B 1 Visa For Volunteer Service
One of the most wonderful things about volunteering is that it makes you feel good. Most volunteers believe helping others is an important responsibility, as well as a pleasure. This guide will explain how to obtain a B-1 visa for volunteer service, which is offered by the United States government to foreign citizens.
The B1 visa allows foreign nationals to travel to the United States temporarily for business or pleasure, but not for employment. Someone on a B1 visa may work in the U.S., but only in a capacity specifically allowed by this visa, such as consultant or professor. The business or pleasure B1 visa is one of the most common types of temporary visas issued in the International Admissions office at University of Central Oklahoma.
How to Apply for a B-1 Visa to Do Volunteer Work
Once you have identified a voluntary service program, the next step is to apply for your visa at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country. Each U.S. consulate or embassy has a website with specific instructions for completing the application form and paying the visa fees; find the one you need at http://www.usembassy.gov/.
In addition to the basic items, such as your passport, application form, and visa fee, you will need a letter from the organization you will be helping. The letter needs to describe the organization and the service program and include the following details:
- your name and date and place of birth
- your foreign permanent residence address
- name and address of initial destination in the United States (where you will volunteer), and
- anticipated duration of your assignment.
When you appear for your visa interview, be prepared to explain the organization, your membership, the proposed volunteer work in the U.S., and for how long you plan to stay. The consular officer might have questions, so you will need to be ready to provide any requested information.
After the visa interview, you should receive your passport back with the visa in a few days or weeks. The processing time will depend upon the particular consulate’s workload.
For How Long the Visa Will Be Valid
Depending upon the “reciprocity agreement” between the United States and your country, the visa may be valid for just a few months or up to ten years. It also might be valid for one or multiple entries.
If it is a single-entry visa, this means you can use it just one time to enter the United States. If you travel outside the U.S., you likely will need to apply for a new visa before returning. If the visa is a multiple-entry visa, this means you can use it to enter the U.S. any number of times while it remains valid.
Keep in mind that a visa merely allows you to apply to enter the United States. It does not guarantee that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the airport or other point of entry will allow you to enter. To be sure, having the visa is normally a good sign that you’ll be allowed to enter.