Volunteer Opportunities

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

1) Remote Appointment Call In (Urgent Need): 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, or email Dani Clark, our Volunteer Manager of Interpreter Programs, directly at dclark@iibayarea.org.

We look forward to working with you!