Once volunteers have expressed interest, you need to evaluate their eligibility for each individual position or project. Your evaluation will have to be tailored to the volunteers, their position or project, and their potential length of service. When you don't have much time, such as a 1-day project, at the very minimum determine whether volunteers are eligible for service and have them sign volunteer agreements. If you have more time, match each volunteer's skills and interests to a position or project. The volunteer application and interview will help you do this.

Who Is Eligible To Volunteer?

Almost any U.S. citizen or permanent resident can volunteer for the Forest Service, subject to a few restrictions. Foreign nationals must qualify for the Forest Service's International Visitor Program before volunteering. The key qualifications to consider are:

Service description/Essential eligibility criteria—This criteria establishes the nondiscriminatory basic functions and therefore the abilities required for volunteer service in the individual position or project. In order to be selected for and to be retained in the position/project, a volunteer must be able to meet all of the elements within the service description/essential eligibility criteria for that position or project.

Age—A volunteer under the age of 18 must have the written consent of his or her parent or guardian to enroll (figure 19). State and Federal child labor laws apply.

Figure 19—A young volunteer helps out at Herp
Survey Days for the Flathead National Forest
wildlife program. Courtesy of Steve Anderson, Flathead
National Forest

Federal Employees

A current employee may volunteer, so long as:

• Service is clearly voluntary on the employee's part (employees cannot be implicitly or explicitly required or requested to volunteer).
  
  
• The participation of a qualified volunteer from the general public is not precluded.
  
  
• An employee does not use the Volunteers in the National Forests Act to be involved in an off-duty function or extracurricular event the employee would normally perform without reference to the Volunteers in the National Forests Act.
  
  
• Also, nonexempt employees are not allowed to volunteer for tasks that are directly connected to their principal work activity.

Terminated Temporary Employees

Once employees have been terminated, they are no longer Federal employees and technically could be considered for any volunteer position, including one that encompassed duties they had formerly been paid to do.

Line officers should be sensitive when considering these types of requests, considering any subtle or indirect pressures employees and former employees may be feeling. If temporary employees want to volunteer after their paid tour, it's best to not assign them work that they were normally paid to do.

In many cases, former temporary seasonal employees may inquire about the volunteer program as a way of staying in the community during the off season. Carefully evaluate the situation. In many cases, it may not be possible to provide housing and reimbursement for former employees if they are, in essence, local volunteers.

An employee in "nonpay status" or "off tour" is still a Federal employee.

Community Service Workers

The voluntary services of individuals sentenced to community service by the criminal justice system cannot be accepted under the Volunteers in the National Forests Act. Because these individuals were sentenced to perform service, they are not volunteers. A hosted program agreement with the court would be the instrument to use if a unit wishes to accept the services of a corrections crew or individual.

Relatives of Employees

Relatives may volunteer so long as the official who negotiates and signs the agreement is not an immediate family member.

International Visitors

Incorporating international visitors in your program can be challenging, but also rewarding (figure 20). International visitors add a global perspective to our local surroundings and the social and cultural exchange is beneficial both ways.

Figure 20—An international volunteer from Spain
collects organic litter. Courtesy of Elizabeth (Liza)
Hernandez, Forest Service, International Institute of
Tropical Forestry

All foreign nationals must have the appropriate visa and immigration status to spend time volunteering with the Forest Service. In general, foreigners may not "work" or "volunteer" for the United States Government. However, they may participate in cultural and educational exchange programs, training, or internship programs associated with university degree programs. They may also be part of a volunteer group coordinated by a nonprofit voluntary service organization.

J-1 Visas—The Forest Service is authorized by the U.S. Department of State to serve directly as a sponsor of the International Exchange Visitor (J-1) Program. The program's objective is "to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges" (Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, known as the Fulbright-Hays Act). The different categories of J-1 visas have their own specific time limitations and regulations. Some categories are appropriate for research activities, training, and educational exchange programs, while others are appropriate for visits from high-level officials. Almost all universities and larger exchange programs (Fulbright, Muskie Fellows, etc.) have special designations to sponsor international students on J-1 visas. These students, with appropriate permission, can spend time outside their university studies with the Forest Service on optional practical training programs.

F-1 Visas—The F-1 visa is the standard international student visa. International students who are already studying in the United States and hold a valid F-1 visa may seek permission from their advisors and the designated school official of their F-1 program to pursue curricular or optional practical training associated with their formal studies. If all conditions of the practical training are met, these students may work or volunteer with the Forest Service for limited periods. These students may not be recruited specifically to serve as volunteers. The use of this visa by Forest Service volunteers is rare.

