Students Studying in The United States Reporting STEM OPT Extension (F-1)

• Report your updated U.S. address within 10 days of the change in the SEVP Portal  and in myOGS
  • While all changes made in the SEVP Portal will be reflected in SEVIS, updates submitted to myOGS will serve as confirmation that you have reported your updated address to a DSO
• Report your updated U.S. address within 10 days of the change to USCIS either in your USCIS online account (recommended) or by filing a paper AR-11 form with USCIS. You can find instructions for reporting a change of address to USCIS here. For more detailed instructions on updating your address in your USCIS online account, see the USCIS video here.
  • Note: OGS strongly recommends reporting any U.S. address updates to USCIS throughout your entire OPT/STEM OPT period to ensure you timely receive any mail correspondence from USCIS.
• Report any change in legal name must be reported to OGS via the submission of a new Form I-983

Report any material changes to your employment via the Report Material Changes to Current STEM OPT Employer e-form in myOGS. Updates include but are not limited to:  

• Change to Employer Identification Number 
• Reduction in your compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked 
• Significant decrease in your work hours per week 
• Loss of employment  
• Change to employer name or address
• Change to your supervisor (as listed in Section 5 of the form I-983)
• Other material changes as determined by your employer 

Any updates to your job title may be self-reported through the SEVP Portal.

Please note: F-1 students must not start working with any employer during their STEM OPT extension period without first fully completing and signing a Form I-983 with their employer. Students on STEM OPT and their employers are subject to the terms of the 24-month STEM OPT extension regulations and Form I-983 instructions, effective as of the start date with that employer. It is your responsibility to ensure the I-983 is completed prior to your start date with the employer. OGS is not able to report new employment in your SEVIS record during your STEM OPT extension period unless you provide the Form I-983, completed and signed with your employer.”

• If your STEM OPT has been approved, report a new employer by submitting the Report a New STEM OPT Employer e-form.  
  • If your STEM OPT is still pending, please submit the STEM OPT Recommendation Request to update your employer while your application is pending
• You must also submit the “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” section of the Form I-983 for your previous STEM employer 
  • This form will require you to upload the completed and signed I-983 for your new employer, as well as the I-983 from your previous employer with the “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” section (found on the bottom half of page 5) completed 
• If your application for a STEM Extension EAD is still pending with USCIS and you have not yet received your EAD you can find more information below under “Changing Employers During the STEM Extension”

Report 6-month validations and self-evaluations by submitting the STEM Validation (6, 12, 18 and 24 months) form in myOGS. This occurs 6-months, 12-months, 18-months, and 24-months from the start date of your STEM Extension. 

Confirm to OGS the validity of the following information: legal name, residential address, employer name and address, job title, and status of current employment.

You will also be required to upload a copy of the front and back of your STEM EAD card to the e-form.

Confirm to OGS the validity of the following information: legal name, residential address, employer name and address, job title, and status of current employment  

Submit the Form I-983 with “Evaluation on Student Progress” section (top half of page 5 of the I-983) completed and signed

• If signing digitally, parties may sign all signature fields on the Form I-983 using electronic signatures produced with software programs or applications or use digitally reproduced copies of a signature.
  • Typed signatures on the I-983 will not be accepted

Note: Even if you have not completed 12 months of employment with your current employer you must still submit the 12-month evaluation  

Confirm to OGS the validity of the following information: legal name, residential address, employer name and address, job title, and status of current employment 

Confirm to OGS the validity of the following information: legal name, residential address, employer name and address, job title, and status of current employment 

Submit the Form I-983 with “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” section (bottom half of page 5 of the I-983) completed and signed

• If signing digitally, parties may sign all signature fields on the Form I-983 using electronic signatures produced with software programs or applications or use digitally reproduced copies of a signature.
  • Typed signatures on the I-983 will not be accepted

Note: If you leave an employer at any time during the 24-month STEM Extension you must also complete the “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” section for each employer

Changing employers while your STEM OPT application is pending can cause delays and complications, so it is generally not recommended. However, if that you do need to change your employer while your application is pending, the new employer must also be enrolled in the E-Verify program and the position must meet all STEM requirements. You must report the change of employer to USCIS by doing the following: 

