STEM OPT Form (I-983) PDF Download: Official Link, Instructions & How to Fill It (2026

Form I-983, "Training Plan for STEM OPT Students," is issued by ICE, part of DHS. It is free.

You submit it to your Designated School Official (DSO), not to USCIS. The current edition is the 7/16 version (OMB No. 1653-0054).

Download Form I-983 and the Official Instructions

These are the official ICE files. Both open as PDFs, so you can fill the form on your computer.

Download Form I-983 (Official PDF)

Download Official Instructions (PDF)

Always use the current version from ice.gov directly. Outdated versions from third-party sites can be rejected.

The form is five pages. Save a blank copy before you send it to your employer.

What Is Form I-983 and Who Needs It?

Form I-983 is the training plan for F-1 students applying for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. It records how your job relates to your STEM degree.

You and your employer complete it together. Your employer commits to training, supervision, and duties, hours, and pay comparable to similar U.S. workers.

You need it if all of these apply:

You are an F-1 student on post-completion OPT.
Your degree has a CIP code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
Your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and can provide the training.

The form itself is free. It is not filed with USCIS. Your DSO keeps it in your student record.

Without a complete, signed I-983, your DSO cannot recommend the STEM extension. Start well before your current work permit expires.

What's Inside Form I-983

The form has six numbered sections plus two evaluation pages. This table shows who completes each part.

Part	Completed By	What It Covers
Section 1: Student Information	Student	Name, SEVIS details, school and DSO information, qualifying degree, work permit dates
Section 2: Student Certification	Student	Your signature confirming the statements on the form
Section 3: Employer Information	Employer	Company name and address, EIN, employee count, NAICS code, weekly hours, salary, start date
Section 4: Employer Certification	Employer official	Signature confirming the employer's training commitments
Section 5: Training Plan	Student and employer	Your role, goals, supervision, and how progress is measured
Section 6: Employer Official Certification	Employer official	Signature on the completed training plan
12-Month Evaluation	Student and employer	Self-evaluation completed later, not at filing
Final Evaluation	Student and employer	Completed at the 24-month mark or when employment ends

Section 5 is the core of the form. You and your employer describe your role, training goals, supervision, and assessment methods.

Leave the evaluation pages blank at filing. You complete the first one within 12 months of your STEM OPT start date.

The final evaluation comes at the 24-month mark or when the employment ends, whichever happens first.

You submit each evaluation to your DSO. Your employer reviews and signs it.

How to Fill Out Form I-983 Step by Step

Work through these steps in order. Ask your employer to complete Sections 3, 4, and 6 while you finish Sections 1 and 2.

1. Match Your Name to Your Form I-20

Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Form I-20. Put the surname first, then your given name.

Any mismatch can trigger a revision request. Copy the name from your I-20 instead of retyping it.

2. Use a Personal Email Address

Use a personal email you will keep after graduation. School addresses often expire, and your DSO may need to reach you about revisions.

3. Enter Your SEVIS and DSO Details

Section 1 asks for your SEVIS information and the school recommending your STEM OPT. Find the SEVIS school code on your I-20.

Add your DSO's name and contact details. If you are unsure, ask your international student office.

4. Confirm the 20-Hour Minimum

Section 3 asks for OPT hours per week. The entry must be at least 20 hours.

Fewer than 20 hours per week does not meet STEM OPT rules. Confirm the number with your employer before they sign.

5. Set the Start and End Dates

Your start date is the day after your current EAD expires. Your end date is 24 months later.

Check both dates against your EAD card. Make sure they stay consistent everywhere they appear on the form.

6. Have Your Employer Complete Section 3

Your employer enters the company name, address, and website. They also add the EIN, U.S. employee count, and NAICS code.

They list your annual salary and any other compensation. If the company has no website, enter N/A instead of leaving the field blank.

The EIN is the nine-digit federal tax ID. It is not the E-Verify Company ID, which goes on Form I-765.

7. Write a Specific Training Plan

Section 5 is where most forms fail. Describe your real duties and connect each one to your STEM degree.

