Working without EAD

[thomascromwell 0]

Good Morning,

I am waiting for my EAD to be approved and in the mean time, I don't have an active EAD. I am curious about what I can do and what I cannot do. I am volunteering for this company(unpaid and unorganized). The problem is I don't know which extent of volunteering would be considered employed. I am very worried about this. This is mainly because I could learn a lot by volunteering (and I hope the experience will make me employable when I am able to work (i.e. get my EAD)) and I also don't want to just stay home doing nothing. Thanks for your response

[moroccogirlny 100]

Volunteering is the practice of people working on behalf of others or a particular cause without payment for their time and services. As long as you are not getting any money for working you are fine. Once you get you EAD/GC you are legally allowed to work for payment.

[Nik+Heather 121]

You're no longer volunteering if you get any benefit other than the "feel goods" and maybe plug a gap in your resume.

For example: You can NOT

- Complete unpaid "training" for a job you will be paid for when you get your EAD

- Do a job for which you will be paid for when you get your EAD (or worse, back paid)

But it would probably be OK if you were an IT professional and you volunteered at the homeless shelter helping people use the computers to apply for jobs etc, or learn basic skills....unless you were going to be hired by the homeless shelter once your EAD came through.

Apply the same logic for what you would like to be doing with your time.

I think there's actually a lot more guidance for what is and is not "allowed" volunteering if you look at advice for student visas. They are in a similar boat, what with not having EAD etc.

[thomascromwell 0]

Thanks for your response!