Carnegie Mellon University

24-Month STEM OPT Extension Reporting

F-1 students beginning 24-Month STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension will need to report certain key details regarding employment to OIE. This reporting is required to maintain legal status and eligibility for employment in the United States. Failure to submit the STEM report could result in the loss of F-1 visa status and STEM OPT work authorization.

STEM OPT Reports are Required Every Six Months

Timing is critical! The timeline begins with the STEM OPT start date. Check the start date on your STEM EAD card.

SEVP Portal users will receive a reminder via email from SEVP 30 days before any validation report is due. You will also receive a reminder email from OIE. You can submit your report after you receive the email reminder.

The regulations state that students with a STEM OPT Extension must submit a validation report within 10 days of the deadline of each six-month reporting period. OIE can accept late submissions through the MyOIE Portal, however, it may be too late to submit the report in SEVIS.

STEM OPT students must confirm the following information in the six-month reports:

  • Legal name
  • U.S. residential address
  • Employer name and address
  • Status of current employment
6 months: Submit STEM OPT Report
12 months: Submit STEM OPT Report with "Evaluation on Student Progress" (top section of page 5 of Form I-983)
18 months: Submit STEM OPT Report
24 months: Submit STEM OPT Report with "Final Evaluation on Student Progress" (bottom section of page 5 of Form I-983)

Complete the STEM report every six months by submitting the "STEM Report" e-form in the MyOIE Portal. If an "Evaluation on Student Progress" (12 months) or "Final Evaluation on Student Progress" (24 months, or end of STEM OPT employment) is due, it must be uploaded with this e-form. After OIE submits the report to SEVP, you will receive an email confirmation from OIE.

F-1 students cannot report a change of employer themselves in the SEVP Portal. Follow the steps below and report a change of employer within ten days of the change.

  1. Gather documentation
    • ​​"Final Evaluation of Student Progress" (page five of I-983) from the previous employer
    • New I-983  – signed by the new employer (please make sure this new employer is E-Verified). Review OIE's sample I-983 for guidance
    • Copy of your EAD cards
    • Copy of your most recent I-94 Record
  2. Submit the "STEM I-20 Request" e-form via MyOIE
    • Review the instructions about how to access MyOIE during your STEM OPT period. (Use the "Limited Services Login" link to log in.)
    • In the "F-1 Practical Training" tab, click "STEM I-20 Request."

Once submitted, OIE will update SEVIS and process a new I-20 with your new employer information within ten business days. The government allows OIE extra time to update students' employment records. Students will not need to submit any documents to USCIS.

Please contact your OIE advisor for assistance if you are changing employers while your STEM OPT application is pending, adding an employer, or never worked for an employer during your STEM OPT period.

An updated I-983 is usually not required for STEM OPT reporting. However, material changes require F-1 students and their employers to update the I-983 and send it to OIE as soon as possible. Per the Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States website, material changes or deviations from the original Form I-983 may include, but are not limited to:

  • Any change of the employer's EIN.
  • Any change to your work site address as listed on page three, section five of the I-983. Your work site address is the address that you are physically located at when you are working. This includes working remotely from your U.S. residential address.
  • Any reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked.
  • Any significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity.
  • Changes to the employer's commitments or student's learning objectives as documented on the I-983 Form.

Students on STEM OPT must update certain personal and employment information within ten days of the change. Students cannot make all personal and employment updates themselves. However, students can use the SEVP Portal to report the following changes themselves:

  • U.S. residential or mailing address
  • U.S. phone number
  • Employment title
  • Supervisor information (first name, last name, email address, phone number)

If you want to change the email address associated with the SEVP Portal, submit the "Change Email Address for SEVP Portal" E-Form in the MyOIE Portal

If you are changing your status to H-1B, see these instructions on the OIE website.

Students on STEM OPT must report an early end to their STEM OPT to OIE at oie@andrew.cmu.edu as soon as possible. Examples of status changes include the following:

  • If you decide to terminate your STEM OPT and F-1 status and leave the U.S.
  • If you apply for and are granted a change of status from F-1 (OPT) to a status other than H-1B
  • If you leave the U.S. and make a new entry in another status other than H-1B
  • If you plan to return to CMU as a student or continue studies elsewhere after STEM