Dental shadowing allowed on B1/Visitor visa?

[adymech 0]

Hello

I already have a B1/Visitor visa to US. I wan to visit US to do for about 3 months what is called "Dental shadowing". It basically is volunteering, but not actually "work". It is purely observing a dentist as he/she does works on patients. The observer (me) is not allowed to do any work, dental or otherwise. So it cannot be called unpaid work. This kind of experience can be helpful for US dental school admission.

My question is: is this kind of work permitted on this visa? I didnt get any help from the Delhi embassy on this. I want to make sure that when I land at the US airport and go to the customs officer, and I tell him that I need to be in US for 3 months for shadowing, he wont balk.

Ideally, I would like to get some kind of official letter from the embassy stating that this work is allowed on this visa. But there is a slim chance of getting such a letter from them. Even though this must be written somewhere in their official rulebook.

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks

[sma1488 155]

USCIS specifically identifies "participating in short-term training" as one of the activities covered by the B-1. You can look here: http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-visitors-business/b-1-temporary-business-visitor

If I were you, I would use that exact wording when describing the purpose of your visit to CBP or anyone else. Most people should know that job shadowing is unpaid, but why take that chance? I don't think you need any sort of letter from the embassy.

[RhettVoe 282]

What you are describing is something called an 'observership' -- which is technically OK with a B1 visa as long as:

(a) you pay your own way....not a dime from any dentist (except maybe cab fare) and (b) you look but don't touch.

A lot of foreign medical residents do this...don't know why a dental resident could not do the same.