How do U.S. government officials view use of the Visitor visa and the J-1 visa?
Consular officers at U.S. embassies and U.S. immigration inspectors have wide discretion in granting visas or entry to the U.S. Often they do not see Visitor status (B-1/ B-2 visa or WB/WT visa waiver) as appropriate for someone coming to a university to conduct any research, consultation, or lectures. They sometimes determine that only the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa is appropriate for such purposes. Therefore, a scholar who chooses to use the Visitor visa (B-1/B-2) or Visa Waiver Program (WB/WT) instead of the J-1 visa does so at his or her own risk.
