Reporting Requirements for STEM opt

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overview and definition

F-1 students on an approved STEM OPT Extension are required to report to USCIS. All reporting changes and/or updates must be reported to the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS.) 

SEVP PORTAL STUDENT USER GUIDE

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Reporting Requirements

 

icon The SEVP Portal and ISSS will send courtesy reminders to the student via email to submit their validation reports about 30 days before the reporting deadline. To avoid missing any reminders, add SEVP and ISSS to the safe sender list. Students are responsible to track and submit their validations every six months from the student's original STEM approval date. 

Six Month Validation

Every six months, from the start date of the student's STEM OPT EAD card, students must confirm their address and employment information by submitting a STEM OPT: 6 Month Validation OR Annual Self-Evaluation e-form in UAtlas. 

12 Month -Annual Self-Evaluation

At the 12 month mark, from the start date of the student's STEM OPT EAD card, students must submit an Annual Self-Evaluation the progress of the student's training experience.

Students will need to fill out the top part on page 5 of the Form I-983 and must be signed by the student and employer in either wet ink or digital signature and be submitted to ISSS through the STEM OPT: 6 Month Validation OR Annual Self-Evaluation e-form.

18 Month Validation

At the 18 month mark, from the start date of the student's STEM OPT EAD card, students must confirm their address and employment information by submitting a STEM OPT: 6 Month Validation OR Annual Self-Evaluation e-form in UAtlas. 

24 Month Final-Evaluation

At the 24 month mark, from the start date of the student's STEM OPT EAD card, students must submit their Final Self-Evaluation, the progress of the student's training experience.

Students will need to fill out the bottom part on page 5 of the Form I-983 and must be signed by the student and employer in either wet ink or digital signature and be submitted to ISSS through the STEM OPT: 6 Month Validation OR Annual Self-Evaluation e-form.

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Additional reporting requirements

Address or Contact Information

Students will be able to update their address or contact information from the SEVP Portal themselves. 

Changing Employers - STEM OPT Approved

Students will submit the STEM OPT: Employment Update e-form.

Documents needed: 

• A copy of EAD card (front and back) 
• A current I-983 (page 1-4) with Final Evaluation (bottom half of part page 5) for employment that is ending. Page 5 must be signed by the student and the person who signed on page 4, section 6. 
• A new I-983 (page 1-4) for new employer 

Changing Employers While STEM Application is Pending

Students will need to submit a new STEM OPT I-20 to USCIS a second time. Please speak with one of ISSS advisors before submitting the  STEM OPT: Employment Update e-form.

    Documents needed: 

• A new I-983 (page 1-4) for new employer. 
• If the OPT STEM period started, the student must submit their current I-983 (pages 1-5) including the Final Evaluation (bottom half of page 5) for employment that ended. Page 5 must be signed by both the student and the person who signed section 6.

iconIf your OPT STEM period has not started yet, please do not use this e-form. You must first login to your SEVP Portal and update your employer end date and add the new employer information if you will be employed on Post Completion OPT. You will then have to submit STEM OPT: 24 Month STEM Extension e-form instead of this e-form. Please write in the Additional Comments box "Changing employers while STEM application is pending. OPT STEM period has not started yet" when submitting STEM OPT: 24 Month STEM Extension e-form. 

Material Changes to an Existing Form I-983 Training Plan

Students will submit the STEM OPT: Employment Update e-form.

The federal regulations require students on the STEM OPT extension and their employers to complete and sign a new I-983 Training Plan whenever there are material changes to or deviations from the training plan (the first 4 pages of the I-983) that was most recently submitted to the ISSS. 

Material changes include, but not limited to: 

• Change in your job role or job title. 
• Change of your supervisor . 
• Change in your employer name and/or address. 

• Any reduction in compensation. 
• A decrease in hours worked per week. 
• Change in the employer's EIN. 
• Any changes with the employer's commitment or with the learning objective of the student on page 3, section 5 (Student Role, Goals and Objectives, Employer Oversight, Measures and Assessments). 

    Documents needed: 

• An updated I-983 (page 1-4). 

Adding a New Employer (Multiple Employers)

Students will submit the STEM OPT: Employment Update e-form.

    Documents needed: 

• A copy of EAD card (front and back). 
• A new I-983 (page 1-4) for new employer. 

icon Students are encouraged to review the Form I-983 Sample when completing a new Form I-983. 

Ending Employment Due to Resigning, Laid-Off, Starting New Program/Transfer Out or Otherwise Being Unemployed

 Students will submit the STEM OPT: Employment Update e-form.

  Documents needed: 

• A current I-983 (page 1-4) with Final Evaluation (bottom half of part page 5) for employment that is ending. Page 5 must be signed by the student and the person who signed on page 4, section 6. 
• Last date of employment - the date should match the end date of the Range of the Final Evaluation on page 5 of the I-983 form. 

Transferring Out

  Afterward, the student will need to either transfer their SEVIS record to the new school or will work with the Office of International Admissions if admitted to a new program at the University of Utah. More information about transferring SEVIS records can be found on our Transfer-Out page. 

icon The transfer out or the issuing of an I-20 for a new program of study at the U must occur before the student’s OPT grace period ends. If you would like to transfer out or start an ew program before your OPT ends, please speak with an ISSS advisor.

Departing U.S. and not Returning Before the End Date on STEM OPT EAD

If the student is planning to depart the U.S. and terminate their STEM OPT, they must submit the STEM OPT: Employment Update e-form. Once the request is approved and the student’s SEVIS record is “Completed” they will not be able to return to the U.S. on their current SEVIS record / I-20.

  Documents needed: 

• A current I-983 (page 1-4) with Final Evaluation (bottom half of part page 5) for employment that is ending. Page 5 must be signed by the student and the person who signed on page 4, section 6. 
• Last date of employment - the date should match the end date of the Range of the Final Evaluation on page 5 of the I-983 form. 
• An actual departure date. 

Change Status from F-1 to Another Status

Students will submit the STEM OPT: Employment Update e-form.

Students will submit this form if they are reporting a change of their status from an F-1 visa to any other type of visa or permanent residency category. 

    Documents needed: 

• A current I-983 (page 1-4) with Final Evaluation (bottom half of part page 5). Page 5 must be signed by the student and the person who signed on page 4, section 6. 
• The effective date of new status. 
• Must submit Report Change of Status From F-1 e-form. 

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Unemployment during STEM-opt Extension

 After receiving an approved STEM OPT Extension, students are permitted to have an additional 60 days of unemployment on top of any unused unemployment days from Post-OPT. If the student is close to using up all unemployment days, and cannot find full-time employment they must prepare to depart the U.S. Students who use up all unemployment days will not receive a grace period.

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