When your STEM OPT is due for validation, you will receive an email from SEVP advising you that you need to validate your STEM OPT employment. Please read the instructions below carefully on how to complete this process.

6 Months After Your STEM OPT Begins:

1. Check your SEVP Portal to confirm that your information is accurate.
2. Complete the STEM OPT Reporting Form You do not have to submit a Form I-983 Evaluation.
   • If there are no changes to your employment or address, check yes to "Check here if you are filling out this form because it has been 6 months and you are confirming that your information is the same."
   • If there are changes to your employment or address, note them on the STEM OPT Update Form. Any material changes will require a new Form I-983.

1 Year After Your STEM OPT Begins:

1. Check your SEVP Portal to confirm that your information is accurate.
2. Complete the Evaluation of Student Progress portion of the Form I-983 (top half of page 5) and get it signed by your employer.
3. Fill out the STEM OPT Reporting Form. Attach the Form I-983 evaluation to the STEM OPT Update Form.

18 Months After Your STEM OPT Begins:

1. Check your SEVP Portal to confirm that your information is accurate.
2. Complete the STEM OPT Reporting Form You do not have to submit a Form I-983 Evaluation.
   1. If there are no changes to your employment or address, check yes to "Check here if you are filling out this form because it has been 6 months and you are confirming that your information is the same."
   2. If there are changes to your employment or address, note them on the STEM OPT Update Form. Any material changes will require a new Form I-983.

At the end of your STEM OPT: 

1. Complete the Final Evaluation of Student Progress portion of the Form I-983 (bottom half of page 5) and get it signed by your employer.
2. Fill out the STEM OPT Reporting Form. Attach the Form I-983 evaluation to the STEM OPT Update Form.

• Any changes in employment, including termination, must be reported to ISS within 10 days using theSTEM OPT Reporting Form.

Switching Employers or Ending Employment while on STEM OPT:

You may change employers during STEM OPT. When switching employment or terminating employment, please follow these steps:

1. Submit a final evaluation of your previous employment (Form I-983 page 5, bottom filled out and signed) within 10 days of ending employment though the STEM OPT Reporting Form
2. Submit form I-983 for your new employment within 10 days of starting employment through the STEM OPT Reporting Form

*If timing allows, you can submit one STEM OPT Reporting Form for both ending and starting employment and attach both the final evaluation and the new I-983.

Material Changes that Require a New Fom I-983:

According to Study in the States, material changes to your employment that will require you to submit a new Form I-983 include but are not limited to:

• Any change of the employer’s EIN.
• Any reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked.
• Any significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity.
• Changes to the employer’s commitments or student’s learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983.