Volunteer Opportunities

Note: We are not recruiting for any volunteer positions at this time. However, we welcome your interest! If you’d like to be considered for future opportunities, please complete the JotForm. We’ll reach out if a suitable role becomes available.

The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area is looking for interpreters to help bridge the language gap between attorneys and their clients. Our opportunities are:

1) Remote Appointment Call In: This opportunity allows the interpreter to call in to scheduled appointments between an attorney and a non-English speaking client to bridge the language barrier. Timing is usually flexible and coordinated between attorney and interpreter.

2) Virtual Naturalization Clinics (Moderate Need): Volunteers will interpret between attorneys and clients as attorneys aid clients in filling out legal paperwork. These clinics usually take place on the first and third Thursdays of the month. They are virtual and take place on Zoom. The time commitment is from 10:00 AM-1:30 PM the first time (10:00 AM-11:00 AM is a training), and then 11:00 AM-1:30 PM for all future clinics.

3) Remote Document Translation (Occasional Need): This is a remote opportunity to receive legal documents that need to be translated. You will translate documents from home and then send them back to our office.

Occasionally IIBA also has a need for in-person volunteers.

Most of these volunteer opportunities still require volunteers to speak English and one other language. All in-person volunteer opportunities require a valid photo identification.

These opportunities include:

In-office Administrative Work– duties include answering phones, filing, shredding documents, and other office tasks.

Event Assistance– For this opportunity, interpreter volunteers will represent IIBA at local events and in-person Naturalization or DACA renewal clinics.

Client Navigation– this task encompasses advocating for clients who may need extra help navigating their immigration process.

Multilingual speakers of all languages are encouraged to volunteer for this opportunity, with emphasis on an urgent need for interpreters who speak the following languages:
1. Dari
2. Vietnamese
3. Ukrainian
4. Mam
5. Tagalog
6. Haitian Creole
7. Spanish

Volunteers must:
1. Be at least 18 years old
2. Speak English and be proficient in at least one other language
3. Have access to a computer or smart phone.

Interested in helping? Please fill out our volunteer application

We look forward to working with you!

Note: We are not recruiting for any volunteer positions at this time. However, we welcome your interest! If you’d like to be considered for future opportunities, please complete the JotForm. We’ll reach out if a suitable role becomes available.

Prepare students for the Citizenship Interview Test. You will help students learn the skills they need to reach their goal of citizenship. Materials and training are provided by IIBA. Prior teaching experience is a plus but not necessary! You may volunteer in Napa, Redwood City, or online via Zoom.

• Napa: Classes are held on Mondays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Redwood City: Classes are held on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Zoom: Tuesday at 2pm, Wednesday at 9am and Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Please apply by completing a volunteer interest form here.

For questions, please contact IIBA Program Manager, Glen Olson at golson@iibayarea.org.

Administrative Volunteer In-Person Support for Citizenship & Outreach, Redwood City

IIBA’s Redwood City location needs in-person office support to better help our clients. This volunteer will assist with scanning, filing, and mailing documents, as well as completing data entry. Volunteer will also communicate with clients by phone and email as needed. The volunteer will work approximately 8 hours per week, with a flexible schedule between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, based availability. Bilingual English and Spanish proficiency is required for this position.

Please apply by completing a volunteer interest form here

IIBA’s Pro Bono Program is seeking a bilingual Communications Volunteer to support our citizenship workshops. This volunteer will attend our bimonthly virtual workshops and conduct brief interviews with clients about their personal histories and their experience with IIBA.

This role requires a minimum three-month commitment and attendance at IIBA’s citizenship workshops from 12:15–1:30 PM PST on 1-2 Thursdays per month. The workshop dates you would be committing to are 9/10, 9/24, 10/22, 11/5, and 11/24.

The ideal candidate would possess the following qualities:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Strong listening and communication skills
• Familiarity with Zoom, MS Word/Google Docs, and Google Drive
• Comfortable interviewing clients with sensitivity and professionalism
• Reliable and respectful of confidentiality
• Interest in communications is a plus

Please apply by completing a volunteer interest form here