Interning / Shadowing / Volunteering on a K1 VISA

[JJMKulman 0]

Hello, I have recently entered the US on a K1 VISA. My wife and I got married close to a month ago, and I'm currently in the process of applying for a green card.

I am well aware that I'm unable to engage in paid work until permission has been granted. However, I wanted to check the legality of unpaid interning / shadowing / volunteering opportunities...

 

Initially I assumed any unpaid work would be fine. However, I recently heard that even if an internship is unpaid, I wouldn't be able to take it, as it's an opportunity that could be going to American citizen. I'm not sure about the validity of this statement (or even where I even came across it), but regardless I thought it was worth checking here, as obviously I want to keep everything above board. Getting a green card is my top priority and I wouldn't dream of jeopardising this in any way.

Thanks in advance for any information regarding this conundrum!

Joe  

 

 

[Ash.1101 1,755]

I believe the rule of thumb is, is if the volunteer work or internship could lead to a paid job or has any gifts given such as gift cards, flowers, anything, it is considered taking a role away from a citizen.

Internships can be a slippery slope, because ideally you intern for something you want and a lot of companies may look to hire the interns they bring in unpaid, which means an unpaid internship could be seen as taking a potential job away from a citizen.

Basically, anything you volunteer for, you have to gain nothing from it other than the experience. So working at a soup kitchen feeding the homeless is okay, as long as you don't accept any gifts as payment or even "appreciation" of your work. But taking an unpaid internship... there is gain in that because it can lead to a job where you are interning at.

Others have done it though, I wouldn't recommend it nor would I do it.
 

[junkmart 320]

20 minutes ago, JJMKulman said:

Hello, I have recently entered the US on a K1 VISA. My wife and I got married close to a month ago, and I'm currently in the process of applying for a green card.

I am well aware that I'm unable to engage in paid work until permission has been granted. However, I wanted to check the legality of unpaid interning / shadowing / volunteering opportunities...

 

Initially I assumed any unpaid work would be fine. However, I recently heard that even if an internship is unpaid, I wouldn't be able to take it, as it's an opportunity that could be going to American citizen. I'm not sure about the validity of this statement (or even where I even came across it), but regardless I thought it was worth checking here, as obviously I want to keep everything above board. Getting a green card is my top priority and I wouldn't dream of jeopardising this in any way.

Thanks in advance for any information regarding this conundrum!

Joe  

 

 

Volunteering for truly volunteer positions is fine. I volunteered with a non-profit that provides pro-bono legal services to detainees in immigration detention. I scanned and also did translations. Both of these volunteer opportunities were advertised on their website. I would stay away from unpaid internships, and from doing "volunteer" work for which they would normally pay a person.

Edited June 4, 2019 by junkmart

[JFH 12,189]

It has to be a position doing work that no one would ever expect to be paid for. 

 

The example of the translation work for refugees is a perfect definition of the type of thing that is permitted. Helping in a soup kitchen or animal shelter are also good examples. People don’t do these things to further their career and there is no expectation that it will lead to paid work later down the line. It is done purely altruistically. 

 

Offering to make the coffee and open the mail at your friend’s workplace would not be permitted. Even very junior roles in offices and other workplaces carry an expectation of payment and the chance for career development by those who undertake them. 

 

In short, helping those who need help is permitted. Getting your “foot in the door” in the hopes of helping yourself is not permitted. 

[JFH 12,189]

 

 

*~*~*moved from “K-1 visa process and procedures” to “working and traveling”*~*~*