Supplemental Guide to Completing Form I-983

This supplemental guide to filling out the Form I-983 has been prepared by the Office of Global Services to assist students as they complete their application for the STEM OPT Extension. Because the STEM OPT Extension application is a personal petition to USCIS, OGS is unable to advise on how to complete each section of the form. However, this guide offers clarification on some of the I-983 instructions provided by USCIS. Students should also reference the following resource:

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/stem-opt-hub/additional-resources/form-i-983-overview 

Please Note: All fields on the Form I-983 must be completed in full when you submit your STEM Extension request to OGS. This resource does not provide guidance on how to complete every field of every section of the I-983; rather, it has been created to help guide students through the most frequently questioned sections.

1 Section 1: Student Information (completed by student)

  • SEVIS School Code of School Recommending STEM OPT: SEVIS School Code can be found in the school information section on page one of your I-20, under school code and approval date.  
  • DSO Name and Contact Information: Enter the full name and contact information, including official address, phone, and email of OGS below (please DO NOT use the DSO information on your I-20): 
    • Boston campus: Rachael Elliott
      360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
      [email protected] / 617.373.2310
    • Seattle campus: Desiree Waits
      401 Terry Avenue N., Suite 103, Seattle, WA 98109
      [email protected] / 617.373.2310
    • Silicon Valley campus: Giscard Dimanche
      4 North 2nd Street, San Jose, CA 95113
      [email protected] / 617.373.2310
    • San Francisco campus: Giscard Dimanche
      600 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
      [email protected] / 617.373.2310
    • Oakland campus: Giscard Dimanche
      5000 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland CA 94613
      [email protected] / 617.373.2310
    • NU/The Roux Institute: Desiree Waits
      6100 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101 
      [email protected] / 617.373.2310
    • Arlington campus: Desiree Waits
      1300 17th St North, Arlington, VA 22209
      [email protected] / 617.373.2310
  • STEM OPT Requested Period: “From” date should be the day after your current 12-month OPT ends and “To” date should be 2 years minus one day. For example, 06/06/2022 – 06/05/2024
  • Qualifying Major and Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code: Enter both your major and the degree’s (CIP) code found on page 1 of your I-20
  • Level/Type of Qualifying Degree: Enter the academic level upon which you are basing STEM OPT.  (Ex, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D.)
  • Date Awarded: Enter the date on your transcript or diploma
  • Based on Prior Degree?:  Check “No” if your STEM OPT is based on your most recently obtained degree. Check “Yes” if your STEM OPT is based on a previously obtained STEM degree
  • Employment Authorization Number: This is the 9-digit number found on your OPT EAD

2 Section 2: Student Certification (completed by student)

All fields must be completed in full. Please pay particular attention to the following section:

  • Student Certification: Review the certification and affirm the statement with your signature. This should be a wet signature (signed with a pen in ink)

3 Section 3: Employer Information (completed by employer)

Instructions for employers to complete this section can be found on the USCIS I-983 Instructions PDF. 

All fields must be completed in full. Please pay particular attention to the following sections:

  • Number of Full-Time Employees in U.S.: Provide the number of full‐time employees in the United States (must be more than one)
  • Start Date of Employment: Please use the first day of your STEM OPT, not your first day of employment

 

4 Section 4: Employer Certification (completed by employer)

All fields must be completed in full. Please pay particular attention to the following section:

  • Printed Name and Title of Employer Official with Signatory Authority: Employer’s name and title must be included. This should be a wet signature (signed with a pen in ink)

5 Section 5: Training Plan for STEM OPT Students (completed by student and employer)

Instructions for both employer and student to complete this section can be found on the USCIS I-983 Instructions PDF. 

All fields must be completed in full. Please pay particular attention to the following sections:

  • Employer Name: Enter the company’s name, as it appears in “Section 3: Employer Information.”
  • Site Name: May be the same as employer name in Section 3. However, if you are working for a branch or subsidiary, or anywhere other than the headquarters, provide the name of this work site
  • Site Address: Enter the exact address of the work site where you will be physically working. If you are working remotely due to COVID-19, please provide the worksite address where you would be working once the COVID-19 accommodations are lifted by the government (not your home address)

6 Section 6: Employer Official Certification (completed by employer)

All fields must be completed in full. Please pay particular attention to the following section:

  • Printed Name and Title of Employer Official with Signatory Authority: Employer’s name and title must be included. This should be a wet signature (signed in ink)
    • The individual who signs this Certification need not be, but can be, the same individual who signed the Employer Certification in Section 4

7 Evaluation on Student Progress (completed by student and employer)

This page must be blank when you are submitting STEM I-20 request to OGS.