An individual may serve as a VISTA if all the following requirements are met as of the date the individual takes the oath or affirmation, as appropriate, to enter VISTA service:

(a) The individual is at least eighteen years of age. There is no upper age limit.

(b) The individual is a United States citizen or national, or is legally residing within a State.

(a) To the maximum extent practicable, the individual must make a full-time commitment to remain available for service without regard to regular working hours, at all times during their period of service, except for authorized periods of leave.

(b) To the maximum extent practicable, the individual must make a full-time personal commitment to alleviate poverty and poverty-related problems, and to live among and at the economic level of the low-income people served by the project.

(c) The individual's service cannot be used to satisfy service requirements of parole, probation, or community service prescribed by the criminal justice system.

(d) A VISTA candidate or member agrees to undergo an investigation into their criminal history or background as a condition of enrollment, or continued enrollment, in the VISTA program.

AmeriCorps has the final authority to approve or deny applications for VISTA service.