Visiting US university for summer training

[jshankar]

My son is currently studying in III year engineering in India and he got acceptance from a university in USA for 4-6 weeks to do a study on his related field during the summer of 2008 (as part of summer training) He is not paid any money for his visit. I would like to know what is the best Visa that he can apply for.

Note: Our entire family lived in US for 6 years and relocated to India in 1995 and we are all Greencard holders. Since we never visited US after that I presume our Greencard would have expired. (My son was born in India only)
Does this have any impact?

[PraetorianXI]

You all are no longer Green Card holders, they are void, since you moved back home and lost the permanent residency a LONG time ago.

Is your son going to get any credit for this course? if so, apply for a J1 or M1 maybe?

If he is not getting any credit (academic) for this, he could try a tourist visa. B-2.

Either way he CAN NOT get paid for anything he does in the USA as compesantion.

[jshankar]

thanks for the reply.

My son is not getting any credit for this. During the Visa interview can he say that he is visiting this university or he should stick to visiting US for holidays?

when he is applying for B2 visa some people say he should apply for cancellation of Greencard in a separate form along with. Is it true? (what is this form called? and where we get this?)

What is the advantage / disadvangae of self sponsor over sponsor by friend / relative in this case?

will our return to India has any positive / negative impact during the interview?

[PraetorianXI]

My son is not getting any credit for this. During the Visa interview can he say that he is visiting this university or he should stick to visiting US for holidays? Is he visiting someone for the holidays, if so, state that reason, but do not conceal the university part.

when he is applying for B2 visa some people say he should apply for cancellation of Greencard in a separate form along with. Is it true? (what is this form called? and where we get this?) The GC was cancelled a LONG time ago, do not worry about additional forms.

What is the advantage / disadvangae of self sponsor over sponsor by friend / relative in this case? It is best to be self sponsored on a trip like this, shows income from home country and ties to it. Make sure he has information to prove his return.

will our return to India has any positive / negative impact during the interview? Neither one.

[jshankar]

Thanks for the swift responses. I have just a few more queries.

What forms will he need to submit for evidence of funds as he is not an income earner? Or should I provide him with my income tax form details, bank passbooks, etc? He is going alone and I am not applying for a visa with him.

An expired greencard needs to be surrendered before applying for a tourist visa. This is because a greencard can be renewed. However, we have no intention of doing that. That is the form I asked about. Isn't there something like that? When asked about previous US visits/Visa in the visa application form we need to mention visa details. Since the final visit was on a greencard, the question will arise.

Although the main purpose to visit is for the university, he may also visit a few relatives around the place, being the summer vacation anyway.

Thanks!

[PraetorianXI]

Ask the embassy or consulate what you need to do with the Green Card. But believe me, you could not renew it if you wanted to, because you and your family abandoned the US a long time ago, that cancelled your permanent resident status.

As far as documents, he can show your financial documents, but it will help to show that he is enroled in school, that he has loans?, that he has a part time job? anything you can think of that will show he will return back home.

[jshankar]

Thank you Praetorian.

Lastly, since we are self sponsoring is it required to give an address in the US where we will be staying? That is, the name of the contact person in the US (Form DS-157). The same is asked in DS-156 (Name and Telephone Numbers of Person in U.S. Who You Will Be Staying With or Visiting for Tourism or Business). The embassy site mentions that we can write 'nil' if applicable. However, is it applicable in this case?

Can we give a relatives address in the US for the time being as he will mostly be staying in an apartment or hotel?

[PraetorianXI]

Give the address where you will spend most of the time, whether it is a relative or a hotel.

[jshankar]

Hi again Praetorian. I have another question - Do I need to carry any documents regarding the address/person I give when I am self sponsoring? I understand that when you are sponsored by someone you need to have their documents and photocopies of their passports, etc. But when self sponsoring what kind of proof is required (if required) to show that I will be staying with that person or that the person is related to me, etc? I'm a bit confused about that.

Thanks!

[PraetorianXI]

Just an invitation letter, from the person.

Stating their address, phone number, etc.

[jshankar]

Thanks for the information. So the only things I need from the other side would be this invitation letter with the mentioned details, right? Everything else is ready on our side and he just needs to fix the interview date so we're just making sure

[jshankar]

Will this invitation letter have to be addressed to me or the Consulate General?

In field 28 of DS-156, should we write 'self' or 'Name of father' as the person who will pay for the trip? As all the documents and fund proof is not of my son but of me.

[PraetorianXI]

Write your "son" and the letter addressed to "whom it may concern"