PASSPORTS/VISAS

If you plan to attend InterSpeech 2012 and will be traveling to Portland from countries other than the United States, please be aware of the U.S. passport and visa policies for citizens and visitors.

Passports

Regulations require all persons traveling to the U.S. by air, land, or sea to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter the United States.  For more information on these travel regulations, please visit the following websites: 

• http://travel.state.gov
• http://www.usembassy.gov
• http://www.cdc.gov

Visas

It is the sole responsibility of the attendee to take care of his/her visa requirements. Attendees who require an entry visa must allow sufficient time for the application procedure. Attendees should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to determine the appropriate timing of their visa applications. All visa applications should be submitted to the authorities 90 days before travelling to the U.S.; no later than mid-June 2012 for conference attendees. 

Most countries will require visa applicants to provide supplementary information explaining the purpose of their travel. In this regard, providing a letter of invitation to InterSpeech 2012 may be useful. A link to generate a customized letter of invitation can be found in your registration confirmation.  The conference secretariat will not directly contact embassies and consulates on behalf of visa applicants.

Transit Visa

A “transit visa” may be required if you are making an airline connection before entering the United States. It is your responsibility to contact the embassies or consulates of any countries you will be connecting through to determine if a transit visa or inoculations are required for that country.

Visa Waiver Program 

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables residents from 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Click here for the list of participating countries and more information on the VWP.  As the countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program are subject to change in the coming months, InterSpeech encourages attendees to regularly check the ESTA Web site for updates.