Can I donate plasma?

[AP16 30]

Hello... 

I'm a K1 Visa Holder in the US and I heard people pay for donating plasma here. So I was wondering if I can do it and get some money out of it or if it's considered employment or something by immigration.

Can anyone answer this?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I think it's hilarious to refer to donating for compensation as donating.  But that aside, technically it is earning money.  

[EandH0904 1,184]

I don't know about the legality of it from a compensation aspect but a lot of times you can't donate blood or plasma based on if youve been in certain countries for x amount of time. 

[AP16 30]

6 minutes ago, Transborderwife said:

I think it's hilarious to refer to donating for compensation as donating.  But that aside, technically it is earning money.  

I know it is hilarious, but then again I don't make the rules. I'm trying to make money out of it only, if it's legal.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Just now, AP16 said:

I know it is hilarious, but then again I don't make the rules. I'm trying to make money out of it only, if it's legal.

Wasn't a slight against you for the record.  

[AP16 30]

1 minute ago, Transborderwife said:

Wasn't a slight against you for the record.  

I know, sorry if I looked defensive or rude. Wasn't my intention.

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

I would lean more to the cautious side of this. While "donating", you're receiving a compensation which in theory means you're getting paid for your 'services'.

 

Also as stated above, you might go in and fill out their exam sheet and they may not even allow you to donate as to certain criterias need to be met before they allow you to donate blood/plasma..

 

But I would avoid this honestly..

[databit 328]

14 hours ago, AP16 said:

Hello... 

I'm a K1 Visa Holder in the US and I heard people pay for donating plasma here. So I was wondering if I can do it and get some money out of it or if it's considered employment or something by immigration.

Can anyone answer this?

Yes, some people earn money this way, but aside from the legal issue of not earning money, being a recent immigrant would exclude you. For example, you must not have been in a country that has malaria there (Brazil) for 12 months. And you can't have any recent vaccines. The eligibility is very specific, you must show lots of identification. 

The Red Cross does not pay for donations, but all the places have these same eligibility requirements:

http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-topic