STEM OPT Extension · Form I-983
How to fill out the I-983 Training Plan
A section-by-section walkthrough of the STEM OPT Training Plan, with who fills each part, common mistakes, and field-by-field guidance.
Student Information
Student fills thisCommon mistakes
- • Using a nickname instead of the legal name shown on your I-20 and passport.
- • Leaving the SEVIS ID number blank or mistyping the N-prefix number.
Student's Legal Name
Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Form I-20.
Example: Zhang, Wei
SEVIS ID Number
Found on page 1 of your I-20, starts with N followed by 10 digits.
Example: N0012345678
Student Certification
Student fills thisCommon mistakes
- • Signing before Section 1 is fully completed — USCIS/DSO systems flag out-of-order signatures.
- • Using a typed signature when the school requires a hand-signed or certified digital signature.
- • Dating the certification with the I-20 issue date instead of the date you actually signed.
Certification Statement
By signing, you confirm the information in Section 1 is true and that you understand the STEM OPT reporting obligations (validation reports, material change reporting, evaluations). Read it before signing — this isn't a formality your DSO can waive.
Example: "I certify that the information I have provided in Section 1 is true and correct..."
Student Signature
Accepted forms: a physical wet signature (scanned), or an electronic signature produced through signing software. A typed name in a text box is generally not accepted as a valid signature.
Example: Hand-signed and scanned as PDF, or signed via DocuSign/Adobe Sign
Date Signed
Use the actual date you sign this section — not your I-20 issue date or your OPT start date.
Example: 06/12/2026
Employer Official
Employer fills thisCommon mistakes
- • Listing an HR generalist or immigration attorney who has no direct knowledge of the student's actual work — SEVP guidance expects someone familiar with the student's goals and performance.
- • Assuming this must be the same person listed as the supervisor in Section 5 — it's allowed to be a different person, but the roles should make sense together.
- • Leaving the official's title generic ("Manager") when a more specific title helps the DSO/USCIS understand signing authority.
Employer Official's Name
The individual who is familiar with, and will help monitor, the student's training goals and performance. This may or may not be the same person as the Section 5/6 signer.
Example: Sarah Chen
Employer Official's Title
Use a specific job title that reflects real oversight of the student's role, not just a generic HR title.
Example: Engineering Manager
Employer Official's Contact Information
A direct phone number and email — DSOs sometimes reach out to verify training plan details, so avoid a shared inbox.
Example: s.chen@company.com · (415) 555-0182
Training Plan for STEM OPT Students
Student & employerCommon mistakes
- • Writing training goals in vague corporate language ("contribute to team success") instead of specific, measurable objectives tied to the STEM degree.
- • Forgetting to explicitly connect the training opportunity to the student's specific STEM degree — USCIS wants the 'why this relates to your degree' link spelled out, not implied.
- • Listing a third-party client site as the work location without addressing on-site supervision — this is a common RFE trigger if the actual day-to-day supervisor works for a different company.
- • Omitting the commensurate-terms attestation when the employer has fewer than a certain number of similarly situated U.S. workers.
Not legal advice
The wording you use here (goals, supervision, commensurate terms) is reviewed by USCIS. This guide explains what each field is asking for, but it is not legal advice — have your DSO review the language before submission.
Work Site Address
The exact physical address where the training takes place. If this differs from the employer's main address (e.g., a client site or remote location), list it explicitly.
Example: 500 Market St, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94105
Supervisor Name & Contact
Per SEVP guidance, this person is recorded as the student's supervisor in SEVIS. Should be someone who directly oversees day-to-day work.
Example: David Kim, Senior Engineering Manager, d.kim@company.com
Goals and Objectives
Describe specific, concrete learning goals — what skills, knowledge, or techniques the student will gain — not just job duties. Use a three-part structure: (1) what the student will do, (2) how it builds on their STEM degree, (3) how progress will be measured.
Example: "Student will design and implement distributed data pipelines, applying statistical modeling techniques from their M.S. in Data Science coursework, evaluated via quarterly project milestones and code review feedback."
