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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo hire someone on the 24-month STEM OPT extension, a U.S. employer must use E-Verify, work with the student to complete and sign Form I-983, and provide the supervised, degree-related training described in that plan. The student—not the employer—works with the school’s designated school official (DSO) and files Form I-765 with USCIS. Employers also have ongoing duties to report plan changes and a student’s departure.
Check whether your company and the role qualify
STEM OPT is a 24-month extension of post-completion Optional Practical Training for eligible F-1 students. Before committing to a hire, confirm that your company can meet the employer requirements and that the job and training opportunity directly relate to the student’s qualifying STEM degree. ICE’s practical-training guidance identifies employer use of E-Verify as a condition of the STEM OPT extension.
- E-Verify: Confirm that the employer participates in E-Verify. The student will need the employer name as listed in E-Verify and the company’s Company Identification Number or a valid Client Company Identification Number for the filing. See the USCIS Form I-765 instructions.
- Degree connection: The role must directly relate to the STEM degree that qualifies the student for the extension, and the position must support the training objectives in Form I-983.
- Real training capacity: Be ready to provide the personnel, resources, supervision, and work location described in the plan. The arrangement is structured work-based learning, not simply employment with a STEM-related title.
- Fair employment terms: The employer certification covers non-displacement of U.S. workers, terms and conditions comparable to those for similarly situated U.S. workers, and compliance with applicable federal and state employment requirements.
Complete Form I-983 with the student
Form I-983, the Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, sets out what the student will learn and how the employer will support and supervise that learning. The employer and student complete and sign it. The employer certifies that the training relates directly to the qualifying degree and that the position achieves the training program’s objectives. The form also commits the employer to maintaining adequate resources and personnel and meeting the listed employment conditions. Review the current ICE Form I-983 and make sure its commitments match what your organization can actually provide.
After the student submits the completed plan, the DSO reviews it, retains it in the student’s record, and provides a recommended Form I-20 if the plan is complete. The student then files Form I-765 with USCIS. Coordinate promptly with the student and DSO, but do not treat the employer as the person responsible for filing the student’s application.
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Run the employer workflow in order
- Confirm the opportunity: Match the role and planned learning objectives to the student’s qualifying STEM degree.
- Verify employer details: Confirm E-Verify participation and give the student the employer name exactly as listed in E-Verify, plus the correct Company ID or valid Client Company ID.
- Build and sign the plan: Work with the student on the training goals, supervision, resources, personnel, and work location in Form I-983. Sign only a plan that reflects the training you intend to deliver.
- Coordinate the school review: Ensure the student can provide the plan to the DSO for review and obtain the recommended Form I-20 before the student files Form I-765.
- Deliver and document the training: Provide the structured, guided work-based learning and knowledgeable supervision set out in the signed plan. Keep records aligned with the actual training and the plan.
- Assign an owner for compliance: Give HR or another responsible contact clear ownership of plan updates, departure notices, and records for the training period.
Track reports and plan changes
Make reporting deadlines part of the employer’s normal onboarding and offboarding process. The employer’s Form I-983 certification says to report material changes to the training plan to the DSO and to report a student’s termination or departure within five business days. ICE’s practical-training guidance separately says the student must report specified changes—including name, address, employer, and loss of employment—to the DSO within 10 days. The student’s reporting duty does not replace the employer’s own I-983 obligations.
Form I-983 also states that DHS may conduct a site visit to verify the employer’s ability and resources to provide the training described. Keep the training arrangement, supervision, and supporting records consistent with the signed plan.
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Understand the pending-extension work window
ICE says a student who timely files a STEM OPT extension application while on post-completion OPT may continue working for up to 180 days after the existing OPT employment authorization document expires while the petition is pending, if the stated conditions are met. This is a conditional continuation window, not a blanket authorization for every applicant or a new 180-day period for an employer to assume. Confirm the student’s filing and expiration dates and individual circumstances with the student and DSO, and consult the current official guidance for the case.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use current official instructions for the individual case
Immigration forms and agency instructions can change. Employers should use the current USCIS Form I-765 instructions, ICE/SEVP practical-training guidance, and Form I-983, and coordinate case-specific questions with the student’s DSO. This employer overview does not determine an individual student’s eligibility or work authorization.
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