The I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT, Explained

What the I-983 actually is (and why it exists)

The STEM OPT extension lets eligible F-1 graduates in a qualifying STEM field add extra practical-training time after their initial post-completion OPT. What many students miss is that the extension is not just a longer work permit — it is a *structured training program*, and Form I-983 is the document that defines that program.

Officially titled the "Training Plan for STEM OPT Students," Form I-983 is completed by the student and the employer together and submitted to the student's Designated School Official (DSO) before the extension is filed. It captures what the student will learn, how the job connects to their STEM degree, how the employer will supervise and evaluate them, and the employer's formal commitments.

Because it is central to eligibility, a vague or incomplete I-983 can hold up the whole extension. Treat it as the substance of your STEM OPT, not paperwork to rush.

This page explains the training plan itself. For eligibility, timing and the overall application, see the STEM OPT extension guide — this one goes inside the form.

The six sections of Form I-983

SEVP structures the form so responsibility is shared and visible. The student owns the student information and certification; the employer owns the employer information, its certification and the official signature; the training plan in Section 5 is filled in by both; and Section 6 holds the student self-evaluations that the employer later reviews and signs.

Each signature is a certification of accuracy, so read the declaration text before signing rather than treating the boxes as formalities. The exact field layout and section numbering can change between form editions — always download the current Form I-983 and its instructions from ICE/SEVP so you are working from the version DHS expects.

• Section 1 — Student Information (completed by the student, working with the school and employer as needed).
• Section 2 — Student Certification (the student's signed declaration).
• Section 3 — Employer Information (completed by the employer, including the employer's EIN and the compensation and hours).
• Section 4 — Employer Official with Signatory Authority Certification (the employer's signed attestations).
• Section 5 — Training Plan for STEM OPT Students (completed jointly — the heart of the form).
• Section 6 — Evaluation on Student Progress (the student's self-evaluations — the 12-month and the final — which the employer reviews and signs).

Section 5: writing strong learning objectives

Section 5 is where students most often lose points. A properly completed training plan has to explain, in specific terms, several things — not one-line answers.

According to SEVP, the plan must show how the practical training directly relates to your qualifying STEM degree; state the specific goals of the training opportunity; describe how those goals will be achieved through the work, including the knowledge, skills or techniques you will gain; and set out the performance-evaluation process and the methods of oversight and supervision.

• Tie the role to the degree — connect concrete tasks to what you studied, not just a job title.
• Make goals measurable — what you should be able to do at 6, 12 and 24 months.
• Name the skills — specific tools, methods or techniques, and how you will build them on the job.
• Describe supervision — who oversees you, how often you meet, and how progress is reviewed.

What the employer must attest to

The employer's part of the I-983 is more than contact details. By signing, the employer makes formal commitments that SEVP relies on to confirm the training is genuine.

The employer must attest that it has sufficient resources and qualified personnel to provide the training described at the listed worksite, and that the training plan and the terms of the position support the student's learning objectives. The employer also commits to notify the DSO of material changes or deviations from the plan at the earliest opportunity — including if it believes the student is not getting the training the plan describes.

• Resources and personnel are adequate to deliver the training at the stated location(s).
• The position's terms, wages and hours are consistent with the plan and with SEVP's requirements.
• The employer will report material changes and deviations to the DSO promptly.
• For a small employer, an added comparability attestation applies (see the next section).

The wage and small-employer attestation

STEM OPT is meant to be bona fide employment, not an unpaid or under-resourced arrangement, so the I-983 carries specific protections around pay and employer size.

Under SEVP guidance, the duties, hours and compensation of the STEM OPT position must be commensurate with those of the employer's similarly situated U.S. workers. Where an employer does not employ — and has not recently employed — more than two similarly situated U.S. workers, the terms and conditions of the student's position must instead be commensurate with those of similarly situated U.S. workers at companies of analogous size and industry in the same geographic area. This is why very small startups can still host STEM OPT, but must document comparability carefully.

Because these are the kinds of facts DHS may examine on a site visit, keep the plan honest and current. This is general information, not legal advice — confirm the exact attestation language and any wage expectations on the official SEVP source and with your DSO.

The 12-month and final self-evaluations

Evaluating the training is a shared duty of student and employer, and it happens on the I-983 itself (Section 6) — this is a step students frequently forget until a deadline is close.

SEVP requires the student to complete a self-evaluation of their progress within 12 months of the STEM OPT start date, and a second, final evaluation that recaps the training and knowledge gained over the whole period. The employer must review and sign each self-evaluation to verify it is accurate. Per SEVP guidance, each evaluation is submitted to the DSO no later than 10 days after the end of the relevant reporting period.

• 12-month evaluation — your progress against the plan's goals, employer-signed.
• Final evaluation — a summary of the complete training period, employer-signed.
• Submit to your DSO within the SEVP window (no later than 10 days after the period ends).
• Set calendar reminders early — these do not auto-file, and missing them can affect status.

Material changes, deviations and 6-month check-ins

The I-983 describes a plan, and real jobs shift — so SEVP requires you to report when reality diverges from the plan. You must tell your DSO about any *material change* to, or *material deviation* from, your training plan.

Examples SEVP gives of material changes include a change in the employer's EIN, a reduction in your compensation that is not tied to fewer hours worked, a significant decrease in weekly training hours, and changes to the employer's commitments or your learning objectives as documented on the I-983. A material change generally means completing and submitting a new or modified Form I-983.

Separately, STEM OPT students validate their SEVIS record with the DSO every six months, confirming legal name, address, and employer name/address and employment status. And standard OPT reporting still applies: report changes to name, address, employer or employment status — including any loss of employment — within 10 days. DSOs then have their own SEVIS-update window. Verify all current timelines on the official SEVP source.