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 14th 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.

Individuals coming to the United States from Canada or Mexico, please visit the US Department of State Border Countries web site for more information. Canadians do not generally require a visa.  There are a few exceptions.

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 14th Scientific Meeting & Exhibition will be required before a letter of invitation can be issued.  Please note that this letter cannot guarantee the issuance of a visa.  Applicants for nonimmigrant visas must show that they qualify individually on their own merit per provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.  Applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as non-immigrants under U.S. law and not on the basis of an American sponsor's assurance.

APPLY NOW!  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.  International delegates should begin the visa process during January 2006.

The International Visitors Office advises that the visa application should be made no later than 90 days in advance of the travel if the conference is scientific in nature, and/or if the applicant has a scientific background.

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, or click here to view visa wait times. 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.  Applicants should apply to the U.S. Embassy Consular Section in his/her country of residence.  Please note that Consular Sections overseas have sole responsibility for issuance of visas, and they generally are the first point of contact for visa processing status.

• Wants to remain in the U.S. for longer than 90 days, or envisions that they may wish to change their status (from tourism to student, etc.) once in the United States;
• Does not have a machine-readable passport (MRP), as of 26 July 2005, issued by that country and valid for six months beyond the intended visit.
• Wants to work or study in the United States, wants to come to the U.S. for other purposes not allowed on a visitor visa, or intends to immigrate to the U.S.;
• Intends to travel by private aircraft or other non-signatory air or sea carriers to the U.S.;
• Has been refused a visa or admission to the U.S. before, or did not comply with the conditions of previous VWP admissions (90 days or less stay for tourism or business, etc.); or  
• Has a criminal record or other condition making them ineligible for a visa (see Classes of Aliens Ineligible for Visas)

Visit the Visa Waiver Program web site for this and further information.

All travelers arriving in the United States are met by an immigration inspector who examines each passport and visa, validates the Arrival-Departure (I-94) card, and determines the length of time the visitor may stay in the United States. While the visa issued by the consulate allows a visitor to apply for admission to the United States, the final decision is made by the immigration inspector. Visitors should be prepared to explain what they will be doing during their visit, where they will stay, and when they plan to return to their country.

Under the US-VISIT program, all visitors to the United States holding a non-immigrant U.S. visa are digitally photographed and fingerprinted upon arrival in addition to familiar procedures. These procedures add only seconds to the overall processing time.  For further information see the Department of Homeland Security US-VISIT Program.

As of 30 September 2004, all Visa Waiver Program visitors are automatically enrolled in the US-VISIT program noted above.  Please click here for additional information on entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.

For further information on what to expect upon entering the United States, please visit the US Customs and Border Protection Admission into United States web site.

Visitors should allow ample time in their flight schedules for this entry process when arriving in United States.