The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) recently upgraded to Release 6.49. This latest release introduced new functionality, including the ability for designated school officials (DSOs) to upload the Form I-983, “Form I-983, “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students.”
As a result of Release 6.49, you can also now access a new alert list in SEVIS for students requiring a new Form I-983. A DSO may upload a Form I-983 when:
- Recommending a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) optional practical training (OPT) extension.
- Reporting the receipt of a student’s 12-month, 24-month or final self-evaluation.
- Adding a STEM OPT employer.
- Editing STEM OPT employer information.
A student may be listed on your new alert list multiple times and is removed from the alert list when the Form I-983 is uploaded for the specific employer and event. DSOs are encouraged to upload the Form I-983 when updating SEVIS with an event that requires a new or revised Form I-983, but this new functionality is optional. For instructions on uploading the Form I-983, read the F-1 Stem Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension page on the SEVIS Help Hub.
SEVIS Release 6.49 also introduced a new error message is SEVIS when school or sponsor officials add a new school official to the Form I-17, “Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student,” who may have an existing active SEVIS account. To learn more about this error message, read the Form I-17 Petition Update – Manage School Officials or SEVIS Job Aid: Update School Officials page on the SEVIS Help Hub.
For more information on SEVIS Release 6.49, watch the pre-release webinar on the SEVIS webinar page on the SEVIS Help Hub.
