Is Visa required to obtain a very short term research grant (15 days) from a US University? I am an associate professor and I am going to the US for two weeks. I am going to visit a colleague who is arranging with her university a small grant for me to cover the basic expenses.
According to the agreements between the US and my country, I do not need to apply for a Visa to enter the US for tourism or business reasons.
However I wonder whether I will need a J-1 Visa (or any other type of visa) in order to receive the grant (I hope not, since there are only 10 days left, and my colleague has not provided me with the formal letter yet...).
Thanks!
If the grant is only to reimburse you for your travel expenses (airfare, lodging, meals, etc), then you should be fine with the visa waiver.  You are not considered to be employed by the host institution and do not need a work visa.  (Source: Personal experience - I've been responsible for arranging travel reimbursements for many visa-waiver visitors.)

You will probably need to document your expenses, so save receipts for airfare, lodging, meals, ground transportation, and so on.