Volunteering

Volunteering for students on F-1 visas

Are you trying to figure out if you can legally volunteer at a nonprofit located off campus before you graduate?

Volunteering means that you are donating time with an organization whose primary purpose is civic, charitable or humanitarian in nature, without promise, expectation or receipt of any type of compensation for services rendered.

Please see Practical Training for information about the rules for accepting off-campus jobs and internships (CPT) before graduation and post-graduation work authorization (OPT).

Volunteering is typically not related to your area of study as this may create a ‘grey area’ where it is difficult to tell if it is truly volunteering or should be considered for curricular practical training, or CPT, which would require you to earn class credit for the experience. For example, a music major should not volunteer to play the piano at a local church as the position is related to the academic area of study and would usually be a hired position.

Volunteering should not exceed 20 hours a week during an academic term.

Important! 

Just because you are not getting paid, does not mean it is considered “volunteering” by US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Many types of unpaid work are considered employment by USCIS. Without proper work authorization, this off campus employment would be considered a violation of your F-1 visa and your I-20 would be terminated for “unauthorized employment”. You would have 48 hours to exit the U.S. with no option for reinstatement.

The questions below will help clarify these rules. If you have questions, please ask the SFA Office of International Programs for guidance.

These key points will show that you are actually a volunteer:

• You do not expect compensation or future employment.
• You do not displace a genuine employee and the services you provide are not the same services that were previously paid for.
• There are other volunteers doing the same work as you who are also not receiving any form of compensation.
• Your employer/entity is not labeling you a “volunteer” just to avoid paying/compensating you.
• You are not volunteering solely to acquire job/professional skills to add to your CV/Resume (you should not volunteer within your academic field of study).
• You are performing services for a non-profit organization for public service, charitable or humanitarian objective.