Form I-983 guide: the STEM OPT training plan

What is Form I-983?

Form I-983 is a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) form titled "Training Plan for STEM OPT Students." ICE Form I-983 SEVP describes it as a formal training plan that a student and employer must complete and sign and submit to the student's DSO. Study in the States

• The regulation says the student must fully complete an individualized Form I-983 and obtain signatures from an appropriate individual in the employer's organization. 8 CFR 214.2
• E-Verify says any employer that wishes to employ a student on the 24-month STEM OPT extension must develop a formal training plan. E-Verify
• SEVP says the purpose is to make sure the student receives the academic and training benefits of the STEM OPT extension. SEVP FAQ ICE describes it as a planning document for the student, the SEVP-certified school and the employer. Federal Register 2025
• Students and employers are bound by the terms of the form effective as of the STEM OPT start date requested on it. I-983 instructions
• The employer that signs the form must be the same entity that employs the student and provides the training. Study in the States It does not have to be the same employer as the student's initial post-completion OPT employer. Study in the States
• A student may work in an entrepreneurial venture as an employee, but may not act as their own employer or as the employer's signatory on the form. Study in the States

Where to download Form I-983 and its instructions

• The form: ICE publishes it as a PDF at ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/i983.pdf. Study in the States
• The instructions: ICE publishes them separately at ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/i983Instructions.pdf. Study in the States
• Study in the States says students must download, complete, sign and submit the form to their DSO. Study in the States
• The posted form is 5 pages. Each page footer shows "ICE Form I-983 (7/16)", and the form carries OMB approval number 1653-0054 with an expiration date of 4/30/2029. ICE Form I-983
• The form estimates the reporting burden at an average of 7.5 hours per response. ICE Form I-983

In a June 2025 notice, ICE said it is reformatting the form. Federal Register 2025 The posted PDF still shows the 7/16 edition marker. ICE Form I-983 No official page found gives a new edition date or says whether earlier printings are still accepted.

Who completes each section of Form I-983

Sources: the form and its instructions. ICE Form I-983 I-983 instructions

Section 1, Student Information.

• Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Form I-20. I-983 instructions Study in the States adds that it must also match your name in SEVIS. Study in the States
• Give your current SEVIS ID, even if you earned the qualifying degree under an earlier SEVIS ID. Study in the States
• The "school recommending STEM OPT" is the school where you were most recently enrolled. The SEVIS school code must include the three-digit suffix. I-983 instructions Study in the States says to work with your DSO to get the correct school code, which may differ from the code of the school that awarded the STEM degree. Study in the States
• The DSO details must be those of the DSO who recommended STEM OPT and issued the Form I-20. I-983 instructions The instructions ask for the DSO's official address, but the form has fields only for the DSO's name, email and phone number. ICE Form I-983
• The STEM OPT start date should be the day after your current 12-month OPT ends. Enter the requested period even if the authorized dates do not match the actual training dates. The extension may not end more than 24 months after the scheduled end of your current post-completion OPT EAD. I-983 instructions SEVIS sets the start date as the day after the current post-completion OPT end date, and DSOs cannot change it. SEVIS Help Hub
• The instructions say your CIP code is on your Form I-20. I-983 instructions Different official pages link to different versions of the STEM Designated Degree Program List. Study in the States STEM OPT overview SEVIS Help Hub
• Check "Yes" for "Based on Prior Degree?" if your STEM OPT is based on a previously obtained STEM degree. I-983 instructions
• For "Employment Authorization Number," the instructions say to enter the "A" number listed on your EAD. I-983 instructions

Section 2, Student Certification. The student reviews the certification and signs it. I-983 instructions Among other things, the student certifies that:

• the training is directly related to the qualifying STEM degree ICE Form I-983
• they will notify the DSO at the earliest available opportunity if they believe the employer is not providing appropriate training ICE Form I-983
• they understand DHS may deny, revoke or terminate the STEM OPT of students who, or whose employers, do not comply with the plan. ICE Form I-983

Section 3, Employer Information.

