Happy_go_lucky

Update 2: I entered the US in Seattle without any problems yesterday! I was so anxious, but everything was fine. The CBP officer confirmed that my research purpose is covered by the ESTA guidelines. I brought every proof I could think of (return flight ticket, university enrollment, letter describing my research, letter from my professors about the research and when I will be expected back for my thesis defense, letter from my employer about my leave and when I am expected back at work, job contract, payslips, apartment lease) but the officer just looked at the letter from my professors. I was at the booth for 2 minutes.

Update: Just got another email from the CBP information office (got two emails now regarding my one inquiry, but the more the better!) and thought I would share it, in case someone else is a student like me and wants to conduct research/is on a field research trip in the US: "Thank you for contacting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Information Center. You can enter the US with an ESTA for the Visa Waiver Program to conduct the research. The business activities allowed are similar to a B1 visa. https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-visitors-for-business/b-1-temporary-business-visitor For International Visitors https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors Visa Waiver Program https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/visa-waiver-program ESTA https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/"

I know that the CBP officer is making that decision. However, it was good to ask the CBP information office and the consulate regarding whether a different visa is needed regarding my research trip.

I completely understand and that was the reason why I posted in this forum: To get advice from people who have gone maybe through a similar situation Yes, I know that I have to convince CBP that I am not planning to do anything illegal. Therefore, I will bring proof of all the ties to Germany, the date of my thesis defense, and when I am expected back at my part time job. I am very, very anxious about the whole situation and have not made a decision regarding what I should do. On the one hand: I want to allow enough time there so that I can conduct all the interviews and attend a couple of council sessions as an observer. I also realize that the rejection rate of ESTA travelers is very low and many people even do long trips, including research trips, without any issues. My travel history in the US is great, too, I always left when I said I would, no overstays etc. On the other hand: I realize that staying 10 weeks in total may be too long/cause too much scrutiny/too suspicious in the eyes of the CBP officer. I thought that I can spend a couple of weeks "off" after my research and spend time with my boyfriend, but maybe that is not possible on this trip.

Wow, neuroscience, so cool! WWU is fantastic! Studied English literature, linguistics and political science (my second Bachelor) there and had such a great time! Additionally, for lovers of outdoor activities like me it is a true paradise.

To add: I have had many experiences with CBP due to being an exchange student and multiple visits. Port of entries varied, I have done both land borders and airport entries. I have always been honest, also when I visited my friends in the US and Canada in the past. I crossed land borders with my American/Canadian friends in the car and was questioned where we all know each other from - but that was it. I have also talked to two former colleagues of mine from the German Academic Exchange Service and they confirmed that almost no researcher acquires a research visa for a short research, they all use ESTA/tourist visas. So, I think, in the end, it is up to the CBP officer and nobody can say for sure whether things will work out or not. I can offer to update this thread when I travel.

I am sorry, too. My anxiety has gotten the best of me! I know that you - and everyone else who commented - means well and just wants to help. Unfortunately, I have taken it personally and for that I would like to apologize. Let me take a moment to thank everyone again who read and commented on this thread, thank you for taking that time!! So, I will try to explain my research: My Master's degree is in Professional Public Decision Making. I am doing research on the implementation of deliberative mini-publics, i.e. civic assemblies and the effects certain values of deliberative democracy have on 1. problem-solving and 2. the participants. The concept of deliberative democracy and civic assemblies is not new (look at Aristotle), but the ways in which it is implemented and possibly institutionalized are. There is overall not much in-depth empirical research on actual cases, which is why I would like to do this study. Many cases in Germany are ad hoc, one time cases and the problems discussed are not very controversial, more in the realms of city planning. In the case in the US, however, ordinary citizens were asked to come up with new solutions to the issue of youth homelessness. In that area, it is a controversial topic and I want to find out in which regards this civic assembly has found different policy recommendations through a deliberative process. There are two NGOs involved in the process, one of which is Democracy Next with their leader Claudia Chwalisz, who has written many papers on this topic, I read her a lot during my studies. It would be an honor for me to meet her. Yes, you are right, regardless, I could have just found a case study in Germany as well. Why the US? I have many ties to the US and North America in general: I was an exchange student in Canada in high school, I have a Bachelor's degree in North American Studies, I was an exchange student at Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, I have been working for the Canadian embassy in Berlin as well as the German Academic Exchange Service with a focus on North America - and I have a personal tie now due to my American partner whom I met while I was an exchange student in Bellingham. He followed me to Germany afterwards, we broke up eventually, got back together and are trying to figure out this long distance relationship plus are making plans to move to the same country, Germany. So, overall, yes, you can definitely argue that for a tiny Master's thesis of 80-100 pages I could just do a case study in Germany. Due to my explained ties to North America I was intrigued to do it there - and to combine my studies with visiting my boyfriend who is still living there as of now. And yes, I could also do the interviews online, although not all of them. Some participants have medical conditions and/or are older and I can only do the interviews in person. Also, an interview in person has a different quality than one online. So, these are my honest facts. I am sorry about the confusion earlier.

