An F-1 student authorized by USCIS to engage in the 24-month STEM extension of optional practical training (OPT) is required to report any employment, change of name, or change of address for the duration of the authorized training. STEM OPT students have access to report changes to address, telephone, and/or employment information through the SEVP Portal, which launched in March of 2018.
However, ISS requires students who are currently authorized for STEM OPT to report their address, telephone, and/or employment information and all related changes directly to ISS by using this Employment Reporting Form. At this time, ISS does not recommend that F-1 students on STEM OPT report information through the SEVP Portal.
The purpose of this STEM OPT Employment Reporting Form is
(1) to comply with all 24-month STEM OPT reporting responsibilities, as outlined below and
(2) to indicate whether you would like to receive an updated Form I-20 from ISS.
Deadlines: U.S. federal regulations require individuals on F-1 status to report any change of employment, change of address, or loss of employment
within 5 business days to the school that recommended the STEM OPT. Your STEM OPT reporting requirement starts from the start date on your STEM Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. ISS processing times are
5 to 10 business days from the time the student’s request is complete depending on urgency and peak times that may occur during the year.
Required Documents: (1) Completed
STEM OPT Employment Reporting Form and
(2) Additional documentation may be required and will be specified in the relevant sections of the STEM OPT Employment Reporting Form. If you have not already provided a copy of the front and back of your STEM EAD to ISS, please include a copy with this form.
While you are on the STEM extension of OPT, you will need to abide by the STEM OPT Reporting Requirements as listed below:
- General Reporting: Update ISS with any changes to your legal name, address, and phone number within 10 days of a change. You can update your address and phone number in the Howdy Portal. All other updates can be completed by sending an email to ISS@tamu.eduwith all of the necessary information and required supporting documentation.
- Employment Reporting:
- Validation Reporting: An employment validation report is required at 6, 12, and 18 months into the STEM OPT period that includes your name, address, employer name and address, and employment status. This can be completed by submitting the STEM OPT Employment Reporting Form to ISS@tamu.edu.
- Self-Evaluations: The self-evaluations on Form I-983 are due at 12 and 24 months from the start date of your STEM OPT period. You can submit these self-evaluations by emailing the updated Form I-983 and the STEM OPT Employment Reporting Form to ISS@tamu.edu.
- Material Changes in Employment: If there are any of the following material changes in your employment, you are required to submit a modified Form I-983 to ISS as soon as you are able to do so:
- Any change of the employer’s EIN resulting from a change in the employer’s ownership or structure, such as a corporate restructuring;
- Any reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked;
- Any significant decrease in the number of hours of work per week that was specified on Form I-983;
- Any decrease in the number of hours worked; and
- Changes to the employer’s commitments or student’s learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983.
- Other Changes in Employment: Other changes to your employment may require an updated Form I-983 as well. Please refer to Section 3 of the STEM OPT Employment Reporting Form for guidelines on what types of changes need to be reported to ISS.
- End of Employment Reporting: If your employment ends, the following must be submitted to ISS within 5 business days of the termination of your employment.
- The Final Evaluation page of Form I-983 for that employer.
- A copy of the OPT Employment Reporting Form that indicates you are now unemployed.
- Your employer must submit a copy of the End of Employment Form to ISS@tamu.edu.
- If you need to report new employment, you must also submit a completed Form I-983 for your new employer.
Timetable for Reporting Requirements
All items listed are due within 10 days of the required validation date per federal regulations unless indicated otherwise.
Time from STEM Extension EAD Card Start Date |
Reporting Requirements |
Documents to Submit to ISS |
6 months |
Employment Reporting |
|
12 months |
Employment Reporting and Self Evaluation |
|
18 months |
Employment Reporting |
|
24 months
(end of STEM Extension) |
Employment Reporting and Final Evaluation |
|
Event during STEM Extension |
Reporting Requirement |
Documents to Submit to ISS |
Upon any general changes to your legal name, address, or phone number |
General Reporting |
- Update phone number and address in the Howdy Portal
- Email ISS@tamu.edu for information regarding name changes, with copy of updated passport
|
Upon any material change in employment |
Material Change Reporting, including updated Training Plan |
|
At the termination of any employment |
End of Employment Reporting |
|
At the start of any new employment |
Employment Reporting |
|