Visa Information

International travel to meetings in the U.S.

Please note that anyone who may need a visa to attend the OPFM Instrument Workshop needs to apply for their visa as soon as possible. Due to the short notice for this workshop, you may need to expedite your visa processing. Security-related policies have greatly increased the processing time for visa applications. U.S. consular officers now usually interview applicants as part of the application process.

General information about visas:

The National Academies maintains a Web site (http://www7.nationalacademies.org/visas/) about visa-related issues and travel information for U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens.

• Travel to the US:

(http://www7.nationalacademies.org/visas/Traveling_to_US.html)

• Travel from the US:

(http://www7.nationalacademies.org/visas/Traveling_from_US.html)

• Note: Up-to-date information about foreign nationals affected by Hurricane Katrina (http://www7.nationalacademies.org/visas/Katrina.html)

The State Department maintains a Web site about U.S. visa policy and procedures (http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html/).

• Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for visitors traveling to the U.S.:

(http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0021.shtm).

• Visas for students and exchange visitors in the U.S.:

(http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1270.html)

Since 26 June 2005, the State Department has required citizens from VWP countries to obtain visas if they do not have machine-readable passports and they wish to visit the U.S. One-time exemptions are no longer available to VWP nationals who do not possess a machine-readable passport or a non-immigrant visa.