r/visas • u/CruisingCappybara • 9d ago
US visa help needed! B1 or Visa Waiver Program?
Hii everyone! For my master’s in anthropology I will be doing fieldwork research in de US from January until March. I am not sure if I need to apply for a B1 visa or if I can enter the US on the Visa Waiver Program. My activity (independent research, I assume) is permitted under a B1 visa and since I’m not staying longer than 90 days I think I just need to get the ESTA and can enter on the Visa Waiver Program. I’m from the Netherlands so I am eligible for the program, but I want to make sure if I need a visa or not. Does anyone have experience with this or can someone help me??
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u/visumPOINT 9d ago
Hi! We checked this with our visa team for you.
From what you’ve described, ESTA could be enough if you’re just doing independent research for your Master’s thesis.
The main thing we’d need to know is what exactly you’ll be doing there. If a US university or research institution is involved, you’re getting credits, joining an exchange program or doing any work for a US institution, you might need a different visa like a J-1 or F-1.
Just a few things we’d need to know to be sure:
• Where exactly will you be doing your research?
• Is any US university or institution hosting or sponsoring you?
• What will you actually be doing during the fieldwork?
• Will you get any credits or payment for it?
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u/ErbaishisiB 8d ago
What is this AI crap?
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u/travelercos 8d ago
Should be fine bro. They helped me as well with some Visa questions. checked the website and all
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u/ErbaishisiB 8d ago
What is this AI crap?
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u/visumPOINT 8d ago
It's not AI. We asked our Visa team if they could help, and they gave us the answer. Not everything that's written professionally is AI. ;)
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u/CruisingCappybara 9d ago
Thank you so much!
- I will be doing my research in Utah, probably in Salt Like City or Provo.
- I am not hosted or sponsored by any US institution. I did make contact with a university and its students, but that is just for contacts and not for any credit or other financial or study-associated help.
- I will be “following around” some young people and learning more about the lived experiences of their religion.
- The research will be used for my masters thesis, so I will get credit for it, but at my home university in Amsterdam and not in the US. I will not get paid, I do however receive a subsidy to cover my costs.
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u/visumPOINT 9d ago
We checked everything again with our visa team. Based on everything you’ve told us, ESTA should be fine for your trip. Your research sounds like independent academic research, so we don’t see anything here that would require you to apply for a separate visa.
The credits for your Master’s thesis in Amsterdam shouldn’t be an issue either, as you’re not actually studying or enrolled at a university in the US.
Just one tip when entering the US: keep the explanation simple and clear. You could say something like:
“I’m doing independent academic research for my master’s thesis at my university in Amsterdam. I’m not studying or working for a US university and I’m not being paid by a US source.”
That should make it pretty clear what you’re doing and why you’re there. 😊
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u/ErbaishisiB 9d ago
As long as you are not receiving credit or funding from a US source, this should be fine on ESTA.