Obtaining Visa Application Document

The US has updated its visa policies to increase security, so it may take you 3-6 months to apply for and receive your visa. For details that apply specifically to your country, please go immediately to your nearest US Consulate or Embassy.

Review your visa status now to determine if you need a US visa or visa renewal and to find out how to schedule an interview appointment, pay fees, and other vital instructions. If you need a personal letter of invitation to attend the Conference, contact the Conference Coordinators by email at info@firstcandle.org. In your email, please include all relevant information (ex: full name, address, contact information, paper number, paper title, etc.). Please provide as much information as possible to avoid delays in receiving your letter.

Please provide the following information: complete name, mailing address, and any other details that your country of residence requires for your visa application. Only an original copy (not faxed or email version) may be accepted with your visa application. The Conference cannot contact or intervene with any U.S. Embassy or Consulate office abroad on your behalf so please begin your visa application process as soon as you determine that you want to attend the 2012 International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Infant Survival. All nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries who plan to travel to the U.S. for temporary business or pleasure for 90 days or less are still required by law to obtain travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States. This authorization can be obtained online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a free Internet application administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

For additional information about the ESTA please visit http://www.cbp.gov/esta.
Travelers from countries not in the VWP are still required to obtain a Visa prior to entry into the United States. The site maintained by The National Academies (ESTA) also provides guidance on obtaining the necessary documents.

A New U.S. Visitors’ Tax Began in September 2010
Effective 8 September 2010, travelers entering the United States from visa-waiver countries via the newly established Electronic System for Travel Authorization program will be subject to a $14 USD fee once every two year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin collecting the fees, (payment by credit or debit card) with a portion funding a new U.S. federal tourism bureau established this year by the Travel Promotion Act.  Conference organizers should alert attendees from affected countries to avoid any unpleasant surprises upon arrival in the U.S.

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Last Updated: Mar 29, 2012