SUGAR PROCESSING RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
September 28 - October 1, 2008
Visa Information
Dear Anticipated Conference
Delegate:
The information below should help you
in determining whether you will require a visa to enter the
We do wish you will be able to
attend this upcoming
Sincerely,
Do I need a visa to travel to the United States
This page is intended to
provide general information to individuals planning to visit the
Most travelers to the
Most Common Nonimmigrant
Visa Categories
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Category |
Description |
|
B-1 |
Temporary visitor for business
(ex. business meetings, international conferences) |
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B-2 |
Temporary visitor for
pleasure (ex. tourism, family visits) |
|
F-1 |
Academic student
(undergraduate and graduate students at universities) |
|
J-1 |
Exchange visitors (ex. postdoctoral
students and research scholars) |
|
H-1B |
Temporary specialty
worker |
|
O-1 |
Extraordinary ability in
sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics |
Complete List of
Nonimmigrant Visa Categories
http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/visas.htm
Visa
Waiver Program (VWP)
Citizens of 27 countries do not need a
In order to enter to the
(will
post new dates), all VWP travelers must have a machine-readable passport;
(will
post new dates), all new passports issued by VWP countries must include a
digital photo;
(will post new dates), all new passports issued by VWP
countries must be e-Passports (includes a computer chip that stores biographic
and biometric data).
Detailed information on
these passport requirements is available at:
Department of Homeland Security website
Visa Waiver Program Passport Requirement Timeline (PDF document).
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.
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New Passport Rules for
Travel to and from
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Documentary Requirements for Entry to the United States
Entry and visa
requirements for Canadian Citizens
U.S. Embassy in Ottawa
Documentary Requirements for Entry to the United States
How do I apply for a visa?
As a standard part of the
visa process, the State Department is now requiring that consular officers
interview almost every applicant. Some consulates may have a long wait for an
interview so applicants should contact the consulate to schedule an interview
as early as possible. Furthermore, many visa applications are sent to the State
Department in
Tips for Successful Visa
Applications
Visa
applicants are expected to provide evidence that they are intending to return
to their country of residence. Therefore, applicants should provide proof of “binding”
or sufficient ties to their home country or permanent residence abroad. This
may include documentation of the following:
- family ties in home country or country of legal permanent residence
- property ownership
- bank accounts
- employment contract or statement from employer stating that the position will
continue when the employee returns;
Visa
applications are more likely to be successful if done in a visitor’s home
country than in a third country;
Applicants
should present their entire trip itinerary, including travel to any countries
other than the
Include
a letter of invitation from the meeting organizer or the
If
travel plans will depend on early approval of the visa application, specify
this at the time of the application;
Provide
proof of professional scientific and/or educational status (students should
provide a university transcript);
For more information on
applying for visas see:
U.S. Nonimmigrant Visas
Visa fees and Reciprocity tables
What can I do if my visa is delayed or denied?
Committed to encouraging international
scientific exchange and collaboration, the International Visitors Office has
been collecting data on the problems that scientists and engineers are
experiencing with visa applications. This data will be analyzed and used in
ongoing efforts to increase scientific freedom. If you or someone you know has
experienced difficulties in applying for a visa, you can report your case to us
by submitting a Visa Questionnaire. We will review your case and contact you
if we are able to assist in any way.
Visa delays
Due to increased security measures, many applicants must now appear for a
personal interview at the
Scientists and students
will most likely experience delays due to a security review process known as Visa
Mantis which is required for applicants with a background in one of the
sensitive technologies on the Technology Alert List. The Visa Mantis review
is not a new procedure. However, the number of applications being reviewed
overall has increased significantly, leading to delays in the processing of
applications.
Nationals from countries on
the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (
Visa delays may also occur
if a foreign national travels outside the
For visas delayed longer
than two months, applicants should contact the consulate where the application
was submitted. In addition, it is advisable to contact the sponsor (F-1 and J-1
visa applicants) or the
Visa denials
The most frequent reason given for visa denials is Section
214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act: failure to overcome the
presumption of immigrant intent. An applicant must convince a consular officer
that he has sufficient “binding ties” to his home country or place
of permanent residence that will make him return there after his visit to the
Occasionally the consular
decision cites Section 221(g): lack of sufficient documentation or
information needed to make a determination. In this type of case, there may be
a notation that the applicant can reapply with the missing documents. This
citation is also used when the processing of the visa is still incomplete or
requires a security review before it can be issued.
Another reason for visa
denials is a long-forgotten status violation or minor criminal conviction
during an earlier visit. For example, an applicant who once overstayed his
allowed period of stay might be denied a new visa. A former visitor who was
ever convicted of any crime, even with a suspended sentence, may also be denied
a visa.
All visa denials are
reviewed by the consular officer’s superior and must be accompanied by a
written statement citing the reason for the denial. While the decision of the
consular officer is final, in many cases, an applicant can reapply for a visa
only if he has additional information that was not provided with the previous
application. For further information on visa denials and how to reapply for a
visa, see the State Department’s page on visa denials.
What should I do once I arrive in the United States
All travelers arriving in
the
All visitors to the
Visa Validity, Single
and Multiple-entry Visas, Length of Stay
The visa validity date is the time period during which
the applicant must use the visa to enter the
A person with a
multiple-entry visa valid for one year can make several trips to the
The visa validity date has
nothing to do with the length of stay which is determined by the immigration
official at the port of entry.
Additional
Information
Health Insurance. Medical
care in the
Driving
in the
Required
Change of Address Notice. Visitors staying in the
Registration. Federal law requires that all
non-U.S. citizens carry evidence of their lawful status with them at all times.
This is especially important for all travel, international or domestic. It is advisable
to keep copies of all pages of the passport, visa, I-94 Arrival-Departure card,
and supporting documents such as DS-2019 forms, in a safe place in case of loss
of the original documents.
Special
Registration. On December
1, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suspended the National
Security Entry/Exit Registration System (NSEERS) requirement that mandated
aliens to re-register after 30-days and one year of continuous presence in the
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Specialized, Affordable, Research Serving the International Sugar Industry Since 1939 |
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Sugar Processing Research Institute, Inc.,
Phone: 504-286-4343, Fax: 504-282-5387
E-mail: spri@ars.usda.gov, Site: www.spriinc.org
