STEM OPT E-Verify Employers Guide 2026

The definitive guide to the 24-month STEM OPT extension: E-Verify requirements, I-983 Training Plan, ICE's list of employers with the most OPT students, STEM degree SOC codes, and full reporting obligations.

24-Month ExtensionE-Verify RequirementsI-983 Training PlanICE Top EmployersSTEM Degree ListReporting Requirements

STEM OPT 24-Month Extension: How It Works?

The STEM OPT 24-month extension is an additional period of Optional Practical Training available to F-1 students who hold qualifying STEM degrees from a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified institution. Combined with the standard 12-month OPT, STEM OPT gives qualifying students a total of 36 months of work authorization before needing H-1B sponsorship.

24

Additional months of work authorization

150

Maximum unemployment days on STEM OPT (vs 90 on standard OPT)

10 days

To report a change of name, address or employer, or job loss, to your DSO

Core STEM OPT Requirements, All Must Be Met

Hold a qualifying STEM degree (see DHS designated degree list)
Degree must be from a SEVP-certified US institution
Employer must be enrolled in and actively using E-Verify
Employer and student must sign Form I-983 Training Plan
I-765 STEM OPT extension filed at least 90 days before OPT expiration
Work must be directly related to your STEM degree field
Report a change of name, address or employer, or job loss, to your DSO within 10 days
Confirm every 6 months that your reported information is unchanged (validation report)
Put material changes to the training plan on a modified Form I-983 signed by you and your employer
Employer must provide bona fide employer-employee relationship

E-Verify Explained: The Federal Employer Verification System

E-Verify is an internet-based system that allows employers to verify the employment eligibility of their employees by comparing information from an employee's I-9 form against records in the US Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration databases. While voluntary for most private employers, E-Verify is mandatory for federal contractors and is required for any employer wishing to participate in STEM OPT.

How to Find E-Verify Employers

  1. Visit e-verify.gov and search the employer participation list
  2. Ask the recruiter: "Is your company enrolled in E-Verify?" and request the company ID
  3. Check the company's careers page, E-Verify logo is displayed by many participants
  4. For on-campus recruiting employers, assume E-Verify enrollment (OCR standard)
  5. Search LinkedIn company pages, some include E-Verify status in job postings
  6. Federal contractors: all are legally required to be enrolled in E-Verify

Subsidiary and Related-Entity Rules

A parent company's E-Verify enrollment does not automatically extend to all subsidiaries. Each subsidiary must be listed as an employer site within the parent's E-Verify account, or be independently enrolled.

How to Confirm Subsidiary Enrollment

  • • Ask HR to confirm the specific legal entity on your I-9 is enrolled
  • • Request the subsidiary's E-Verify company ID number separately
  • • Confirm before signing your offer letter, not after starting

STEM Designated Degree Programs: Full List with SOC Codes

DHS maintains the official STEM Designated Degree Program list. Your degree must appear on this list at the CIP code level to qualify for the STEM OPT extension. The following are the major qualifying fields with their corresponding SOC occupational codes:

Degree FieldSOC Code(s)Example Job Titles
Computer Science15-1200sSoftware Engineer, Systems Analyst, Data Scientist
Electrical Engineering17-2071Electrical Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Circuit Designer
Mathematics15-2021Mathematician, Operations Research Analyst, Actuary
Statistics15-2041Statistician, Data Analyst, Biostatistician
Data Science15-2051Data Scientist, ML Engineer, Business Intelligence Analyst
Physics19-2012Physicist, Research Scientist, Optical Engineer
Chemistry19-2031Chemist, Materials Scientist, Process Engineer
Biology / Biotechnology19-1020sMicrobiologist, Biochemist, Research Associate
Mechanical Engineering17-2141Mechanical Engineer, Robotics Engineer, CAD Designer
Chemical Engineering17-2041Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, R&D Engineer
Civil Engineering17-2051Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Transportation Planner
Industrial Engineering17-2112Industrial Engineer, Supply Chain Analyst, Quality Engineer
Aerospace Engineering17-2011Aerospace Engineer, Flight Systems Engineer, Propulsion Engineer
Materials Science17-2131Materials Engineer, Metallurgist, Polymer Scientist
Environmental Science19-2041Environmental Scientist, Sustainability Analyst, Hydrologist
Full DHS List: The complete STEM Designated Degree Program list with CIP codes is published at ice.gov/stem-opt . Search by your degree's CIP code to confirm eligibility before applying.

The I-983 Training Plan: Complete Guide

Form I-983 is the Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, a formal mentoring and training agreement that must be completed before your STEM OPT extension is filed. It must be signed by both the student and a supervisor at the employer organization. The I-983 is submitted to your DSO (not directly to USCIS) and is kept on file for potential ICE site inspections.

What the I-983 Must Include

  • Employer's E-Verify company ID number
  • Student's degree information and SEVIS ID
  • Detailed job description with duties mapped to degree field
  • Learning goals and how employment will help the student apply academic knowledge
  • Compensation information (must be commensurate with similarly situated US workers)
  • Name and signature of direct supervisor who will oversee training
  • Student attestation that information is accurate

I-983 Process Timeline

1Student and employer agree on job details and training objectives
2Student completes Part 1 (student info, degree, SEVIS ID)
3Employer supervisor completes Part 2 (company info, E-Verify ID, job duties, compensation)
4Both parties sign and date the I-983
5Student submits signed I-983 to DSO
6DSO verifies employer E-Verify enrollment and approves STEM OPT recommendation
7Student files I-765 with USCIS using DSO-endorsed I-20
8Every 6 months: complete self-evaluation on I-983 co-signed by supervisor

Reporting Changes: The 10-Day Rule

Report a change of your legal name, address or employer, or the loss of your job, to your DSO within 10 days. Material changes to the training plan are handled differently: you and your employer sign a modified Form I-983 and submit it to the DSO at the earliest available opportunity. The regulation lists examples, including a change of employer identification number after a corporate restructuring, a pay cut not tied to fewer hours, and a significant drop in weekly hours or hours falling below 20 a week (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(9) and (f)(12)(ii)). Ask your DSO whether a change you are considering counts.

