International Travelers

The success of SOFE05 will depend on full participation from the worldwide fusion community. International participants should familiarize themselves with Visa requirements well in advance of the conference. There are many different requirements to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. Some embassies may request a conference attendee to present a letter from the IEEE Conference organizers for verification. Visa applications are currently subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past. Many applicants may be required to appear in person for an interview as part of the visa process. Applicants affected by these procedures are informed by the respective embassies of the need for additional screening at the time they submit their visa applications and are being advised to expect delays. We encourage international participants requiring a U.S. visa to complete the Request for Visa Assistance Form and contact the Chair [Nermin Uckan, sofe05@ornl.gov ] for a Visa support letter no later than July 1, 2005. Visa Assistance Form Many Canadian citizens and many citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries can come to the U.S. without a visa if they meet certain requirements. Starting October 26, 2004, visa waiver travelers from ALL 27 Visa Waiver Program countries must present either a machine-readable passport at the U.S. port of entry to enter the U.S. without a visa, otherwise a U.S. visa is required. Please be advised that a Visa support letter cannot be provided to the citizens of the countries embargoed by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Additional information can be found on the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Services Web Site - http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html