Important Information for Foreign Nationals Visiting the U.S.

If you are a foreign national planning to attend the 20^th IEEE/NPSS SOFE there are new restrictions on entering the US that you need to be made aware of.

· European citizens need remote readable passports

· Almost all other foreign national will have to have a personal appearance interview as a standard part of visa processing.

Below is more information on the visa situation and all foreign national are strongly encouraged to clarify their visa needs as soon as possible. Getting the personal appearance interviews scheduled will take months.

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). As examples, if the purpose for your planned travel is to consult with business associates, travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or conference on specific dates, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract, then you would apply for a visitors visa. As additional examples, if the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, then you would apply for a vistors visa. The visa allows a foreign citizen, to travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission of the U.S. immigration inspector to enter the U.S.

· Changes introduced shortly after September 11, 2001 involve extensive and ongoing review of visa issuing practices as they relate to our national security. Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past. So it is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date.

· Foreign travelers who are citizens from certain eligible countries, may also be able to visit the U.S. without a visa on the Visa Waiver Program.

The Department of State recommended first source of visa information is the Visa Services internet site. Please review this information carefully. For an additional visa overview, select the Department of State visa portal site, UnitedStatesVisas.gov. As explained below, it is also recommended that you review the Embassy Consular internet site, for the country where you will be applying for your visa.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

Important Notices:

Machine-readable passports - Starting October 1, 2003, each Visa Waiver Program traveler must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) at the U.S. port of entry to enter the U.S. without a visa, otherwise a nonimmigrant visa is required. This change includes all categories of passports-- regular, diplomatic, and official, when the traveler is seeking to enter the U.S. for B-1/B-2 purposes. Families and groups seeking to enter the U.S. under the VWP will need to obtain an individual passport for each traveler, including infants. Machine-readable passports typically have biodata for only one traveler in the machine-readable zone. Based on this, families may be denied visa-free entry into the U.S. if the biodata for only one traveler is machine-readable.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Not all countries participate in the VWP. Some restrictions apply to this program as explained below.

Currently, 27 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, as shown below:

Andorra	Iceland	Norway
Australia	Ireland	Portugal
Austria	Italy	San Marino
Belgium	Japan	Singapore
Brunei	Liechtenstein	Slovenia
Denmark	Luxembourg	Spain
Finland	Monaco	Sweden
France	the Netherlands	Switzerland
Germany	New Zealand	United Kingdom

Citizens of Canada generally do not require a visa.

What Is a Machine Readable Passport?

A machine readable passport has biographical data entered on the data page according to international specifications. The size of the passport and photograph, and arrangement of data fields, especially the two lines of printed OCR-B machine readable data, meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Doc 9303, Part 1 Machine Readable Passports. OCR-B means the type is Optical Character Reader size B. If there are questions about your passport, after carefully reviewing this information, and any information which may be available to you from your country, you may want to contact the passport issuing agency or authority in your country of citizenship.

What Do I Need to Enter the United States under the VWP?

· To enter the U.S. under the VWP, travelers from participating countries must:

· Be a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country;

· Have a valid passport issued by the participating country. Beginning October 1, 2003, the passport must be machine readable passport;

· Be seeking entry for 90 days or less, as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure. You will not be permitted to extend your visit or change to another visa category under the VWP.

Visitors for Business - Some types of activities , here are types of activities permitted as a business visitor:

- Participating in commercial business transactions which do not involve gainful employment in the U.S, for example, negotiating contracts or consult with business associates You cannot receive a salary or wages from a U.S. source.

- Participating in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, conferences or seminars;

- Conducting independent research;

- Appearing as a witness in a court trial

Visitors for Pleasure - While this is not a complete listing, here are types of activities permitted:

- Visiting friends and relatives, touring or vacationing, visits for rest;

- Visits for medical treatment..

- Participating in conventions, conferences or convocation of fraternal or social organizations;

- Amateurs participating in sports, musical, and other events or contests, who will receive no money or other remuneration in return;

* If entering by air or sea, have a round-trip transportation ticket issued on a carrier that has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to participate in the VWP, and arrive in the United States aboard such a carrier.

* Hold a completed and signed Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94W, on which he/she has waived the right of review or appeal of an immigration officer’s determination about admissibility, or deportation. These forms are available from participating carriers, from travel agents, and at land-border ports-of-entry.

* You must have no visa ineligibilities. This means if you have been refused a visa before, have a criminal record or are ineligible for a visa you cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Program without a visa. You must apply for a visa to the U.S.

Visa Processing Times - Information You Need to Know

What happened after 9/11 -

· Recent changes in United States visa policy and procedures may increase the amount of time it takes for foreigners who want to visit, to obtain a visa. It is important to apply early!

· Changes introduced shortly after September 11, 2001 involve extensive and ongoing review of visa issuing practices as they relate to our national security. For many applicants, a personal appearance interview is required as a standard part of visa processing. Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past. This can cause longer processing times. The State Department is working hard with other government agencies to streamline clearance procedures in ways that continue to protect United States borders, our first priority, while facilitating legitimate travel.

When you are thinking about travel -

· As soon as you contemplate travel to the United States, and after identifying that a visa is needed, you should contact the U.S. embassy or consulate for information about current visa processing time estimates and processes.

· You can contact the embassy or consulate via the Department of State internet site at www.state.gov/links.html. Look for posted timeframes on the internet or call the embassy/consulate to hear recorded information about visa requirements.

How long does it take to get a visa?

· Processing times are difficult to predict for an individual applicant. For many applicants, a personal appearance interview is required as a standard part of visa processing. For travelers, the need for an interview will mean additional coordination with the embassy or consulate, is required to schedule an interview appointment. If additional processing is needed, visa applicants are informed at the time they submit their applications. While most additional processing takes 30 days or less, a small percentage may take considerably longer.

· Advance planning is a key ingredient for successfully having your visa when you want it. If you wish to visit the U.S., plan to submit your visa application well in advance of your departure date.

Getting Started - Basics about obtaining your visitors visa

Please visit the internet site at http://travel.state.gov/visa services.html for up-to-date visa information.

· All visitor visa applicants must have these things:

- Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156, completed and signed

- Current, valid passport or travel document

- Photograph (2 x 2 inches, passport type. See the internet address below.)

- Application fees. All applicants must pay the application fee. Some applicants, according to nationality and type of visa, must also pay an issuance fee

- Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States

- Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad

- Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157, for men between 16-45 years of age, and for all applicants age 16 and over who are from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Note that a consular officer may ask any applicant to complete this form.

· Contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for specific information on:

- How to pay fees

- How to get an appointment for an interview

- Visa operations at the embassy or consulate

- Information on the status of your visa application

Helpful Information

Department of State - Internet Addresses

To Contact U.S Embassies and Consulates abroad:

Consular Affairs:

Visa Services (for Foreigners Traveling to U.S.):

Visitor Visas for Business and Pleasure:

Visa Services - Destination USA (Overview)

Visa Waiver Program:

Visa Application Forms:

Nonimmigrant Visa Photo Requirements

http://travel.state.gov/links.html

http://travel.state.gov

http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html

http://travel.state.gov/visa;visitors.html

http://unitedstatesvisas.gov/index.html

http://travel.state.gov/vwp.html

http://travel.state.gov/visaforms.html

http://travel.state.gov/photorequirements.html

Telephone Numbers

Visa Services public information (Washington, DC): 202-663-1225

This provides general visa information via taped messages, with an option to speak with an officer. The Embassy Consular section abroad is generally your first point of contact to inquire about your visa application status. Please refer to information available on all types of visas on the Visa Services website.