• The hours field states that OPT hours must be at least 20 per week. ICE Form I-983
• If the employer has no website, enter N/A. Other compensation may include housing, tuition waivers or transportation costs. I-983 instructions
• The student must disclose compensation on the form, including any adjustments agreed with the employer. 8 CFR 214.2
• The "Employers and the Form I-983" page describes Section 3 as covering Small Entity status and frequency of pay, and Section 5 as including the specific STEM field. The posted form has none of these fields. Study in the States ICE Form I-983

Section 4, Employer Certification. The Employer Official with Signatory Authority must be familiar with the student's goals and performance and have signatory authority for the employer. I-983 instructions Among other things, the employer certifies that it will make sure the supervising official follows the plan, that the student will receive on-site supervision and training by experienced and knowledgeable staff, that the training complies with all applicable Federal and State employment requirements, and that it will report the student's termination or departure to the DSO within five business days. ICE Form I-983 Students may not provide the employer attestations on their own behalf. Study in the States

Section 6, Employer Official Certification. This may be signed by the Section 4 official or by another official with signatory authority. I-983 instructions The official certifies they will conduct the required periodic evaluations and notify the DSO of material changes, including if they believe the student is not receiving appropriate training. ICE Form I-983

The I-983 training plan (Section 5)

Section 5 is completed by the student and the employer together. It asks for the work site name and address, the name, title, email and phone of the supervising official, and these narrative fields: Student Role, Goals and Objectives, Employer Oversight, Measures and Assessments, and optional Additional Remarks. ICE Form I-983

• Site. Give the site name if the student works at a branch or subsidiary, or anywhere other than the employer's headquarters. Enter the exact address where the training will take place. I-983 instructions
• Official. This is the person who will monitor the student's goals and performance. It may or may not be the Section 4 official. I-983 instructions
• Student Role. Describe the student's tasks and how they relate to the STEM degree. The plan must cover a specific span of time and detail specific goals and objectives. I-983 instructions
• Goals and Objectives. State the student's goals for specific knowledge, skills or techniques and the means of achieving them. ICE Form I-983 The instructions add the training curriculum, including the timeline. I-983 instructions
• Employer Oversight and Measures and Assessments. If the employer has an existing training program or policy, a description of it may be enough. I-983 instructions

The regulation says the plan must identify goals, including specific knowledge, skills or techniques, explain how they will be achieved, describe a performance evaluation process, and describe methods of oversight and supervision. It must also explain how the training is directly related to the qualifying STEM degree. 8 CFR 214.2

• Employers with an internal or pre-existing training plan may fill in Section 5 based on that plan. ICE Form I-983 USCIS says the plan must still be customized for the individual student. USCIS SEVP says the employer must make sure an existing plan meets all requirements and is customized to the student's degree and learning goals. SEVP FAQ
• Employers are not required to provide a mentor, but must describe on the form how the student will be supervised and evaluated. SEVP FAQ

Signatures and how to submit Form I-983

• Electronic signatures. Students and employers may sign physically or input their own electronic signature. SEVP accepts signatures made with software programs or applications, and digitally reproduced copies such as a scanned image of a physical signature. I-983 instructions On Sept. 18, 2023, SEVP said it updated the form to remove language requiring wet signatures. SEVP broadcast 2023
• Employer signature. The form is not complete until the employer has signed and certified it in the designated places. Study in the States
• Where it goes. The student submits the completed form to a DSO at the school of most recent enrollment. 8 CFR 214.2
• How to send it. Students may send the completed or updated form to the DSO electronically, by email or through a secure platform such as a school portal. SEVP broadcast 2023

When to submit it, relative to the STEM OPT application

1. Complete and sign the form first. It must be fully completed and signed before the DSO may recommend the STEM OPT extension. A DSO may recommend it only if the form has been properly completed and executed by the student and the prospective employer. 8 CFR 214.2 A DSO may not recommend STEM OPT if the employer has not provided the required attestations. Study in the States
2. The DSO reviews it and recommends STEM OPT in SEVIS. The recommendation means the DSO found the form complete, signed and addressing all program requirements. DSOs are not required to research the employer or to have technical knowledge of STEM fields. Study in the States The DSO enters the work site address and the supervisor's name, phone and email in SEVIS as shown in Section 5. SEVIS Help Hub
3. File Form I-765 with USCIS. The student must file within 60 days of the DSO's SEVIS recommendation, and may file up to 90 days before the current OPT employment authorization expires. 8 CFR 214.2 SEVP guidance says students should not file until the DSO has recommended STEM OPT in SEVIS and issued the updated Form I-20, and that USCIS will deny an application filed before the recommendation or after the 60-day period. SEVIS Help Hub

