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How to fill out Form I-983 (STEM OPT training plan) online
Form I-983, the Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, is filled in together by an F-1 student and their employer for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Here's what goes where, and how to complete and sign it without printing anything.
What the I-983 is for
The I-983 describes the training you'll get from your employer during STEM OPT: your role, your learning goals, and how your progress will be checked. Your school's Designated School Official (DSO) needs the completed form before recommending your STEM OPT extension, and you'll come back to the same form later for your evaluations.
Which version should you use?
Two versions are in circulation: the older 2016 edition (marked "ICE Form I-983 (7/16)" at the bottom) and a newer edition. Study in the States advises always using the latest version of the form from ICE's website, and your DSO may tell you which one they accept.
The two look almost the same, with two practical differences when you fill them on a computer:
- Evaluation boxes: the newer version has typing boxes for the self-evaluation and the final evaluation. The 2016 version doesn't, so you have to add your own text there.
- Signature spots: the newer version has proper signature fields. In the 2016 version, some signature lines are ordinary text boxes.
FieldFillerPro opens both versions. On the 2016 version, use Add text to type in the evaluation section, and the app shows Sign here on its signature lines.
Who fills which section
| Section | What it covers | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Student Information | Your name, email, school, SEVIS ID, degree, CIP code, requested STEM OPT dates | Student |
| 2. Student Certification | Your signature, printed name and date | Student |
| 3. Employer Information | Employer name, address, website, EIN, NAICS code, hours, salary, start date | Employer |
| 4. Employer Certification | Signature of an employer official with signing authority | Employer |
| 5. Training Plan | Site details, your role, goals and objectives, supervision, how progress is measured | Student and employer |
| 6. Employer Official Certification | Final signature on the training plan | Employer |
| Evaluation on Student Progress | 12-month self-evaluation and final evaluation, each signed by student and employer | Student and employer, later |
Step by step
- Download the latest form. Get it from ICE's website, or use the copy your DSO sent you.
- Open it in FieldFillerPro. Go to fieldfillerpro.com and choose the PDF. It opens on your device and isn't uploaded.
- Fill Section 1. Tap Next to move box by box. Copy your SEVIS ID, CIP code and degree details exactly as they appear on your I-20 or school records.
- Sign Section 2. Tap Sign here, then draw, type or upload your signature, and add the date in mm/dd/yyyy format.
- Pass it to your employer. On the download screen, turn Lock the filled form off so your employer can still type into their sections. Then email it to them.
- Employer completes Sections 3–6. They can use FieldFillerPro too. Section 5 is usually written together. Be specific about the skills you'll learn and how they relate to your STEM degree.
- Check, lock and send. Once everything is signed, download a locked copy and send it to your DSO the way your school asks: email or a school portal.
Signing electronically
SEVP accepts electronic signatures on the I-983. Students and employers may sign every signature field with a signature produced by software, or with a digitally reproduced copy of a handwritten signature such as a scanned image. Students may also send their DSO an electronic copy of the completed form. See how to sign a PDF without printing for tips.
The evaluations
The last page holds two evaluations, both signed by you and your employer:
- Self-evaluation at 12 months, describing your progress toward the goals in Section 5.
- Final evaluation when your STEM OPT period ends or you leave the employer. If you change employers, you complete a final evaluation for the old employer and a new I-983 for the new one.
Evaluations have deadlines (generally within 10 days after each reporting period ends), so put a reminder in your calendar and confirm the timing with your DSO.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving a signature or date empty, especially on the evaluation page.
- A SEVIS ID, CIP code or degree that doesn't match your school records.
- Hours below the required minimum. The form notes that STEM OPT must be at least 20 hours per week.
- Vague goals such as "learn new skills". Name the specific knowledge, tools or techniques, and how you'll gain them.
- Sending a locked copy to your employer before they've filled their part, so they can't type into it.
Questions
Can I fill the I-983 on my phone?
Yes, but it's a long form, so a laptop is easier. On a phone, turn it sideways or switch your browser to "Desktop site" and pinch to zoom.
There's no box for the evaluation. How do I type it?
That's the 2016 version. In FieldFillerPro, tap Add text, tap the evaluation area and type. The text box grows as you write, and you can drag it into place.
Does my employer need special software?
No. Anyone can open the unlocked PDF in FieldFillerPro or another PDF reader, fill their sections and sign.
Fill your I-983 nowWorks with both versions · free · nothing is uploaded
Open FieldFillerProSources
- Study in the States: Sign and send the Form I-983 electronically
- Study in the States: STEM OPT Hub
- ICE: Form I-983 (PDF)
This guide is general information to help you fill in forms, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules change, so check the official instructions and ask the person or office that receives your form when you're unsure. Last updated October 30, 2026.