Form I-983 STEM OPT and Placement Companies

According to an article from the blog of DHS, it seems that consulting companies aka placement companies can actually get hire  candidates on STEM OPT provided the conditions below are met:

F-1 students participating in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)optional practical training (OPT) extension may find their training opportunity with assistance from a temporary or staffing agency.  However, all regulatory requirements of STEM OPT must still be maintained.

If a student uses a temporary or staffing agency to place them in a training opportunity, the agency cannot complete and sign the Form I-983, “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students.”  Only the E-verified employer that provides the actual training relevant to the student’s qualifying STEM degree is authorized to sign and complete the Form I-983. The “Official with Signatory Authority” for a student’s Form I-983 must meet the following criteria:

• Be employed by the organization providing the training.
• Be familiar with the STEM OPT student’s goals and performance.
• Have the authority to affirm that the information on the Form I-983 is true and correct.

Remember, students must submit a completed and signed Form I-983 to their designated school official (DSO) before the DSO can request them for the STEM OPT extension in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Additionally, if the terms of a student’s training deviate from the original Form I-983, the student and employer need to update it and provide a newly signed Form I-983 to the DSO.

This means that if a student uses a temporary agency that places them in short-term training opportunities with several different employers, the student will need to complete a new Form I-983 for every new training opportunity with each employer.

The question is what does it mean. The following video will address the issue.

http://www.peerallylaw.com/consulting-companies-can-place-stem-opt-students-sign-form-983/