Office of International Student & Scholar Services

Form ISSS-160, Request for Data Validation

This fillable form is to be used by all TAMUK students on optional practical training (OPT) or academic training (AT), to report a change of
address and employment within 10 days of such changes. F-1 Students who are on STEM extensions must report to Office of International
Student & Scholar Services (OISSS) every six months, confirming their information, even if there have been no changes. Students on STEM
OPT must inform OISSS immediately of 1) material changes to the Form I-983, 2) Termination of practical training experience, 3) change in
employer
andfor:
4) employer
I am
applying
Ple noncompliance. The completed and signed form ISSS-160 can be mailed to ISSS, MSC 176, 700 University Blvd.,
Kingsville, TX 78363 or emailed to us using the email address listed at the very bottom of this form.
OPT rule imposes limited periods of unemployment to maintain status. The limit is 90 days for students on post-completion OPT, including
those with a cap gap extension. Students with a 17 month STEM OPT extension are given an additional 30 days of unemployment time for a
maximum of 120 days and Student on 24-month STEM OPT are given an additional 60 days for a maximum of 150-day unemployment limit.
In addition, student must complete the first Evaluation of Student Progress portion of the Form I-983 within 12 months of the listed STEM
OPT start date. At the end of the STEM OPT extension, a student must conduct a second, final assessment. Once the evaluations are complete,
the student must collect signatures from their employer and return the Form I-983 to OISSS.
Please note: You must inform OISSS at the beginning of your authorized employment, so we can validate your employment start date.
Name (Surname in CAPS)

(Given Name)

Have you changed your name since last report?

Yes

No

(Middle Name)

Is this your first time to report your data validation/Address

Change information?
Yes
No

If yes, please indicate your former name:

If no, provide the last reported date.

Present Address (Street)

(City)

Has your physical address changed since your last report?

Phone Number

Yes

(State)

(Zip Code)

No (For STEM-Extension OPT participants only)

Email Address

KID No

Form I-20 SEVIS ID No/DS-2019 SEVIS ID No N00

Degree

Please provide the degree completion date

Name and address of current employer
Job Title

Date Employment Began

Date Employment Ends

Date Employment Began

Date Employment Ends

Name and address of former employer (if applicable)

Job Title

Is your current job a

full-time or

part-time employment?

If you are unemployed, indicate the date your last job ended:

How is your current employment related to your field of study?

If you hold an F-1 status, how many days of unemployment have you accrued since your OPT employment authorization effective start date?
By typing my name and KID number in the spaces below, I certify that all the above information provided is true and complete to the best of my
knowledge and belief. I further confirm that I will notify ISSS immediately if there are any changes to the information given above.

Students Full Name:

(361) 593-3317

KID No:

www.tamuk.edu/iss

International.Services@Tamuk.edu

Date:

Rev. (PBL) July 21, 2016

Page 1 of 2

Office of International Student & Scholar Services

Form ISSS-160, Request for Data Validation

The following government comments only apply to 24-month extension

"There are several aspects of the STEM OPT extension that do not make it apt for certain types of
arrangements, including multiple employer arrangements, sole proprietorships, employment through 'temp'
agencies, employment through consulting firm arrangements that provide labor for hire, and other relationships
that do not constitute a bona fide employer-employee relationship. One concern arises from the difficulty
individuals employed through such arrangements would face in complying with, among other things, the
training plan requirements of this rule. Another concern is the potential for visa fraud arising from such
arrangements. Furthermore, evaluating the merits of such arrangements would be difficult and create
additional burdens for DSOs. Accordingly, DHS clarifies that students cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions
unless they will be bona fide employees of the employer signing the Training Plan, and the employer that signs
the Training Plan must be the same entity that employs the student and provides the practical training
experience. DHS recognizes that this outcome is a departure from SEVP's April 23, 2010 Policy Guidance
(1004-03)."
DHS, moreover, anticipates that it will be very unusual, though not expressly prohibited, for students to work
with more than two employers at the same time during the STEM OPT extension period, given that each
employer must fully comply with the requirements of this rule and employ the student for no less than 20 hours
per week.
DHS also clarifies that F-1 students seeking STEM OPT extensions may be employed by new start-up
businesses so long as all regulatory requirements are met, including that the employer adheres to the training
plan requirements, remains in good standing with E-Verify, will provide compensation to the STEM OPT
student commensurate to that provided to similarly situated U.S. workers, and has the resources to comply
with the proposed training plan. For instance, alternative compensation may be allowed during a STEM OPT
extension as long as the F-1 student can show that he or she is a bona fide employee and that his or her
compensation, including any ownership interest in the employer entity (such as stock options), is
commensurate with the compensation provided to other similarly situated U.S. workers.

(361) 593-3317

www.tamuk.edu/iss

International.Services@Tamuk.edu

Rev. (PBL) July 21, 2016

Page 2 of 2