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Obtaining a Foreign Visa

If you will be traveling into the United States on a visa, please take note of the following.

Since the beginning of 2003, the entry process is more difficult and prolonged than in the past (the process may take as long as 3 months, and sometimes longer). Early planning is the best method to obtaining your visa in time. A good website with information on the process and contact information is: http://www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov
Contact the United States Consulate or Embassy in your country. Find out what exactly is needed in terms of documentation and presentation. Each consulate has different expectations.
The U.S. Department of State has mandated that nearly all applicants for non-immigrant visas (such as J-1, H-1, and B visas) undergo a personal interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate as part of the visa application procedure. (Often the application will be sent to other agencies for review, delaying the process more. Some countries are requiring a registration process to insure the visitor complies with the term of the visa.)
Call the Embassy or Consulate early to schedule your interview. They will usually set a date and you will have time beforehand to gather all the documentation necessary.
If you would like an invitation letter from us which states the purpose of your travel, please request one as early as possible. This can be requested via email (petruzzi@ucar.edu, or if attending an ESSL event, please contact your event organizer). When requesting an invitation letter, please:
Request the invitation early enough so that we can get it to you prior to your interview (you will need this invitation for the visa interview, not for the application process, so you can start the visa application without the invitation letter).
Supply us with a fax number, so we can fax the invitation to you.
If you wish to receive the original also, please mention that in the email and include the address to which the letter should be sent. (The faxed copy can be used in the visa interview.
Even the visa waiver process sometimes requires an invitation letter. Verify what is needed before you go to the airport.