OPT/STEM OPT Reporting Requirements

F-1 students are required to report their employment to SEVIS. You can do this by submitting an employer update request in MyGlobal Portal, where our office will update your record and issue a new I-20, OR by updating your employment directly in your SEVP Portal and then requesting an I-20 reprint in MyGlobal to receive your updated document – you do not need to do both. When reporting employment, the following information is required:

• Employer’s name
• Employer’s address
• Job title(s)
• Explanation of how your job(s) relates to your major area of study at Montclair State University
• Start and/or end dates of employment
• Any periods of unemployment

In addition to updating employment information, students must also keep the following information up-to-date:

• Your residential address
• Your phone number and email address

All employment and personal changes/updates MUST be reported to SEVIS within 10 days. Students must report directly to the Office of Global Engagement if they exit the U.S. and end their OPT before the authorized end date, including the exact date of departure. They must also notify OGE if their visa status changes at any point during OPT.

During your STEM OPT period, there are additional reporting requirements beyond those of your initial 12-month OPT. Students on STEM OPT can no longer update their own employment information in the SEVP Portal; all employment changes must be reported directly to the Office of Global Engagement through the employer update request form in MyGlobal Portal. If you need to update your residential address or phone number, you must do so in NEST. All updates to employment and personal information must be reported within 10 days of any change.

Students must notify the Office of Global Engagement if any of the following information changes:

• Employer(‘s) name
• Employer(‘s) address
• Job title(s)
• Explanation of how your job(s) relates to your field of study at Montclair State University
• Start and/or end dates of employment
• Any periods of unemployment
• Material Changes to your I-983
• Validation Reports every 6 months
• 12-Month Evaluation I-983
• Final Evaluation I-983 at the end of each employment
• 24-Month Final Evaluation I-983
• Your residential address (update through NEST)
• Your phone number and email address (update through NEST)
• Date of exiting the U.S. (You must provide date of exit if you decide to exit the U.S and complete your OPT status prior to the end date of your OPT)
• If your visa status changes while on OPT

Students on STEM OPT must complete regular reporting and evaluations to maintain F-1 status. The requirements include:

• 6-Month Validation Report: Every six months, students must confirm their employment and personal information with the Office of Global Engagement by submitting the STEM OPT Validation Report in MyGlobal Portal. OGE will submit this validation in SEVIS to confirm STEM OPT participation. This ensures that SEVIS records remain accurate throughout the STEM OPT period.

• 12-Month Self-Evaluation: After the first 12 months of STEM OPT, students and their employers must complete a self-evaluation of student progress on the Form I-983 (top section of page 5). This evaluation reviews the student’s training experience and progress toward the goals outlined in their training plan. Students will sent their evaluation to OGE by completing the STEM OPT Validation Report in MyGlobal Portal. OGE will then upload the submitted evaluation to SEVIS.

• 18-Month SEVIS Validation: SEVIS requires an additional validation check at 18 months, where student employment and personal information are confirmed and updated as needed. Students will confirm their employment and personal information by submitting the STEM OPT Validation Report in MyGlobal Portal. OGE will submit this validation in SEVIS to confirm STEM OPT participation.

• 24-Month Final Evaluation: At the end of the 24-month STEM OPT period, students and employers must complete the final evaluation of student progress on the Form I-983 (bottom section of page 5). This confirms that the student has met the objectives of their training plan and provides a summary of their accomplishments. Students will sent their evaluation to OGE by completing the STEM OPT Validation Report in MyGlobal Portal. OGE will then upload the submitted evaluation to SEVIS.