Form I-983: The Complete STEM OPT Training Plan Guide (2026)
Form I-983 is the most misunderstood document in the entire STEM OPT process — yet it is the foundation of your 24-month extension. This guide walks you and your employer through every section, every reporting requirement, and every compliance rule you need to know.
TL;DR / The Bottom Line
Form I-983 is a detailed training plan that both you (the student) and your employer must complete and sign before you can get a STEM OPT extension. The employer MUST be E-Verify enrolled. Self-employment is prohibited. You must update the plan when your role changes and submit evaluations to your DSO every 12 months. Keep all copies — ICE can audit them at any time.
Table of Contents
- 1. What Is Form I-983?
- 2. Who Needs Form I-983?
- 3. The E-Verify Requirement for STEM OPT Employers
- 4. All 6 Parts of Form I-983 Explained
- 5. How to Fill Out Form I-983 Step by Step
- 6. Ongoing Reporting Requirements (12-Month Evaluations)
- 7. What Counts as a Material Change (and What to Do)
- 8. Why Self-Employment Is Prohibited on STEM OPT
- 9. ICE Compliance Inspections & Site Visits
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is Form I-983?
Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, is a DHS-required document that establishes a formal training agreement between an F-1 student seeking a STEM OPT extension and their US employer. It was created under the final STEM OPT regulations published in 80 FR 63376 (March 11, 2016) and is governed by 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C).
Unlike the I-9 (which verifies work eligibility) or the I-765 (which is the actual work permit application), the I-983 is a training document. It defines:
- What practical training you will receive — specific learning goals and skills to be developed
- How the training relates to your STEM degree — demonstrating a direct connection between your major and your job duties
- How progress will be measured — through formal 12-month evaluations from both the student and employer
- Employer confirmation of E-Verify enrollment — the foundational compliance requirement
The I-983 is NOT a contract between you and your employer. It is a federal regulatory document. Misrepresentations on the I-983 — by either the student or the employer — can constitute immigration fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1546.
2. Who Needs Form I-983?
Form I-983 is required for every F-1 student applying for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, without exception. Both the student AND the employer are required to participate.
Student Must:
- Have a STEM degree that qualifies under the DHS STEM designated degree list
- Be on their initial 12-month OPT (not yet expired)
- Complete Parts 1 and 6 of the I-983
- Certify the accuracy of the training plan by signing the form
Employer Must:
- Be actively enrolled in the E-Verify program
- Complete Parts 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the I-983
- Have the authority to hire, fire, pay, and supervise the student
- Sign by an authorized company official (not HR third-party)
3. The E-Verify Requirement for STEM OPT Employers
This is the single most common reason STEM OPT extensions are denied: the employer is not enrolled in E-Verify. Under 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(3), the employer must be enrolled in E-Verify at the specific worksite location where the student will work.
Critical Warning
A company that uses a third-party staffing or PEO (Professional Employer Organization) is usually NOT E-Verify enrolled for your worksite. The company where you physically work every day must be E-Verify enrolled — not the staffing agency. This is a very common trap for international students working through consulting firms.
To verify if your employer is enrolled in E-Verify:
- • Ask your employer's HR department for their E-Verify Company ID number and the specific site (worksite location) that is enrolled
- • Employers can check their enrollment status at e-verify.gov/employers
- • The employer must enter their E-Verify Company ID number on Part 3, Item 5 of Form I-983
4. All 6 Parts of Form I-983 Explained
Student Information
Completed by: Student
Your full name, SEVIS number, degree (major and level), the school you attended, your training position title, and the full address of your employer. This section is completely filled out by the student.
Employer Information
Completed by: Employer
Employer legal name, FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number), business address, E-Verify Company ID, point of contact name and title, and phone number. The employer fills this out.
Training Objectives & Goals
Completed by: Employer + Student
The most detailed section. Lists specific, measurable learning goals and training activities the student will engage in during the STEM OPT period. Goals must be directly tied to the student's STEM major. Vague goals like 'gain work experience' are not acceptable. Write specific objectives like 'Develop proficiency in machine learning model deployment using Python and TensorFlow.'
Compensation & Hours
Completed by: Employer
The salary or hourly rate, number of hours per week, and a certification that the student will be compensated at the same rate as similarly situated US workers. Unpaid internships are NOT permitted for STEM OPT.
Employer Performance Evaluation
Completed by: Employer (submitted every 12 months)
A structured evaluation where the supervising employer assesses the student's progress against the learning objectives set in Part 3. Must be completed and submitted to the DSO at the 12-month mark and at the end of the STEM OPT period.
Student Self-Evaluation
Completed by: Student (submitted every 12 months)
A self-assessment where the student reflects on their own progress against the training objectives. Also submitted to the DSO at the 12-month mark and at the end of STEM OPT. Deliberately falsifying these evaluations is a violation of federal immigration law.
5. How to Fill Out Form I-983: Step-by-Step for Students
Download the current I-983 form
Download from ICE.gov or your university's international student office. The current version has OMB No. 1653-0054 at the top.
