Unpaid internships

In many cases, you will still need work authorization for unpaid internships. International students who receive an offer for an unpaid internship should be in touch with their OISS adviser for guidance before accepting any offer or starting work.

If you are receiving any type of compensation, including stipends, honoraria, stock options, or reimbursements, or the prospective position does not meet the unpaid internship criteria, you must obtain U.S. work authorization. In addition, you cannot offer to volunteer for a position which is normally a paid position, or for which you will be paid later, due to work authorization constraints. We advise that you obtain and keep written documentation when engaging in unpaid internships, in case you are ever required to provide it in the future.

After you have completed your program, you must apply for F-1 post-completion OPT or J-1 Academic Training authorization for both paid and/or unpaid positions if you wish to remain in the U.S. to work.

Volunteering

Volunteering allows you to get involved with the local community, network, utilize skills and learn new ones. The U.S. Department of Labor defines volunteering as donating time with an organization whose primary purpose is civic, charitable, or humanitarian in nature. There is typically no direct supervision or mentorship for a volunteer position.

Note: Washington University does not have volunteer positions. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions about a posting or an offer that you have been given.

A volunteer position must meet the following conditions:

  • No expectation of compensation
  • The volunteer cannot displace a genuine employee
  • The services provided by the volunteer should not be the same services for which he or she was previously paid and/or expects to be hired and paid for in the future. Examples of common volunteer organizations include a literacy network, homeless shelter, food pantry, animal shelter, etc.

You are not required to obtain work authorization for legitimate volunteer opportunities, as long as you are not receiving payment or any type of compensation. We advise that you obtain and keep written documentation when participating in volunteer activities in case you are ever required to provide it in the future.

Work at a for-profit entity is considered employment and must be for pay and requires U.S. work authorization.