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OMB Control No: 1653-0054	ICR Reference No: 202103-1653-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201808-1653-004
Agency/Subagency: DHS/USICE	Agency Tracking No: I-983
Title: STEM OPT Extension Mentoring and Training Plan
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 05/24/2022
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 07/30/2021
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/2025	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2022
Responses	199,695	0	499,218
Time Burden (Hours)	737,540	0	1,843,779
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: The information collected on the Form I-983 serves as a planning document for STEM OPT students, the SEVP-certified school, and the employer. SEVP uses the form as an evidentiary document to track the STEM OPT student’s progress, identifying the terms and conditions of the practical training and documenting the obligations of the three parties that are involved—the F-1 student, SEVP-certified school, and employer. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) authority for the collection of information for the Form I-983, “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students,” is from a rulemaking, “Improving and Expanding Training Opportunities for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students With STEM Degrees and Cap-Gap Relief for All Eligible F-1 Students,” published in the Federal Register at 80 FR 63375 (Oct. 19, 2015; NPRM; U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) and 81 FR 13039 (March 11, 2016; final rule; DHS). This supporting statement fulfills the requirement for the periodic update to that collection. DHS derives authority to manage SEVP, including tracking and monitoring aspects, from the following: • Section 641 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), Public Law 104208, Div. C (Sept. 30, 1996), which requires the creation of a program to collect information, on an ongoing basis, from SEVP-certified schools and exchange visitor program sponsors relating to F, M, and J nonimmigrants during the course of their stay in the United States, using electronic reporting technology to the fullest extent practicable. It further requires federal approval and authorization of schools and exchange visitor program sponsors participating in such enrollment. IIRIRA mandates collecting the identity, current U.S address, and the admission classification of the nonimmigrant; the date on which a visa under the classification was issued or extended or the date on which a change to such classification was approved by DHS; the current program status (academic or vocational) of the nonimmigrant, including whether the nonimmigrant is maintaining status as a full-time student or whether an exchange visitor is satisfying the terms and conditions of his or her program; and any disciplinary action taken by the school or the exchange visitor program sponsor against the nonimmigrant as a result of a conviction of a crime. • The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 (Oct. 26, 2001), which amended IIRIRA to add the requirement that information be collected on the F, M, and J nonimmigrants’ date and port of entry into the United States. • Homeland Security Presidential Directive-2, issued on October 30, 2001, which requires DHS to conduct periodic and ongoing review of all schools certified to enroll F-1 and M-1 students. • The Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (EBSVERA), Public Law 107–173, 116 Stat. 543 (May 14, 2002), which requires DHS to recertify all schools approved to enroll F-1 and/or M-1 students within 2 years of its passage. Further, EBSVERA mandates that DHS conduct an additional recertification of these schools every 2 years. DHS implemented the Form I-983 information collection to provide F-1 students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees who are approved to extend their optional practical training (OPT) with a prescribed reporting document and methodology that complies with regulations.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 8 USC 1184 Name of Law: ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
   US Code: 8 USC 1372 Name of Law: ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
   PL: Pub.L. 107 - 173 543 Name of Law: ENHANCED BORDER SECURITY AND VISA ENTRY REFORM ACT
   PL: Pub.L. 107 - 296 116 Stat. 2135 Name of Law: The Homeland Security Act of 2002
   PL: Pub.L. 104 - 208 Div. C Name of Law: Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
   US Code: 6 USC 202 Name of Law: DOMESTIC SECURITY
   PL: Pub.L. 107 - 56 October 26, 2001 Name of Law: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Req to Intercept & Obstruct Terrori
   US Code: 8 USC 1101 Name of Law: ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
   US Code: 8 USC 1103 Name of Law: ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
   US Code: 8 USC 1324a Name of Law: ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
   US Code: 8 USC 1101(a)(15)(F)(i) Name of Law: ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 17619	04/05/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 41076	07/30/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	199,695	499,218	-299,523
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	737,540	1,843,779	-1,106,239
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The public burden associated with the Form I-983, SEVP saw an average decrease of 99,841 in each respondent group: students, DSOs, and employers during this reporting cycle. This reflects the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. SEVP predicts no increase of STEM OPT applicants during the next 3 years. SEVP anticipates a reduction in DSO burden during the next 3 years as the new SEVP portal is more fully deployed. The following table identifies the delta from previous estimates to future estimates.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $2,100,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Scott Elmore 202 732-2601 scott.a.elmore@ice.dhs.gov

View ICR - OIRA Conclusion