Foreign national visitors traveling to the United States for this conference will either need to complete an ESTA travel authorization if from a Visa Waiver Program country (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html) or apply for a B-1 business visa (usually comes as a combined B-1/B-2 business and tourist visa, but this depends on nationality.)
Determine if you qualify for the Visa Waiver Program by going to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html.
- If yes, you need to complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before traveling. This costs $21 and can be done online here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. It takes up to 72 hours for approval.
- If not, apply for a U.S. B-1 (or B-1/B-2) business visa at a U.S. embassy/consulate overseas. The visa application process and appointment scheduling is location-specific, so go to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ and choose the location for the specific instructions. The timeline will depend on appointment availability (sometimes booked out for several weeks/months), and processing itself usually takes 7-10 days from the visa interview date (so apply as soon as possible!)
Please request a visa letter by emailing Monica Gehrig at [email protected]. To expedite the correspondence, in your email include the following:
- Address (Name, Street number and Street name, City, State/Province, Postal Code, COUNTRY)
- Dates of travel
- General purpose of the trip (include abstract title, if applicable)
- Organization who is paying the trip costs
It is highly recommended that you show this letter at the embassy/consulate for your visa appointment (if required) and again to the CBP officer at the airport when you enter the United States.