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Form I-983 Training Plan

The Form I-983 Training Plan is an important part of the STEM OPT extension. It shows that your employment gives you training that is directly related to your degree. The information below will guide students and employers on how to fill out the Form I-983 correctly, including setting learning goals, explaining how you will be supervised, and how your progress will be checked.

Please carefully follow the general guidance below, as well as official guidance from DHS Study in the States, particularly the Form I-983 Instructions. This information, along with the information below will be helpful to guide you with completing the Form I-983 training plan to help you with your STEM request and ongoing reporting obligations.

Topics on this page:

Section 1: Student information

Completed by student

  • Student Name: should be completed as it appears on your I-20
  • Student Email Address: Current non-University of Rochester email address:
  • Name of School Recommending STEM OPT: University of Rochester
  • Name of School where STEM Degree was Earned: List University of Rochester only if you earned your STEM degree there. Otherwise, list the school that granted your STEM degree.
  • SEVIS School Code of School Recommending STEM OPT: You can find this information on your I-20, page 1, “School Information”. University of Rochester’s SEVIS school code is BUF214F00034000
  • Designated School Official (DSO) Name and Contact Information: List the following link only: https://www.rochester.edu/iso/contact/.
  • Student SEVIS ID No.: Listed on the top left of your I-20
  • STEM OPT Requested Period: From: Day after current OPT period ends/To: 24 months, minus one day after start date
  • Qualifying Major and Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code: Major name and CIP Code (found on I-20)
  • Level/Type of Qualifying Degree: Example: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD
  • Date Awarded: Date degree was awarded or anticipated completion date
  • Based on Prior Degree: Check “No” if basing STEM OPT off most recent University of Rochester degree. Check “Yes” only if your STEM OPT is based on a different degree that you earned prior to your most recent University of Rochester degree program.
  • Employment Authorization Number: Enter USCIS # found on EAD

Section 2: Student certification

Completed by student

  • Signature of Student: Sign here using ink or verified digital signature through Docusign or Adobe Software, do not type name in plain text.
  • Printed Name of Student: Print your name
  • Date: Date of signature

Section 3: Employer information

Completed by employer

  • Employer Name: Employer name should match name associated with the EIN
  • Employer Address (street, suite, city, state, zip code): Enter the employer’s mailing address.
  • Employer Website: Enter employer’s website. If no website exists, enter N/A.
  • Employer ID Number (EIN): Employer’s 9 digit tax ID
  • Number of Full-Time Employees in U.S.: Enter number
  • North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: Information on NAICS codes is available on the US Census Burearu website
  • OPT Hours per week: Must be at least 20 hours a week
  • Compensation: Must align with the compensation and benefits given to U.S. employees in equivalent positions
  • Start Date of Employment: Start date of employment during your STEM OPT period (it may be the first day of your STEM or later)

Section 4: Employer certification

Completed by employer

The employer that signs the Form I-983 training plan must be employed by the same entity that employs the student and provides practical training experience.

  • Signature of Employer Official: Sign here using ink or verified digital signature through Docusign or Adobe Software, do not type name in plain text.
  • Printed Name and Title of Employer Official: Printed name and title of employer official
  • Date: Date of signature
  • Printed Name of Employing Organization: Printed name of employing organization of employer official

Section 5: Training plan for STEM OPT students

Completed by student and employer

  • Student Name: should be completed as it appears on your I-20
  • Employer Name: Enter employer’s name as it appears in “Section 3: Employer Information”
  • Employer Site Information:
    • Site Name: Enter employer’s site name, including if site is remote or hybrid
    • Site Address: Enter the address where you will physically work. If the position is hybrid, list the location where you will spend most of your time. If the position is remote, list the address where you will be working (ex. home address).
  • Official Name and Contact information: Name of the person responsible for overseeing the student’s training plan, goals, and performance. This may or may not be the same individual listed in Section 4.
  • Student Roles: Detail the specific duties the student will perform and explain how they relate to the STEM degree.
  • Goals and Objectives: Clearly identify the student’s specific training goals and explain how each goal will be achieved.
  • Employer Oversight: Explain how the student will be supervised.
  • Measures and Assessments: Explain how the employer will know that the student has achieved new knowledge and skills.

Section 6: Employer official certification

Completed by employer

The employer that signs the Form I-983 training plan must be the same entity that employs the student and provides practical training experience.

  • Signature of Employer Official: Sign here using ink or verified digital signature through Docusign or Adobe Software, do not type name in plain text.
  • Printed Name and Title of Employer Official: Printed name and title of employer official
  • Date: Date of signature

Evaluation on student progress

This section should be left blank when submitting Form I-983 for a new employer. Page 5 only needs to be completed at 12 months and 24 months after your STEM OPT start date, or if you leave this employer during your STEM OPT period. For more details on your ongoing reporting responsibilities while on STEM OPT, please visit the STEM OPT reporting page.

Next steps

After completing the Form I-983 Training Plan, submit it to ISO using the appropriate e-form in URcompass, as outlined on the STEM OPT reporting page, and keep a copy for your records. This is an active document, so update it whenever there are changes to your employment, as reported in the Form I-983 Training Plan.