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STEM OPT Reporting Requirements

STEM OPT Reporting Requirements for Employers

Responsibilities & Helpful Information

STEM OPT regulations require a student to submit a formal training plan (Form I-983). The student will need your assistance in completing the form. You also have some reporting requirements while the student is working.

Contact the IU Office of International Services at sevisiu@iu.edu if you have any questions about the application process or the ongoing requirements.

During the application process

Completing Form I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students

You need to complete sections 3-6 of Form I-983. Our office can create the necessary STEM OPT Extension I-20 after we receive the completed form. Find more information on DHS’s website.


Section 3
Provide information about your company and the student’s position.


Section 4
Read the certification statements in section 4. By signing, you agree that your company will abide by the applicable rules and laws, including that the student is not replacing a U.S. worker, and the payment is commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers.

Then designate an Official with Signatory Authority. This person needs to be familiar with the student’s training goals and performance and have the authority to sign for the company.

 

Section 5
Create a formal training plan with the student that identifies learning objectives and a plan for achieving those objectives. The following information must be included in the plan: 

  1. Student name, exactly as it appears on their Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) and in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System).
  2. Employer name, exactly as it appears in Section 3 of Form I-983.
  3. The specific STEM field of the training opportunity.
  4. Contact information (i.e., name, title, email address and phone number) for the individual who will evaluate the student’s goals and performance.
  5. Details about the tasks and assignments the student will carry out during the training opportunity and how those tasks relate to the student’s STEM degree. The plan must also describe the specific skills, knowledge and techniques the student will learn or apply and an explanation as to how the student will achieve the goals set out for the training opportunity.
  6. Explanation about how the employer will supervise the STEM OPT student.
  7. Information about the measures the employer will use to assess if the STEM OPT student is acquiring new knowledge and skills.


Section 6
This can be completed by the same individual who signed the Employer Certification in Section 4. Regarding material change certification, note that material changes can include but are not limited to the changes listed under “Your Ongoing Requirements.”