Visiting from Abroad
Participants from outside the United States should allow ample time for issuance of a visa if one is required of visitors from their country. Because of random in-depth security checks, the issuance of new visas can take up to three or even four months, so be sure to apply early.
Visa Waiver Countries
Citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) do not need to apply for visas to attend the User Meeting, as long as they have a machine-readable passport. (These are tamper-resistant and incorporate biometric identifiers in compliance with guidelines established by the International Civil Aviation Organization). If you are a traveler from a VWP country and you have a machine-readable passport, you may enter the United States using just your passport and your registration confirmation.
Depending on when your passport was issued, the following requirements will apply:
- Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06: requires integrated chip with information from the data page ( e-Passport ).
- Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06: requires digital photograph printed on the data page or integrated chip with information from the data page.
- Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05: no further requirements.
- Temporary, emergency, official and diplomatic passports are exempted from biometric digital photo and chip requirements, but must be machine-readable. Note that German temporary or emergency passports are not included in this biometric e-passport exemption. Therefore, holders of German temporary or emergency passports must either obtain a valid, machine-readable regular German passport for VWP travel or apply for a U.S. visa to travel to or through the United States.
If you are a traveler from a VWP country and your passport does not meet these requirements, you must obtain a visa in your valid passport for entry into the United States.
At the port of entry into the U.S, please request to be given a "Visa Waiver for Business" (WB) status. That will allow you to stay in the U.S. for the length of the meeting. In addition to the passport, VWP travelers must also present a completed and signed I-94W Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure Record to U.S. officials at the port of entry. I-94W forms are free and often provided by travel agents, airlines, or cruise ships prior to arrival, but may be picked up and completed on arrival at the U.S. port of entry. Travelers may also be asked to provide evidence of onward travel or other documentation on the purpose of their stay in the U.S. (e.g., your registration confirmation). Travelers entering through land ports of entry must also pay a $6.00 land border fee.
The Visa Waiver countries 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
United Kingdom
Non-Visa Waiver Countries
Citizens of countries not participating in the Visa Waiver Program will need to request a Business (B-1) visa at the nearest U.S. Consulate. Please present at the Consulate your registration confirmation along with your valid passport. We urge you to do this EARLY, as there are often delays in this process. Official letters of invitation (without financial commitment) to help overcome administrative difficulties in some countries can be sent upon written request to the meeting administrator, Marsha Fenner, via e-mail at MWFenner@lbl.gov.
Canada
Although Canada is not a Visa Waiver country, Canadian citizens do not need to apply for visas at the U.S. Consulate. Citizens of Canada may enter the country using just their passports, along with their registration confirmation. Please request status as a Visitor for Business (B-1) at the port of entry.
More information
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
