Reporting Requirements for STEM

General Responsibilities

  • Employment must be full time and directly related to your course of study.
  • You will not participate in the following unauthorized employment: self-employment or unpaid employment.
  • Your employer must be enrolled in e-verify
  • You and the employer should maintain and update form I-983 and report to OIS
  • Unemployment: For 24-month STEM OPT extension, you understand you may not accrue more than a total of 150 days of unemployment throughout your entire 36 months on OPT (regular OPT plus the STEM Extension). Time spent outside the U.S., if not employed by a U.S. employer, is counted towards the 150-day period of unemployment.
  • You retain F-1 status while on STEM OPT. It is your responsibility to abide by the regulations governing the F-1 OPT STEM extension and to maintain F-1 status. 

 

I-20 Updates 

OIS does not automatically process I-20s for F-1s when their STEM extension application is approved by USCIS. If you would like to get an updated I-20 reflecting STEM OPT approval, please make an online request. You can also use the link to get a cap-gap I-20. 

Note: A DSO’s travel endorsement is valid for six months while on STEM OPT.  

 

Validation Reporting

You must validate your current employer, your current US address, employer name and address directly to OIS every six months from the start date of the STEM OPT. SEVP portal users usually receive an email reminder 30 days before a validation report is due. On the 12-month and 24-month report, F-1s have to submit annual self-evaluations along with their validation.

Note: Please start counting based on your STEM EAD card, not your OPT EAD card.

  • 6 months: Confirm that your U.S. address and employment information listed on your SEVP Portal account is accurate and up to date.

  • 12 months: You must submit an evaluation (top box of page 5 of the Form I-983) within 10 days of the 12-month mark.

  • 18 months: Confirm that your U.S. address and employment information listed on your SEVP Portal account is accurate and up to date.

  • 24 months: You must submit a final evaluation (bottom box of page 5 of the Form I-983) within 10 days of the 24-month mark from your STEM OPT start date. 

 

All validations should be submitted via the STEM OPT Employment Validation Form. An OIS advisor will report these validations in SEVIS on your behalf after you submit the form. 

 

Employment Change Related Reporting 

You must notify OIS within 10 days of any of these changes via the STEM Employment Change Form. These changes will need to be reflected in the I-983 form. 

  • Change in current STEM OPT employment:
    • Edit current job's Employer Identification Number (EIN) [Section 3, page 2 in the I-983]
    • Edit name of current employer [Section 3, page 2 and Section 5, page 3 in the I-983]
    • Change current employer's address [Section 5, page 3 in the I-983]
    • Change current job title [Section 5, page 3 under 'Student Role' in the I-983]
    • Change current employer's Supervisor's name, address, phone number [Section 5, page 3 in the I-983]
  • Termination of Employment: You must notify your employer that they must submit a FINAL Evaluation (BOTTOM of Page 5 of the Form I-983) within 48 hours of you leaving that employer. 
  • Add a new employer: [New I-983 and pg.5 with “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” of the previous I-983]
  • Change in visa status: You must report this change with the approval notice of the new status and pg.5 with “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” of the STEM OPT I-983

Note: An OIS advisor will report these changes in SEVIS on your behalf after you submit the form. You will be notified. You can request an updated I-20 after your employment change request has been processed by OIS. This new I-20 will reflect the most updated employment information. 

 

Address/Personal Information Changes

U.S. address or phone number changes: you must report these directly via your SEVP Portal Account. If you are unable to, please let us know — ois@fordham.edu

 

Travel While on Approved STEM OPT

You should have the following with you when you travel outside the U.S.:

  • Your STEM OPT I-20 (with a travel signature less than 6 months old at re-entry)
  • A passport valid for 6 months into the future
  • A valid F-1 visa (unless you are a Canadian citizen)
  • A valid STEM OPT EAD card
    • Employment letter (optional not required)