what about volunteer work?

[Mrs Alford 0]

Happy Monday everyone! Does anyone know if K1 visa holders are allowed to get involved with volunteer work before they are married? I would really like to get out of the house, expand my horizons, and connect with my community if possible - but not sure if volunteer service is an option.

[payxibka 10,045]

Happy Monday everyone! Does anyone know if K1 visa holders are allowed to get involved with volunteer work before they are married? I would really like to get out of the house, expand my horizons, and connect with my community if possible - but not sure if volunteer service is an option.

They cannot earn a wage without EAD.... No other restrictions on activity... Volunteer work is AOK!!!!

Edited November 6, 2006 by fwaguy

[Cristy 4]

Yep I have been doing that at my sons school.

[mozplay 29]

To the best of my understanding, you are free to volunteer - as long as the position you will hold would not normally be one that someone would be paid for. Just make sure it's really volunteer work, not working for free. For instance, if your volunteer post suddenly became a paid post once you got your EAD, it may raise some eyebrows.

On the flip side, I have also heard that volunteer work is highly regarded when it comes to the AOS process (interviews and such). Don't know how true this is though as obviously, I'm not there yet.

Monique

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

Volunteer work is allowed as long as you are not volunteering in a situation where the company would normally pay someone to do the tasks you would be doing ...

An example of this would be if you find a company that wants to hire you but you don't have your EAD yet ... So you volunteer to help out until you get your EAD and then the company would start paying you once you have work authorization ... This would be unacceptable ...

[Cristy 4]

Just make sure it's really volunteer work, not working for free. For instance, if your volunteer post suddenly became a paid post once you got your EAD, it may raise some eyebrows.

I disagree. I am doing a job of teachers aide as a volunteer. If the position is open for hire when I can work I intend to apply and become paid.

[mozplay 29]

Just make sure it's really volunteer work, not working for free. For instance, if your volunteer post suddenly became a paid post once you got your EAD, it may raise some eyebrows.

I disagree. I am doing a job of teachers aide as a volunteer. If the position is open for hire when I can work I intend to apply and become paid.

You can apply for a position within the same company/organization, but the volunteer position currently held, should not be the one you become paid for. That is my understanding.

[payxibka 10,045]

Just make sure it's really volunteer work, not working for free. For instance, if your volunteer post suddenly became a paid post once you got your EAD, it may raise some eyebrows.

I disagree. I am doing a job of teachers aide as a volunteer. If the position is open for hire when I can work I intend to apply and become paid.

You can apply for a position within the same company/organization, but the volunteer position currently held, should not be the one you become paid for. That is my understanding.

I am sure the issue here is that they do not want you to be "psuedo" working and once you receive your EAD you get "back pay" for services previously rendered. Is there an official cite on this guidance?

[Mrs Alford 0]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE ADVICE EVERYONE ! I'm going to go ahead & apply for a few volunteer positions that are available in my area. I just want to make a difference and find some purpose here. Sitting around the house like this just ain't cutting it for me... Hope you all have an enjoyable week

[mozplay 29]

I am sure the issue here is that they do not want you to be "psuedo" working and once you receive your EAD you get "back pay" for services previously rendered. Is there an official cite on this guidance?

Could not find an offical document (yet) but here are some VJ links to check out...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=volunteer+work

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=volunteer+work

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=volunteer+work

[Reba 2]

the general rule is, that if you are doing the (volunteer) work in a position where someone *could* get paid then it is not allowed. If you are volunteering in a fully volunteer capacity, then its fine. Even some volunteer positions require a work permit, as example, a volunteer position that could result in a paid job, as someone above mentioned they are doing.

Usually its better to find something to do with a volunteer organization, where *no one* is paid to reduce your risk.