F-1 STEM OPT Protocol

STEM OPT allows F-1 international students who have earned a qualifying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree to extend their work authorization for an additional 24 months beyond the standard 12 months of OPT.

When your department will be employing someone that will be using STEM OPT work authorization, federal regulations require you to work with the student to complete Form I-983 (Training Plan for STEM OPT Students). Form I-983 confirms the training goals and oversight you will provide and keeps the U.S. government informed of the student’s employment and progress.

Form I-983 is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document that must be completed, signed, and dated jointly by the F-1 student and the employer. It outlines the F-1 student’s learning objectives and how the employer will provide training and supervision. 

It is the student’s responsibility to commence their 12- and 24-month self-evaluations in a timely fashion and to contact the UC San Diego department to initiate the Form I-983. 

When is it required?

• Before STEM OPT starts – The student cannot apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension without a completed I-983 (Pages 1-4). 
  • Department must complete and sign employer certification sections 3–6 of the I-983 (pages 2-4) with the student, describing duties, training, and supervision.
    • Ensure the job meets requirements:
      • Paid position, at least 20 hours/week.
      • Duties should be directly related to the student’s STEM degree.
  • Employer is enrolled and active in USCIS E-Verify program.
    • Bona fide employer-employee relationship must exist.
• During employment – the UC San Diego employing department must:
  • Maintain the training plan and oversight described in the I-983.
  • Review and sign the student’s 12-month evaluation (top half of page 5).
  • Review and sign the final evaluation (bottom half of page 5) when the employment ends or STEM OPT concludes.
  • Report material changes (e.g., duties, location, compensation, supervisor) and early terminations to the student so they can notify their program sponsor.

Reminders:

• The program sponsor is always the student’s primary advisor. ISEO can assist departments with employment-related questions, but questions regarding their status and guidance must come from the program sponsor.

The information provided below is for departments employing visitors who will be using STEM OPT as employment authorization.

• Student completes Section 1–2.
• Department (employer) completes Sections 3–6, including training plan, supervision, and employer certifications.
• Both parties sign and date the form.

See official instructions available for guidance.

Best Practices for Completing Form I-983

• Before STEM OPT starts:
  • Section 1 of Form I-983: Student Information (page 1)
    • Completed by STEM OPT employee
  • Section 2 of Form I-983: Student Certification (page 1)
    • Completed by STEM OPT employee
  • Section 3 of Form I-983: Employer Information (page 2)
    • Employer Name: University of California
    • Street Address: 1111 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94607
    • Employer website URL: https://www.ucop.edu/ 
    • Employer ID Number (EIN): 94-3067788
    • Number of Full-Time Employees in U.S.: 232,000+
    • North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 611310
    • OPT Hours Per Week: must be at a minimum 20hrs
    • Start Date of Employment: Start date of STEM OPT employment with employer
    • Compensation: Dollar amount of salary and frequency of pay (per hour, per week, bi-weekly, monthly, Annual).
  • Section 4 of Form I-983: Employer Certification (page 2)
    • UC San Diego department should read the employer attestations
    • Confirm with UC San Diego HR department contact who is authorized to sign this on behalf of department, this can be HR, AP, or PI depending on department level protocols. ISEO would not be able to attest to the information on Form I-983 as such we defer to the UC San Diego HR department contact to determine the most appropriate individual to sign.
  • Section 5 of Form I-983: Training Plan for STEM OPT Students (page 3)
    • Student Name: Name of employee using STEM OPT as work authorization
    • Employer Name: University of California, San Diego
    • Site Name:  for most it will be University of California, San Diego, for others it could be another UC San Diego location such as Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, etc.
    • Site Address: physical location, for most this will be 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla CA 92093
    • Name of Official:  Enter the name of the appropriate individual who is familiar with, and will monitor, the student’s goals and performance (usually a manager/supervisor/PI)
    • Official’s Title: Enter the email for the UC San Diego official indicated above.
    • Official’s Email: Enter the email for the UC San Diego official indicated above.
    • Official’s Phone Number: Enter the phone number for the UC San Diego official indicated above.
    • Student Role: Describe what skills and assignments the student will carry out during the training and how these relate to the student’s STEM degree. The plan must cover a specific span of time, and detail specific goals and objectives.
    • Goals and Objectives: Describe the specific skills, knowledge, and techniques the student will learn or apply; how the student will achieve the goals set out for their training; and the training curriculum including the timeline. 
    • Employer Oversight: Explain how the employer provides oversight and supervision of individuals filling positions such as that being filled by the named F- 1 student. If the employer has a training program or related policy in place that controls such oversight and supervision, a description of this program or policy may suffice to answer this question.
    • Measures and Assessments: Explain how the employer measures and confirms whether individuals filling positions such as that being filled by the named F-1 student are acquiring new knowledge and skills. If the employer has a training program or related policy in place that controls such measures and assessments, a description of this program or policy may be sufficient to answer this question.
    • Additional Remarks (optional): If you have no additional pertinent information to provide, you can enter “N/A”. 
  • Section 6 of Form I-983 (page 4)
    • Employer Official Certification: The individual who signs this Certification does not need to be, but can be, the same individual who signed the Employer Certification in Section 4. Confirm with UC San Diego HR department contact who is authorized to sign this on behalf of department, this can be HR, AP, or PI depending on department level protocols. ISEO would not be able to attest to the information on Form I-983 as such we defer to the UC San Diego HR department contact to determine the most appropriate individual to sign.
• 12-month and 24-month point Evaluations (page 5)
  • Evaluation on Student Progress 
    • This is a self-evaluation to be completed by F-1.
    • When completing the evaluations, the student must enter the date range covered by each evaluation.
    • Must be submitted at the midpoint of the STEM OPT training period (typically after the first 12 months). Descriptions should be consistent with the goals, objectives, and tasks outlined in pages 1–4 of the Form I-983.
    • Name and Signature of Employer Official with Signatory Authority: Should be the individual who is familiar with and supervised, the student’s goals and performance (usually a manager/supervisor/PI)
  • Final Evaluation on Student Progress
    • This is a self-evaluation to be completed by F-1.
    • Must be submitted at the end of the STEM OPT employment period or when the student leaves the position earlier than planned. 
    • When completing the evaluations, the student must enter the date range covered by each evaluation. 
    • Name and Signature of Employer Official with Signatory Authority: Should be the individual who is familiar with and supervised, the student’s goals and performance (usually a manager/supervisor/PI).

• For I-9 guidance, refer to USCIS’ Employer Handbook (M-274)
• The STEM OPT EAD card is a List A document for I-9 purposes.
• Eligibility to continue working while STEM OPT request is pending USCIS - Students awaiting STEM OPT approval may continue working for up to 180 days beyond the end date of their initial OPT EAD card (category C03b), if the STEM OPT extension was timely filed (submitted before the EAD expiration date). 
  • Documentation for I-9 - Departments must update the employee’s I-9 by combining:
    • The expired OPT EAD card (category C03b), and
    • The STEM OPT receipt notice (Form I-797, category C03c) showing USCIS received the extension request before the OPT EAD expiration date.
  • Follow-up Requirement - Once the new STEM OPT EAD card is issued, departments must re-verify the employee’s I-9 record using the new card.

• ISEO Employing International Students
• DHS Information about Form I-983 for Employers
• DHS Programs eligible for STEM Extension
• Guide to completing Form I-983
• I-9 protocols for F-1 employees