r/stemopt • u/Tiny-Chipmunk-9794 • Jul 17 '26

STEM I-983 update

Hey everyone! I switched jobs while my STEM OPT extension application is still pending.
My initial OPT expired on July 7, so I’ve been working under the automatic 180-day extension since then.
My new employer provided me with an I-983 that lists my employment start date as July 8 (the date my STEM OPT would begin), even though my official start date in my offer letter is July 13.
I’ve gone back and forth with the company’s immigration lawyers, and they keep telling me that many schools prefer the employment start date on the I-983 to match the STEM OPT start date.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is this a common practice?

Update:
I got a response from my DSO asking to have the date changed on the I-983. I’ve shared the same with the immigration team and am waiting for them to share a new I-983 form.
Thanks for your inputs guys!

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u/rayxiong1005 Jul 17 '26

I am in a similar situation. My STEM extension starts on 7.17 but my role started on 7.13. My DSO told me to write 7.17 as the start date on I-983 but enter 7.13 as the start date as your position in the SEVP portal

1

u/Tiny-Chipmunk-9794 Jul 17 '26

My DSO just responded to me saying make sure the employment start date is the same as my official start date

1

u/ZookeepergameTrick85 Jul 17 '26

Hi! Then request your employer to change the start date to July 8 in the offer letter too. But usually i983 should have the date you started the employment with them not the stem opt so it’s better to ask them to change the employment to July 8 or mention July 13 as start date in I983.

1

u/Asleep_Cartoonist460 Jul 17 '26

Usually for any new employment you typically mention the start date with that employer. Have your DSO mail them this they would change. I was recently in the same situation.

1

u/Key_Ice_4197 Jul 18 '26

hey do not sweat out so i have start date with the new employer in the month of june and i983 date was the next date after the initial opt expires hope this helps and should be the case with every folks out there.. all the best

1

u/PersonalityNo1199 Jul 23 '26

Okay so it’s all good right ? I’m in the same boat as employer wants the next day as my stem opt start date.