Reporting Requirements for STEM

Validation Reporting

You must validate your current employer, your current US address, employer name and address directly to OIS every six months from the start date of the STEM OPT, regardless if there is a change or not.

Changes to employment details

You must notify OIS within 10 days of any these changes via the STEM Employment Change Form:

  • Edit current job's Employer Identification Number (EIN) [Section 3, page 2 in the I-983]
  • Edit name of current employer [Section 3, page 2 and Section 5, page 3 in the I-983]
  • Change current employer's address [Section 5, page 3 in the I-983]
  • Change current job title [Section 5, page 3 under 'Student Role' in the I-983]
  • Change your current employer end date [page 5 under 'Final Evaluation on Student Progress' in the I-983]
  • You are ending your current job and want to ADD a new employer
  • Change current employer's Supervisor's name, address, phone number [Section 5, page 3 in the I-983]

Termination of Employment:

You must notify your employer that they must submit a FINAL Evaluation (BOTTOM PAGE 5 of the Form I-983) within 48 hours of you leaving that employer. Submit the completed final evaluation to OIS no later than 10 days from the change via the STEM Employment Change Form.

Exceptions:
  • ONLY for US address or phone number changes, you must report these directly via your SEVP Portal Account.

Please read our STEM OPT Portal Reporting Q&A for additional information. 

General Responsibilities

  • You will work a minimum of 20 hours/per week and it will be directly related to your course of study.
  • You will not participate in the following unauthorized employment: self-employment or unpaid employment.
  • Unemployment: For 24-month STEM OPT extension, you understand you may not accrue more than a total of 150 days of unemployment throughout your entire 36 months on OPT. Time spent outside the U.S., if not employed by a U.S. employer, is counted towards the 150 day period of unemployment.
  • It is your responsibility to abide by the regulations governing the F-1 OPT STEM extension and to maintain F-1 status. You understand that failure to abide by the requirements will terminate your F-1 status and thus your ability to work and otherwise remain in the US

Additional Information Regarding 24 Month Stem Extension

While you are in the U.S. on F-1 Post-Completion Optional Practical Training, you are still considered an F-1 student under U.S. immigration regulations. Contact the Office for International Services (OIS) with any questions you may have. You may continue to work while the OPT extension application is pending up until 180 days.

Acceptable Employment

OPT permits you to accept professional training and employment in your field of study. Your responsibilities must be related to your field of study. During the STEM extension, you can only work for an employer that is enrolled in E-Verify. You must have a job or job offer from an employer registered with E-verify employment verification system.

Travel While on Approved STEM OPT

You should have the following with you when you travel outside the U.S.:

  • Your STEM extension OPT I-20 (with a travel signature from the OIS less than 6 months old at re-entry)
  • A passport valid for 6 months into the future
  • A valid F-1 visa (unless you are a Canadian citizen)
  • A valid EAD card for STEM
  • Employment letter (optional not required)