Visa Information

Persons who complete a registration and submit payment will be able to request an official invitation letter on workshop letterhead.

The letter will be a PDF file delivered by email upon request per the instructions shown in the registration confirmation email. There is no additional cost for the emailed invitation letter.

Formal Acceptance Letter for Accepted Authors

If a hardcopy/physical invitation letter is required, you will be able to order one during the registration process. There is a fee associated with the hardcopy invitation, in order to cover the express-mail postage. This fee will be added to the registration total if you order the hardcopy express-mail invitation letter.

Authors of accepted papers can also request an “Official Acceptance Letter“, which does not confirm registration, but does confirm that the paper is accepted into the technical program and invites the selected author to attend in order to give the paper presentation.

Invitation Letters
If you require a personal letter of invitation to attend the Symposium, contact the conference manager by email at: melissa.a.smith@comsoc.org. In your email, provide the following information: complete name, mailing address, and any other details that your country of residence requires for your visa application. The Symposium 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 IEEE IFCS-EFTF 2019. Please provide as much information as possible to avoid delays in receiving your letter. You must register for the conference or have an accepted paper before requesting an invitation letter.

Entry Requirements – Visas, Visa Waiver Program and ESTA 

All international attendees must have a valid passport. We would like to advise all participants, who may be required to apply for a visa, that the application process requires time and may take up to a few months. Please visit the U.S. Department of State website for full visa acquisition information – http://www.travel.state.gov/.

Participants under the Visa Waiver Program countries (see below) will still be eligible to travel without a visa, but will have to obtain an approved travel authorization prior to their travel to the U.S. (see ESTA information below).

Visa Waiver Program 

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established to eliminate unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulating the tourism industry, and permitting the Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas. VWP eligible travelers may apply for a visa, if they prefer to do so. Nationals of VWP countries must meet eligibility requirements to travel without a visa on VWP, and therefore, some travelers from VWP countries are not eligible to use the program. VWP travelers are required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, are screened at the port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program.

Eligibility for Admission Under the Visa Waiver Program 

Review this VWP Quick Reference Guide (for new member countries) and make sure you review this webpage for detailed information. Nationals of the 36 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program may use VWP if:

• They have received an authorization to travel under the VWP through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
• They present the appropriate type of passport valid for six months past their expected stay in the United States This is a requirement in addition to other passport requirements for all categories of passports — regular, diplomatic, and official – when the traveler is seeking to enter the United States for business or tourist purposes, for a maximum of 90 days;
• The purpose of their stay in the United States is 90 days or less for tourism or business (Visitor (B) visa) purpose of travel. (If in doubt, travelers should check with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to verify that what they plan to do is considered tourism or business.) Transit through the United States is generally permitted.
• If arriving by air or sea, they are traveling on an approved carrier and have a return trip ticket to any foreign destination;
• They can demonstrate the intent to stay 90 days or less in the United States and demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves while in the United States. Learn more on the CBP website.

VWP travelers who have been admitted under the Visa Waiver Program and who make a short trip to Canada, Mexico or an adjacent island generally can be readmitted to the United States under the VWP for the balance of their original admission period. See the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website for additional details. Also VWP nationals resident in Mexico, Canada or adjacent islands are generally exempted from requirements to show onward travel to other foreign destinations. Learn more at the CBP website.