International Resources
Anesthesiology professionals from more than 80 countries are expected to attend ANESTHESIOLOGY 2012 and we hope that you will be among them. If you plan to attend ANESTHESIOLOGY 2012, we urge you to begin the visa application process now. U.S. regulations require security checks for most visitor visa applications, resulting in a review process that may take three months or more. Attendees will be responsible for their own travel expenses including airfare, ground transportation, hotel, meals and travel insurance.
Meeting Information
ANESTHESIOLOGY 2012
October 17-19, 2012
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Venue Website: www.dcconvention.com
International Invitation Letter
If you must apply for a temporary non-immigrant visa to attend ANESTHESIOLOGY 2012, you are advised to apply as soon as travel to the United States is contemplated and not later than 3-4 months in advance.
To Download Invitation Letter
If you need the invitation letter immediately, you may download the customized invitation letter for visa/passport purposes here.
Personalized Invitation Letter
All personalized letters of invitation will be sent via e-mail. If you would like these mailed to you, please provide a Federal Express or DHL account number with your request. In some cases, visa offices will not accept faxed or e-mailed invitation letters. All ASA letters of invitation are only provided to attendees who are planning to participate and attend ANESTHESIOLOGY 2012.
Please provide the following information in your request:
• Federal Express or DHL account number (for mail copies)
• Your full name (Please specify first and last name)
• Job title/position (Dr., Mr., Mrs., etc)
• Company name/organization
• Full mailing address
• Telephone and fax numbers
• Email address
• Poster presenters may include the title of the poster they are presenting if needed
Personalized invitation letter requests should be sent via email to Carol Klemm at c.klemm@asahq.org.
ASA offers an official letter of invitation for ANESTHESIOLOGY 2012 attendees, available here in late April. The letter of invitation, though not required for the visa application, can assist as a supporting document. This letter by no means guarantees admittance into the U.S., but can provide compelling evidence for immigration officials to consider. Please note that ASA cannot intervene with either U.S. embassies abroad or with the U.S. State Department on behalf of any participant.
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) / Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established to eliminate unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulating the tourism industry, and permitting the Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas.
VWP eligible travelers may apply for a visa, if they prefer to do so. Nationals of VWP countries must meet eligibility requirements to travel without a visa on VWP, and therefore, some travelers from VWP countries are not eligible to use the program. VWP travelers are required to have a valid authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, are screened at the port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program.
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Andorra
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Hungary
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New Zealand
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Australia
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Iceland
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Norway
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Austria
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Ireland
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Portugal
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Belgium
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Italy
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San Marino
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Brunei
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Japan
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Singapore
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Czech Republic
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Latvia
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Slovakia
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Denmark
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Liechtenstein
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Slovenia
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Estonia
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Lithuania
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South Korea
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Finland
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Luxembourg
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Spain
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France
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Malta
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Sweden
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Germany
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Monaco
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Switzerland
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Greece
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he Netherlands
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United Kingdom
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Visa/Passport Requirements
All individuals from outside the United States require a valid passport to enter the United States. It can now take as long as four months to get a visa to enter the United States. To determine if you require a visa to enter the United States and the required documentation, please visit http://usembassy.gov.
Tips for Successful Visa Applications
- Include a letter of invitation from the meeting organizer.
- When possible, provide proof of professional scientific and/or educational status, society membership and/or meeting registration.
- Visa applicants are expected to provide evidence that they intend to return to their country of residence. Therefore, applicants should provide proof of binding or sufficient ties to their home country or permanent residence abroad. Visa applications are more likely to be successful if done in the visitor's home country.
- Applicants should present their entire trip itinerary, including travel to any countries other than the United States, at the time of their visa application.
- All applicants must be able to qualify for a visa on their own merits under the requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Useful Visa, ESTA and International Travel Websites
International Travel Packages
In an effort to improve the level of travel services provided to our international attendees, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has appointed ESA Voyages of Paris as the official international travel provider for ANESTHESIOLOGY 2012 in Washington, D.C. Working directly with the Meetings & Exhibits Department and our preferred housing agent Travel Planners, ESA will provide full service travel packages for international attendees participating at the ASA annual meeting. ESA Voyages, provides full service travel packages for individuals traveling from outside North America. Travel packages include full-service air inclusive or ground only travel packages to fit the needs of both individual travelers and groups. All of the packages include hotel accommodations, daily American breakfast plan, airport transfers in Washington, travel assistance during the annual meeting, and on-site registration material delivery coordination.
For additional information regarding international travel packages, please visit www.esavoyages.fr or contact:
Yves Grandjean
ESA Voyages
8 rue de Malabry
F-92350 Le Plessis Robinson France
Phone: (33) 1 41 28 13 00
Fax: (33) 1 46 32 66 21
E-mail: esa@esavoyages.fr