Visitor Visas
Residents of Canada, Mexico and Bermuda
Who Does/Doesn't Need a Visa?
Visa Waiver Program
Machine-Readable Passports
Visa Procedures
Letter of Invitation
US-VISIT Program
More Information and Useful Tips
Visa Problems
Residents of Canada, Mexico and Bermuda
Passports/Proof of Citizenship
As of Jan. 23, 2007, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all citizens of the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Bermuda who are traveling by air to present a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States. This also applies to Mexican citizens arriving by land or sea.
Citizens of the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda who are arriving by land or sea will not be required to present a passport until June 1, 2009.
Visas
Canada, Mexico and Bermuda are not participants in the Visa Waiver Program; however, the Immigration and Nationality Act includes other provisions for visa-free travel under certain circumstances. Read more about nonimmigrant visas.
Who Does/Doesn't Need a Visa?
You do not need a visa to enter the United States if:
- Your country participates in the Visa Waiver Program (see list below) and
- You possess a valid machine-readable passport and
- You plan to stay in the United States for 90 days or fewer.
You do need a visa to enter the United States if:
- Your country does not participate in the Visa Waiver Program (see list below) or
- Your country does participate in the Visa Waiver Program but you do not possess a valid machine-readable passport or
- You plan to stay in the United States for 90 days or more.
Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of 27 countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business, for 90 days or fewer, without obtaining a nonimmigrant visa.
Countries designated under this program are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and The United Kingdom.
Machine-Readable Passports
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security fully enforces machine-readable passport (MRP) requirements.
Depending on when VWP travelers’ passports were issued, other passport requirements will apply:
- MRP issued before Oct. 26, 2005: no further requirements
- MRP issued between Oct. 26, 2005, and Oct. 26, 2006: digital photograph printed on data page or integrated chip with information from the data page
- MRP issued on or after Oct. 26, 2006: integrated chip with information from the data page (biometric/e-passport). (All passports issued from VWP countries are required to be e-passports as of Oct. 26, 2006.)
Visa Procedures
Most international Annual Meeting attendees will need to secure a visitor visa.
Letter of Invitation
Personalize the Letter of Invitation to assist in your visitor visa application process.
US-VISIT Program
Enhancements to the U.S. entry process include capturing digital fingerscans and photos. Consult the Department of Homeland Security Web site for more information on the US-VISIT Program:
- US-VISIT Enrollment Requirements and Exceptions - The program currently applies to all visitors to the United States (with limited exemptions), including those from VWP countries.
- How It Works - The US-VISIT process.
- US-VISIT Multilingual Videos and Brochures - Details of the entry and exit processes are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese and Tagalog.
More Information and Useful Tips
Consult Discover America - Entry for a guide for international travelers, entry requirements, and links to U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
Visa Problems
The Academy would like to hear from you if you have experienced any difficulties obtaining a visa in order to attend the Annual Meeting. The Academy wants to make sure we are providing the necessary documents and information to assist in the visa process. E-mail us to report any difficulties or to request additional documentation beyond the letter of invitation.
You may also report your case to The National Academies International Visitors Office by completing the Visa Questionnaire. Be sure to identify "American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting" in the "Purpose of Visit" field.
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