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This is a waiver for those visiting the US for under 90 days. However, our immigration lawyer said the ESTA Visa Waiver is not for internship which is viewed as “work” even if unpaid. People who intend to work in the U.S. (paid or unpaid) will need a visa and cannot do the waiver. The following are relevant postings from other consular posts concerning ESTA not for internship.  Regardless of this information, some people use ESTA for a short unpaid internship, but if truthfully disclosed at a port of entry, there is a risk of denial of entry. 

An internship? Even if you stay less than 90 days, these activities are considered work and require the appropriate visa. Visa Waiver Program travelers entering the United States with ESTA authorization are not allowed to work. If you are a Summer Work Travel participant (J-1 visa) you may only work in jobs approved by your designated U.S. sponsor.  Informal arrangements to work in exchange for lodging or meals are also considered unauthorized employment and are not permitted for tourists.

We had one of the McLean interns that had originally applied to go.reliant.org to be employed by Reliant and we had told him that  Reliant is a US employer who employs US citizens and those who already have the right to work in the US. It is outside of our current capacities to assist foreign nationals in obtaining the right to work in the US. So therefore he could not be employed as an intern with Reliant. 

However he had told us that as a student he was applying for a CPT (an off-campus employment option for F-1 Students when the practical training is an integral part of the established curriculum or academic program).  He told us that the CPT employment is defined as alternative work/stud, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. After talking to our immigration lawyers we were told that he could become an unpaid volunteer intern with Mclean and fundraise for the event.  

Our immigration lawyer said that he could participate in the McLean volunteer activate intern program (since he is not hired or paid by us in that program), but we would need a CPT  (Curricular Practical Training) authorization from his school to participate in the Reliant/McLean unpaid internship program as distinguishable from purely voluntary activities this summer before we could accept him into the program.