Working for Free - AOS - K1 Visa - Photography

[Na&John 3]

Hello guys,

I am adjusting status from my K1 visa, still waiting for permission to work and I am a photographer and wanted to build a new website here in the US and thought about taking some photos for free for it. I wont be accepting any paid requests or even put my services as available before getting the permission to work. However I am concerned if I can take the free photos, would that be considered a work? Especially because I would ask the models to sign an agreement (in which I state its a free service) for copyrights and image use reasons.

Thanks a lot!

[Boiler 45,657]

What sort of models are we talking about?

[Na&John 3]

Families, couples for engagement sessions, seniors

Edited June 10, 2015 by Na&John

[Hypnos 6,576]

"Work" is considered anything that a US resident (US citizen or LPR) would normally be paid for; this would seem to qualify.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to Working & Traveling During US Immigration - topic is working ~

[ChicagoSarah 127]

I think the general approach is that a person can volunteer/intern/work for free so long as that role is not taking the place of what would otherwise be a paid position or doing work that will later turn into a paid position.

[sweet01 39]

Hi,

I agree with Chicago Sarah. I think as long as it will not turn out to be a paid position and it's free of charge without using your Social Security Number at all, that will be alright. I got my AOS interview last week and the Immigration Officer out of nowhere (when we're talking about a different topic that time) asked me about it, thankfully I did not work as well because I think I will be a lot of trouble if ever I did work since we're not allowed to work yet if under AOS. I researched this too and we can do volunteer works for humanitarian reasons without getting any compensation such as allowances whatsoever.God Bless on your journey

Edited June 12, 2015 by sweet01

[swji89 41]

Can anyone point me towards official guidance on this? I've tried to search for it but can't seem to find the official word from USCIS on what would be acceptable in this area.

[sweet01 39]

Can anyone point me towards official guidance on this? I've tried to search for it but can't seem to find the official word from USCIS on what would be acceptable in this area.

Hi,

You can check on this thread - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/453297-volunteer-work-without-ead/. I've also asked this one on the thread too since I want to work before or volunteer. You'll see that there are great advises here.

Edited June 13, 2015 by sweet01

[swji89 41]

Hi,

You can check on this thread - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/453297-volunteer-work-without-ead/. I've also asked this one on the thread too since I want to work before or volunteer. You'll see that there are great advises here.

Great, thank you.

[sweet01 39]

Great, thank you.

You're welcome. Try to read all the discussion on the thread I gave you it helped me understand the process coming from the senior members

Edited June 13, 2015 by sweet01

[swji89 41]

You're welcome. Try to read all the discussion on the thread I gave you it helped me understand the process coming from the senior members

Yeah I've taken a quick look. What puzzles me is the idea of not being able to do something which someone could, theoretically, be paid for. Surely that counts for most volunteering roles as an organisation could choose to pay someone to do particular functions if they had the funds to do so!

[sweet01 39]

Yeah I've taken a quick look. What puzzles me is the idea of not being able to do something which someone could, theoretically, be paid for. Surely that counts for most volunteering roles as an organisation could choose to pay someone to do particular functions if they had the funds to do so!

Good question. This is quite a gray area on my end too but I also have looked on this one article on this website - http://www.usavisanow.com/h-1b-visa/h1b-visa-resources/uscis-views-on-volunteering/. Hope this might help you a bit. We can wait for other senior members here too

Edited June 13, 2015 by sweet01

[Boiler 45,657]

Obviously this is not a practical issue, no I9 etc involved and this is being something the OP is doing solely for themselves anyway.

Even technically I see no problem, but something no doubt that could be discussed indefinitely.

[Boiler 45,657]

Yeah I've taken a quick look. What puzzles me is the idea of not being able to do something which someone could, theoretically, be paid for. Surely that counts for most volunteering roles as an organisation could choose to pay someone to do particular functions if they had the funds to do so!

There are some activities that are never paid, the common example is working for a soup kitchen.