Fill out Form I-983 for STEM OPT
Form I-983 is the training plan you and your employer complete for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. It asks what you will learn, who will supervise you, and how they will measure your progress — and it needs a signature from an employer official.
F-1 students applying for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. If you are applying for regular post-completion OPT, you do not need an I-983 — you need Form I-765.
- Your SEVIS ID and the school code of the school recommending STEM OPT
- Your major and CIP code, and the date your degree was awarded
- Your employer’s address, EIN, and E-Verify company ID
- Your job title, hours per week, and salary
- A description of what you will actually be doing
About Form I-983
Do I send this to USCIS?
No. The I-983 goes to your school’s Designated School Official. Only Form I-765 goes to USCIS. Sending the I-983 to USCIS is one of the most common mistakes on this form.
Does my employer have to be in E-Verify?
Yes. STEM OPT requires the employer to be enrolled in E-Verify, and you need their E-Verify company ID. Your employer’s HR team has it — we cannot look it up, because it is not published anywhere.
How many hours a week do I need?
STEM OPT requires at least 20 paid hours per week, with compensation comparable to similarly situated U.S. workers.
What is Section 5 and why is it hard?
Section 5 is the training plan itself — your role, your goals and objectives, how your employer supervises you, and how they measure what you have learned. It is free text, most people have never written one, and vague answers are the most common reason a DSO sends the form back.
Is this finished once I submit it?
No. You also complete a 12-month self-evaluation and a final evaluation, and you need a new or updated I-983 whenever something material changes — a new employer, a different salary, different hours, or a new supervisor.