B2 - ”Study incidental to visit: I-20 not required"

[ljdl]

Hi!

I am very nervous that I will not pass my interview and my plan for next year will be destroyed, therefor I have a few questions..

My situation is a maybe bit special, I studie music and I have applied for a leave from school next year.
My plan is to travel to US to take private lessons for a really good professor there.
I intend to be in US for 8 months, traveling home over christmas (3+5months). Therefor I want to apply for B2 visa and not travel on ESTA.
I will not attend a school or university, I will just rent a room, take a lesson (1h) every week with the professor,
hang out with my friends there and practice (I’m also planing to visit friends and family in other states).
It has come to my understanding I can not apply for a study visa and I should apply for a tourist visa.

My question to you is, if this is a valid reason to apply for a Visa?
(I have understood that I am allowed to studie 17-18h every week on a B2, but can this be the main reason for traveling there?)
I have prof that I will finish my master degree, in my home country, the year after and that I have received grands to travel to US.
I also plan to ask them to mark my visa with ”Study incidental to visit: I-20 not required"
Do you think I can get a tourist visa with this cause?

Thank you for helping me!

[jnk]

You can apply for visitor visa. You can't apply for student visa. If visa officer ask reason for the visit then be honest. Most likely there should not be any problem. But if your visitor visa reject then you can't come on ESTA program. So i would suggest to come on ESTA program instead of applying visitor visa.

[ljdl]

You can apply for visitor visa. You can't apply for student visa. If visa officer ask reason for the visit then be honest. Most likely there should not be any problem. But if your visitor visa reject then you can't come on ESTA program. So i would suggest to come on ESTA program instead of applying visitor visa.

Thank you for your answer! I'm already on the ESTA program and it is valid for one more year. Will I still be able to travel on that if my visa is refused?
I want to travel on visa so that I can stay in the country for a longer time it makes more sense for my "studies". I also figured that it will be easier for me on the border if I have the ”Study incidental to visit: I-20 not required" in my passport (so that they don't suspect me for playing concerts that I'm not allowed to do).

[Trinity71]

”Study incidental to visit: I-20 not required"

Thank you for your answer! I'm already on the ESTA program and it is valid for one more year. Will I still be able to travel on that if my visa is refused?
I want to travel on visa so that I can stay in the country for a longer time it makes more sense for my "studies". I also figured that it will be easier for me on the border if I have the ”Study incidental to visit: I-20 not required" in my passport (so that they don't suspect me for playing concerts that I'm not allowed to do).

No. You can no longer travel here on the ESTA if you apply for the B2 visa and it is denied.

This is my opinion and not legal advice. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk.

Trinity71