Information for Foreign Nationals Regarding Visas and Travel

Please be aware that visa issuance cannot be guaranteed. Visa decisions are made solely by the US Department of State.

The US Department of State has the authority to request special security clearances before issuing a visa. These clearances can take from 1 week to 2 months. Do not be alarmed if you are told that a security check will be done. In most cases, they are completed within a week or two. However, they may take longer and therefore, if a visa is required, you should plan ahead and apply for your visa as early as possible. Each Consulate has rules about how early you may apply. Please follow the instructions of the Consulate where you plan to apply for the visa.

* It is not possible for the conference organizers to expedite visas for conference participants.

1. Visa Waiver countries

If you hold a passport from one of the countries listed below, you do not need a US entry visa to visit the US for a one-week conference. This is called the Visa Waiver Program. For more information see here.

Andorra	Hungary	Norway
Australia	Iceland	Poland
Austria	Ireland	Portugal
Belgium	Italy	San Marino
Brunei	Japan	Singapore
Chile	Latvia	Slovakia
Croatia	Liechtenstein	Slovenia
Czech Republic	Lithuania	South Korea
Denmark	Luxembourg	Spain
Estonia	Malta	Sweden
Finland	Monaco	Switzerland
France	Netherlands	Taiwan
Germany	New Zealand	United Kingdom
Greece

 

However, you must register in the US Government Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. ESTA is an online application system developed by the United States government to pre-screen travelers before they are allowed to board an airplane or ship bound for the United States. Starting on January 12, 2009, any person entering the United States under the visa waiver program is required to hold an approved ESTA. Due to heightened security regulations, visitors should apply for an ESTA well in advance. Although U.S. Regulations do not require that you present a printed copy of the ESTA authorization page in order to travel, we recommend that you do so.

When you arrive at the US immigration inspection point (airport or border crossing), you must show your conference invitation letter and/or conference registration materials and a valid passport. We suggest that you also present your ESTA authorization page. Be sure to have these documents available, i.e., do not pack them in your suitcase. When asked the purpose for entering the US, you should respond “to attend a professional conference.”

2. Countries whose nationals require a visa to enter the US
   If your country is not on the list above, you must apply for a US entry visa at a US Consulate. You may apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa. The B-1 is for a business visitor, while the B-2 is for a tourist. The Consulate will grant whichever it decides is appropriate for you; both are satisfactory for the purpose of attending a conference. To apply for the visa, you must submit a conference invitation letter and/or conference registration materials, a valid passport, and all additional material listed in the instructions provided by the US Consulate. If you need a conference invitation letter, please contact us (joachim.brod@uc.edu) as soon as possible giving your full name (i.e., that in your passport), home institution, Snowmass Focus Group, and, if you are giving a talk, the talk title.

When you arrive at the US immigration inspection point (airport or border crossing), you must show your conference invitation letter and/or conference registration materials, and a valid passport with visa. Be sure to have these documents available, i.e., do not pack them in your suitcase. When asked the purpose for entering the US, you should respond “to attend a professional conference.”

3. One of the options above (1 or 2) should be appropriate for all conference attendees.
   However, if the US Consulate refuses to accept your application for a B-1/B-2 visa, or denies your application, or tells you that you must apply for some other visa in order to travel to the workshop, please contact us immediately (joachim.brod@uc.edu). It may be possible for us to provide you with additional visa assistance.

Sponsors

This conference was made possible in part by a generous gift by
Dr. Robert E. Turner.