Information For APEC Participants
Traveling From Outside The United States

As the leading global power electronics event, you cannot afford to miss APEC 2005. We are ready to help make the registration and visa application process easier for you.

The U.S. government requires residents of some countries to obtain a visa before entering the U.S. Recent changes to the visa application process have increased the length of time required to receive your visa. The information below provides important links and details that help to make the process easier for you.

Helpful Hints

1. Review the U.S. Department of State traveler's information Web site for changes to the visa process that may affect you.
2. Apply early for your visa.
3. Request a letter from APEC (see below for how to do this)
4. Check your passport for expiration date. Make sure the expiration date is at least six months after you plan to leave the United States.
5. Register for APEC 2005 after obtaining your visa.

Visa Application Process

Recent changes to the visa policy and procedures are expected to increase the amount of time it takes to obtain a visa. It is VERY important to apply for your visa early.    We recommend that you start the visa application process as soon as possible. Although information on the changes to the visa application process is outlined here, please refer to the U.S. Department of State's visa information Web site for the most complete, up-to-date information.

Requesting a Letter from APEC for Your Visa Application

To request a visa from APEC, send an email message or letter to the APEC offices. Contact information can be found here. Some important points:

• We will not be able to process any request received after January 2, 2005.
• The original copy of your letter from APEC will be sent via surface mail - please allow enough time for delivery.
• If you wish to pay for your invitation to be sent via international UPS or FedEx, you must have your own account with either of these couriers. Please provide your account number with either of these companies. Absolutely NO exceptions will be made to this policy.

Requirements For Requesting A Letter From APEC For A Visa Application

1. Complete one request for each person requiring a visa.
2. Submit each request only once.
3. Your e-mail address is REQUIRED.
4. Date of birth, passport number and if you have previously attended APEC are not required but may be included in your letter if provided with your request.
5. Please make sure that you specifically identify the address to which you want the letter sent.
6. A copy of the letter will be faxed if you provide a fax number with your request.
7. Remember to allow 3 to 4 months to obtain your visa. It is important to obtain your visa before registering for APEC 2005

Important Visa Information for International Media

Foreign members of the media should have an I-Visa. Using the visa waiver program to work as a journalist in the U.S. does not guarantee entry. Visit the U.S. State Department's Web site and the U.S. Embassy's Web site in your country for more information about the I-Visa program.

Visa Interviews

A personal appearance interview is required as a standard part of this process. This can increase the processing time. It is expected fewer waivers will be granted for the interview portion of the process.

APEC cannot assist you with the interview process, nor can anyone representing APEC call the embassy or consulate on your behalf to provide support for granting a visa. 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.

How To Find The US Embassy Or Consulate In Your Country

Please visit the U.S. State Department's travel information Web page to find the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Not all countries participate in the VWP. Visit the U.S. Department of State's Visas Waiver Program Web site to find the complete list of participating countries.

Important Change to the VWP: Machine-Readable Passports

The Secretary of State has granted a postponement until October 26, 2004, as the deadline whereby visa waiver program travelers from 21 VWP countries must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) at the U.S. port of entry to enter the U.S. without a visa, otherwise a U.S. visa is required. Starting October 1, 2003 visa waiver travelers from five countries must present either a machine-readable passport of a U.S. visa. To learn more, read What I Need to Know about the VWP and the Required Machine-Readable Passport at the U.S. State Department Visa Waiver Program Web page. Citizens of Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg who wish to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) effective May 15, 2003.

What Is a Machine-Readable Passport?

A machine-readable passport has biographical data entered on the data page according to international specifications. The size of the passport and photograph, and arrangement of data fields, especially the two lines of printed OCR-B machine readable data, meets the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Doc 9303, and Part 1 Machine Readable Passports. OCR-B means the type is Optical Character Reader size B. If there are questions about your passport, after carefully reviewing this information, and any information that may be available to you from your country, you may want to contact the passport issuing agency or authority in your country of citizenship.

What Do I Need To Enter The United States Under The Visa Waiver Program?

• You must be a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country.
• You must have a valid passport issued by the participating country.
• Your passport must be a machine-readable passport.
• You must be seeking entry for 90 days or less, as a temporary visitor for business (participating in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, conferences or seminars is permitted as a business visitor) or pleasure. You will not be permitted to extend your visit or change to another visa category under the VWP.
• Representatives of the foreign press, radio, film or other information media require a non-immigrant Media (I) visa and cannot travel to the U.S. using the visa waiver program. Visit the U.S. State Department I Visa information Web page for more details.

We look forward to seeing you in Austin, Texas for APEC 2005!