Methods of Oversight and Supervision
Describe how the employer will supervise and evaluate the student — regular 1:1s, project check-ins, formal review cycles, etc.
Example: Weekly 1:1 meetings with direct supervisor; quarterly formal performance reviews.
Commensurate Terms Attestation
If the employer does not currently employ (or hasn't recently employed) more than a small number of similarly situated U.S. workers, this section must affirm the student's compensation and conditions are commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers in the same role/location.
Example: "The compensation and conditions offered are commensurate with those of similarly situated U.S. workers in this role and location."
Employer Official Certification
Employer fills thisCommon mistakes
- • Signing without confirming the signer has actual signatory authority for the employer entity.
- • Not understanding the 5-business-day reporting obligation for student termination/departure before signing — this is a binding commitment, not boilerplate.
- • Using a personal or department email in the certification contact when a general compliance-facing contact would be clearer for future DSO follow-up.
Not legal advice
Signing this section creates binding reporting obligations for the employer (e.g., the 5-business-day termination-reporting rule). This guide explains the requirement, but the employer's signing official should independently confirm their obligations — this is not legal advice.
Certification Statement
The signing official certifies the employer has reviewed and will follow the Training Plan, has sufficient resources to provide the training, will not use the position to displace a U.S. worker, and will report material changes and student termination/departure within 5 business days.
Example: "I certify on behalf of the employer that this Training Plan is approved and that I have reviewed and understand this Plan..."
Employer Official Signature
Must be signed by someone with actual authority to bind the employer to these commitments — same signature format rules as Section 2 (wet signature or accepted e-signature).
Example: Hand-signed and scanned, or signed via approved e-signature software
Date Signed
The date the employer official actually signs — should be on or before the STEM OPT start date requested on the form.
Example: 06/15/2026
Once both parties have signed, the training plan isn't the end of the story — here's what comes next.
After You File: Evaluations & Reporting
Student & employerCommon mistakes
- • Treating the 12-month evaluation as optional if the internship is going well — it's required regardless of performance.
- • Submitting the 12-month self-evaluation late because the student assumed the employer would initiate it — this is the student's responsibility to submit.
- • Forgetting to report a material change (EIN change from a corporate restructuring, reduction in hours below 20/week, non-hours-related compensation decrease) at the time it happens, instead of waiting for the next scheduled evaluation.
- • Not realizing a change of employer requires a new Form I-983 from the new employer — the old one doesn't carry over.
Not legal advice
This section summarizes ongoing STEM OPT reporting obligations. Deadlines and requirements can change — always confirm current requirements with your DSO and the USCIS/Study in the States website before relying on dates listed here.
12-Month Self-Evaluation
The student must submit a self-evaluation of training progress within 12 months of the STEM OPT start date, reviewed and signed by the employer before returning it to the DSO.
Example: STEM OPT start: 07/01/2026 → 12-month evaluation due by 07/01/2027 (submit within 10 days after the reporting period ends per current guidance)
Final Evaluation
A second, final evaluation recapping the full training period, submitted at the end of the STEM OPT extension (or within 10 days if the opportunity ends early).
Example: Due at the conclusion of the 24-month STEM OPT period, or within 10 days of an early end date
6-Month Validation Reporting
Separate from the I-983 evaluations — many schools require STEM OPT students to confirm their employment status every 6 months through the school's own reporting form or SEVP portal.
Example: Check with your DSO for your school's specific validation reporting process and deadline
Reporting a Material Change
Report to the DSO as soon as possible — not at the next scheduled evaluation — for: employer EIN changes (e.g., due to a merger/restructuring), reduction in hours below 20/week, or a compensation decrease unrelated to a reduction in hours.
Example: Employer restructures and issues a new EIN → notify DSO immediately, may require an amended Form I-983
Changing Employers
A new employer means a new Form I-983 must be completed with that employer — the previous employer's I-983 does not transfer. Update your employer information in the SEVP portal at the same time.
Example: Student leaves Employer A for Employer B → new I-983 required with Employer B before starting