Volunteering

Be careful before engaging in anything labeled as volunteer. Many volunteer positions offered to F-1 students can be classified as unpaid employment, which requires employment authorization. Consult an International Student Advisor before starting any volunteer work. Do not rely on the word of any other staff or faculty member to assess the work you are doing.

Definition

To Volunteer means performing service for a civic, charitable, or humanitarian reason with no expectation of compensation or benefit of any kind for you or any other volunteer.

Potential issues

If a determination is made that you are employed off-campus, you risk having your SEVIS record terminated for unauthorized employment. To avoid this outcome, always consult an International student advisor before starting any off-campus experience.