Reports during any OPT
Under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(12), a student on OPT reports any change of name or address, and any interruption of employment, to the DSO for as long as the training lasts. The student can report address and employment changes through the SEVP Portal. Whatever is not reported through the portal goes to the DSO within 10 days. The DSO then has 21 days to update SEVIS.
| What | Deadline | Reported to |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name | Within 10 days of the change | DSO or SEVP Portal |
| Physical and mailing address | Within 10 days of the change | DSO or SEVP Portal |
| Employer, employer address, start or end of a job, loss of employment | Within 10 days of the change | SEVP Portal or DSO |
Extra reports during STEM OPT
| What | Deadline | Reported to |
|---|---|---|
| Validation report confirming name, address, employer and employment status | Every six months from the start of the extension, due within 10 business days of each reporting date | DSO |
| New Form I-983 for a new employer | Within 10 days of starting | DSO |
| Self-evaluations on Form I-983 | At the 12-month mark and at the end of the extension, and at the end of any employment. The DSO has to receive them within 10 days after the reporting period or the end of the training | DSO |
| Material change to the training plan | The signed, modified Form I-983 goes to the DSO at the earliest opportunity | DSO |
Students on STEM OPT can use the SEVP Portal to change personal contact information and existing employer information. A new employer goes to the DSO on the Form I-983. The STEM OPT Hub has the full schedule.
Why the employer report matters for the count
A record with no employer information is counted as unemployed day by day. A job that starts and is not reported for weeks adds unemployment days to the counter until the DSO enters it. See how SEVIS counts unemployment days.
Updated: November 4, 2026