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mch1234

Volunteer While Waiting for AOS

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Country: Canada
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Hello,

I really appreciate how helpful everyone is on VisaJourney! I have a question- is it legal to volunteer while waiting for your EAD? I entered on a K-1 Visa in November, and I got married & filed my documents for EAD/AP and AOS in December. There is a non-profit organization in my town that provides food and clothing to low-income families. They rely heavily on their volunteers, who do work there such as stocking shelves with food and sorting clothes. I would like to volunteer there to stay productive and help pass the time while I wait for my EAD, but I obviously don't want to do anything that could land me in serious trouble. I have read the threads on VisaJourney about volunteering, but most of them are at least a few years old and have mixed responses. Can anyone provide me with a definite answer on whether this type of volunteer work would be acceptable? Thanks!

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Uruguay
Timeline

I'd be interested to know about this as well without getting the risk of such because I heard something like if working for a company for free is still considering working (If worked an hour or more) but they don't send any info to the IRS, questionable.

 

Another weird one is can't work overseas if the company is USA based because they'll still send some info through IRS.

 

My only guess is just observing around and networking, participating in classes or such.

K-1 Visa process (I'm the USC [F]) [2018-2019]

Spoiler

Sent packet: August 10, 2018 (Lines Compressed to fit signature restriction guideline)

USCIS Received package: August 14 - Notification in text/email: August 17 - Mail received from USCIS: January 22, 2019
USCIS Approved I-129F Petition: January 17 - NVC Received Case: February 14 - NVC Case # Assigned: February 14

US Embassy Received: Not sure but got email reply - March 11 - Instructions Received via e-mail: March 19

Interview: May 7 - Approved! - Arriving to US/POE: June 12 - Married July 15, 2019

AOS Process [2019-2020]

Spoiler

Sent packet: July 27, 2019 - USCIS Received Package: July 29 - [Hiccup] Package was sent back due to incorrect fee and sent on August 5.
Notification in text/email: August 12 @ 12:30AM - Check cashed: August 12 - NOA 1 Mail: August 16 - Biometric: September 5 @ Atlanta, GA

AOS RFIE: Sept. 28 - got in mail by Oct 3. [They lost my Husband's Birth Certificate] - Sent back AOS RFIE: Oct 16 2019, at office by Oct 17.
AOS Case update notice on April 9th, 2020, waiting for mail. - Interview date: Scheduled as of July 15, date is August 19. Passed the interview!

My Husband got his GC! 2 Year Conditional Green Card expires 08/19/2022, Residence since 08/19/2020

ROC Process [2022-2024]

Spoiler

Sent packet: June 16, 2022 via USPS, USCIS Received Package: June 21
Notice in text (didn't get email nor text on other phone): June 24
Notice date: June 23, package is at SRC (Texas Service Center), Paid with Credit Card, payment taken on June 25
NOA 1 Mail: June 30, Biometric: Reused
Got letter in mail for extension: April 12th, Received date June 21, 2022, Notice date: April 5, 2023 = 48 Months Extension. No physical card yet.
Approved without interview as of Feb 15th, 2024. Was not a combo interview with N-400.

Naturalization N-400 [2023-...]

Spoiler

Filed Online: July 28, 2023NOA: July 29, 2023
Service Center: NBC, application # starts with IOE#.
Biometrics waived. Got NOA mail Jan 5, 2024 says Interview in Nashville, TN on Feb 6, 2024.
Queue for review and approval. Already in line for Oath Ceremony as of Feb 13th, 2024.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline

My understanding is that it is legal to volunteer as long as it does not displace a paid worker (i.e. a company brings you in to work at no pay for a job that was recently paid).  I hope that makes sense.

 

Good Luck!

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

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Volunteering itself is fine. When it becomes an issue is when you are potentially taking away an opportunity from a work-eligible individual.
Helping in a soup kitchen? Awesome.

Reading to children? Awesome.

Being an unpaid receptionist or assistant for a business? Likely crossing the line - that's something one normally does either for pay or for experience and/or networking in the field.

