STEM OPT Training Plan (Form I-983) - Global Engagement

Before we can issue a 24 month STEM OPT I-20, we must collect your completed I-983 Training Plan.

General Guidance for the I-983 Training Plan

When completing the I-983 Training Plan with your company, it is important to remember you’re an F-1 Student, sponsored by SCU, not a worker, on a work visa sponsored by the company.

Focus less on job title, duties, or the ways you benefit the company. Focus more on ways training with this company will benefit you and your education. Focus on what you want to learn and how your education will be enhanced across the 24 months you will be engaged in training.

The form must be typed. Complete all sections. Do not leave any portions of the form blank. If the field does not apply, fill in N/A. If you need more space to complete a section of the form, please our fillable I-983 Training Plan Addendum.

Will ISS accept electronic signatures on forms?

Your I-983 Training Plan can be either hand signed or we will accept verified electronic signatures. Your STEM OPT I-20 and Form I-765 must be hand signed prior to mailing your STEM OPT extension application to USCIS.

If you opt for the electronic signature, the signature must have a verification mark or be an signature. Typed signatures or signatures with a typed appearance are not accepted. Programs such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign have signature verification features. Please see below for an example.

Navigating the I-983 Training Plan

Section 1: Student Information

This section should be completed by the student.

Student Name: Last Name, First Name exactly as it appears on your I-20 and SEVIS record
Student Email Address: personal email or SCU alumni email
Name of School Recommending STEM OPT: Santa Clara University
Name of School Where STEM Degree Was Earned: Santa Clara University (if you are filing based on a non-SCU degree, you must meet with an ISS Advisor prior to completing this form).
SEVIS School Code: SFR214F00607000
DSO Name and Contact Information: Please enter these general details (you can hand write this field only, if the information doesn't fit typed)
- Melissa Heid 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053 ISS@scu.edu 408-551-3019
Student SEVIS ID Number: Enter your SEVIS ID number, it's found on your I-20 and starts with "N"
STEM OPT Requested Period: Enter the period during which you are requesting to engage in STEM OPT, typically the day after your OPT expires to 24 months later.
Qualifying Major and CIP Code: Enter your major name as it appears on your diploma and then your CIP code (such as 14.0103 (this is on your I-20). For example:
- Correct: Computer Science and Engineering / 14.0901 Incorrect: Computer Engineering, General / 14.0901
- Correct: Information Systems / 11.0103 Incorrect: Information Technology / 11.0103
Level of Qualifying Degree: enter your qualifying degree type (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D)
Date Awarded: enter degree awarded date listed on SCU transcript
Based on Prior Degree? Select No. If you are filing based on a non-SCU degree, you must meet with an ISS Advisor prior to completing this form.
Employment Authorization Number: Enter your USCIS Number (XXX-XXX-XXX) not your Card Number (WAC-XX-XXX-XXXX)

Please make sure that this section is entirely completed before signing the certification and submitting the I-983 to our office.

Section 2: Student Certification

Please review this section carefully, sign and date it before you submit the I-983 to our office.

You must sign the form. Scanned copies of original signatures or verified electronic signatures (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) are accepted; typed names are not accepted. We will accept scanned versions of the signed forms.

Section 3: Employer Information

This section should be completed by the employer.

Employer Name: Must be the full legal name of the company
Employer Address: Must be the company's mailing address.
Employer Website: If no website exists, list N/A
Employer ID Number (FEIN): Enter the Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Number of Employees: Include all Full‐Time employees in the United States
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: Enter the employer’s NAICS code. (Federal statistical agencies use the NAICS code to classify business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.)
OPT Training Hours Per Week: Must be a minimum of 20 hours per week
Start Date of Employment: Enter the date when the student will begin the STEM OPT with the employer (note that this often not the day the student started working for the company)
Compensation: This section must include the total salary and the frequency of pay (per hour, week, bi‐weekly, monthly, annually etc) and should list all other forms of compensation (signing bonuses, stock options, 401K contributions, insurance offerings, housing, tuition waivers, transportation reimbursements etc). Note: The terms and conditions of a STEM practical training opportunity (including duties, hours and compensation) must be commensurate with those applicable to similarly situated workers who are U.S. citizens, except that a STEM OPT participant must work at least 20 hours per week while employed.

This information is used to determine employer's compliance with the attestation that the terms and conditions of a STEM practical training opportunity are similar to similarly situated U.S. workers.

Section 4: Employer Attestations

This section should be reviewed carefully and completed by the employer. Note that the employer is agreeing to follow the terms outlined in the training plan and attesting that they will provide "on site supervision and training... by experienced and knowledgeable staff"

This must be signed and dated by the employer official before you submit the I-983 to our office. The employer must sign the form. Scanned copies of original signatures or verified electronic signatures (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) are accepted; typed names are not accepted. We will accept scanned versions of the signed forms.

Section 5: Training Plan Information

This should be completed by the student and employer together.

Student Name: enter your name (last name, first name) as it appears on your I-20 and SEVIS record
Employer Name: enter the full legal name of the company
Site Name: Enter the employer’s site name, which may be the same as the employer name listed in Section 3. However, if the student is working for a branch or subsidiary of a large entity, or anywhere other than the employer’s headquarters, provide the name of this work site ("Corporate Headquarters" or "Arizona Branch Office" etc.)
Site Address: enter the exact address where the student will be engaged in training
Name of Official: Enter the name of the person at the company who will monitor the student's goals and performance. This may or may not be the same Employer Official listed in Section 4.
Official’s Title: enter the title of the person at the company who will monitor the student's goals and performance.
Official’s Email: enter the email of the person at the company who will monitor the student's goals and performance.
Official’s Phone Number: enter the phone number of the person at the company who will monitor the student's goals and performance.