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 NAICS code
- 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 it. But the I-983 itself never asks for it: the form has no E-Verify field. The company ID is needed later, on Form I-765 for the extension. Your employer’s HR team has it.
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 a blank box you write yourself, 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.