Visa Requirements
Conference participants should familiarize themselves with visa requirements well in advance of the conference. The 2012 Applied Superconductivity Conference (ASC 2012) organizers encourage you to apply for your visa as early as possible, at least 4 to 6 months prior to this conference.
Some consulates may have backlogs in scheduling visa interviews so applicants should first contact the consulate to find out how long the wait is for an interview. Visa wait times are available at: http://travel.his.com/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html
ASC 2012 CANNOT INTERVENE with U.S. Embassies abroad or the State Department, on behalf of any participant. However, if you need a personal letter of invitation to attend the Conference, please contact Centennial Conferences (email: asc@centennialconferences.com or fax: [001] 303-499-2599) and provide the following information:
Complete Contact Information
Full Name (as shown in passport)
Complete Mailing Address
Phone and Fax Number
Your letter will be e-mailed to you and faxed per your request. Please request your letter well in advance of when you expect to need it.
Further, spouses requiring visa assistance must be registered as an ASC 2012 Guest/Companion.
VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), introduced in January 2009, requires all international travelers from all Visa Waiver Program countries to register in an online database. The online travel authorization is easy to use and available in more than 16 languages. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel; however, DHS recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel.
Effective September 8, 2010, all ESTA registration applications or renewals on or after that date will require a $14.00 fee payment by credit or debit card. Existing ESTA registrations remain valid through their expiration date. International travelers to the United States can go to the ESTA website to fill out an application before entering the country by air or sea. If approved, the authorization is good for two years and can be renewed. Travelers no longer have to fill out an I-94W form before each trip.
According to the ESTA Web site, “VWP travelers who have not received an ESTA approval … may be denied boarding. CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] will handle emergencies on a case-by-case basis.” Airlines risk fines if they allow travelers to board without the proper documentation.
ASC 2012 organizers urge Users who travel to the U.S. on the VWP to become familiar with ESTA and to accommodate this new process in their U.S. travel plans. Arrangements to travel to the U.S. should be finalized as early as possible and the ESTA application should be submitted as early as possible to allow time for a conventional visa application in the event of an ESTA denial.
The ESTA requirement does not affect U.S. citizens returning from overseas, people from VWP countries traveling on a valid U.S. visa, or travelers from non-VWP nations.
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
Citizens of all other countries not participating in the Visa Waiver Program must have (1) a valid passport that expires at least 6 months later than the scheduled end of their visit to the United States, and (2) a tourist visa, which may be obtained from any U.S. consulate. A charge may apply.
For an up-to-date, country-by-country listing of passport requirements around the world, go to the "Foreign Entry Requirement" website of the U.S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov. International visitors can obtain a visa application at the same website.
IMPORTANT WEBSITES & INFORMATION
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/biso/visas/index.htm
http://www.dhs.gov/US-Visit
10-Fingerprint Collection Fact Sheet (pdf file)
US-VISIT
These notes presume that non-U.S. citizens/residents traveling to the U.S. for attendance at the ASC 2012 do so for this reason only. The guidance offered may not be appropriate for plans, which include visits to other institutions, vacations or other objectives.
PROBLEMS?
Any problems encountered in visa applications or in the admission process should be reported to the International Visitors Office by completing the questionnaire on their website.
To help the Int’l Visitors Office to identify you as a participant, please be sure to include the name of our meeting (2012 Applied Superconductivity Conference) in the "Purpose of Visit" field on the questionnaire. The International Visitors Office can inquire at the Department of State about the status of visa applications that have been pending for more than 20 days.
DISCLAIMER
Please note that this information is given in good faith but that the regulations may change and the only authoritative sources of information are the U.S. Government websites.