Maintaining Student Status - STEM OPT Extension / Validation Report

Validation Report

Follow this procedure when you have reached the 6 month mark and again at the 18 month mark of your STEM OPT period. Complete the following with the STEM employer with whom you are employed at the time of the reporting requirement.

Instructions

Click the link below to submit your 6 Month or 18 Month Validation Report. 

The personal information and employment information you report must match your I-983 Training Plan. If there have been any changes to the employment information listed on your I-983, (such as compensation, employer official/supervisor, employment site location) you must upload a modified I-983 training plan (pages 1-4) to reflect those changes. Your validation report will not be processed until ISS receives an updated I-983.

Submit 6 Month or 18 Month Validation Report

Due Date: submit to ISS within 10 days of the 6 month and 18 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 validation to the Department of Homeland Security.

No updated I-20 will be issued after reporting

Sample Timeline

Post-Completion OPT End Date 6 Month Mark 10-day Deadline to Submit to ISS ISS Reports to DHS and Sends Confirmation to Student
June 1, 2020 December 1, 2020 No Later than December 11, 2020 No Later than December 31, 2020

 

Post-Completion OPT End Date 18 Month Mark 10-day Deadline to Submit to ISS ISS Reports to DHS and Sends Confirmation to Student
June 1, 2020 December 1, 2021 No Later than December 11, 2021 No Later than December 31, 2021