Education
For undergraduate and graduate students
Visa Information for International Visitors to the U.S.A.
Travel to the United States (US) involves advance planning and may take several months for Visa approval. If you need a Visa, begin the process early!
Visa Guidelines
Please determine whether you will require a visa to enter the US. Because travel requirements may change, we recommend that attendees contact their local embassy to ensure they have proper documentation.
Invitation Letter
Because the Turbomachinery Laboratory is part of a State of Texas agency, we are legally restricted from issuing letters of invitation to international attendees.
Instead, once we receive a registration form for an international attendee, we will send a letter of confirmation. This will usually suffice in the attendee's request for a visa. However, this letter cannot be issued until the individual has officially registered.
Applying for a Visa
- Review visa wait times and then visit your local US embassy or consular office website where you will apply for your visa. There you can find out how to schedule an interview appointment, pay fees, and any other instructions.
- Plan on an interview at the embassy or consulate, which is required for most visa applicants. As part of the visa interview, a quick fingerprint scan should be expected. Applicants who need additional screening are informed during the application process.
- Prior to your scheduled interview date, you can complete the visa application online.
Visa Waiver Program
Machine-Readable Passport Requirements for VWP Countries
For those traveling to the US without a visa from the 27 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, a machine-readable passport is required. If your country is not yet issuing machine-readable passports, you will need to obtain a visa.
- As of 26 October 2006, any passport issued on or after this date by a VWP country must be an e-Passport to be eligible to enter the US without a visa.
- Older, but still valid, machine-readable passports issued after 26 October 2005 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page.
- Determine if you have a machine-readable passport or e-Passport.
For more information about visas, visit the US Department of State's website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html.
