STEM OPT Annual Evaluation

STEM OPT students must submit an evaluation at the 12-month and 24-month points of their STEM OPT period. The evaluation must be completed with the STEM employer for whom you are working at the time of the reporting requirement.

Instructions

1. Log in to your  International Students & Scholars (ISS) Portal using the link below.
2. Navigate to  (2) Personal & Program  and confirm that your U.S. physical address is current.
   • If your address is not up to date, update your  SEVIS Domestic Address  in your CSUF Portal.
3. In the ISS Portal, go to  (3) Requests & Documents  and confirm that your STEM employment information is current.
   • If updates are needed, submit a  Practical Training Employer Update  with your most recent employment details.
4. Navigate to  (3) Requests & Documents  and open the  STEM Validation Report.
   • Select either the 12-month or 24-month validation, as applicable.
   • Complete and submit the form.

Important

The address and employment information you report must match your Form I-983 Training Plan. If there have been any changes to the information listed on your I-983 (including compensation, employer official/supervisor, or employment site location), you must upload a modified I-983 (pages 1–4) reflecting those changes. Validation reports will not be processed until ISS receives the updated I-983, if applicable.

 

International Students and Scholars Portal

 

Due Date: Submit to ISS within 10 days of the 12 month and 24 month mark of your STEM OPT period. To be considered on time, submission must be complete and accurate. 10 day deadline is for student submission to ISS only. ISS has an additional window to report evaluation to the Department of Homeland Security.

No updated I-20 will be issued after reporting.

Tips for Completing the Form I-983 Self-Evaluation (Page 5)

• Complete the top section titled "Evaluation on Student Progress" section for your 12 month evaluation (view 12 month evaluation guidelines). Complete the bottom section titled "Final Evaluation on Student Progress" section for your 24 month evaluation (view 24 month evaluation guidelines).
• This is a self-evaluation and should not be written by the employer official.
• The evaluation start and end date should reflect employment dates during the STEM period.
• The evaluation should be signed by you and the signatory designated on page 4 of the I-983. 

Sample Timeline

Post-Completion OPT End Date	12 Month Mark	10-day Deadline to Submit to ISS	I-983 Range of Evaluation Dates	ISS Reports to DHS and Send Confirmation to Student
June 1, 2020	June 1, 2021	No Later than June 11, 2021	June 1, 2020* to June 1, 2021	No Later than June 31, 2021

*Or first day of employment, whichever is later.

Post-Completion OPT End Date	12 Month Mark	10-day Deadline to Submit to ISS	I-983 Range of Evaluation Dates	ISS Reports to DHS and Send Confirmation to Student
June 1, 2020	June 1, 2022	No Later than June 11, 2022	June 1, 2021* to June 1, 2022	No Later than June 31, 2022

*Or first day of employment, whichever is later.