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Does an unpaid internship or volunteering count as OPT employment?

It can, on standard post-completion OPT. SEVP guidance says 'a student may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any labor laws,' and that the work 'must be at least 20 hours per week' and be directly related to your degree. You also need to be able to provide evidence from the employer verifying the hours worked. Unpaid work does not qualify for the STEM OPT extension, which requires a paid position with an E-Verify employer.

Watch out

The unpaid role must comply with federal/state labor laws (genuine unpaid internships are tightly limited) and meet the 20-hour, degree-related, documented-hours tests; otherwise it will not count.

Source: SEVP Policy Guidance 1004-03, Update to Optional Practical Training (Section 7.2.1), ICE.gov

Informational, not legal advice. Immigration rules change and individual cases differ. Confirm anything that affects your status with your school’s DSO or an immigration attorney before acting.

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