ActionYour major/field of study — must be a qualifying STEM field
ActionGraduation date from your I-20
ActionCurrent OPT EAD start and end dates
ActionYour proposed STEM OPT start date (usually same as new EAD start date)
ActionPhase 3: What Your Employer Must Fill — Sections 2, 3 & 4
Send the partially completed I-983 to your HR or supervisor to complete
Give your employer a clear deadline. Many STEM OPT delays happen because employers take weeks to complete their sections. Ask HR or your manager to return it within 5 business days.
Section 2 — Company legal name, EIN (Employer Identification Number), and E-Verify Company ID
DocumentThe E-Verify Company ID is required — your DSO needs it to enter into SEVIS. Ask HR if they don't know it.
Section 2 — NAICS code (industry code for the company's business)
DocumentHR or your manager should know this. It can also be found on company tax documents or LinkedIn.
Section 2 — Your exact job title, work location address (where you physically work), and start date
DocumentIf you work remotely or at a client site, the actual work location must be listed — not just the company HQ.
Section 2 — Hours per week you will work (must be at least 20 hours for STEM OPT to count)
DocumentSection 3 — Specific STEM learning objectives tied to your degree (not generic — must name specific skills)
DocumentExample for CS degree: 'Will apply machine learning algorithms studied in graduate coursework to optimize company's data pipeline.' Vague objectives like 'software development' can trigger an RFE.
Section 3 — How the employer will supervise and mentor you (frequency of check-ins, who is your mentor)
DocumentSection 3 — How the training is directly related to your STEM degree
DocumentSection 4 — Your hourly or annual salary, confirmed to be at or above the wage for similar US workers
DocumentThe non-displacement rule: your pay cannot be lower than what a US worker in the same role would earn. USCIS checks this.
Section 6 — Employer authorized representative signs (with printed name, title, date)
DocumentMust be someone with authority to bind the company — HR manager, direct supervisor, or company owner. NOT you.
Phase 4: Submitting I-983 to Your DSO
Do this before your STEM OPT start date — not after
You must submit the completed I-983 to your DSO BEFORE you start working on STEM OPT. Starting work before DSO approval is a status violation.
Verify all 6 sections are complete and Section 6 has employer signature
ActionSubmit the signed I-983 to your DSO (email or in-person, per your school's process)
ActionDSO reviews your I-983, enters your STEM OPT recommendation into SEVIS, and issues updated I-20
ActionReceive updated I-20 with Section 6 filled showing STEM OPT recommendation and dates
DocumentConfirm the STEM OPT start date on your new I-20 matches your intended start date
ActionSave a copy of the signed I-983 — you will need it throughout your STEM OPT period
DocumentPhase 5: Reporting When You Start Work
You have 10 days after your first day — do both steps below
Both the DSO report AND the SEVP Portal update are required. Doing only one is not enough. The 10-day clock starts from your actual first day of work — not your hire date.
Step 1 — Notify your DSO: send employer name, address, job title, start date, and hours per week
ActionStep 2 — Update the SEVP Portal (sevp.ice.gov/opt) with your employer information
OnlineLogin: SEVIS ID (N-number on I-20) + date of birth + passport number. This creates a timestamped SEVIS record that you reported on time.
SEVP PortalStep 3 — Confirm your DSO has updated SEVIS with your employer (ask for confirmation)
ActionSave screenshots or confirmation emails from both the DSO and SEVP Portal updates
DocumentIf USCIS ever questions your reporting timeline, these timestamps are your proof
Verify your I-20 reflects your current employer after DSO update
DocumentPhase 6: 6-Month Self-Evaluation Reports
Required every 6 months throughout your entire STEM OPT period
Missing a 6-month evaluation is a SEVIS violation that can affect your immigration status. Mark your calendar from day one — evaluations are due every 6 months from your STEM OPT start date.
Mark your 6-month evaluation due dates in your calendar from your STEM OPT start date
ActionExample: STEM OPT starts June 1 → evaluations due Dec 1, June 1, Dec 1, and a final 30 days before end date
Contact your supervisor at least 2 weeks before each due date to schedule the evaluation
ActionYou (student) complete the self-evaluation section of the I-983 evaluation form
FormYour supervisor/employer completes their section of the evaluation (how you're performing, learning objectives met)
FormBoth you and your supervisor sign the completed evaluation
ActionSubmit the signed evaluation to your DSO
ActionA final evaluation is required within 30 days before your STEM OPT end date
ActionThis is a separate required evaluation at the end of your STEM OPT period — do not miss it
Keep copies of every evaluation you submit
DocumentUSCIS can ask for these during an RFE — having complete records is essential
Phase 7: If You Change Jobs or Employers
A new I-983 is required — do not start the new job until this is done
You cannot simply update your employer name in SEVIS and continue working. A new I-983 must be completed, signed by the NEW employer, and submitted to your DSO — before you start the new job.
Get a new I-983 completed and signed by your new employer (same process as initial I-983)
FormSubmit the new signed I-983 to your DSO before starting the new job
ActionDSO updates SEVIS with new employer information and issues updated I-20
ActionReceive updated I-20 reflecting new employer
DocumentReport the new employer to your DSO within 10 days of your first day
ActionUpdate SEVP Portal with new employer within 10 days
OnlineConfirm new employer is E-Verify enrolled before starting — ask HR for E-Verify Company ID
ActionIf your new employer is NOT E-Verify enrolled, you cannot work there on STEM OPT
6-month evaluation cycle resets with the new employer from your new start date
ActionPhase 8: If You Lose Your Job or Have a Gap
You have 150 total days of unemployment — act fast
The 150-day unemployment limit is cumulative across your entire OPT + STEM OPT period. If you already used 90 days on OPT, you only have 60 days left on STEM OPT. Exceeding this limit means your F-1 status is violated.
Notify your DSO immediately when you lose your job
ActionYour DSO must update SEVIS to reflect the employment gap — do not delay
Update the SEVP Portal to remove your current employer
OnlineStart counting your unemployment days from your last day of work
ActionActively search for a new E-Verify employer — document your job search efforts
ActionKeep records of applications, interviews, and responses. These show good faith if USCIS ever questions your gap.
If approaching 150 days: consult an immigration attorney about your options
ActionOptions include: Change of Status (e.g., to H-1B cap-gap if registered, or F-1 for a new degree), departure from the US, or other visa categories
When you start a new job, follow the full job change process (new I-983, DSO report, SEVP update)
ActionPhase 9: Annual Validation & Ongoing Maintenance
Your DSO must validate your SEVIS record every 12 months
Your DSO will contact you annually to validate your SEVIS record — respond promptly
ActionYour DSO confirms you are still employed, still at the same employer, and still maintaining status
Provide your DSO with updated employer information, work location, and hours at each annual validation
ActionLog into SEVP Portal periodically to verify your SEVIS record is accurate
OnlineIf any information in SEVIS is wrong, contact your DSO immediately to correct it
ActionWrong employer name, wrong address, or wrong status in SEVIS can cause problems at re-entry or during USCIS review
Begin planning your next immigration step at least 6 months before STEM OPT ends
Action