[How To Apply For A Visa To Attend SIGGRAPH 2003]
US
Department of State Tips for US visas: Visitors - Business
and Pleasure
If you are traveling to the United States for tourism or business for 90
days or less with a passport issued by one of the following countries, you may be eligible to visit the US without
a visa:
Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany |
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway |
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Uruguay |
These countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Travelers
from these countries cannot work or study while in the
US and cannot stay longer than 90 days or change their
status to another category. For complete and updated information
on requirements for this program, please see Visa
Waiver Program.
If you are traveling to the US with a passport
issued by any other country, you must apply for a visa.
Please read these procedures carefully:
1. To apply for a visa, you must have your own
letter
of invitation from SIGGRAPH 2003.
When you register for the conference from outside the
United States, and your country DOES NOT participate
in the Visa Waiver Program (see list above), SIGGRAPH
2003 will send you a letter of invitation with your
registration materials. See paragraphs 2 and 3 below
for further instructions.
If
you need an invitation letter before you can
register,
or you need your letter before your registration
materials
arrive, or you did not receive an invitation letter
with your registration materials:
Please send the SIGGRAPH
2003 International Chair your complete name, street
address, city, country, postal code, fax number, phone
number, date of birth, and passport number. Indicate
whether you want the letter faxed or mailed. If you
want the letter faxed, make sure your local US Embassy
or Consulate will accept a faxed letter. Some embassies
or consulates require an original letter. Letters of
invitation cannot be emailed. If you would like your
invitation sent via overnight express courier, you must
supply a credit card number and expiration date for
this service. Letters of invitation will be sent up
to one week prior to the conference.
2. After you receive the letter of invitation, call
your local US Embassy or Consulate to arrange an interview.
For information on the embassy or consulate closest
to you, see Links to United States
Embassies and Consulates Worldwide. Recommendation:
visit the embassy or consulate a month before you begin
the visa process, to obtain literature, forms, etc.
3. When you go to the embassy or consulate for your
interview, you will be asked to pay a nonrefundable
application fee and submit:
-
Your
letter of invitation to attend SIGGRAPH 2003.
-
An signed, completed
application. The application
form is available at all embassies and consulates
for
no charge.
-
A passport
valid for travel to the US at least six months
beyond
your intended stay in the US.
-
Two photographs, 1.5 inches square (37 x 37
mm), showing
your full face, without head covering, against
a light
background.
SIGGRAPH
2003 cannot assist you with the interview process, nor
can anyone representing SIGGRAPH 2003 call the embassy
or consulate on your behalf to provide support for
granting
a visa. As an applicant for a non-immigrant visa, you
must convince the consular officer that you are:
-
Entering
the US for pleasure.
-
That
you plan to remain in the US for a specific, limited
period.
-
That
you have a residence outside the US as well as other
binding ties (employment, family, home, bank
account)
that will ensure your return when you complete your
visit to the US.
-
And that you have the funds to pay for your entire
trip.
If you are denied a visitor visa, you may re-apply if there
is new evidence to overcome the basis for the refusal.
In the absence of new evidence, consular officers are
not required to re-examine such cases.
Because application for a visa can be a lengthy process,
SIGGRAPH 2003 recommends that you start your visa application
process early: 60 to 100 days prior to the conference.
If you have specific questions that are not covered
here, please see US Department
of State Visa Services or contact the SIGGRAPH
2003 International Chair.
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