Help: Is a B-1/B-2 Visa enough?

[Ifliz 0]

Hey everyone! I'm a Colombian citizen currently studying for an undergraduate degree at a UK University. I have a US B-1/B-2 Visa valid for 5 years from 2009, which I have used several times in the past for tourism, and while on transit between Colombia and the UK. This summer, my university is offering Archaeology students the chance to participate in and be on the site of an excavation (in the US) which is subject of the research of several academics at our (UK) institution. A group of about 15 of us are travelling there and will be staying for a month, working on the excavation site full time for 6 days a week. We're not being paid, and we're not taking any classes or attending any lectures/conferences/anything. We're also not gonna be registered as students with any US institution. In addition to the excavation, we will also be visiting a few famous places (Mt. Rushmore included). My classmates (all EU citizens) are travelling under the Visa Waiver program, but I'm obviously not elegible. Additionally, after the excavation, I'm not flying back to the UK but planning on going down instead back home (Colombia) and spending the summer with my parents before returning to the UK for the next academic year. My question is whether my B-1/B-2 visa is enough for the purposes outlined above, or if I should try and get some other type of visa? And if I DO need to get another visa, which kind?

I'm concerned that if I travel on my B-1/B-2 visa I might be denied entry. I don't know if it's relevant, but here's some more information: I've never been denied entry before, or been denied a visa for any country. I don't have any family in the US (all of my closest relatives live in Colombia). I don't own any property, but I have already signed on a lease for a student house in the UK for 2012-13. My degree programme (in the UK) finishes in 2014. I do, however, have some friends in the US who I intend to visit. Would any of that harm my chances of being admitted?

[Boiler 46,005]

As far as activities are concerned the VWP and the B1/2 are the same.

As far as entry there seems no obvious difference in likelihood between you and yout fellow Students.

PS Not all EU Countries are also VWP Countries.

[Ifliz 0]

Thanks, that's helpful. That's what I had thought, but to be honest, I'm just wary that they'd be inclined to be more strict in my case, given my nationality.