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Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau/Nowitz.
"When you add world- class golf, a Texas-sized Tex-Mex party, a lively spouse program, world- renowned attractions, and time with colleagues and friends, you will see the many reasons to come to San Antonio for the Annual Meeting." -Annual Meeting General Chairman, Ken Helm | Visa information and invitation letters To assist you in attending SEG/San Antonio, we offer the following information to make the trip easier. Step 1—Visa requirements If the country you are originating from is on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) list, then you may choose to follow Option 2. Option 1 (Visa required)All travelers to the U.S. require a visa unless from a VWP country (see above). The following information will assist you in obtaining a visa in time for travel to SEG/San Antonio: Non-immigrant temporary visa processing (B-1 visa) Additional information Supporting documents for visa applicants—Invitation letter Please note: This letter does not guarantee that you will be granted a visa, nor does it commit SEG to assist you in obtaining a visa. SEG will not pay any expenses incurred by you. It is the sole responsibility of the attendee to obtain the necessary paperwork for entry to the U.S. It may take additional time to obtain travel documents. It is advisable to start the process early. Option 2 (Visa Waiver Program) For those traveling without a visa to the United States from one of the 35 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries (see Step 1 above), a machine-readable passport is now required. If your country is not yet issuing machine-readable passports, you will need to obtain a visa for travel as referred to in Option 1. For more information regarding machine-readable passports, please refer to Step 3 below. International visitors to the United States from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries are also now required to apply for travel authorization online via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). For more information regarding this recent change, please visit the ESTA Web site. Please note that the information listed above is a general guideline for travel to the United States. Because travel requirements may change, SEG recommends that attendees contact their local embassy to ensure they have proper documentation. U.S. Department of State visa information Step 2—US-VISIT ProgramAll travel to the U.S. with a non-immigrant visa, regardless of country of origin, requires registration in the US-VISIT Program. This includes visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program. Scans are needed of your two index fingers and a digital photograph in order to match and authenticate travel documents at the port of entry. US-VISIT requirements do not replace visa requirements for entering the United States. Ports of entry Step 3—Machine-readable passport requirementsAll VWP travelers to the U.S., regardless of age or type of passport used, must present a machine-readable passport. Depending on when travelers' passports were issued, other requirements may apply:
To determine if you have a machine-readable passport, visit the U.S. Visa Information site. Machine-readable passport requirements Important noteTravelers may now be asked to provide their name as it appears on the government ID they plan to use when traveling. Airlines will also begin asking passengers to provide their date of birth and gender, as part of the TSA Secure Flight Program. Additional links To contact U.S. embassies and consulates abroad |
