/Office of Global Affairs
Visa and Immigration Services

Student Volunteering at SBU

If your department wants to have a former SBU student as an unpaid volunteer during their Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), you must ensure the student has proper work authorization, the position meets immigration requirements and applicable labor laws before the student begins.

When Volunteering Is Acceptable

You may offer a student a volunteer position during their Post-Completion OPT if the position meets all applicable labor laws and the following requirements:

  • The position is genuinely unpaid. The role must have been created as an unpaid volunteer position. You cannot make a normally paid position unpaid simply by choosing not to pay the student or by waiving a stipend.

  • The work relates to the student’s field of study. The duties must be directly related to the student’s degree program.

  • The student works at least 21 hours per week. This is the minimum required for the position to count as employment during Post-Completion OPT.

  • The arrangement complies with labor laws. Consult Stony Brook University Human Resources to ensure the position meets applicable federal and state labor requirements.

Verifying Work Authorization

Before allowing a former student to start volunteering, verify that all three conditions are met:

  • Their Post-Completion OPT has been approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

  • The OPT start date printed on their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) has arrived.

  • They have received their physical EAD card.

Do not allow the student to begin volunteering until all three conditions are met. Submitting an OPT application or receiving an approval notice alone is not sufficient if the student has not received their EAD card or their authorized start date has not arrived.

As the hiring department, you are responsible for verifying that the student is eligible to begin before allowing them to perform volunteer duties. This helps prevent your department from knowingly engaging someone in work before they are authorized.

Required Offer Letter

Prepare an official offer letter on Stony Brook University department letterhead, issued by the Department Chair or Dean. The letter must include:

  • Specific duties: A clear description of the volunteer’s responsibilities.

  • Employment dates: The anticipated start and end dates.

  • Hours per week: The number of hours the student will work each week, which must be at least 21 hours.

  • Physical work address: The complete address where the volunteer will work. If they are working remotely, that should be indicated on the letter.

  • Supervisor information: The name of the individual supervising the student.

Student Reporting Requirements

Students participating in Post-Completion OPT must report their volunteer position to VIS.

Remind the student to:

  • Submit the Add/Update OPT Employment e-form through accessVIS.

  • Report the volunteer position and required employer information.

  • Report their employment within the applicable OPT reporting deadline (within 10 days of starting position).

The student’s 90-day unemployment limit begins on the OPT start date printed on their EAD card. If they do not obtain qualifying employment within the allowed period, they may no longer be eligible to remain in the United States in F-1 status.