I’m hoping to get some advice regarding my upcoming trip to the U.S. on ESTA.
I’m a graduate student in South Korea conducting research in the pharmaceutical sciences. I’ve been invited to visit an university in US for approximately 85 days this summer to collaborate on a research project.
This is not a paid position—there will be absolutely no income generated in the U.S., and I will be financially supported by my home university in Korea throughout the stay.
I already have a round-trip ticket booked (arrival: July 3rd), and I’ve arranged to sublet housing from a friend for the duration of my stay.
This will be my first time entering the US on ESTA, and my only prior US travel history is a stay of about 1.5 years back in 2005 as a child when my parents were on a work assignment.
I would deeply appreciate any advice on how to best prepare for the entry interview—or whether others have had similar experiences traveling under ESTA for academic, non-paid purposes.
Thank you very much in advance for your help!