• The automatic extension of employment authorization while a timely STEM OPT application is pending is tied to a timely DSO recommendation request, which includes submitting the fully executed Form I-983 to the DSO. 8 CFR 214.2 USCIS says it extends employment authorization for 180 days in that case. USCIS
• USCIS lists what to file for a STEM OPT extension: Form I-765 with the fee, the employer's E-Verify name and company ID, a DSO-endorsed Form I-20 from the last 60 days, and a copy of the STEM degree. USCIS See the note above on whether Form I-983 also goes to USCIS.
• The DHS final rule published July 17, 2026 does not list any change to the Form I-983 requirements in 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C) or (f)(12). Federal Register 2026 USCIS says a federal court postponed that rule's effective date on Sept. 14, 2026, and that USCIS will proceed under the previous regulatory provisions until the order is lifted. USCIS I-765

The I-983 12-month and final evaluations

The regulation requires an initial evaluation within 12 months of the approved start date on the STEM OPT EAD, and a concluding evaluation. The student must make sure the DSO receives the 12-month and final evaluations no later than 10 days after the end of the reporting period or the training, and all required evaluations must be completed before the training ends. 8 CFR 214.2

How sources word the timing. Official pages describe the deadlines differently:

• The form says the first evaluation is to occur before the one-year anniversary of the STEM OPT start date. ICE Form I-983
• The instructions say to complete the first evaluation within 12 months and a final evaluation after STEM OPT ends. I-983 instructions
• The SEVP FAQ describes a mid-point evaluation during the first 12 months and a final self-evaluation before the extension ends. SEVP FAQ
• The SEVIS Help Hub says a student still with the original employer submits self-evaluations within 10 days of the 12- and 24-month marks of the STEM OPT start date. SEVIS Help Hub
• The students' reporting page lists the initial evaluation at 12 months after the STEM OPT start date. Study in the States

What the self-evaluation contains.

• The student writes the self-evaluation, and the employer must review it and attest to its accuracy. I-983 instructions
• It uses the measures in the plan and discusses accomplishments, successful projects, overall contributions, and any changes to goals or new skill areas. ICE Form I-983
• The student must enter the date range covered by each evaluation. I-983 instructions
• USCIS describes the evaluation as submitting an updated Form I-983 containing the self-evaluation. USCIS Policy Manual
• Employers may, but are not required to, attach their own evaluation of the student's progress. Study in the States

Signing and returning it. The regulation says the student and an appropriate individual in the employer's organization must sign each evaluation. 8 CFR 214.2 The form and instructions name the Employer Official with Signatory Authority, who signs to show agreement with what the student entered. I-983 instructions The student returns the signed evaluation to the DSO, who keeps it in the student's record. Study in the States Study in the States

• If the training ends early, the student must submit the final evaluation within 10 days after it ends. I-983 instructions
• When changing employers, the student must submit a final self-evaluation within 10 days of ending employment with the current employer. Study in the States
• Not submitting a final evaluation violates the terms of the form and may jeopardize the student's status. Study in the States
• SEVP Portal users get an email reminder 30 days before a self-evaluation is due. Study in the States See the SEVP Portal guide.

