Personal Expenses incurred during Volunteer Work - Reimbursable?

[lintguy 0]

Hello everyone, thanks for your help on everything so far. I've got another question I can't seem to find an answer to. Hopefully someone can help me out on this.

My wife is still waiting for her EAD (after 4 looooong months). She has been volunteering for a company she worked for when she had her OPT, and has incurred some personal expenses like parking fees and mileage when she drives around (the work requires quite a bit of driving). Since it's been 4 months, these expenses are getting to be quite significant, and we're wondering if it's legal for the company she's volunteering at to reimburse her? It wouldn't have been a problem if her EAD arrived after a month or two like most people on the site, but for some reason USCIS is taking longer on our case than the average Joe...it was that way with the K-1 too. Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Hello everyone, thanks for your help on everything so far. I've got another question I can't seem to find an answer to. Hopefully someone can help me out on this.

My wife is still waiting for her EAD (after 4 looooong months). She has been volunteering for a company she worked for when she had her OPT, and has incurred some personal expenses like parking fees and mileage when she drives around (the work requires quite a bit of driving). Since it's been 4 months, these expenses are getting to be quite significant, and we're wondering if it's legal for the company she's volunteering at to reimburse her? It wouldn't have been a problem if her EAD arrived after a month or two like most people on the site, but for some reason USCIS is taking longer on our case than the average Joe...it was that way with the K-1 too. Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

I don't forsee this as a problem as long as they are legitimate reimbursible expenses and can't be construed as wages or compensation.

[Thai family 0]

I wouldn't go there at all! Even volunteering for someone you've worked for before is risky. Don't chance it. You might regret it later. I hope they're getting that EAD in the mail.

Thai Mom

[payxibka 10,045]

Hello everyone, thanks for your help on everything so far. I've got another question I can't seem to find an answer to. Hopefully someone can help me out on this.

My wife is still waiting for her EAD (after 4 looooong months). She has been volunteering for a company she worked for when she had her OPT, and has incurred some personal expenses like parking fees and mileage when she drives around (the work requires quite a bit of driving). Since it's been 4 months, these expenses are getting to be quite significant, and we're wondering if it's legal for the company she's volunteering at to reimburse her? It wouldn't have been a problem if her EAD arrived after a month or two like most people on the site, but for some reason USCIS is taking longer on our case than the average Joe...it was that way with the K-1 too. Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Sure, it is not considered earned income

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I received mileage reimbursement for an event where I volunteered - it isn't wages, they are out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the process of a volunteer activity. Submit an expense claim for reimbursement. Now, be careful that she isn't volunteering for work which will eventually be paid - that is a very gray area and could be a problem as it isn't true 'volunteer work'.