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Contact International Student and Scholar Services

Email:
isss​@nau.edu
Call:
928-523-1520

Additional information

  • ISSS Front desk

8am–5pm Arizona time

928-523-1520

  • Non-medical emergency line 24/7

1-800-285-3943

  • Outside the US and Canada

+1-602-234-9105

iNAU

Schedule an advisor appointment

Volunteering

Gaining experience through community involvement

Volunteering is a great way to be involved in your community. While volunteering may seem simple, it is more complex than not receiving payment. As an F-1 student you may volunteer during your study in the US as long as you maintain your non-immigration status and follow the regulations below:

  • You may volunteer only at a non-profit organization for a public service, religious, or humanitarian objective.
  • You may not receive any compensation or expect to be hired and compensated in the future.
  • You may not volunteer where a genuine employee could be displaced.
  • For more information about internships in the US, see the Department of Labor Fact Sheet #71

Unpaid internships do not qualify as volunteering. Engaging in an unpaid internship without prior authorization may violate your F-1 status. If you are unsure as to whether an opportunity meets the requirements for true volunteerism, meet with your ISSS advisor.