The ESA Annual Meeting will be held in Reno Nevada from
November 16-19, 2008. Most travelers to the United States must hold a valid
visa and a passport that is valid six months longer than the intended visit. The National Academies host a website
with excellent information for determining if you need a visa or not
(click here to access the
NAS site). If you require a visa, please recognize that the visa application process may take several months.
ESA encourages foreign participants to apply for their visas as early as possible—we are recommending at least 3 months
before the meeting. 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/tempvisitors_wait.php. An interview
appointment is required for a visa application at all embassies and consulates. The wait time for this appointment varies,
but may be as long as four months, with processing taking an additional month or more. The wait time for visa applications
is available on the State Department's website. As soon as you have decided to attend the meeting, you should begin the
process of applying for a visa.
The National Academies of Science offers some excellent resources on their site to assist our
foreign participants. Please see NAS's International Visitors Office site:
www.nationalacademies.org/visas. Another good web resource is the Department of State's visa site for the official
information on the visa application process: http://travel.state.gov/visa.
Additionally, the State Department's
PDF instructions on how to obtain a visa is available by clicking here.
Citizens of 27 countries do not need a U.S. visa for
business or tourism visits of less than 90 days. However, if you will be
receiving any compensation for your services or activities (i.e. lectures,
presentations, etc.), you may need to apply for a visa. Contact the nearest
U.S. Embassy or Consulate for more
information. Visitors from visa waiver countries are required to
carry a machine-readable passport. Newer passports may also require a
digital photograph and integrated chip with information. If your passport
does not meet the requirements, you must obtain a travel visa. For
additional details and updates on the Visa Waiver Program, see the
State
Department's Visa Waiver Program website
