LondonNw3

Okay, My B/F has been granted a H-1B and I have been given a B-2 visa (gay couple (not civil partnership)

So, my question is, if I'm not allow to do anything while in the US and I'm use to going to work, what should I do all day in Manhattan?

I'm sure not going to working all day and doing nothing, will be nice for a bit, but after a week or two will start to 'kill' me.

Can I do volunteering or intern work?

Any advice?

Thanks

Ray

No work... PERIOD .... volunteer if its a volunteer position and one where nobody gets paid ..but your right ..its a nightmare

Duncan Roberts

Yeah, it's probably going to suck. Time to take up a very time consuming hobby.

Noorah101

You can do any volunteer work which is truly volunteer. As in, they would never pay anyone to do that work, such as volunteer in a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter, that type of thing.

You cannot volunteer to do any work for which an employee would normally be paid.

You cannot accept anything in lieu of monetary payment, you can't work for any benefits at all. For example, if a delivery service wants you to drive around and they'll reimburse you for gas. No.

You can only do an unpaid intern job if that intern job is always unpaid, to everyone who might apply for it.

Rene

lisa67

www.volunteermatch.org

LondonNw3

Thanks for your comments so far. It is very helpful. Please keep them coming, it is so helpful.

Just one question. If I went looking for volunteer work or an intern role that no one has done before and the company confirm it is unpaid can I do it?

I have to say this site is an amazing wealth of knowledge. It is so helpful.

P.s. If moving and living in the UK was this bad, I don't understand why people so want to live here. :-)

Thanks for your help! I is so helpful and welcome!

meauxna

This is a fuzzy line and you could be playing with fire. If you intern as a way to gain experience and/or to lead to a job offer (with immigration sponsorship, for ex) that is receiving something of value. Money is not the only compensation taken into account.
The safest information we can give you is for you to do sincerely volunteer work only (humane society dog walker, soup kitchen server etc). If you want to explore edgier options, I recommend you do so with your immigration lawyer, in private.

PS: yes, it's like this for the UK.. I've got a g/f going over on their version of the 'devil's visa' soon.

Octang Frye

How did you secure your visa? How old are you?

LondonNw3

b/f has been given a h-1b visa (via employer) and i have been given a b-2 visa based on it all.

I'm 33

Octang Frye

That's cool. I hadn't heard of that before.
Is that in lieu of an H4?

That B-2 is nice to have. Valid for 10 years. You can do some nice traveling on that.

Noorah101

He can't get an H4. They are a same-sex couple.

Rene

Sally Redux

I reckon if you start doing some volunteering, you'll meet a lot of people and they'll get you involved in other things. You can have a lot of fun not working

meauxna

http://london.usembassy.gov/niv-spouse.html


LondonNw3: You can ASK for a one year admission when you arrive (vs the more automagic 6 months), especially if you don't plan to have any international travel. Up to you, but some people like the longer admission, and your status connected to your H-1B partner should be noted on your visa sticker.

ian-mstm

You can NOT receive any form of compensation whatsoever. Money is only ONE type of compensation.

Ian

crg

I wouldn't even say he could lawfully do an unpaid internship. People can't volunteer for a commercial entity regardless of remuneration. The person's labor can't contribute to a business without work authorization.

Volunteer work must be in a capacity that is generally unpaid and benefits the community at large.

On another note, a B-1 can do B-2 activities, but someone admitted as a B-2 would need an approved B-1 change of status to do a B-1 activity.