volunteer work on h1b

[squasher]

i am on h1b but have been laid off and have 30 days left to find employment. can i join a non profit company as a volunteer and do an h1b transfer to that company? is that allowed on h1b?

[Attorney_20]

H1B employment requires that the employer pay the prevailing wage for the occupation the H1B employee performs. It is not permitted to do volunteer work without pay on H1B. 

[Zodiac System]

You can try converting to B1/B2 which will give you some extra time of six months for job hunting.  Your new employer can then switch / transfer you back to H1b (change of status).

[JoeF]

You can volunteer for an organization where everybody volunteers, e.g., a church. You can not volunteer for an organization where people in the same or similar position are paid. Also, this doesn't provide you any status. You would still have to work for and get paid by an H1 employer.