STEM OPT: Responsibilities & Obligations

There are numerous employer requirements to which you must adhere. Some of those requirements are listed here, but you should pay particular attention to the attestation on page 2 of the I-983 Training Plan and the employer information located in Study in the States. General employer requirements include being registered with the E-Verfiy program and ensuring that hiring an international student with STEM employment will not displace a U.S. worker.

Employers

  • Must be E-Verify employer

  • Develop a training plan for the student

  • Complete Form I-983 (more info below)

  • Provide two evaluations for the student

  • Responsible for proving compliance during government site visits

F-1 Students

  • Have a job offer related to your U.S. STEM designated degree

  • Work for an E-Verify employer

  • Have a paid position in STEM field for at least 20 hours per week

  • Work with IEC to complete a STEM OPT application and submit the application to USCIS

  • Complete the student portion of Form I-983

  • Submit the completed Form I-983 to IEC

  • Responsible for completing validation reports every six months and submitting to IEC

  • Completing parts of evaluation

MassArt IEC (International Student Advisor)

  • Review STEM OPT application

  • Issue STEM OPT recommendation on Form I-20

  • Maintain the completed Form I-983 in student’s file

  • Monitor student’s validation reports and evaluations

About Form I-983

  • The formal training plan, Form I-983, must clearly articulate the STEM OPT student’s learning objectives and affirm the employer’s commitment to helping the student achieve those objectives. To fulfill this requirement, a student and their employer must complete and sign Form I-983 and submit it to the MassArt IEC. By signing Form I-983, students and their employers agree that they understand their obligations during the STEM employment.

  • STEM OPT students and their employers are subject to the terms and conditions of the 24-month STEM OPT extension regulations, effective as of the employment start date requested for the associated STEM OPT period, as indicated on Form I-983.

  • STEM OPT students may not act as their own employer or as the signatory for the employer for the purposes of the form.

  • Instructions for Completing Form I-983 can be found here

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