Students with a 24-Month STEM extension cannot begin new employment or report a change to their employment without first following the applicable steps below. Any new employment undertaken while on the STEM Extension must meet the employment requirements detailed under "STEM Extension Employment Requirements and Employer Relationship" in the I-983 Training Plan.
Ending employment: If you stop working for an employer, you must take the following steps within 10 days of when you stop working:
- email your International Student Advisor (ISA) completed Final Self Evaluation (from page 5 of the I-983 Training Plan) signed in ink by you and your employer
- email your ISA the date you stopped working so they can update your SEVIS record
Beginning new employment: You must receive your ISA's approval before beginning work for a new employer, by taking the following steps
- Email your ISA a new I-983 Training Plan signed in ink by you and your employer
- Your ISA will then confirm if the new I-983 is complete and meeting all STEM program requirements and email you approval to begin work
General Employment Rules on STEM OPT:
- Before you can begin work: any and all employers must submit the I-983 training plan; then your ISA must approve the plan and update your SEVIS record
- All employment must be directly related to your major field of study and all employers must be e-verified
- Self-employment is not allowed
- Any change(s) in current employment must be reported directly to your ISA within 10 days of the change(s) being made:
- Changes in current employment include (but are not limited to): change in supervisor, location of work, location of employer, addition of responsibility or new title
- In some cases, you must submit an updated I-983 Training Plan detailing the change; please check with your ISA if you are unsure if you need to submit an updated I-983 Training Plan.