Visa Requirements

Visa requirements for IB World Conference Participants

If you will be traveling to the U.S. and are a citizen of a country other than
the U.S., you will need to do one of the following at least two weeks to two
months before the conference.

• apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor/tourist visa or
• apply for approval through ESTA (if you are from one of 35+ Visa Waiver
  countries) or
• if you are a Canadian citizen, you need only possess a current, valid
  passport
  • Canadian Landed Immigrants/ Permanent Residents –
    please read special instructions here.

Comprehensive Visitor Visas and Visa Waiver Information
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1262.html

Visa Waiver Countries
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

B-1 Visitor/ B-2 Tourist Visa
Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156, completed and signed. Select Nonimmigrant
Visa Application Form DS-156 to access the electronic version.
• Current, valid passport or travel document
• Photograph (2 x 2 inches, passport type.)
• Application fees. All applicants must pay the application fee. Some applicants, according
to nationality and type of visa, must also pay an issuance fee
• Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States
• Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad
• Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157, for men between 16-45
years of age, and for all applicants age 16 and over who are from Cuba, Iran, Sudan and
Syria. Note that a consular officer may ask any applicant to complete this form.

Contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for specific information on:
• How to pay fees
• How to get an appointment for an interview
• Visa operations at the embassy or consulate
• Information on the status of your visa application

US Embassies/ Consulates around the world
http://www.usembassy.gov/

Visa Waiver Countries and Approval through ESTA
ESTA is short for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. ESTA is an application system for
all travelers from Visa Waiver Countries only. The Visa Waiver Program has made visiting the
United States very easy for millions of visitors with a machine readable passport. Now the same
visitors must apply for a Travel Authorization in advance in addition to have a machine readable
passport or e-passport. The application process is online and operated by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS).

The Travel Authorization is not a visa. In fact, a person from a non-visa waiver country should not
even attempt to apply for a Travel Authorization. The purpose of ESTA is to let DHS pre-screen
all Visa Waiver Travelers before they leave their respective countries. U.S. bound travelers are
recommended to apply for the Travel Authorization at least 72 hours prior to departure. An
approved Travel Authorization is not a guaranteed entry, but a prerequisite to travel to the United
States by air or sea carrier.

For people denied through ESTA, they must apply for an actual B-1 Visitor Visa or B-2 Tourist
Visa. Thus, they will want to leave enough time to do this.
http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/