Tourist visa to take a class

[Liliaz 0]

Hi, I am living in Russia and I would like to travel to the US to take a class in filmography. I found a short but intensive class that is in session in November, but not sure how I should do the visa? Would it be a work, or travel visa? And should I pay for the class before applying for the visa? I don't really have any assets, I do have a car but it's not paid off yet. What all do I need to do to prove that I will go back home after the class is finished?

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

A B1/B2 visa should do for this purpose, since the course is short.

Questions will come up how you can afford this since you have little money.

Ties to home can be hard for a young person with no/ a low paying job. Why DO you want to go back home? For example, do you have guaranteed work at home if you can do the course? Enrollment, and having paid for, similar courses at home?

[Boiler 45,952]

Sounds like a travel visa rather than student visa to me, have you asked the host, if it attracts international student they will have some experience.

Obviously you have money or you could not afford to go, be prepared to show how you are funding your trip.

Do not pay in advance of getting a visa.

[HFM181818 750]

A B2 is right for taking a vocational or a course that does not involve obtaining a degree (water color, horse back riding, photography, etc)...of course, the biggest hurdle will be convincing the CO that you will be returning...first question...who is paying for the airline tickets, the hotel and the course? Second, why haven't you pursued this endeavor in your own country? What is your current occupation? Why the sudden need to study this subject thousands of miles away? Where does your American BF live?

[Liliaz 0]

A B2 is right for taking a vocational or a course that does not involve obtaining a degree (water color, horse back riding, photography, etc)...of course, the biggest hurdle will be convincing the CO that you will be returning...first question...who is paying for the airline tickets, the hotel and the course? Second, why haven't you pursued this endeavor in your own country? What is your current occupation? Why the sudden need to study this subject thousands of miles away? Where does your American BF live?

I will be paying for the tickets and the course. Actually about half of it will be funded by my parents, but they said they will deposit the money in my account so that I can purchase the tix myself. I know I have to take a proof that I have the money in my account, hopefully I can just print out the balance and they don't need a record of deposits into the account? Because my job is not enough to save up for such a trip myself.

I have a friend who lives near the class that I will probably be staying with. He's not my BF, we met when he was on business in my country and have talked ever since. I guess in the back of my head I would like to be more than friends, but I obviously will not say that at the interview! I found out about the course because of him, he is in media, and he said his friend owns a company that teaches small classes on how to film, produce, and direct short films. I am not in that field now, I actually work in sales, but I've always wanted to do this. His friend is giving me a huge discount off the regular cost, so I can afford to do it (with my parent's help). Also, I have looked into classes like this in my city, but here I'd have to enrol in a university to be able to take a class like this, and it wouldn't be exactly what I want. I like this course because it teaches everything, in a short time (less than a month). I am not looking to become a pro, I just want to learn more and see if that's the direction I want to go in my life. From your line of questions, it would seem that they might try to tell me the man I know is my BF, right? Is it a bad idea to stay with him? He has a female coworker that lives closer to the training centre, and he said I could stay there if I wanted to, which might be better anyway because I will have to ride the bus to get there and so closer might be better.

Also, in response to a previous comment that said not to buy the class until after the visa is granted, well considering the class is heavily discounted (I only have to pay $300, normaly it's over $1,000) maybe I can move their opinion more in my favor if I go there with a receipt for the class, or would they see that as being too presumptive of me? Oh, one other thing, even though I don't really own anything, I have been to other countries. Nothing European where I would need that visa, but Turkey, Egypt, Thailand.

The whole cost of the trip (airfaire and class) will be less than $1,000, so it's not a lot to invest to see if this is what I want to do. I am hoping they allow me to travel!

[Boiler 45,952]

You apply and you find out, reasonable to suppose the Consulate will look at the friend who is a boy as a boyfriend.

[HFM181818 750]

Expect this to be challenging....there is too much coincidence that has been seen and heard before...a sudden interest in a new vocation, somebody who met you once while on a business trip, a chance to 'visit' the friend while taking some class and then.....??how will this class cause an immediate or near immediate positive change in your circumstances in Russia versus.....the United States?

'Staying' with someone of the (presumably) opposite sex makes this relationship a bit more than 'friends'..which is likely what the CO will think...

and sadly, far too many of your contemporaries have wandered off to the US allegedly for some short term 'training' or whatever, never to be seen again in Russia....how you will prove that you won't do the same?