Part-time work on a J1 Visa?

[mouthofthesource 0]

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice. I'm currently a UK citizen and resident but have recently been accepted onto an internship in San Francisco within a non-profit organisation which is due to start in October. The organisation is a designated J1 visa sponsor and has sponsored J1 visitors before. My issue is that the internship is unpaid and the organisation cannot offer any benefits (accommodation, stipends etc). So, I am looking to work part time during the internship in order to pay rent, buy food etc. The internship lasts for a minimum of 2 months but I'd like to stay for three.

Does anybody know if this is allowed under the J1 visa, and if so, how to go about authorising it. If not, does anybody have any suggestions for other visas which might allow this kind of work?

Thanks!

Richard

[Harsh_77 718]

Somebody can correct me if I am wrong, as far as I am aware you are not allowed to work besided the program you are coming for.

[Noah Lot 391]

Somebody can correct me if I am wrong, as far as I am aware you are not allowed to work besided the program you are coming for.

That is correct...the sponsoring organization should have offered to pay for basic hotel/food during the period of voluntary service. Holding a J-1 does not grant you permission to work wherever you want.

[Boiler 45,525]

Just because they are non profit does not mean they can not pay you a wage or stipend. Time to have a chat.

[Noah Lot 391]

Just because they are non profit does not mean they can not pay you a wage or stipend. Time to have a chat.

there is something odd with the OP's situation....during his initial interview, the question of financial support would have surfaced...like as in...

"you plan to do this voluntary work for X months.....for no money? Where are you going to stay? Who is paying for the airline ticket? Who is paying for food and lodging? If the OP, why? If the company is not, also why? strange.....

[Boiler 45,525]

I have a feeling they do not ask and do not care.

Mummy and Daddy?

[mouthofthesource 0]

Noah, a bit of background, the organisation was open from the start that the internship is voluntary and that help with any aspect of funding could not be provided (hence my original question). They are working on a groundbreaking project to preserve America's linguistic heritage and yet receive no government funding. They have 25 members of staff and only one of them (the director) receives a salary. They rely heavily on their staff's passion for the subject in order to even stay afloat. In return I receive a role working in one of the best known organisations within my (admittedly narrow) area of research and get to work side by side with some of the biggest names in the field. This should make the OP's situation seem a little less strange.

And Boiler, absolutely not. I work 55 hours per week to save for the trip yet due to a number of factors (rent in London, rent in San Francisco) I can't guarantee this will be enough to support me through my 3 months.

SO it seems as though a part-time job is definitely not the answer. Thanks for clearing that up folks!

[Boiler 45,525]

Sponsorship, a grant?

[Harsh_77 718]

Noah, a bit of background, the organisation was open from the start that the internship is voluntary and that help with any aspect of funding could not be provided (hence my original question). They are working on a groundbreaking project to preserve America's linguistic heritage and yet receive no government funding. They have 25 members of staff and only one of them (the director) receives a salary. They rely heavily on their staff's passion for the subject in order to even stay afloat. In return I receive a role working in one of the best known organisations within my (admittedly narrow) area of research and get to work side by side with some of the biggest names in the field. This should make the OP's situation seem a little less strange.

And Boiler, absolutely not. I work 55 hours per week to save for the trip yet due to a number of factors (rent in London, rent in San Francisco) I can't guarantee this will be enough to support me through my 3 months.

SO it seems as though a part-time job is definitely not the answer. Thanks for clearing that up folks!

J1 visa is basically for cultural exchane programs or some short term course or practical training, means you are coming to US to gain some knowledge and you have to be prepared to bare the cost same as any student who comes on F1.

Organization as you say may be top-notch and yet does not get any grant from govt does not matter nor is the issue, nor does that put u in any special category.

You will have to fork out the expense or find a sponsor or work it out it prog for which you are wanting to come to US.

[jaycali 415]

Hi all,Just looking for some advice. I'm currently a UK citizen and resident but have recently been accepted onto an internship in San Francisco within a non-profit organisation which is due to start in October. The organisation is a designated J1 visa sponsor and has sponsored J1 visitors before. My issue is that the internship is unpaid and the organisation cannot offer any benefits (accommodation, stipends etc). So, I am looking to work part time during the internship in order to pay rent, buy food etc. The internship lasts for a minimum of 2 months but I'd like to stay for three. Does anybody know if this is allowed under the J1 visa, and if so, how to go about authorising it. If not, does anybody have any suggestions for other visas which might allow this kind of work?Thanks!Richard

Yea, sorry, I've previously held a J-1 and it does not allow you to do that. As with the F-1 visa, you are expected to fund the stay on your own or through sponsors.

As far as work goes, if you hold at least a bachelor degree, you could qualify for an H-1b visa. You'll need a company sponsoring you. The most common visa for unskilled workers, or temporary workers is the H-2a. The H-2a visa allows you to work for up to one year if the job is located in an area of the US where the company may struggle to find a sufficient amount of workers. A good example: I managed a store up in Alaska when I was on OPT, but nearly the entire town's unskilled workforce during the summer months was made up of H-2a visa holders. They temporarily worked everything from the grocery store to the post office. They qualified because this particular town had a population of 620 people.

Edited February 25, 2012 by jhsm85