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healthteacher

ESTA and volunteering (split)

By healthteacher in Tourist Visas

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SusieQQQ Grand Master

SusieQQQ   11,587

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted
1 minute ago, healthteacher said:

As far as tourist visa activities, is volunteering or working without any compensation allowed?

Could a tourist accompany a US friend while on their job cleaning toilets?

Can a tourist help out in the family business for a month without any pay?

 

No, no, and no.

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   46,034

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

Both those are no.

 

The easy example is volunteering in a Soup Kitchen, a position that is not and never would be paid.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,338

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
3 minutes ago, healthteacher said:

As far as tourist visa activities, is volunteering or working without any compensation allowed?

Could a tourist accompany a US friend while on their job cleaning toilets?

Can a tourist help out in the family business for a month without any pay?

"Volunteering" can be permitted. This covers things like a soup kitchen, reading to kids at a library, etc. Things anybody can just do and it is not potentially taking away a position from a eligible worker.

It does not cover helping a friend with their job, shadowing somebody, etc.

It does not cover helping with a business.

 

Compensation is highly suggestive that the activity requires work authorization. An activity that normally would be compensated is included, even if there would be no actual compensation in your case.

Plus, experience itself is a form of compensation (ask any unpaid intern).

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

SusieQQQ Grand Master

SusieQQQ   11,587

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted (edited)

Your niece needs to bear in mind that if she in any way violates ESTA her ESTA/VWP privileges will be gone, *poof* just like that, and she will have to apply for a B visa for tourist visits for future, and that will be very hard to get if the reason for losing VWP status is violation of it.

Edited by SusieQQQ
Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   46,034

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted
11 minutes ago, healthteacher said:

thanks for the advice, I take exterior drive by pictures of homes for a RE firm part time. I was going to have my tourist friend from Germany ride along with me on a few, but since I am technically working when I drive around, we will make other plans, bummer.

As long as she is not taking the pictures or driving I do not see an issue.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   46,034

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted
7 minutes ago, healthteacher said:

Apparently just accompanying someone at work is a big NO too.Losing ESTA too easy.

Besides now they are freaked out about being here and taking a risk

News to me, well if she did something untoward and somebody who had her details, name, passport details etc reported it with convincing evidence I can see it could be an issue.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

SusieQQQ Grand Master

SusieQQQ   11,587

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted
18 minutes ago, healthteacher said:

All it takes is an anonymous tip USCIS and even an innocent tourist will lose ESTA with no investigation, no appeal. POOF gone 

Pedantically, there is no grounds for an innocent tourist to lose ESTA privileges. 

 

More practically, USCIS ain't got time to waste with that. The more common route for finding out about these things is through CBP search/questioning at airports. 

SusieQQQ Grand Master

SusieQQQ   11,587

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted

i still don't understand why she doesn't just come and travel around a bit, the US is huge, so much to see. No offence, but riding around looking at houses (unless maybe half an hour star-house spotting in beverly hills for the people into that) doesn't sound like that much fun for a young visitor.  A railpass and a list of hostels always works.

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   46,034

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

The confusion arose because we switched stories half way through the thread and it can be difficult to notice.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Ontarkie Grand Master

Ontarkie   14,440

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

~~Hijack post and related replies split to their own thread. Please do not post questions for your own situation in other members threads. It causes confusion to the thread.~~

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Met Playing Everquest in 2005
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K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
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Filed 07-08-08
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Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

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