Visa FAQs
 Find this information, and more, on the International Visitors Office web site.
 
 
  Do I need a visa to travel to the United States? I am from a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program.  What do I need to do?
  When do I need to apply for a visa?  
  How do I apply for a visa? Where can I find more information about visa requirements, delays, denials, and entry protocol?
 

  Do I need a visa to travel to the United States?

  Most travelers to the United States must hold a valid visa and a passport that is valid six months longer than the intended visit.  Visitors planning to attend the ISMRM 13th Scientific Meeting & Exhibition will most likely need to apply for a B-1, temporary visitor for business, visa. For more information on nonimmigrant visa categories, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services web site.

Please contact the ISMRM Central Office if you require a letter of invitation for purposes of securing your visa.  Please note that proof of registration for the ISMRM 13th Scientific Meeting & Exhibition will be required before a letter of invitation can be issued.
 
  When do I need to apply for a visa?
 
  APPLY EARLY!  Visa applicants are advised to apply as soon as they consider traveling to the United States and at least 3 to 4 months in advance of the trip.
 
  How do I apply for a visa?
 
  As a standard part of the visa process, the State Department is now requiring that consular officers interview almost every applicant. Some consulates may have a long wait for an interview so applicants should contact the consulate to schedule an interview as early as possible. Furthermore, many visa applications are sent to the State Department in Washington, D.C. to be reviewed by several agencies. Because of the number of visa applications and the need for thorough security reviews, the process can take several months. Therefore, it is advisable for travelers to apply for their visas as early as possible (at least three to four months before the visa is needed). Contact the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy for details on visa application procedures at that post. Also, see the State Department Notice on Current Visa Processing Situation.
 
  I am from a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  What do I need in order to enter the United States without a visa?  (click here for a list of participating countries)
 
  If you will be traveling to the U.S. from a VWP country, you must follow these Visa Waiver Program requirements:
  • Visitors must be a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country.
  • Beginning October 26 2004, all visitors entering the United States from a Visa Waiver Program country must present a machine-readable passport (MRP), issued by that country and valid for six months beyond the intended visit, at the U.S. port of entry in order to enter the U.S. without a visa, otherwise a visa is required.* 
  • Visitors must be seeking temporary entry for business or pleasure for no longer than ninety (90) days.  Visitors will not be permitted to extend their stay or switch to another visa category under the VWP.

*PLEASE NOTE: Although the deadline for passports including biometric technology has been delayed until October 2005, machine-readable passports are still required by October 26, 2004. If the passport is not machine-readable, a traveler under the Visa Waiver Program must also obtain a visa in order to enter the United States.

Visit the Visa Waiver Program web site for more information.

  Where can I find more information?
 
  For detailed information on visa requirements, visa delay and/or denial, and what to do upon entry to the United States please visit the  International Visitors Office web site.
 


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