That is the question whether I need a visa for my research. After reading the guidelines of ESTA and the B1/B2 tourist visa, after the emails of the consulate and CBP offices, after reading on this topic on US universities homepages, and other academic's testimonies that it should be fine, I think it is okay to do with ESTA or a tourist visa due to the facts presented: No US institution involved that pays me or benefits, no collaboration, I am not taking any classes (even though that would be allowed to do up until a certain amount of hours/week) and won't get any credits. Yes, I will definitely print these emails out and will bring the following: confirmation of my university about the purpose of my trip and my enrollment confirmation of my thesis and the date of my thesis defense at home from my thesis supervisors confirmation of my part time job that I am on leave and when I am expected back at work payslips proof of my apartment in Germany

I am sorry, I find your comments very hurtful. There seem to be a lot of assumptions. I could take the time to explain my whole research area and what it is all about, but that has nothing to do with regard to my questions. When I looked for cases last year, the one in the city of my boyfriend was just starting to happen and therefore he heard about it and told me about it - and I looked into it further. That was how that happened.

Guys, I am NOT planning to lie to CBP, which is why I have inquired here about the appropriate path in my case. I am planning to tell them that the primary purpose of my trip is research. The question is: Is that okay to do like that? I don't want to do anything wrong, I am not planning on lying, not planning staying in the US. If a research trip is not possible, then it is like that. I asked the US consulate in Frankfurt via email. Also asked the CBP information office. Both said it should be fine. Also asked in a forum for academics and there were people responding that they have done similar research trips and were okay. Yes, I could definitely search a different case to interview about. But my field of research is fairly new, hence there are not too many cases and not many that are willing to get interviewed. The preparation to get to this point with this case in the US has been several months. Again, I just thought it was a nice idea to combine my studies with seeing my boyfriend.

I don't have a host organization or university or company. I am doing everything "on my own" so to speak, as a student, not an intern of a company or organization.

Thank you for your story! So, for me, I really don't want to do anything wrong. If I require a different visa, I will apply for that. The consulate here said it should be fine to do these interviews - but yeah. I can show many ties to my home country and will leave on time, the date of my return ticket. If I would not return to Germany after that trip, I also could not finish my degree since the thesis defense has to be in person.

Thank you for alll your information and suggestions! So, but if I travel to the US to conduct my research, I can't lie and say I am there for tourism? I honestly don't know what to do at this point. This thesis has been a long time coming and it took much, much effort to find a case study project who is willing to talk to me. I was very excited to have found this one in the US since some leading researchers in my field are involved here. I could just abandon this plan to conduct qualitative interviews in the US altogether and can try to find a different project again which will delay my thesis work significantly again. I really don't know what to do and how to proceed.

Yes.

Thank you for your reply! Yes, I am aware that CBP will make the decision at the POE. Actually, I am getting so discouraged by this thread overall. I have been very excited to meet the people of the case study in person - and not via Zoom only - as this is one of the prominent projects in my research field and it would have been a fantastic opportunity to interview them in person, be there in person. Yes, it was a miraculous coincidence that my boyfriend lives in the same city and I thought, "wow, so cool, maybe I can stay with him/spend time with him during that time, too". But, after reading all your messages and replies, that was naive thinking and maybe I should not attempt to go to the US overall. And NO I have zero interest in staying in the US. We have thought about him petitioning me for an immigrant visa but that won't be possible due to his past criminal history (or very, very hard), so we have decided to move to Germany and are actively working on that. I just got another email response from the city hall in Germany regarding the wedding in Germany and for him to stay here. He has been learning German, he has ben having contact with the German embassy in the US, he already made sure his degrees are transferrable. I can also provide proof of all of that. I also have to return to defend my thesis, I have a job in Germany, an apartment - no way I could just leave all of that. However, I think a shorter visit for 2-4 weeks should be okay, or not?! I definitely don't want to risk my ESTA as there will be future family/friends visits to the US.