Visa

United States Visa Advisory

The United States has updated its visa policy for increased security. As a result, it now takes longer to obtain a visa. Advance planning by travelers is essential to avoid frustration and disappointment.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 38 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established to eliminate unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulating the tourism industry, and permitting the Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas. VWP eligible travelers may apply for a visa, if they prefer to do so. Nationals of VWP countries must meet eligibility requirements to travel without a visa on VWP, and therefore, some travelers from VWP countries are not eligible to use the program. VWP travelers are required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, are screened at the port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program.

Currently, 38 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, as shown below:

Andorra

Estonia

Italy

the Netherlands

South Korea

Australia

Finland

Japan

New Zealand

Spain

Austria

France

Latvia

Norway

Sweden

Belgium

Germany

Liechtenstein

Portugal

Switzerland

Brunei

Greece

Lithuania

San Marino

Taiwan

Chile

Hungary

Luxembourg

Singapore

United Kingdom

Czech Republic

Iceland

Malta

Slovakia

Denmark

Ireland

Monaco

Slovenia

For more information, see travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit.html

Passports

A passport with a validity date of at least six months beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the U.S. is required. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make a separate application. Please check with the website, https:/www.cbp.gov, to confirm that your passport is compliant. Temporary Passports will likely merit special scrutiny. To avoid complications, check with your local US consular offices, well ahead of your intended departure dates.

Visa Letters

A visa support letter can be provided for authors and registered attendees through the website. Please use this link.

Spouses and guests requiring visa assistance must be registered for the AP-S/URSI 2017 Companion Program (specific information about this program to come).

Disclaimer

This information is provided in good faith but travel regulations do change. The only authoritative sources of information are the U.S. Government website travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit.html