Can a Staffing Agency That Places You at Intel Actually Be Your STEM OPT Employer?

Yes a staffing company can be your STEM OPT employer but you need to verify a few things before you accept the arrangement. The staffing company must be enrolled in standard E-Verify, they must be willing to sign your I-983 as the official employer, and the work they are placing you in must clearly connect to your degree. A staffing agency placing a computer science graduate at Intel as a software developer is a setup that can work — but an agency placing that same person in a general operations role with a vague training plan is a compliance problem waiting to happen. Always ask the agency upfront if they have handled STEM OPT candidates before and get everything confirmed in writing.

I am not an immigration lawyer and nothing in this post is legal advice — please talk to your DSO and consult a licensed immigration attorney for your specific situation.