Volunteering for 6 months in the USA? Visa?

Hi there,

What Visa do I need to work for 6 months, without pay at a non-profit organization as a social worker?

TN Status as an Unpaid Volunteer Social Worker?
B2 Status as an Unpaid Volunteer Social Worker?
J1 Status as an Unpaid Volunteer Social Work Intern?

I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology (2008) already and am currently earning a Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree. I have secured a 6 month unpaid "internship" in the USA and was wondering what status I would need. (Just because I said "internship" doesn't mean I need a J1 does it?)

It seems that the TN Status is subjective and because I already have a degree and the nescessary qualifications for the "internship" position under the NAFTA agreement I could get by on my first degree and work experience. The agency where I would be working is desperate for my assistance and i'm sure they would be able to demonstrate their need for my work.

Can anyone clarify this for me?

Your "employer" will need to sponsor you. You can't get a volunteer TN, nor an intern TN.


You can ask a the border.

Thanks for the reply.

What do you mean "My 'employer' will have to sponsor me?" What Visa is that? Also, they are a non-profit. They won't be able to pay any fees as a sponsor.

Currently, I live about 5 hours from the border and i'd like to get this all sorted out before I have to cross.

Whether a volunteer or an intern, you require a work authorization thru your employer (ie. the charity). They need to sponsor you.

You can't sponsor yourself into the US. And employer or US family member has to do this.

It might be B2 for volunteering (as long as you keep residence in canada, and it has to be a position that is normally unpaid; non-profit doesn't always mean everyone works for free).

For internship, J1 would be likely.

They need to do the paperwork.

I would be asking at an immigration site, not a travel site like this one.

Oh yes, I should clarify that the ¸non-profit is `sponsoring`me. That is, they will write me a letter saying they need my help and that the role I would be responsible for is not normally a paid one. I am not taking any jobs away from US Citizens

I have sought help with the US Consolate in Toronto, USCIS, Department of State. The 1-800 numbers are all automated and every time I got a live person they told me to call somewhere else.

My only question is whether or not I can have TN Status as a Social Work Professional if im NOT being paid.

You asked many more questions that this. So many in fact, that I guess my naswer was lost on you.

I said earlier: You cannot get a volunteer TN nor an intern TN.

Perhaps I am not communicating my issue properly.

I am aware that there is no such thing as a "Volunteer TN" or an "Intern TN". Throughtout my research, and after spending hours on the phone calling USCIS, Department of State etc. no one was able to answer my question.

I am in the midst of completing my second bachelor's degree in Social Work. Therefore, I will be working in a professional capacity as a Social Worker in the USA. The only difference is that I will not be getting paid - pro bono work. This small detail seems to change what type of visa I will need while i'm there.

TN Visa? As an unpaid Professional.
B2 Visa? Pleasure related and participating in social service.
J Class Visa? As an intern becuase i'm getting University credit for it.But not working with a sponsored organization.
No Visa at All? Just volunteer while on an extended 6 month stay.

I don't think I can make it clearer, but I guess I'll give you one more chance (lucky you). Your "one question" seems to get longer and longer.

You cannot get a TN (or an H1) status for unpaid, volunteer, pro bono work, because such authorizations are based on being paid a prevailing wage, and not allowing employers to "flood the US market" with cheap labour.
Professionals are by definition paid.

You might get a B1 (not B2) for temporarily visiting US as a volunteer worker. You would need to live in canada all the while however. All the other people who work at the same job would also have to be volunteers. The best place to ask this is on the ground right at the POE, not state department (you aren't going to get an actual visa, Cdns don't get visas), not USCIS telephlunkies. The guy at the border will be the only person making this decision. Each POE has a phone number.

Your employer for the internship (which is not to be confused with volunteering) would be under an F visa (if you are now going to school in US under the F visa), or perhaps a J visa. Again, this would be for a specific employer, and they would sponsor you. This would allow you to work side by side with actual paid professionals -- as an intern, not a volunteer.

Your welcome.

Smug answer, Agnelson. I think you meant to say "You're welcome".

I just got off the phone with the Department of Homeland Security. It turns out that a Canadian volunteering his/her time in the USA does not need a visa at all. The maximum stay is 180 days per calendar year. It is imperitive that you bring a letter outlining duties of the volunteer position that clearly stipulates that the volunteer will NOT be receiving any money for their volunteer duties. Additionally, proof that the volunteer is able to support themselves financially while in the USA must be presented along with proof of significant ties to Canada (mortgage, return to school, etc.) that will ensure your departure from the USA after 180 days.

The person I spoke with at the CBP said that the Border Inspection Agent would make the determination at the port of entry as to whether or not I need to apply for NAFTA TN Status as a Social Worker as I was crossing. There is no visa application to do in advance. The proof I will need either way will be essentially the same.

smug and correct.
As I already pointed out (twice) , that is called B2 status (I already said you would never get a visa as a Cdn), and requires that you continue to have a residence in canada.

POEs never pre-determine a TN, but since the letter you will carry won't have any of the necessary information to grant TN, you needn't bother.