When you need a new or modified I-983

Material changes. If a material change to or deviation from the plan occurs, the student and employer must sign a modified Form I-983, and the student must make sure it reaches the DSO at the earliest available opportunity. No fixed number of days is stated. 8 CFR 214.2 The regulation's examples are:

• a change of EIN resulting from a corporate restructuring
• a reduction in compensation from the amount on the form that is not tied to a reduction in hours
• a significant decrease in weekly hours of training
• a decrease below the minimum hours for the extension
• any change that makes an employer attestation, or the form's information on the nature, purpose, oversight or assessment of the training, inaccurate. 8 CFR 214.2

Other official lists differ. SEVP pages add changes to the employer's commitments or the student's learning objectives. Study in the States USCIS says a change in the student's employment address is a material change that must be reported with a modified form. USCIS The "Employers and the Form I-983" page lists a nontrivial reduction in hours and omits the compensation item. Study in the States

• SEVP says employment authorization does not end because of a plan change, as long as regulatory requirements are met and the modified form meets requirements. Study in the States
• Reporting changes is the student's responsibility, not the DSO's. Failing to do so violates F-1 status. Study in the States

New employer. Students must submit a new Form I-983 for every new employment or training experience during the extension. SEVIS Help Hub The regulation says it is due to the DSO within 10 days of beginning the new training, followed by a new DSO recommendation. 8 CFR 214.2

• The new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before the student begins to work for pay. Study in the States
• If the gap between employers is under 10 days, the new form can satisfy both the loss-of-employment and new-plan reporting. If the gap is longer, the student must first report the loss of employment and later submit the new form. Study in the States Count unemployment days with the calculator.
• Separately, the student must report a change in employer name or address, or loss of employment, to the DSO within 10 days. 8 CFR 214.2
• A STEM OPT student must work at least 20 hours per week for each employer. STEM OPT overview

Employer obligations and site visits

• E-Verify and EIN. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, stay in good standing and have an EIN. 8 CFR 214.2 E-Verify says employers must enroll, electronically sign an E-Verify MOU and participate, and must enroll the hiring site where the student will work. E-Verify E-Verify Employers may give the student their E-Verify company ID number. E-Verify
• Reporting departure. By signing the form, the employer agrees to report the student's termination or departure to the DSO within five business days. 8 CFR 214.2 Business days do not include federal holidays or weekends. ICE Form I-983 A student counts as departed when the employer knows the student has left, or after five consecutive business days of not reporting without the employer's consent, whichever is earlier. 8 CFR 214.2 An email to the DSO with the date can meet this requirement. Study in the States
• Commensurate terms. Duties, hours and compensation must be commensurate with those of the employer's similarly situated U.S. workers in the area. These are workers with similar duties, supervision, education, industry expertise, experience, responsibility and skills. 8 CFR 214.2 An employer that has not recently employed more than two such workers must still attest, compared with other similarly situated U.S. workers in the area. ICE Form I-983
• Hours. The student may not train for less than 20 hours per week, not counting leave taken under the employer's policies for similarly situated U.S. workers. 8 CFR 214.2
• Other attestations. The employer attests that it has enough resources and personnel to provide the training, that the student will not replace a U.S. worker, and that the opportunity helps the student reach training goals. 8 CFR 214.2
• A real employer. The employer must have a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student. It may not be an employer in name only, and the student may not work as a volunteer. Trainers may be the employer's employees or directly retained contractors, but not employees or contractors of the employer's clients or customers. The employer may not delegate its training responsibilities to a non-employer third party. USCIS

Site visits.

• DHS may make a site visit to any STEM OPT employer. It gives 48 hours' notice, except when the visit is triggered by a complaint or other evidence of noncompliance. 8 CFR 214.2
• ICE federal employees conduct site visits. DHS may ask for the evidence the employer used to assess wages of similarly situated U.S. workers. It may request compliance information by email or phone first, or instead of a visit. Study in the States
• In March 2026, SEVP listed a job location that is unsuitable or does not match the address on Form I-983 as a fraud red flag. It said IT recruitment, consulting and staffing arrangements remain a fraud concern and are generally not an apt fit for STEM OPT. SEVP broadcast 2026
• If a student leaves because the employer did not comply, that unemployment alone will not affect status, provided the student reports it and stays within unemployment limits. A student who believes the employer is not complying may contact SEVP or report through the HSI tip form. Study in the States

