Volunteering

[ujones 148]

Is it ok to volunteer while waiting to get work permit after coming on K1 ?

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

9 minutes ago, ujones said:

Is it ok to volunteer while waiting to get work permit after coming on K1 ?

It is ok as long as it is a true volunteer position and you receive no compensation. For example, volunteer to help the Red Cross at a blood donation events where everybody else doing the same thing you're doing are volunteers. You cannot "volunteer" to work as a receptionist, for example, because that position is normally a paid position and would be filled by an American. 

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, USS_Voyager said:

 because that position is normally a paid position and would be filled by an American. 

More accurately " an employment authorized individual "

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

3 minutes ago, payxibka said:

More accurately " an employment authorized individual "

eh, tomato vs tomatoe

[ujones 148]

6 minutes ago, payxibka said:

More accurately " an employment authorized individual "

Thanks , was thinking of having him volunteer at food pantry or public library 

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Also note that you can not accept any gifts or something of value in exchange of your services. Some places like to thank their volunteers by giving gift cards and such, you will have to decline it.
 

4 minutes ago, ujones said:

Thanks , was thinking of having him volunteer at food pantry or public library 

The food pantry is good, and the public library is fine as long as what he is volunteering to do isn't something that an "employment authorized individual" may be able to do. 

So like if they pay someone to say check people in, and the library wants a little extra help for free, he wouldn't be able to do it because by providing free labor it's limiting job creation to those people who could work for pay.
But if they ONLY use volunteers to check people in, then he's good.

You're looking at things like food pantry, soup kitchens, volunteering for certain things at church, etc. Example on the church thing, our  church has a book store, the only person who is paid in the book store is the lady who oversees it, everyone else who stocks and checks out customers is a volunteer and they have no intentions of ever opening paid jobs up for people to do those things. We also have people who volunteer to say fill easter eggs, make gift baskets, and hand out flyers on Saturdays and Sundays.

Edited June 19, 2019 by Ash.

[givionte 138]

Public library would likely not be ok since most positions there can be a paid position. A food pantry would surely be fine.

[junkmart 320]

8 minutes ago, givionte said:

Public library would likely not be ok since most positions there can be a paid position. A food pantry would surely be fine.

Our public library asks for volunteers on their website. So for something like that, volunteer positions publicly advertised, is fine.

[junkmart 320]

To give an example, my husband volunteered for a non-profit that is part of the American Bar Association, which provides legal aid to immigrants held in detention and to unaccompanied/separated minors held in shelters. He did random tasks like scanning paper files and translating documents from Spanish to English. These volunteering opportunities were advertised on their website. Prior to volunteering, we confirmed with our attorney that he was allowed to do so.

[ujones 148]

8 minutes ago, junkmart said:

Our public library asks for volunteers on their website. So for something like that, volunteer positions publicly advertised, is fine.

Sounds like hve to be very careful in selecting the place. Is it better not to take that risk ? What about ESOL classes ? Can he attend that ? 

Edited June 19, 2019 by ujones

[junkmart 320]

1 minute ago, ujones said:

Sounds like hve to be very careful in selecting the place. Is it better not to take that risk ? 

If it is a truly volunteer position, then IMO there is no risk. We mentioned volunteering during the interview, but the IO was uninterested.

 

What specifically did you have in mind?

[ujones 148]

2 minutes ago, junkmart said:

If it is a truly volunteer position, then IMO there is no risk. We mentioned volunteering during the interview, but the IO was uninterested.

 

What specifically did you have in mind?

Mainly food pantry & public library was what I was considering. I thought volunteering would help him to polish his language skills too while waiting for work permit. @junkmart do you know if it’s ok for him to attend free ESOL classes in the mean time ? 

Edited June 19, 2019 by ujones

[junkmart 320]

3 minutes ago, ujones said:

Mainly food pantry & public library was what I was considering. I thought volunteering would help him to polish his language skills too while waiting for work permit. @junkmart do you know if it’s ok for him to attend free ESOL classes in the mean time ? 

Food pantry is for sure OK. Double check the library website or call and ask if they have volunteer positions. My library has a special volunteering application that must be filled out. I would think ESOL class would be OK, as long as he isn't earning any college credits, but I do not have experience with this and would defer to others who do.

[ujones 148]

5 minutes ago, junkmart said:

Food pantry is for sure OK. Double check the library website or call and ask if they have volunteer positions. My library has a special volunteering application that must be filled out. I would think ESOL class would be OK, as long as he isn't earning any college credits, but I do not have experience with this and would defer to others who do.

Thankyou ..  .. @Greenbaum could you help me find a clear answer for ESOL class ?

[payxibka 10,045]

4 minutes ago, ujones said:

Thankyou ..  .. @Greenbaum could you help me find a clear answer for ESOL class ?

ESL is AOK