i983 instructions

How to Fill Form I-983: Section-by-Section i983 Instructions

Sakshi Jain
  • Form I-983, "Training Plan for STEM OPT Students," is the document you and your employer fill out so your school can recommend your 24-month STEM OPT extension. The current edition is the 7/16 version (OMB No. 1653-0054), a five-page form from ICE.
  • You complete the student sections, your employer completes the company and certification sections, and you both write the training plan together.
  • The form goes to your DSO, not to USCIS, and it is free.
  • The most common reasons it gets bounced back: vague job descriptions, a missing E-Verify Company ID, typed (rather than signed) signatures, and blank required fields.

Who Fills Out i-983?

What it covers

Who completes it

Student information

You

Student certification and signature

You

Employer information (EIN, E-Verify ID, hours, wage)

Employer

Employer certification and signature

Employer official

The training plan (goals, skills, supervision, evaluation)

You and employer together

Employer official certification

Employer

12-month and final self-evaluations

You, signed by employer

Pre-requisites for I-983

Download the current form straight from an official source so you are not stuck with an outdated edition:

Section 1 and 2: Student Information and Certification

This is the easy part, but small mismatches here cause real delays.

  • Student Name: Enter it exactly as it appears on your Form I-20. Surname first, then given name.
  • Student Email: Use a personal email you will keep after graduation, not a school email that may be deactivated.
  • Degree details: List your qualifying STEM degree, the level (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD), and the date awarded as shown on your diploma or transcript. Your CIP code comes from "Major 1" on your I-20.
  • DSO contact: Many schools want you to leave this blank so the DSO can complete it. Confirm with your advisor.
  • Signature: Sign with wet ink or a verified electronic signature. A name typed in a cursive font is not accepted.

The federal instructions confirm that scanned wet signatures and verified software e-signatures (such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign) are acceptable, while plain typed names are not, per the ICE I-983 instructions.

Section 3 and 4: Employer Information and Certification

Your employer fills these in, but you should know what they require so you can chase the details early.

Section 3 needs:

  • Full legal employer name and mailing address.
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN), the company's nine-digit federal tax ID.
  • E-Verify Company ID Number. This is mandatory. Without it your DSO cannot process the form.
  • Number of full-time and part-time U.S. employees, and the NAICS code.
  • OPT hours per week: must be at least 20.
  • Start date of STEM OPT employment, and the annual compensation (plus any bonuses, stipends, or stock).

Section 4 is the employer certification, signed by an official with signatory authority. By signing, the employer attests it has reviewed the plan, will follow it, will report material changes, and will report your termination or departure within five business days.

Section 5: The Training Plan (Where Most People Go Wrong)

This is the heart of the i-983 form and the part adjudicators actually read. You and your employer answer four core questions, drawn from the DHS Form I-983 overview:

  1.  How is the work directly related to your specific STEM degree?
  2. What are the specific goals and objectives of the training?
  3. How will those goals be achieved (the knowledge, skills, and techniques you will gain)?
  4. How will the employer evaluate and supervise you?

I983 Form Filling: Weak vs Strong Sample Answers

The single biggest competitor-guide gap is that they tell you to "be specific" without showing what that means. Here is the difference.

Field

Too vague (risky)

Specific (strong)

Role and degree link

"I will do software development related to my computer science degree."

"I build and test REST APIs in Python and Java, applying the data structures, algorithms, and database design covered in my MS in Computer Science coursework."

Goals

"Improve my technical skills."

"Within 12 months, independently own a microservice in production, write unit and integration tests, and reduce a defined service's error rate."

Skills imparted

"Learn new tools."

"Gain hands-on experience with Docker, CI/CD pipelines in GitHub Actions, and observability tooling such as Datadog."

Supervision

"My manager will supervise me."

"My direct manager holds weekly 1:1s, reviews my pull requests, and tracks progress against the milestones above."

If you run out of room (Section 5 fields have character limits), the federal instructions allow you to attach an addendum on a separate page. Note in the form that details continue in an attached document.

Section 6 and the Evaluation Pages

Section 6 is a second employer certification. The signer must be someone familiar with your training and able to confirm the statements are true.

The last page holds two evaluations you must complete on a schedule:

  • The first self-evaluation is due within 12 months of your STEM OPT start date.
  • The final evaluation is due at the end of the 24-month period.
  • Both should be signed by you and your employer.

Per the USCIS STEM OPT page, the evaluation of your progress is a shared responsibility between you and your employer.

Common Mistakes That Cause i 983 Rejections

Pulling together what international offices flag most often:

  • Vague job descriptions: that could describe any job. Tie everything to your degree.
  • Missing E-Verify Company ID: Get it from HR before you submit.
  • Typed signatures: Use wet ink or a verified e-signature.
  • A staffing agency signing the form: Only the actual training employer can sign, not a temp or placement agency.
  • Signing as your own employer: Even at your own startup, someone else with signatory authority must sign.
  • Wrong worksite address: It must be where you physically work. If remote, list your remote location and note the remote arrangement.

The 2026 backdrop matters here. In May 2026, ICE announced a nationwide crackdown on OPT fraud and flagged more than 10,000 students connected to suspect employers. Investigators specifically targeted falsified I-983 training plans. The lesson for honest students is simple: write a truthful, specific plan, keep a signed copy at your worksite, and you turn a site visit into a non-event.

I983 Form Pre-Submission Checklist

  • Current 7/16 edition from an official source
  • Name and degree match your I-20 exactly
  • Employer's E-Verify Company ID is filled in
  • Hours are 20+ per week and pay is commensurate
  • Training plan is specific and tied to your degree
  • Every required section is complete
  • All signatures are wet ink or verified e-signatures
  • Worksite address is accurate
  • You calendared your 12-month and 24-month evaluations
  • You kept a copy for your worksite

FAQs

  1. My small employer has never seen this form. What do I do?

That is normal. Point HR to Section 4 and the DHS overview. Most sign once they understand it is a standard, free process.

  1. Can I do this at a startup?

Yes, if the startup is enrolled in E-Verify and is a bona fide business, and someone other than you signs.

  1. Does I983 go to the USCIS?

No. It stays with your DSO. You file Form I-765 separately with USCIS.

  1. Who Reviews Form I-983 - USCIS, DHS, or Your DSO?

The i 983 is reviewed by DSO (Designated School Official).