B-1/B-2 Visas—B-2 visas, or tourist visas, allow foreign nationals to come to the United States for pleasure. Those holding a B-2 visa may not work or receive any type of payment, reimbursement, or remuneration. B-2 visa holders are forbidden from performing any type of volunteer service or work. B-1 visas are "business visas" that allow business travelers to conduct business transactions, meetings, and limited research so long as they are not being paid for their services by any U.S. entity. Specific rules govern reimbursements. No B-1 visa holders are authorized for volunteer work with the Forest Service unless they have enrolled in a specific sponsored volunteer program coordinated by an authorized nonprofit organization before their arrival in the United States.

All Forest Service international visitors must be processed and serviced by the Forest Service International Visitor Program. A Web site outlines procedures and monitoring requirements for Forest Service international visitors: http://www.fs.fed.us/global/visitor_program/welcome.htm and http://www.fs.fed.us/global/intranet. Your point of contact for all issues concerning international visitors will usually be your regional volunteer coordinator. The national point of contact for all arrangements concerning international visitors is the International Visitor Program coordinator (phone: 202–219–9774).

Plan ahead if an international visitor wishes to volunteer (figure 21). The visa authorization process can take as long as 3 to 4 months. You need to start at least 12 weeks before the visit. First, go to the international program's Web site and read about the program and process. Next, download information on the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program regulations. Visitors must understand the requirements for insurance and have the financial resources required to participate in the program. You will also need to download the appropriate forms (International Visitor Application and Information Sheet and Form ARS 230: Non-Citizen Data Sheet required for Foreign Agriculture Service security checks). Send this information and the forms to the prospective visitor.

Figure 21—A Bahamian student helps with a
wood turtle study, part of the Kirtland's
Warbler Bahamas partnership. Courtesy of Philip
Huber, Huron-Manistee National Forests

You will also need the following paperwork from the visitor:

• Resume
• Copies of degrees or transcripts (students, research scholars, short-term scholars) or proof of employment
• Copies of picture/biodata page of passport
• Copy of any prior J-1 visas in the passport and previous DS-2019s
• Proof of outside or personal funding, if any, that will be used to support the visitor's program
• Copies of all documents for any dependents who will accompany the official visitor

Once the prospective international visitor has returned the paperwork to you, forward it to your region's volunteer coordinator along with the completed form: International Visitor Activity Proposal and Information Sheet: Request for DS-2019. This form is on the International Visitor Program's Web site. You also will need to submit a draft letter of invitation (do not send this letter to the applicant). The International Visitor Program coordinator will review the draft to ensure that all proposed activities qualify for the program and to minimize any potential problems the applicant may have when presenting this letter to the U.S. Consular Officer at the visa interview. For samples of this letter, see the International Visitor Program's Web site.

At this point, you have done all you need to do. Your regional coordinator will forward all the necessary information to the International Visitor Program, which is responsible for issuing a U.S. Department of State Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status –DS-2019 form. Your Forest Service regional office will send the visitor the official invitation letter, DS-2019 form, USDA Forest Service International Programs International J-1 Visitor Handbook, instructions, prearrival information sheet, and community resource information sheet. Once the applicants have received the DS-2019 form, they can apply for a J-1 visa through their nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy.

The International Visitor Program also offers other invaluable services. The program will:

• Help your unit order an airline ticket if one is to be provided for the visitor.
  
  
• Provide international visitors with debit cards for immediate access to funds.
  
  
• Provide the visitor with a travel identification number (considered a dummy Social Security number).
  
  
• Enroll your visitor in the mandatory health/emergency evacuation insurance (the host units provide the job codes for this purpose).
  
  
• Provide the international visitor with an orientation.
  
  
• Monitor the activities and location of your international visitor as required by law.

Memorandums of Understanding established between the Forest Service and certain nonprofit international voluntary service organizations enable these organizations to host international participants in volunteer programs and activities. The agreements must be authorized by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These organizations may sponsor volunteers who qualify for and are issued B-1 visas after they present their official invitation letters from their sponsoring organization when they enter the United States.

Experience International, a nonprofit organization based in Everson, WA, sponsors qualified, experienced international trainees for both public and private sector natural resource agencies and companies. In some regions, a memorandum of understanding is in place between the Forest Service and Experience International. Check with your regional volunteer coordinator to see if a memorandum of understanding has been signed for your area. To contact Experience International, call 360–966–3876 or visit its Web site at http://www.expint.org/.