Cover these four areas:

Your role and how it builds on your coursework.
The goals and objectives of the training.
How your supervisor oversees and trains you.
How your progress will be measured and assessed.

Name specific tools, methods, and projects. Avoid empty phrases such as "gain industry experience."

8. Sign With an Accepted Signature

Both you and your employer must sign every required signature field. ICE accepts these signature types:

A physical ink signature on a printed copy.
An electronic signature produced by software, such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign.
A digitally reproduced copy of a signature, such as a scanned image.

A plain typed name is not accepted. That includes typing your name in a cursive font.

Date each signature in mm-dd-yyyy format.

Common Reasons Form I-983 Gets Rejected or Sent Back

Your DSO cannot issue a STEM OPT I-20 until the form meets every requirement. These problems cause most revisions:

Vague or generic descriptions. Job duties and training goals must fit your specific role and degree.
Missing or wrong EIN. Use the employer's nine-digit federal tax ID, not the E-Verify Company ID.
Typed signatures. Use ink, a software e-signature, or a scanned signature image.
Blank required fields. Complete every section and enter N/A where a field does not apply.
Unreadable or overflowing text. Text that does not fit its field can force a resubmission.
Name or date mismatches. Details must match your I-20 and work permit.
An outdated form version. Download the current edition from ice.gov.

Fix these before you submit. Each revision round adds delay while your current work authorization runs down.

Where to Find Your STEM-Eligible CIP Code

Your CIP code is on the first page of your Form I-20, under Program of Study. It uses the format XX.XXXX.

Compare it with the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Only listed degrees qualify for the 24-month extension.

The list covers four two-digit series: engineering (14), biological and biomedical sciences (26), mathematics and statistics (27), and physical sciences (40).

It also names specific codes from related fields, such as computer and information sciences.

Check STEM-Eligible CIP Code List (ICE PDF)

The ICE list was last updated July 22, 2024. That update added Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (CIP 03.0204).

DHS can revise the list at any time. Confirm your code with your DSO before you file.

After You Submit: What Happens Next

Submit the signed form to your DSO. Follow your school's process, since each office sets its own upload or email method.

Here is the usual sequence:

Your DSO reviews the I-983 and may ask for corrections.
Once it meets requirements, your DSO recommends STEM OPT in SEVIS.
You receive an updated I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation.
You file Form I-765 with USCIS. This is a separate application.

Form I-983 itself is not filed with USCIS. Do not mail it with your Form I-765.

Form I-765 has its own USCIS fee. Check the current amount on the USCIS website before you file.

Your employer's E-Verify Company ID belongs on Form I-765. Ask your employer for it before you file.

Keep a copy of the final signed form. If your job changes materially, submit a modified I-983 to your DSO.

Examples include a change of employer EIN, lower pay not tied to fewer hours, or hours dropping below 20 per week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Form I-983 free to file?

Yes. Form I-983 is free. ICE does not charge for the form, and you submit it to your DSO.

Your later Form I-765 filing with USCIS has a separate fee. Check the current amount on the USCIS website.

Never pay a third-party site for the form. The official PDF is free on ice.gov.

Do I submit Form I-983 to USCIS?

No. You submit Form I-983 to your DSO. Your school keeps it in your student record.

USCIS receives a separate Form I-765 after your DSO recommends STEM OPT. Do not include the I-983 in that package.

Can I use a typed signature on Form I-983?

No. A plain typed name is not accepted, even in a cursive font.

Use an ink signature, a software e-signature such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign, or a scanned image of your signature.

The same rule applies to your employer's signature.

What happens if my Form I-983 is incomplete?

Your DSO cannot recommend STEM OPT until the form meets all requirements. Expect a request to revise and resubmit.

That delays your updated I-20 and your Form I-765 filing. Check every field, signature, and date before you submit.

How many hours per week does my STEM OPT job need to be?

At least 20 hours per week. Enter your actual weekly hours in Section 3.

Your employer certifies this minimum. If your hours later drop below 20, your employer must notify your DSO.

Final Reminder

Download the form fresh from ice.gov before every submission. ICE updates the form periodically, and an outdated version can delay your DSO's review.