Visa information
Workshop participants traveling to AIM from a foreign country should be
aware that US government policies have changed, and arranging travel to the
US may be more difficult than previously.
The following information has been gathered from various websites.
The material on this website is only intended to convey the
general idea of what is involved in travel to the US.
We do not guarantee that the information is current, and you must make sure
that you obtain the current information from the appropriate sources.
A useful website:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html
The Department of Homeland Security reminds travelers from the 27 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries that as of June 26, 2005, they must have a machine-readable passport to enter the United States without a visa. Beginning June 26, 2005, transportation carriers will be fined US $3,300, per violation, for transporting any VWP traveler to the United States without a machine-readable passport. Similarly, VWP travelers arriving in the United States on that date without a machine-readable passport should not anticipate being granted one-time entry into the country. As an alternative for persons with immediate travel plans who are unable to obtain a machine-readable passport in time, the individual may apply for a U.S. visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad.
Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
Citizens of 27 countries do not need a U.S. visa for business or tourism visits of less than 90 days. However, if you will be receiving any compensation for your services or activities (i.e. lectures, presentations, etc.), you may need to apply for a visa. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for more information.
In order to enter to the United States without a visa, VWP travelers must meet these passport requirements by the following deadlines:
June 26, 2005, all VWP travelers must have a machine-readable passport;
October 26, 2005, all new passports issued by VWP countries must include a digital photo;
October 26, 2006, all new passports issued by VWP countries must be e-Passports (includes a computer chip that stores biographic and biometric data).
For more detailed information on these passport requirements, see this Department of Homeland Security guide: Visa Waiver Program Passport Requirement Timeline (PDF).
Below is a list of the 27 VWP countries. For additional details and updates on the Visa Waiver Program, see the State Department’s Visa Waiver Program website.
The visa waiver countries:
Andorra Iceland Norway Australia Ireland Portugal Austria Italy San Marino Belgium Japan Singapore Brunei Liechtenstein Slovenia Denmark Luxembourg Spain Finland Monaco Sweden France the Netherlands Switzerland Germany New Zealand United Kingdom