You complete Part 1 first
Fill in your SEVIS number (starts with N), your full legal name, your STEM degree (be specific — 'Computer Science, Master of Science' not just 'CS'), and the employer's details.
Send to your employer to complete Parts 2, 3, and 4
Email the partially-completed form to your HR contact or direct supervisor. Give them at least 2 weeks — many employers need time to look up their E-Verify Company ID and draft appropriate training objectives.
Review Parts 3 carefully
Before signing, ensure Part 3 goals are specific, measurable, and directly tied to your STEM major. If they are too vague, your DSO may reject the form and ask for revisions.
Both student and employer sign
The student signs Section 6 initially (self-certification that the plan is accurate). The employer's authorized representative signs at the end of Part 4. Make sure the company title of the signer is included.
Submit completed I-983 to your DSO
Your DSO reviews the form and, if approved, recommends your STEM OPT extension in SEVIS and issues you a new I-20. Do not submit the I-983 directly to USCIS.
6. Ongoing Reporting Requirements (12-Month Evaluations)
The I-983 is not a one-time form. Under 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(10), students and employers must submit evaluations throughout the STEM OPT period:
| Timeframe | Action Required | Who Submits |
|---|---|---|
| Before STEM OPT begins | Complete and sign I-983 (Parts 1–4) | Student + Employer → DSO |
| At 12-month mark | Employer evaluation (Part 5) + Student self-evaluation (Part 6) | Both → DSO within 10 days |
| At end of STEM OPT (24 months) | Final employer evaluation (Part 5) + Final student self-evaluation (Part 6) | Both → DSO within 10 days |
| When employment ends early | Report to DSO within 5 business days of separation | Student → DSO |
7. What Counts as a "Material Change" to Your Training Plan
If there is a "material change" to your training plan, you must submit a new or updated I-983 to your DSO as soon as possible. Material changes include:
When you change employers on STEM OPT, the timeline is critical: you have a 10-day unemployment grace period. You must have a new I-983 signed with the new employer AND get a new I-20 from your DSO before beginning work with the new employer.
8. Why Self-Employment Is Prohibited on STEM OPT
This surprises many students: unlike standard OPT, where you can be self-employed working for your own startup, STEM OPT explicitly requires a bona fide employer-employee relationship.
The regulation at 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(3) states that the employer must:
- Have the legal authority to hire and fire you
- Pay you wages directly
- Supervise your work on a day-to-day basis
- Be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the worksite
A student who is the sole owner of a company cannot supervise themselves or fire themselves — so they fail the employer-employee test. However, the workaround used by many startup founders is to establish a formal Board of Directors that holds authority over the student-employee. Read our full guide on starting a company on STEM OPT for details.
9. ICE Compliance Inspections & Site Visits
ICE's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have the authority to conduct unannounced site inspections at your employer's worksite to verify that your training plan is real and being executed. During a site visit, they may:
Both students and employers should maintain organized records for the entire duration of STEM OPT. SEVP regulations require these documents to be retained for 3 years after the training has ended.
Frequently Asked Questions About Form I-983
What is Form I-983?
Form I-983 is the Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, required by the DHS regulations (8 CFR § 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)) for all F-1 students seeking a 24-month STEM OPT extension. It is a detailed plan documenting the student's training goals, learning objectives, and how the employer will provide practical training related to the student's STEM degree.
Who must sign Form I-983?
Both the student AND the employer must sign Form I-983. Specifically, a company official with knowledge of the student's training — typically the hiring manager, supervisor, or a senior HR official — must sign on behalf of the employer. Neither the DSO nor an immigration attorney can sign in place of the student or employer.
Does the employer need to be E-Verify enrolled to sign an I-983?
Yes. Under STEM OPT regulations, the sponsoring employer MUST be enrolled in E-Verify for the location where the student will work. This is a non-negotiable requirement. An employer who is not E-Verify enrolled cannot legally support a STEM OPT student, regardless of whether they sign the I-983.
Can a student be self-employed on STEM OPT with Form I-983?
No. Unlike standard OPT which allows self-employment, STEM OPT explicitly prohibits self-employment. A student cannot be their own employer for STEM OPT purposes. The regulations require a bona fide employer-employee relationship, which means the employer must have the ability to hire, fire, pay, and supervise the student.
How often must the I-983 training plan be updated?
The I-983 must be updated whenever there are 'material changes' to the training plan — such as a change in employer, change in job duties, change in location, or changes to goals. Additionally, students are required to submit a self-evaluation (Part 6) every 12 months and at the end of the STEM OPT period.
What is the difference between Section 5 and Section 6 of Form I-983?
Section 5 is the employer evaluation — completed by the supervisor or employer to assess the student's progress and performance against the training plan goals. Section 6 is the student self-evaluation — completed by the student themselves. Both must be submitted to the DSO (Designated School Official) every 12 months.
Does the I-983 need to be submitted to USCIS?
No. Form I-983 is not directly submitted to USCIS. Instead, it is submitted to your DSO (Designated School Official) at your university, who reviews it and uses it to recommend your STEM OPT extension in SEVIS. However, USCIS and ICE can request to audit the I-983 at any time, so all copies must be retained.
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