Travel after 5 months on a B2 visa

[Cathydancer]

Good afternoon,

I am currently in the USA on a B2 visa and have been here for 5 months.
The purpose of my visit is doing Ph.D. research by attending concerts, Broadway shows, participating in dance showings — I am enrolled in a Ph.D. program in China, my home country.

I am going to travel to Mexico for a week as, presumably, I have to do before the 6-month point.


My question is, what do I say when I cross the border back to the USA? Clearly, I have to go back to China to finish my studies, by I don't want to do it right away, as there is still more for me to learn here. Would they suspect that I am trying to stay here permanently just because I travel after 5 months and come back in a week?

Thank you very much,
Cathy

[Libra_14]

Would they suspect that I am trying to stay here permanently just because I travel after 5 months and come back in a week?

Probably, you need to prove that by doing so you are not trying to "renew" your stay for another 6 months.