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Employer HUB for STEM OPT

Employer HUB for STEM OPT

If you are an employer who wants to provide a practical training opportunity to a STEM OPT student during his or her extension you have reporting responsibilities to USCIS.

  1. Be enrolled in E-verify and remain in good standing.​
  2. Employers are required to notify the Designated School Official at the school who recommended OPT when employment is terminated
    • Reporting termination of employment:  Provide student's last day of employment with your company.
    • Reporting of employee who has not reported to work in the last 5 days with prior approval:  Provide employee's last day of physical presence at job.

      To report termination of a UMD F1 alumni on STEM OPT, click here. 

  3. Provide an OPT opportunity that is commensurate with those of similarly situated U.S. workers in duties, hours, and compensation.
  4. Implement a formal training program to augment the student's academic learning through practical experience.​
  5. Complete the Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students.  || See Sample I-983 Form
  6. Agree to possible site visits from U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement​
  7. Reporting material changes or deviations from original I-983
    • Reporting a material change on the I-983:     A new I-983 is required when making changes in the following areas: Employers name or address, decrease in student’s compensation, reduction in hours worked to less than 20 hours a week. Please work with the Employee to update the I-983.  The employee will submit the new I-983 to University of Maryland, via our I-Terp system.  

Helpful Resources for Employers