STEM OPT Reporting Requirements: Complete Checklist

Ongoing Reporting Obligations

Within 10 daysChange of legal name, residential or mailing address, or employer name and address
Within 10 daysLoss of employment
Every 6 monthsValidation report: confirm to your DSO that the information above is unchanged, within 10 business days of each reporting date
When it happensMaterial change to the training plan: modified Form I-983 signed by you and your employer, submitted to the DSO at the earliest available opportunity
Per the formSelf-evaluations on the I-983: follow the dates in the current Form I-983 instructions

What Happens If Your Employer Leaves E-Verify

Your employer must stay in good standing

The regulation requires the employer to be enrolled in E-Verify and to remain a participant in good standing, as determined by USCIS (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(5)). It does not set a number of days for you to find a new employer.

Tell your DSO as soon as you learn that your employer has left E-Verify, and ask in writing whether you can keep working there. A DSO may not recommend an extension if the employer fails these requirements.

Separately, your employer must report your termination or departure to the DSO within five business days. The 150-day unemployment limit counts days without employment, so start looking for a new E-Verify employer immediately if you lose the job.

Which employers have the most students on OPT and STEM OPT?

The 25 employers with the most students on OPT or STEM OPT in 2024, from ICE's SEVIS "Top 200 Employers" list. The list ranks by student count. It does not say which employers are enrolled in E-Verify or which will sponsor an H-1B, so check each employer's E-Verify status before you rely on it for a STEM OPT extension.

#EmployerStudents on OPT or STEM OPTOn OPTOn STEM OPT
1Amazon10,1675,3796,679
2University of California2,9162,1121,278
3Google2,4541,1101,778
4Microsoft2,1431,0661,496
5Meta2,0321,0811,302
6Arizona State University1,9621,895136
7Goldman Sachs1,6951,148962
8Intel1,6419461,023
9Walmart1,6239511,140
10Apple1,6211,135973
11University of Texas1,6181,305536
12Tesla1,5481,170901
13Deloitte1,5441,033833
14Ernst & Young1,413889854
15ByteDance1,3621,045642
16Bright Mind Enrichment and Schooling1,234not shownnot shown
17JP Morgan Chase1,218675887
18McKinsey & Company1,169680810
19Harvard University1,036799407
20Johns Hopkins University1,013827382
21University of Michigan977767369
22Stanford University973617541
23State University of New York95590685
24University of Illinois886714276
25Columbia University854662320

Source: ICE, 2024 Top 200 Employers for OPT and STEM-OPT Students (calendar year 2024; published 2025-06-04). ICE counts a student more than once when the same employer has them in different programs, so the first column can differ from the other two added together. Figures as read on 2026-10-29.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT?

The I-983 is a formal mentoring agreement signed by the employer supervisor and student. It outlines learning objectives, compensation, duties, and how the work relates to the STEM degree.

What are STEM OPT reporting requirements?

Report a change of name, address or employer, or the loss of your job, to your DSO within 10 days. Every 6 months you confirm that this information is unchanged. Material changes to the training plan go on a modified Form I-983 signed by you and your employer (8 CFR 214.2(f)(12)(ii) and (f)(10)(ii)(C)).

Can a subsidiary use the parent company's E-Verify enrollment?

Possibly, if the subsidiary is listed as an employer site within the parent's E-Verify account. Confirm the specific subsidiary's enrollment status with HR before accepting an offer.

What if my employer leaves E-Verify during my STEM OPT?

The regulation requires your employer to stay a participant in good standing with E-Verify, and it sets no 5-day window for you to find a new employer. Tell your DSO right away and ask whether you can keep working there. Your employer must report your termination or departure to the DSO within five business days (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(5) and (6)).

Does the STEM OPT 24-month extension interact with H-1B cap-gap?

Yes. If your employer timely files a nonfrivolous H-1B change-of-status petition for you, cap-gap extends your F-1 status and OPT work authorization until the H-1B starts, and no later than April 1 of that fiscal year. It ends earlier if the petition is rejected, denied, revoked or withdrawn (8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(vii)). The petition must be filed before your STEM OPT expires.

Can I work for a staffing agency on STEM OPT?

The staffing agency (your employer of record) must be E-Verify enrolled. The end client does not need to be enrolled, but you must maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the agency.

Continue Your OPT Research

These guides cover the full OPT-to-H-1B journey in detail.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. STEM OPT regulations and E-Verify requirements change. Always consult a licensed immigration attorney and your university DSO before making employment decisions.

SP

Sumit Patel

SMIEEE · FBCS · FIETE | 16+ years data engineering | 30+ peer-reviewed papers

Sumit built H1BVisaJobs.com on 10 GB+ of DOL LCA disclosure data (FY2022–FY2025). All immigration data and analysis on this site comes from primary government sources.