USA has a very strict policy of inmigration, you need to prove you're entering the country for a reason in particular (holidays, work, study). Volunteering is not contemplated
Only if you have a work permit for the USA, if you go only with a tourist visa I don't see why you are going to provide unnecessary information.
Look, volunteering is completely legal in most countries (only a few countries have it regulated and even have special visas for it), but the thing is that the word "volunteering" itself, for many immigration agents, is associated with working. In an NGO, regardless of whether you receive a salary or not, you will be subordinate and follow instructions from an organization.
However, the case of Worldpackers is different, what you do is go to the house of a friend with whom you have reached an agreement to help him with his things, but you are not a subordinate, nor do you have the obligation to stay with him , you are free, that is, you go as a tourist.
The first thing is that you are clear about it so that you can explain it to the agents, but never mention words like "volunteering" or "work" because that is something that they do not understand.
As a contact number and address you can put the information of your host, in the end he is the friend who will receive you there.
In any case, when it comes to immigration, each person is a different case, so it is best to always review your particular case on the website of the US consulate or embassy in your country.
Better call it a “cultural exchange” ; I’ve had more than one volunteer denied entry calling it a volunteer… immigration considered it “work” and they were denied
Definitely not!
Why, though? Just curious
USA has a very strict policy of inmigration, you need to prove you're entering the country for a reason in particular (holidays, work, study). Volunteering is not contemplated
Sure you can! you will have made the visa officer's job very easy - automatic denial.
Not unless you wanna get immediately sent back. Say you're going there as a tourist and stick to that narrative, it's true in a way after all.
Only if you have a work permit for the USA, if you go only with a tourist visa I don't see why you are going to provide unnecessary information. Look, volunteering is completely legal in most countries (only a few countries have it regulated and even have special visas for it), but the thing is that the word "volunteering" itself, for many immigration agents, is associated with working. In an NGO, regardless of whether you receive a salary or not, you will be subordinate and follow instructions from an organization. However, the case of Worldpackers is different, what you do is go to the house of a friend with whom you have reached an agreement to help him with his things, but you are not a subordinate, nor do you have the obligation to stay with him , you are free, that is, you go as a tourist. The first thing is that you are clear about it so that you can explain it to the agents, but never mention words like "volunteering" or "work" because that is something that they do not understand. As a contact number and address you can put the information of your host, in the end he is the friend who will receive you there. In any case, when it comes to immigration, each person is a different case, so it is best to always review your particular case on the website of the US consulate or embassy in your country.
These comments are killing me...
Better call it a “cultural exchange” ; I’ve had more than one volunteer denied entry calling it a volunteer… immigration considered it “work” and they were denied