Capital Hilton – 16th & K Streets NW, Washington, DC 20036
Reservations: 202.393.1000

We are pleased to be hosting Banknote 2008 in April, a beautiful time of year to visit Washington, DC. Please note that April is also the most heavily traveled month to Washington, so the earlier you secure your travel arrangements, the better.

An exciting multi-million dollar renovation has brought new features and enhancements to the Capital Hilton since Banknote 2006. These enhancements include a completely renovated Executive Lounge, providing new luxuries and points of service. The lobby and reservation system have been updated, the bar and lounge on the main level has been completely redefined, and other public areas, including those on the meeting level, have been refreshed.

The Capital Hilton is located in the center of downtown Washington, D.C. just two blocks from the White House and walking distance to monuments, museums, shopping, the National Mall, local attractions, restaurants, the Metrorail subway system and many other major points of interest in the city. The Capital Hilton features fine dining, a lounge, beauty salon, gift shop, safety deposit boxes, multi-lingual staff, valet parking, same-day dry cleaning services, 24-hour room service and a full-service health club and spa.

All rooms feature two telephones, dataport capabilities, two phone lines, voice mail messaging, television, mini bar refreshment center, hair dryer, alarm clock and writing desk.

Banknote 2008 delegates will enjoy a special negotiated rate during their stay at the Capital Hilton.

Booking for Industry and Sponsor Attendees

Book via Telephone: 202.393.1000 or 800.445.8667
Mention Banknote Industry BBN as the Group/Convention Code
Rate is $285 per night, before 14.5% taxes

Book Online: www.capital.hilton.com
Enter your desired dates, click 'GO', enter BBN as the
Group/Convention Code

Booking for Government Attendees

To obtain the Banknote 2008 Group/Convention Code specific to government attendees, please email info@banknote2008.com or fax a request to 703.997.0253. Please indicate the name and contact information of your agency employer in your request.

Rate is $265 per night, before 14.5% taxes (unless valid government ID for DC tax exemption is provided to the hotel)

For more information about hotel accommodations, please visit the Capital Hilton website.

An extensive network of ground and air transportation systems services the Washington, DC metropolitan area making travel to and from Banknote 2008 easy for domestic and international travelers. We recommend that you book your travel as soon as you can, to ensure your ideal itinerary.

Please note all costs listed are approximate and may vary at the time you travel. Please contact the individual providers for more precise information.

For International Travelers:

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Located approximately 25 miles west of Washington, taxi fare to downtown Washington is about $50. Washington Flyer buses provide service to the Metrorail station (approx. 20 minutes), after which you transfer to a Metro train. The fare for the Washington Flyer bus is currently $9. For tickets and information on the Washington Flyer bus service and other transportation options, please visit www.washfly.com. For information on Metrorail service and fares, visit www.wmata.com.

Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)
Located approximately 30 miles northeast of DC, taxi fare to downtown Washington is about $55. The SuperShuttle buses that run from BWI to downtown Washington cost approximately $22 and take about 65-minutes. For tickets and information, please see www.supershuttle.com.

For Domestic and Canadian Travelers:

Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Located four miles south of Downtown Washington, taxi fare to the city is about $15. SuperShuttle buses from National Airport to downtown Washington cost approximately $8 ($14 round-trip) and take about 20 minutes. For tickets and information, please see www.supershuttle.com. The National Airport is also accessible by Metrorail Blue and Yellow lines.

Domestic travelers may also access either Baltimore/Washington International Airport or Washington Dulles International Airport.

Union Station
Located in the heart of Downtown Washington, the Amtrak Train Station inside this historic building is one of the nation's busiest. The Capital Hilton is a short taxi ride from Union Station and costs approximately $7. For tickets and information, please see www.amtrak.com.

Many travelers must obtain a visa to travel to the U.S. and attend Banknote 2008. 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 2008 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, www.unitedstatesvisas.gov. 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 2008, 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 2008 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 2008.

Information Resources for U.S. Entry Requirements

Department of State – Internet Addresses

• U.S Embassies and Consulates abroad:
  http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_embassies.html
• Visa Services (for Foreigners Traveling to U.S.):
  http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html
• Visitor Visas for Business and Pleasure:
  http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_types_visitor.html
• Visa Waiver Program:
  http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_novisa_waiver.html
• Visa Wait Times:
  http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php
• Visa Application Forms:
  http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_forms.html
• Nonimmigrant Visa Photo Requirements:
  http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_info_photo.html

• 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

• Department of Homeland Security:
  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/
• US-VISIT:
  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/content_multi_image/content_multi_image_0006.xml

As our design theme for the Conference indicates, the National Cherry Blossom Festival attracts many visitors to the city from in late March and early April for a variety of cultural events and festivities. For more information about the history of the cherry trees and of events honoring their beauty, visit http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

For more information regarding the many historical sites and tourist attractions in the Washington area, please visit the following sites:

• Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Museum of American History
• National Museum of Women in the Arts
• National Air and Space Museum
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Hirshorn Gallery and Sculpture Garden
• National Gallery of Art
• National Museum of the American Indian
• The Phillips Collection