VISA INFORMATION

All accepted authors will receive an official invitation letter in the mail. If the mailing address and name of the author attending the conference are different than those submitted with your initial paper, please send an email to calgary@iasted.org with the correct and complete contact information and the paper number.

Visa regulations can be complex and often change. For example, the U.S. has recently updated its visa policies and implemented new security measures in order to increase national security. Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of scrutiny and as a result the visa application process will likely take longer than it has in the past. Therefore, IASTED recommends that all delegates verify visa requirements with the American Consulate in their own country as soon as possible (see the U.S Notice on Current Visa Processing Situation). The information on this web site can serve as a useful starting point.

Note: As the U.S. State Department is engaged in an extensive and ongoing review of visa practices, it is important to visit their website on a regular basis to keep up to date with changes that may affect your travel plans. Their website is as follows: http://travel.state.gov/. For an additional visa overview, go to the following U.S. State Department visa portal site, which is as follows: http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/.

EXEMPTIONS
Canadian citizens and landed immigrants of Canada having a common nationality with Canadians (i.e. British Commonwealth citizens) are already visa-exempt. Some other visitors to the U.S. are visa exempt under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This program’s benefits are limited to nationals of countries that extend reciprocal privileges to U.S. citizens and whose nationals have not been refused nonimmigrant visas beyond a specified rate. The waivers are open to nationals of any designated country regardless of their place of residence or point of embarkation.

For more information on the VWP, please visit the following website:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

OBTAINING YOUR VISA
Please note that the step-by-step outline is available in detail on the following website:
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/obtainingvisa/index.html

It is also recommended to visit http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/. This website will help you find the current visa policy and procedures information based on your own situation and circumstance. There are many different types of visas. This site is a good resource to help you determine which visa you need and how to obtain it.

In some cases, additional reviews will be required. If your name or a close variation indicates security concerns, the process will be delayed. Additional steps may add 4–6 weeks to the visa processing time.

It is important to remember that visa processing and operations can vary depending on local circumstances.

LOCATE THE AMERICAN CONSULATE OR EMBASSY IN YOUR COUNTRY
To locate the American Consulate or Embassy in your country, go to the following website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embassies/embassies_1214.html

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/ or http://travel.state.gov/ on a regular basis for updates and changes that could affect your travel plans.

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