Banknote 2011 - Travel
U.S. Entry Requirements Print

Overview

Many travelers must obtain a visa to travel to the U.S. and attend Banknote 2011. For visitors experienced in traveling to the United States, you can likely prepare your entry documentation using the methods that have worked for you in the past. If you have not traveled to the United States recently, Banknote 2011 is pleased to provide the following information to assist you.

The information on this page is intended to help our delegates better understand U.S. entry requirements. Delegates should not consider the information provided on this page to be necessarily authoritative or comprehensive. For more details, delegates should reference the U.S. government's official web site. They should also contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for more specific and current information concerning entry requirements.

If you determine that you will need a visa to attend Banknote 2011, please be advised that visa applications are evaluated very carefully. As a result, visa applications take more time now than in the past.

Please be sure to plan ahead and budget ample time to obtain your visa.

Visa Waiver Program

Not everyone who travels to the U.S. needs a visa. Delegates are eligible for the U.S. government's Visa Waiver Program and do not have to apply for a U.S. visa if they:

  • are citizens of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland; and
  • are staying for less than 90 days on a pleasure/business trip to the U.S.

All visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program must present a machine-readable passport (or obtain a U.S. visa). A machine-readable passport has biographical data entered on the data page according to international specifications. For more information concerning these requirements, please visit the U.S. State Department web site. If you are unsure if your passport in machine readable, you may want to contact the passport issuing agency or authority in your country of citizenship.

U.S. Business Visa

If you are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, then you will need a visa to enter the U.S.. Most Banknote 2011 delegates will likely need a B-1 business visa. The B-1 visa is used for a variety of business-related activities. The following are examples of lawful B-1 activities:

  • Attending a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, conference or seminar;
  • Giving a lecture.

If you want to qualify for a B-1 business visa, you must show the following:

  • The purpose of your trip is for business;
  • You plan to stay for a specific, limited period of time; and
  • You have social and economic ties outside the U.S. and you will return abroad at the end of your visit.

This is what you must submit when you apply for a business visa:

  • Completed Application Form DS-156;
  • Current, valid passport or travel document (valid for at least six months beyond period of stay in U.S);
  • Photograph (Requirements are strict for photograph size, type and quality. Please check with your nearest consulate for specifications before you get your picture taken.);
  • Application fees (All applicants must pay the application fee. Some applicants, according to nationality and type of visa, must also pay an issuance fee.);
  • Evidence of business-related work in the U.S.;
  • Evidence that your visit is temporary and that you will leave the U.S. after your legally authorized stay;
  • Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the U.S.;
  • Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad; and
  • Undergo security clearance procedures.

To begin the visa application process, it is very important that you make an appointment to visit the U.S. embassy or consulate nearest you as soon as possible. Please plan for the possibility of a delay in the issue of your visa. While most additional processing takes 30 days or less, a small percentage may take considerably longer.

For these reasons, make your visa application well in advance of your intended travel to Banknote 2011.

Information Resources for U.S. Entry Requirements

Department of State — Internet Addresses

Department of State — Telephone Information

  • Visa Services public information (Washington, DC): 202-663-1225 (for general visa information via taped messages, with an option to speak with an officer)

Department of Homeland Security — Internet Addresses

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