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Contact Information |
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Mail
Address:
3400
Research Forest Dr., Ste B-7
The Woodlands, TX 77381 USA
Email:
info@pas-meeting.org
Telephone:
281-419-0052
Facsimile:
281-419-0082
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2006 PAS Annual Meeting
April 29–May 2
San Francisco, California
International Travel to the United States
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Quick
Links
To
see if you are required to have a machine-readable passport, visit:
List
of Visa Waiver Countries
To
Apply for a Visa:
www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov
To
obtain information
about visitor registration:
www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/
visapolicy/registration.html
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Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001,
changes were made in the laws that govern visitor entry
and exit from the United States. Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of
scrutiny. For many applicants, a personal appearance interview is required as a standard part of visa processing. The time needed
for adjudication of individual cases will continue to be difficult to predict. Therefore, The Pediatric Academic Societies recommend
physicians and other medical professionals planning to attend the PAS Annual Meeting apply for their visa as early possible (at least four months before visa is needed).
Machine-Readable
Passports Required of Travelers from 27 "Visa Waiver" Countries
As of June 26, 2005, the Department of Homeland
Security requires that travelers visiting from 27 "visa waiver" countries have
machine-readable passports in order to enter the United States. Travelers from these 27 countries
must have passports that contain a bar code that can be swiped by United States Customs and Border
Protection officers "to confirm the passport holder's identity quickly and obtain other
information about the holder typically found on a passport's inside cover.
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Anyone planning on traveling to the United States from the
27 visa-waiver countries should check with their passport-issuing authority to make sure they have a
machine-readable passport. A full list of the visa-waiver countries, as well as other information about the
program, is available at: travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html
Applying for a
Visa
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Apply for visas at least four (4) months in advance.
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Make an appointment to visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. This can be done by telephone, mail, over the Internet or in person,
depending on circumstances in your country.
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Get all your documentation ready. You will need:
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A valid passport
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Appropriate applications. These can be obtained through an Embassy or Consulate or at
www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov
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Documents to support the application detailing employment, reason for travel (provide Society's meeting brochure and
letter of invitation) and financial status
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Visa applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as visitors under U.S. law by:
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intent to depart the United States
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sufficient funds to support yourself while in the U.S. (bank account)
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family ties in current country of residence
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an employment contract or statement from employer showing that position will continue after the dates of the meeting
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It is important to remember that visa processing and operations can vary depending on local circumstances.
For the most current requirements and those specific to your situation, please check with your local
U.S. Embassy or Consulate or
the U.S. Department of State Information web site at www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov.
Registering
Visitors to the U.S.
By 2005, the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service is required by
law to register all visitors who enter and leave the
United States each year. For further information on
registration, visit http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/visapolicy/registration.html
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