The U.S. government requires residents of many countries to obtain a temporary visa before entering the U.S. It is very important to apply for your visa at least 90 days prior to your departure. The information below provides important links and details that should make the entire process easier for you. Please contact us at any point if you need assistance.
Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of 27 countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. VWP travelers must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) at the U.S. post of entry to enter the U.S. without a visa. Otherwise, a U.S. visa is required. Not all countries participate in the VWP. To obtain the complete list of exempt countries and learn more, visit the Visa Waiver Program Web site.
Visa Information for International Media
International members of the media should have a nonimmigrant media (I) Visa, since using the visa waiver program to work as a journalist in the U.S. will not guarantee entry. More information about the I-Visa can be found on the U.S. Embassy's Web site for your home country. Visit the U.S. State Department's Web site to find the appropriate Embassy's Web site.
Applying for Your Visa
- Review the U.S. Department of State Web site for changes to the visa process that may affect you.
- Apply for your visa as early as possible and at least 90 days prior to your departure date. Make this a priority.
- Obtain a Letter of Invitation from NAB.
- Check your passport expiration date to make sure it will be valid for at least six more months.
- If you already have a visa, check the expiration date to make sure it will not expire before your trip is completed.
Requesting a Letter of Invitation from NAB:
- Complete your NAB Show online registration form
- Include your email address
- Include your date of birth and your passport number
- Your letter of invitation will be automatically and immediately emailed to you in an HTML file. Print the letter in color and submit it along with your visa application to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
- After April 2009 NAB will not be able to process any new requests for a Letter of Invitation.
- Complete one request for each person requiring a Letter of Invitation
- Only requests submitted via the online registration form will be processed. Obtaining a Letter of Invitation from NAB will not guarantee that you will be approved for a visa. The letter is merely supplementary information that explains a visa applicant’s intended purpose to travel. U.S. Embassy officers look at the totality of an applicant’s personal situation in determining visa eligibility.
Scheduling Visa Interview Appointments
Specific wait times vary for visa interview appointments for each U.S. Embassy/Consulate. Wait times depend on location and time of year, but you can find out specific procedures and estimated wait times by checking your U.S. Embassy/Consulate's Web site. http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php. Many visa interviews last only 3-5 minutes. It is very important that you have all the necessary documentation with you to ensure a successful interview.
Tips to Make your Visa Interview Successful:
- Provide a summary of employment history, experience and expertise associated with the purpose of travel in order to expedite the interview process.
- Take a copy of your registration confirmation, hotel reservation and flight itinerary.
- Make a list of the NAB exhibitors you intend to meet with and/or a list of appointments already scheduled with exhibitors.
How to Find the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Your Country
Visit http://usembassy.state.gov/ to find the U.S. Embassy and Consulate(s) in your country.
After You Have Your Visa...Join a Delegation and Travel with Professionals from Your Country!
Traveling to the NAB Show as part of a delegation will make your experience more enjoyable, easier and cost efficient. Check back soon for an update list of delegation leaders.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2009 NAB Show. For additional information on registration, please call NAB Customer Service at +1 202 595 2052 or e-mail register@nab.org.
Important Contacts for the NAB Show
