My OPT extension started from June of this year I had been working since then. But the client is deferring their project to next year and hence wants all contractors to go back. Does an Unpaid Internship or Volunteering be considered as unemployed or emp

In SEVP’s OPT 2010 Policy Guidance, Section 7.2.1 (p. 17-18) states, in part:

“Unpaid employment. A student may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any labor laws. The work must be at least 20 hours per week for a student on post-completion OPT. A student must be able to provide evidence acquired from the student’s employer to verify that the student worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.”

See: http://www.kidambi.com/resources/OPT_Volunteer.pdf