J-2 visa holders may volunteer their time. Volunteering is considered a selfless act of donating your time to the benefit of others. It is not unpaid employment. True volunteers donate their time without expecting anything in return professionally or monetarily. (If a J-2 dependent is interested in finding employment, they must first apply for an Employment Authorization Document through USCIS.)
J-2 dependents may find that volunteering allows them to improve their English skills, find a new community and network, or discover a new hobby.
If you are interested in volunteering, here are some resources to get you started:
