Visa Information

International travel to meetings in the U.S.:
Please note that anyone who may need a visa to attend the IPPW meeting needs to apply for their visa early. Visa applicants should apply at least 3 months in advance of the meeting. 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://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/).

• Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for visitors traveling to the U.S.:
  (http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/VWP_PassportRequirementTimeline_07-2005.pdf).
• Visas for students and exchange visitors in the U.S.:
  (http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/studying.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.