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 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 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 35 countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business, for 90 days or fewer, without obtaining a nonimmigrant visa:

• Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, 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.)

ESTA: New Entry Procedures for VWP Countries
On Jan. 12, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security enacted the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This new entry program requires nationals from VWP countries to register before traveling to the United States, and will replace the I-94W form previously used by some travelers.

In order to obtain an ESTA, travelers will need to submit information including their name, birth date, passport number, flight number and U.S. destination address. Each ESTA will be valid for up to two years and will allow visitors unlimited travel to the United States during that period. Note that ESTAs will not be issued to any traveler whose passport will expire within six months of the application for an ESTA. Obtain an ESTA now.

Residents of Canada, Mexico and Bermuda

Passports/Proof of Citizenship

• As of June 1, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda who are traveling by air, land or sea to present a valid passport (or other WHTI-compliant documents) to enter or re-enter the United States. Consult DHS' Crossing U.S. Borders for more information. 

Visas

• Canada, Mexico and Bermuda are not participants in the VWP; however, the Immigration and Nationality Act includes other provisions for visa-free travel under certain circumstances. Read more about nonimmigrant visas.

• Consult the U.S. Department of State Temporary Visitors page or Visa Home page for detailed information about visa procedures.
• Find the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate.
• Fill out an electronic visa application that you can print and take to your visa interview.

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 Joint 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.