Maintaining Student Status - STEM OPT Extension / Validation Report
Validation Report
Follow this procedure when you have reached the 6 month mark and again at the 18 month mark of your STEM OPT period. Complete the following with the STEM employer with whom you are employed at the time of the reporting requirement.
Instructions
Click the link below to submit your 6 Month or 18 Month Validation Report.
The personal information and employment information you report must match your I-983 Training Plan. If there have been any changes to the employment information listed on your I-983, (such as compensation, employer official/supervisor, employment site location) you must upload a modified I-983 training plan (pages 1-4) to reflect those changes. Your validation report will not be processed until ISS receives an updated I-983.
Submit 6 Month or 18 Month Validation Report
Due Date: submit to ISS within 10 days of the 6 month and 18 month mark of your STEM OPT period. To be considered on time, submission must be complete and accurate. 10-day deadline is for student submission to ISS only. ISS has an additional window to report validation to the Department of Homeland Security.
No updated I-20 will be issued after reporting
Sample Timeline
| Post-Completion OPT End Date | 6 Month Mark | 10-day Deadline to Submit to ISS | ISS Reports to DHS and Sends Confirmation to Student |
| June 1, 2020 | December 1, 2020 | No Later than December 11, 2020 | No Later than December 31, 2020 |
| Post-Completion OPT End Date | 18 Month Mark | 10-day Deadline to Submit to ISS | ISS Reports to DHS and Sends Confirmation to Student |
| June 1, 2020 | December 1, 2021 | No Later than December 11, 2021 | No Later than December 31, 2021 |
