STEM OPT: the 24-month extension, Form I-983 and employer rules
How the 24-month STEM OPT extension works, what Form I-983 needs, why your employer must use E-Verify, and how validation reports, site visits and job changes work.
Start with the extension guide and check that your degree qualifies. Read the employer and Form I-983 guides before you accept an offer. The later guides cover the validation report due every six months, material changes and changing employers.
15 guides · Written by Vinay Kumar · Not legal advice
Guides in this hub
- 1"H-1B or STEM OPT Candidates": What the Job Posting Phrase Means and How to Check the EmployerWhat "H-1B or STEM OPT candidates" means in a job posting, what it does not promise, what an employer must have for STEM OPT, whether initial OPT counts, and how to check the company first.STEM OPT8 min readNovember 1, 2026
- 2Is This Employer Enrolled in E-Verify? How to Check Before a STEM OPT OfferSTEM OPT requires an employer enrolled in E-Verify. Learn how to search the public E-Verify employer list, what a missing result means, and what to ask HR before you accept an offer.STEM OPT7 min readOctober 16, 2026
- 3STEM OPT 180-Day Auto-Extension Explained (2026)File your STEM OPT I-765 on time and USCIS extends your work authorization up to 180 days — but the rule has sharp edges students miss.STEM OPT8 min readOctober 5, 2026
- 4E-Verify Number vs EIN: Which Number Goes on Form I-765 and Form I-983?The E-Verify company ID is not the employer's EIN. STEM OPT applicants should obtain the correct number from HR or the E-Verify administrator.STEM OPT9 min readAugust 11, 2026
- 5STEM OPT Material Changes: When a New I-983 Is Required for Remote Work, Salary, Supervisor, or WorksiteMaterial changes to a STEM OPT training plan must be reported through the DSO, and a revised Form I-983 may be required before the change is treated as routine.STEM OPT11 min readAugust 11, 2026
- 6Changing Employers While STEM OPT Is Pending: I-983, E-Verify, and USCIS StepsA STEM OPT employer change while Form I-765 is pending requires coordinated reporting, a new qualifying employer, and a new I-983—not just an update after approval.STEM OPT12 min readAugust 11, 2026
- 7How to Change Employers on STEM OPT: New I-983 and SEVIS DeadlinesThe correct STEM OPT employer-change sequence, including final evaluations, E-Verify checks, new I-983 requirements, and DSO reporting.STEM OPT10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 8STEM OPT 6-Month Validation Reports and Self-Evaluations: Complete CalendarTrack six-month validation reports, the 12-month self-evaluation, final evaluation, and change-reporting windows with one STEM OPT calendar.STEM OPT10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 9What If Your Employer Refuses to Complete or Sign Form I-983?What to document, who to contact, and what not to sign when an employer will not complete or sign your STEM OPT training plan.STEM OPT10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 10STEM OPT Employer Site Visits: How Students and Employers Should PreparePrepare for STEM OPT verification by keeping Form I-983, worksite, supervisor, compensation, training, and evaluation records consistent.STEM OPT10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 11STEM OPT Unemployment Limit: The 150-Day Rule ExplainedHow the 150-day unemployment limit works for STEM OPT, counting rules, what qualifies as employment, and strategies to stay compliant.STEM OPT6 min readJune 2, 2026
- 12Complete STEM OPT Guide 2026: Extension, Eligibility & ApplicationThe definitive guide to the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Eligibility, CIP codes, I-983, employer requirements, and unemployment rules.STEM OPT15 min readMay 31, 2026
- 13STEM OPT Employer Requirements 2026: E-Verify, I-983 & Compliance ChecklistEverything employers must do for STEM OPT: E-Verify enrollment, I-983 training plan, reporting requirements, and wage compliance.STEM OPT9 min readMay 27, 2026
- 14Is My Degree STEM Eligible? CIP Code Lookup Guide for STEM OPT (2026)Learn how to find and check your degree CIP code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List to confirm your eligibility for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.STEM OPT8 min readMarch 22, 2026
- 15I-983 Training Plan: A Section-by-Section STEM OPT GuideComplete the I-983 with your STEM OPT employer, write specific training goals, and understand signatures, material changes, and required evaluations.STEM OPT6 min readMarch 17, 2026
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