1. The new employer and the student must complete a new Form I-983 
2. The student must submit the STEM Extension I-20 Request to OGS and select the option ‘My STEM is pending and my employer has changed’
   • This e-form will require you to upload the completed I-983 for your new employer as well as the I-983 for your previous employer. Students must complete the final evaluation for their previous employer (page 5) only if they worked for that employer after the end date of their Post-OPT EAD. 
3. If you applied online, submit the following documents to USCIS via the myUSCIS account by uploading them under “Your Cases” > “Documents”> Unsolicited Evidence
   • Copy of STEM OPT I-20 with new employer information (remember to sign the I-20!)
   • Letter of explanation regarding the employer change including USCIS receipt number, your full name, the new employer’s name, and the employer’s E-Verify information
4. If you applied using a paper application, Send the documents listed below to USCIS (to the address on the STEM OPT application receipt notice, not to the lock-box address where the original application was mailed)
   • Letter of explanation regarding the employer change including USCIS receipt number, your full name, the new employer’s name, and the employer’s E-Verify information
   • Copy of USCIS receipt notice  
   • Copy of STEM OPT I-20 with new employer information (remember to sign the I-20!)

1. The new employer must be enrolled in the E-Verify program 
2. The new employer and the student must complete a new Form I-983 
3. The student and their previous employer will need to complete the “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” on the Form I-983 for your previous employer
4. The student must submit the Report a New STEM OPT Employer e-form to OGS 

It is possible that someone from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may visit the address of your OPT employer to ensure compliance.

OGS has prepared this resource about site visits and what you can expect. 

• You must log in with your NU credentials to access this resource

Please review OGS’ 2025 Current Travel Recommendations prior to making plans to travel outside of the United States.

If you travel outside the U.S. or its territories during the approved STEM OPT extension period, to re-enter the country, you must present the following documents at the port of entry:

• A passport which should be valid for at least six months from the date you return to the U.S. and your unexpired F-1 visa stamp
• I-20 with a valid travel signature (While you are participating in OPT, travel signatures are valid for only 6 months)
• Your Employment Authorization Document card for STEM OPT extension*
• Proof of employment
  • If you are not currently employed, you should not travel outside of the U.S. as you may be denied entry by Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

*If your STEM OPT application is pending and you plan to travel abroad, please make sure your Post-OPT Employment Authorization Document is still valid. If your Post-OPT Employment Authorization Document is already expired, traveling abroad is NOT recommended.

If you travel during your OPT or STEM period and your F-1 visa has expired, you will need to obtain a new F-1 visa. While on OPT/STEM, you are still considered to be an F-1 student. Expect to show similar documents as the first time you applied for your visa (check with your local US embassy for requirements). Additionally, you should have your valid STEM EAD card, I-20 with STEM recommendation on page 2 and travel signature within 6 months, passport valid within 6 months, and proof of employment. Please see Renewing your F-1 visa for further instructions on how to renew your visa.

You must submit your I-983 with the Final Evaluation via the Request to Complete STEM OPT and SEVIS Record e-form 

• OGS will maintain this final evaluation in your internal record. We will not be able to report the submission to SEVIS

If you are changing to H-1B status you must submit the H-1B Status Change Reporting e-form. Your submission should include your I-983 with the Final Evaluation.

• OGS will maintain this final evaluation in your internal record. We will not be able to report the submission to SEVIS  

If you are changing to permanent residency, you must submit the Switching to Permanant Residency e-form

• OGS will maintain this final evaluation in your internal record. We will not be able to report the submission to SEVIS

You must submit your I-983 with the Final Evaluation via the Report Material Changes to Current STEM OPT Employer e-form 

• OGS will maintain this final evaluation in your internal record. We will not be able to report the submission to SEVIS

You must request to have your SEVIS record transferred or request a Change of Degree Level I-20

If you are not currently employed, you should not travel outside of the U.S. as you may be denied entry by Customs and Border Protection.

If you are close to exceeding your available days of unemployment, you may have a few options:

• Leave the U.S. before you have exceeded your unemployment days.

• Apply for and be accepted to a new academic program and request a SEVIS transfer before you’ve exceeded your unemployment days. The new program would need to start within 5 months of the last day of your OPT (based on the transfer out date) in order for you to remain in the U.S. with the same SEVIS record.

• Submit an application to USCIS for a change of status to another immigration status that allows you to remain in the U.S. while the application is pending. The application must be filed before you exceed your unemployment days.

Please contact OGS if you would like to discuss any of these options.