Visitor Visa (B1/B2) Am I allowed to take continuing education courses and volunteer?

[mystickle one]

I have a question regarding what a Visitor (B1/B2) is allowed to do, most notably Continuing Education courses. I was researching on the USCIS webpage looking at requirements and instructions for study visa's and it stated that study authorization is not required if you are taking a course (non-credited) that is less that 18 hours/week. I am interested in pursuing a Continuing Education course that is 12 weeks long, and is a certificate but is non-credited. I contacted the school to find out whether authorization was required and was told that no paperwork or authorization is required when registering for the course due to it being continuing education - essentially that I won't need to apply for study authorization to take it.

I am a bit wary about doing this, and want to make sure that I am not doing anything illegal. I have a 10 year Visitor's visa and I plan on making sure that my status remains legal in all ways. My boyfriend is a US Citizen, and I presently reside in Canada - and we would like to spend the summer together in the US (as he has work commitments). I don't want to be bored out of my mind while he works, so I've been researching what options I might have to pursue different courses and so forth to occupy my time.

I am also interested in volunteering, and I know that there are restrictions with regards to doing this as well.

Any information on what I can and cannot do, as well as, any suggestions on what I can legally take part in throughout my stay over the summer will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[peace999]

What is your status in US?

B1 or B2?

Each has a different scope.

Look at your I-94 / US entry stamp on your passport.

[mystickle one]

I believe it is a B2 Visitor's Visa (do not have it in front of me right now but will double check when I do)

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What is your status in US?

B1 or B2?

Each has a different scope.

Look at your I-94 / US entry stamp on your passport.

It is definitely a B2 - Visitor/Tourist Visa

[peace999]

I believe it is a B2 Visitor's Visa (do not have it in front of me right now but will double check when I do)

- - - Updated - - -



It is definitely a B2 - Visitor/Tourist Visa

As you have already researched, you can do your study.

Here is the full scope of B2;

An alien coming for purposes of tourism or to make social visits to relatives or friends;

An alien coming for health purposes;

An alien coming to participate in conventions, conferences, or convocations of fraternal, social or service organizations;

An alien coming primarily for tourism who also incidentally will engage in a short course of study;

An amateur coming to engage in an amateur entertainment or athletic activity, even if the incidental expenses associated with the visit are reimbursed;

A dependent of an alien member of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces temporarily assigned to duty in the United States;

A dependent of a category "D" visa crewman who is coming to the U.S. solely for the purpose of accompanying the principal alien;

An alien spouse or child, including an adopted alien child, of a U.S. citizen or resident alien, if the purpose of the visit is to accompany or follow to join the spouse or parent for a temporary visit;

A dependent of a nonimmigrant who is not entitled to derivative status, such as in the case of an elderly parent of an E-1 alien;

An alien coming to marry a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident with the intent to return to a residence abroad soon after the marriage;

An alien coming to meet the alien's fiancé(e)'s family (to become engaged; to make arrangements for a wedding; or to renew a relationship with the prospective spouse);

A spouse married by proxy to an alien in the U.S. in a nonimmigrant status who will apply for a change of status after consummation of the marriage;

An alien who is entitled to the benefits of section 329 of the Act (Naturalization) and who seeks to take advantage of such benefits irrespective of the foreign residence abroad requirement of section 101(a)(15)(B);

A dependent of an alien member of the U.S. Armed Forces who qualifies for naturalization under section 328 of the Act and whose primary intent is to accompany the spouse or parent on the service member's assignment to the United States;

An alien destined to attend courses for recreational purposes; or

An alien seeking to enter the U.S. in emergent circumstances, when he or she is otherwise entitled to lawful permanent resident status. For example: a permanent resident alien employed by a U.S. corporation is temporarily assigned abroad but has necessarily remained more than 1 year and may not use Form I-551 in order to travel to the U.S. for an emergency and then return abroad. The alien has never relinquished permanent residence, has continued to pay U.S. income taxes, and perhaps even maintains a home in the United States. The alien may be issued a nonimmigrant visa for this purpose and Form I-551 need not be surrendered