Laid Off on STEM OPT? I-983, Employer Changes & the 150-Day Rule

Why STEM OPT Layoffs Are Different

When you are on initial post-completion OPT and lose your job, the primary compliance task is tracking and reporting the unemployment gap. On STEM OPT, a layoff triggers additional obligations that are specific to the STEM training program:

1. A final Form I-983 Evaluation of Student Progress is required when any STEM training opportunity ends, including early endings caused by a layoff. The former employer must review and sign this evaluation.
2. The DSO must be notified of the loss of employment, and the SEVIS record for STEM OPT employer information generally cannot be updated by a simple portal edit without DSO coordination.
3. A new Form I-983 must be completed with the new employer before starting the new STEM training opportunity. You cannot carry an old I-983 to a new employer.

Step 1: Confirm the Final Day of STEM Training

The 10-day deadline for the final evaluation starts from the day the STEM training opportunity ends. The training opportunity ends on your last qualifying workday—not the date the company announced the layoff, not the last date of paid administrative leave.

Get a written statement from HR or your manager that specifies the date you actually stopped performing training-related work. Save this with your STEM OPT records.

Step 2: Request the Final Form I-983 Evaluation

The final Evaluation of Student Progress (Form I-983, Section 6) must be completed jointly: you complete the student self-evaluation portion, and the employer's authorized signatory reviews and signs the employer portion.

How to request it professionally

Even in an adversarial or rushed layoff situation, the employer is still responsible for completing this evaluation under the STEM OPT regulations. Send a written request (email is fine) to HR and your manager that:

• States you are on STEM OPT and a final I-983 evaluation is federally required
• Provides the evaluation section of the form as an attachment
• States the 10-day deadline from the training end date
• Includes your SEVIS ID and the training start and end dates for their records
• Asks for the name and title of the authorized signatory

If the employer refuses or is unresponsive, document every attempt and immediately escalate to your DSO. For a full guide on that scenario, see: What If Your Employer Refuses to Sign Form I-983?

What the evaluation must include

Step 3: Report to Your DSO and Update SEVIS

Contact your DSO on the same day or the next business day after the layoff, and provide:

• Your legal name and SEVIS ID
• Former employer name, address, and EIN
• Exact final date of STEM training
• Whether you have received or requested the final evaluation
• Whether you have a new qualifying employer in mind

Your DSO will manage the SEVIS record update for the employer change. Do not simply delete the old employer or add a new one in the SEVP Portal without DSO confirmation— STEM OPT employer records involve more than a portal field.

Understanding the 150-Day Combined Unemployment Limit

The 150-day figure is the combined maximum unemployment allowance across your entire post-completion OPT sequence. It is calculated as:

A real example: Arjun's timeline

Use the TrackMyOPT unemployment clock to maintain a running total across both OPT periods in one view.

Step 4: Find a Compliant Replacement STEM OPT Employer

The replacement employer must meet all STEM OPT requirements. Many students accept an offer under time pressure and discover later that the employer cannot complete the I-983 or is not E-Verify enrolled. Vet the employer before accepting.

STEM OPT employer requirements checklist

See the detailed employer verification guide: STEM OPT Employer Requirements.

Step 5: Complete the New Form I-983 Before Starting

Do not start working for a new STEM OPT employer without completing and submitting a new Form I-983 through your DSO. The process is:

1. Download the current Form I-983 from the DHS Study in the States website
2. Complete Section 1 (student information) and Section 2 (employer information and training plan) with the new employer's authorized signatory
3. Both you and the employer signatory sign the form
4. Submit the completed I-983 to your DSO through your school's process
5. Wait for DSO confirmation and a new I-20 (if required) before beginning
6. Once authorized, report your new start date and confirm your SEVIS record

Special Situations

Company acquired or merged — are you still on STEM OPT?

If your employer is acquired or merges into another company, the STEM OPT authorization may or may not transfer automatically. The new entity's E-Verify status, name, EIN, and worksite may all change. Contact your DSO immediately when any corporate transaction affects your employer and do not assume your I-983 automatically applies to the new entity.

Your employer wants you to become a contractor

If the company changes your status from W-2 employee to 1099 independent contractor, your STEM OPT authorization likely does not cover the new arrangement. STEM OPT requires a qualifying employer-employee relationship. A contractor relationship generally disqualifies the engagement. Discuss this with your DSO before accepting any change in employment type.

You are laid off during a six-month validation period

If the layoff happens close to a six-month validation date, the validation obligation still exists—but the details change. Ask your DSO how to handle a validation report for a training opportunity that ended before the scheduled date. See also: STEM OPT Six-Month Validation Reports and Self-Evaluations: Complete Calendar.

Complete Action Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Sources