If you are a non-U.S. resident, you may need a visa to enter the United States for Heart Rhythm 2009, May 13-16, 2009 in Boston, MA. To assist in your visa request, you may request a letter of invitation to attend Heart Rhythm 2009. If you already have a U.S. visa, please check the expiration date to make sure your visa will not expire before or during your planned travel dates.
For residents of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) please note: requirements to travel visa-free have changed in 2008. To strengthen the security of travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, requirements to travel visa-free have been enhanced with the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization process. In addition, all adult travelers are required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and photographic proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry.
The following is provided as a service by the Heart Rhythm Society — you are encouraged to visit the applicable agency’s websites in order to ensure the most accurate, up to date information.
Electronic System for Travel Authorization
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implementated the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which began accepting voluntary ESTA applications in August 2008. ESTA is a new fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States, and VWP travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States. Learn more about ESTA on the DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website »
Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries will still be eligible to travel without a visa but will have to obtain an approved travel authorization prior to their travel to the United States.
How the ESTA process works:
- Log onto the secure ESTA Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and complete an online application (currently in English; other languages will follow). Travelers are encouraged to apply early. The web-based system will prompt you to answer basic biographical and eligibility questions typically requested on a paper I-94W form.
- Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, however, DHS recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds:
- 1. Authorization Approved: Travel authorized
- 2. Travel Not Authorized: Traveler must obtain a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before traveling to the U.S.
- 3. Authorization Pending: Traveler will need to check the ESTA Web site for updates within 72 hours to receive a final response
An approved travel authorization via ESTA is:
- Required for all VWP travelers prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP beginning January 12, 2009
- Valid, unless revoked, for up to two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first
- Valid for multiple entries into the U.S. As future trips are planned, or if an applicant’s destination addresses or itineraries change after their authorization has been approved, they may easily update that information through the ESTA Web site
- Not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry. ESTA approval only authorizes a traveler to board a carrier for travel to the U.S. under the VWP
- Currently there is no fee to apply for a travel authorization. However, there may be an application fee in the future
Visit www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/esta_intro/ to download PDF files detailing basic information on ESTA in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.
Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program allows foreign nationals from certain countries to travel to the United States for business or pleasure, for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa (but all passengers traveling under the Visa Waiver Program are required to have an approved travel authorization prior to traveling to the United States by air or sea).
| New VWP Countries
On October 17, 2008, President Bush announced that effective November 13, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea will be added to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. |
The following countries are currently in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP): Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Effective November 13, 2008, seven more countries will be joining the VWP (see sidebar).
Visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for a full overview of the VWP. Note that in addition to an approved travel authorization via ESTA (as noted above) visa waiver travelers from ALL Visa Waiver Program countries must present a machine-readable passport at the U.S. port of entry to enter the U.S. without a visa. In addition, depending on when VWP travelers’ passports were issued, other passport requirements apply, including:
- Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06 — requires integrated chip with information from the data page (e-Passport).
- Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 — requires digital photograph printed on the data page or integrated chip with information from the data page.
- Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 — no further requirements.
- Temporary, emergency, official and diplomatic passports are exempted from biometric digital photo and chip requirements, but must be machine-readable.
Please see the "Visa Waiver Program" page of the U.S. Department of State website for full details on VWP and links for information regarding passport requirements. the "Temporary Visitors to the U.S." page of he U.S. Department of State website is an excellent overall resource guide.
Information for Canadian, Mexican or Bermudan Citizens
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will require all travelers to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. This travel initiative is being implemented in two phases, with the first being air travel. For all three countries, please see the "Border Countries: Canada, Mexico and Bermuda" page of the U.S. Department of State website for full details and resources.
Obtaining a Visa
After identifying that a visa is needed, foreign travelers should contact the U.S. Embassy Consular Section in their country to determine visa processing timeframes, or visit the “Visa Wait Times for Interview Appointment” page of the U.S. Department of State website for an estimate. Advance travel planning and early visa application are important, since visa applications are subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past. It is important to thoroughly review all information on the specific Embassy's Consular Section website for local procedures and instructions.
Society Visa Guideline Recommendations
The Heart Rhythm Society recommends following these guidelines for obtaining a visa for entry into the United States:
- Request a letter of invitation to attend the annual meeting from the meeting organizer. The invitation letter should specify the subject, location, and dates of the activity. This should be done five to six months prior to the meeting.
- Apply early. The visa application process can take up to six months to complete.
- Applicants should present their entire trip itinerary, including travel to any countries other than the United States, at the time of visa application.
- If completion of travel plans is contingent upon early approval of the visa application, specify this at the time of the application.
- Provide proof of scientific status.
- Provide meeting brochure and letter of invitation.
- Provide evidence that you intend to return to your country of residence; applicants should provide proof of "binding," or sufficient, ties to their home country or permanent residence abroad. This may include documentation of the following:
- family ties in home country or country of legal permanent residence
- property ownership
- bank accounts
- employment contract or statement from an employer stating that the position will continue after the dates of the meeting.
Please note that all foreign visitors will be fingerprinted and photographed upon arrival in the United States.
Requesting a Letter of Invitation
A letter of invitation does NOT guarantee the issuance of a visa. The decision to issue a visa is the sole judgment of the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The Society is unable to assist with the actual visa processing. Unfortunately, the Society cannot provide any financial support for travel, registration fees, or local expenses.
Request a Letter of Invitation from the Heart Rhythm Society to Heart Rhythm 2009 (this link will take you to a form to be completed online— fields marked with an asterisk * must be completed)
Heart Rhythm 2009 registration opens December 2008 for Society members and January 2009 for nonmembers.
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