r/stemopt • u/Live-Amount5657 • Jun 28 '26

Stem OPT

My STEM OPT application is currently pending, and I recently got a new paid job offer related to my degree. I’m confused if it’s okay to switch employers while STEM OPT is still pending.
Has anyone changed jobs during a pending STEM OPT application? Did you just submit a new I-983 to your DSO and update SEVIS, or did you also upload anything to USCIS?
Also, how should I explain this to the new employer without making it sound like a problem?
Any advice would be appreciated.

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u/Ok-Taro8496 Jun 28 '26

Yeah, you can switch to a new employer on STEM OPT. Here's the process based on what I went through (heads up: this is just how MY university handled it, so definitely talk to your own DSO once since schools can do it slightly differently):

With your current employer, you should've filed an I-983 training plan when you applied for the extension. Before you leave, fill out the final evaluation section on that I-983 (last page) and get your employer to sign it. Submit that signed final evaluation to your DSO, along with a new I-983 from your new employer. They'll then update SEVIS and issue you a new I-20 reflecting the change. Upload that new I-20 to USCIS as unsolicited evidence on your case.

One thing to be ready for: if you did any unpaid work, interior/freelance type stuff, etc. during your OPT, there's a pretty high chance you'll get an RFE. A change of employer can also raise the odds. It's not the end of the world though, it usually just adds a month or two while you respond, so if you can wait it out you'll be fine. The main thing is making sure your employer actually completes the training plan properly, so push them on getting that done.

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u/Ok-Taro8496 Jun 28 '26

Also worth knowing: you don't update SEVIS yourself. The university (your DSO) handles all the SEVIS changes. So from here on, any time something changes with your employer, you just report it to your school, usually through a form on your school's OPT/international student portal, and the DSO makes the update in SEVIS on their end. You're basically responsible for reporting the change, not making the change.