Record keeping

• The DSO at the student's most recent SEVP-certified school is responsible for maintaining the student's Form I-983. Study in the States The DSO keeps it in the student's record. Study in the States
• DSOs must keep all versions of the form, including versions no longer in use. Study in the States They may keep the forms and evaluations in electronic or hard copy. Study in the States The SEVIS Help Hub tells DSOs to retain the original forms in the student's file. SEVIS Help Hub
• How long. The regulation says the school must give SEVP access to each form and evaluation starting within 30 days after it is submitted to the DSO, for three years after each STEM training opportunity ends. 8 CFR 214.2 The "DSOs and the Form I-983" page instead says to keep the final version for three years after the student's STEM OPT extension ends. Study in the States
• SEVIS upload. Only DSOs can upload a Form I-983 into SEVIS. Upload reasons are 12-Month Training Evaluation, 24-month or Final Training Evaluation, Edit Employer, and New Employer. Each form is uploaded separately, not combined into one PDF. SEVIS Help Hub SEVP said in 2023 that uploading is encouraged but optional. SEVP broadcast 2023
• Requests. DHS may request a copy of the form from the student, the employer or the DSO. Study in the States The school will make it available to DHS on request. Federal Register 2025
• Sharing. Under the form's Privacy Act statement, information on it may be shared with the people who signed it, DSOs and government entities, among others. ICE Form I-983

No official page found requires the student or the employer to keep a copy of the form or the evaluations. Official sources say only that the DSO keeps the form and that DHS may request a copy from the student, the employer or the DSO. Study in the States

Common questions

Official sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Dates are the "last updated" or "last reviewed" dates the pages showed when checked on September 28, 2026.

1. ICE: Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT StudentsNo date shown; edition marker 7/16; OMB expiration 4/30/2029
2. ICE: Instructions for Completing Form I-983No date shown
3. Study in the States: Form I-983 OverviewLast updated October 2, 2025
4. Study in the States: Students and the Form I-983Last updated November 26, 2024
5. Study in the States: Employers and the Form I-983Last updated May 7, 2026
6. Study in the States: DSOs and the Form I-983Last updated May 7, 2026
7. Study in the States: DSOs, Recommending Students for the STEM OPT ExtensionLast updated July 18, 2024
8. Study in the States: DSOs, STEM OPT Reporting RequirementsLast updated May 25, 2023
9. Study in the States: Students, STEM OPT Reporting RequirementsLast updated July 6, 2026
10. Study in the States: Students, Determining STEM OPT Extension EligibilityLast updated March 25, 2026
11. Study in the States: Employers, STEM OPT Reporting RequirementsLast updated September 18, 2023
12. Study in the States: Employer Site VisitsLast updated May 25, 2023
13. Study in the States: STEM OPT Extension OverviewLast updated April 28, 2025
14. Study in the States: STEM OPT Frequently Asked QuestionsLast updated April 28, 2025
15. Study in the States: SEVIS Help Hub, F-1 STEM OPT ExtensionLast updated July 27, 2026
16. ICE SEVP Broadcast Message 2309-03: Electronic Transmission and Signatures of the Form I-983Dated September 18, 2023
17. ICE SEVP Broadcast Message 2603-02: STEM OPT Employer FraudDated March 23, 2026
18. 8 CFR 214.2 on eCFRUp to date as of 2026-09-24
19. Federal Register: 81 FR 13040, 2016 STEM OPT final rulePublished 03/11/2016
20. Federal Register: 90 FR 23349, Form I-983 information collection noticePublished 06/02/2025
21. Federal Register: 91 FR 44976, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission (July 17, 2026)Published 07/17/2026
22. USCIS: Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT)Last reviewed/updated 01/30/2026
23. USCIS: Form I-765, Application for Employment AuthorizationLast reviewed/updated 09/15/2026
24. USCIS: Instructions for Form I-765Edition 08/21/25
25. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part F, Chapter 5Current as of September 23, 2026
26. E-Verify: Am I required to complete Form I-983?Last updated 05/09/2023
27. E-Verify: Am I required to participate in E-Verify to hire STEM OPT students?Last updated 05/04/2023
28. E-Verify: Hiring site enrollment for STEM OPT employeesLast updated 08/18/2023
29. E-Verify: Releasing the E-Verify company ID numberLast updated 08/18/2023

This page summarizes official information. It is not legal, immigration or tax advice. Confirm your situation with your DSO or a qualified immigration attorney. Last updated September 28, 2026.

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