Taking an EMT course in the US

Hello there,

I am hoping to take an EMT-Basic course in March of next year in the US. I have already been in contact with the place where I will be taking the course and I should not have any trouble getting into the course. They did not know anything about how to get me a visa to come down there to take the course. I originally thought that I would have to get a Student Visa to take the course, but it is not an Academic course so I do not think I could even get one of those.

Do I even require a visa to take the course? Can I just explain to the border guard that I am taking the course and show proof?

I was going to call the US Consulate here in Vancouver, but you do have to pay for the call so any help would be appreciated!

Thank you!

They did not know anything about how to get me a visa to come down there to take the course.

If they did not know, I would be running as fast as I could in the opposite direction!!

Seriously, there are certain business activities allowed under B-1 Status possibly including your training course. There is a useful url at Grasmick:

http://www.grasmick.com/business.htm

You could always verify that with a legal professional.

Thank you for your post, MC!

The course that I wish to take is not done through, for example, a Community College which has an International Student Program, but with an Emergency Medical Services provider. It is a small town and they handle pretty much just local people. That is the reason why they did not know.

I finally got around to calling the visa information number and the guy that I talked to said it sounded like I need a J-1 visa. He told me that the place I am taking the course from should call Homeland Security to see what type of visa I would need. Homeland Security would then issue the appropriate visa forms to them and then they could then give it to me. I can't apply for it on my own. It has to be done through the place that I am taking the course with.