 |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |  |
|
 |
IMPORTANT TRAVEL VISA INFORMATION
In 2001 and 2002, the U.S. Department of State implemented new policies requiring that travelers seeking a visa to enter the United States undergo a face-to-face interview at a U.S. Consular office before the visa will be granted. This policy adds to the amount of time required for processing visa requests, so IAADFS recommends that all participants who need a visa to enter the United States to attend the 2006 Duty Free Show of the Americas start the visa application process as soon as possible. IAADFS also recommends that participants requiring a visa contact their local U.S. Consulate before starting the visa application process to ensure that all requirements and instructions are followed. Visit www.travel.state.gov or www.unitedstatesvisas.gov for updated information about the visa requirements and contact details for U.S. Consular offices in your specific country. IAADFS will be happy to provide invitation letters or similar documents upon request by attendees. This revised visa policy apparently does not affect most citizens from the 27 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows most citizens from these countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The countries currently participating in the VWP include 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. However, starting October 26, 2004, each traveler from a participating VWP country must present a machine-readable passport at the U.S. port of entry to enter the United States without a visa, otherwise a nonimmigrant visa is required, subject to the same restrictions as detailed above. Depending on when VWP travelers' passports were issued, other passport requirements will apply. Machine-readable passports issued before October 26, 2005, have no further requirements. Machine-readable passports issued between October 26, 2005 and October 25, 2006, also require a digital photograph on the data page. Machine-readable passports issued after October 26, 2006, require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport). Canada, Mexico and Bermuda are not participants in the Visa Waiver Program, and the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act includes other provisions for visa-free travel for nationals of Canada and Bermuda under certain circumstances. Since they are not part of the Visa Waiver Program, VWP requirements for machine-readable or biometric passports do not apply to nationals of Canada, Mexico or Bermuda. Also, it should be noted that some nationals of Canada and Bermuda traveling to the United States require nonimmigrant visas. Please refer to the listed websites or contact the U.S. Consular offices in your specific country for more information. |
|
© 2006 Lighthouse Seminars