Edited by geowrian

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

 

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Sweden
Timeline

You've gotten great advice already. Wanted to highlight that doing internships or similar that can later lead to paid work is also in the grey zone. So if you're looking to get hired by the non-profit later, then maybe reconsider. If not, you're good.

 

I volunteered for a non-profit before I got my EAD, it's a great way to meet people and increase one's sense of purpose. Highly recommend it.

K1 NOA1: 9/12/2017. NOA23/10/2018. Case # Assigned: 3/28/2018. Embassy Received: 3/29/2018. Medical: 4/18/2018. Interview: 5/3/2018. VOH: 5/8/2018. US Entry (POE JFK): 5/24/2018.

AOS Package Sent: 6/4/2018. NOA1/Received Date: 6/5/2018. Biometrics Appt: 6/28/2018. I-765/I-131 Combo Card Received: 9/25/2018. I-765/I-131 Renewal Sent: 4/2/2019. NOA1/Received Date: 4/3/2019. GC Interview: 9/19/2019. GC Approved: 11/5/2019. 

ROC Package Sent: 9/20/2021 NOA1/Received Date: 9/22/2021 NOA1 In Mail: 10/2/2021 

N-400 Applied Online: 8/22/2022 NOA1/Received Date: 8/23/2022 Interview Date: 11/30/2022

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Country: Canada
Timeline

Thank you all for your replies! I won't be applying for an actual job there eventually or doing anything that someone would normally be paid to do. I'm just trying to give myself some purpose and meet people while I wait for the EAD...this wait is so long! 

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25 minutes ago, mch1234 said:

Thank you all for your replies! I won't be applying for an actual job there eventually or doing anything that someone would normally be paid to do. I'm just trying to give myself some purpose and meet people while I wait for the EAD...this wait is so long! 

Yes, as others mentioned, as long as the volunteer position is truly volunteer, in other words others people volunteer in the same position do not get paid, there is no problem. You are not allowed to work, but you are allowed to apply and interview for jobs. It take times to find a good job in your desired field so it's wise to start early. 

 

 

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Mexico
Timeline
6 hours ago, mch1234 said:

Hello,

I really appreciate how helpful everyone is on VisaJourney! I have a question- is it legal to volunteer while waiting for your EAD? I entered on a K-1 Visa in November, and I got married & filed my documents for EAD/AP and AOS in December. There is a non-profit organization in my town that provides food and clothing to low-income families. They rely heavily on their volunteers, who do work there such as stocking shelves with food and sorting clothes. I would like to volunteer there to stay productive and help pass the time while I wait for my EAD, but I obviously don't want to do anything that could land me in serious trouble. I have read the threads on VisaJourney about volunteering, but most of them are at least a few years old and have mixed responses. Can anyone provide me with a definite answer on whether this type of volunteer work would be acceptable? Thanks!

Per our attorney, yes volunteering for nonprofit is totally ok. We just filed AOS for my spouse, and he is volunteering as I write. He was here on a B2, and his I-94 has expired. Waiting for NOA-1. BUT, since his I-94 expired, our attorney advised him to not drive until he gets his EAD. Our attorney said that if he were to be stopped, police will see that he is out of status and call ICE to detain him. Now he walks or I give him a ride.

c9 AOS Concurrently filed I-130 & I-130A, I-485, I-131, I-765

 

2019-02-21 Package sent to Chicago Lockbox via FedEx

2019-03-09 Notice received via USPS

2019-03-15 Biometrics Appointment Notice received

2019-03-26 Attended Biometrics Appointment

2019-04-01 Case is ready to to be scheduled for an interview

2019-04-22 Interview Notice received via USPS

2019-05-20 Interview: Approved after 82 days.

2019-05-21 Card in production

2019-05-22 Card was mailed to you (no tracking)

2019-05-29 Green Card in hand.

 

I-751 Removal of Conditions

2021-03-23 Package Sent via FedEx

2021-04-01 Package Received Texas Service Center

2021-04-21 I-797C Notice Date

2021-04-26 Notice Received via USPS

2021-05-04 Biometrics were reused

2021-11-16 New card is being produced

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