Visa Information

International Invitation to Attend

The Society of Toxicology invites scientists from around the world to attend its 49th Annual Meeting, March 7–11, 2010. Please note that individual invitations are not required for attendance at meetings of the Society of Toxicology. Since the meetings are open scientific events, SOT invites interested persons to attend.

If your travels require a visa, the U.S. is advising visa applicants to apply at least three to four months in advance of their travel date. To increase security for citizens and visitors, the U.S. has updated its policies for visas. We request that you contact the United States Consulate/Embassy and Currency Exchange in your own country regarding documentation and necessary information for your visit to the United States.

If for visa purposes you need a formal invitation letter, you may request an invitation by sending your name, address, and fax number to the SOT Registration Department. If you have been accepted to make a presentation at the meeting, please include the name and date of your presentation. You will need to make your own hotel reservations and register for the meeting. If you need assistance, please contact the SOT Registration Department at tel: (703) 438-3115, fax: (703) 438-3113, or e-mail SOT Headquarters.

Here are some sources of information to help you obtain a visa:

• http://travel.state.gov/visa—A Web site designed with you in mind about current visa policies and procedures.
• www.nationalacademies.org/visas/—For additional visa information, contact International Visitors Office (IVO) of the National Academies of the Sciences at the above Web site. This should serve as a visa resource for all visiting scientists and scholars traveling to the United States. Additionally, a survey is available that can be used to assist future travelers with the visa process.
• Make an appointment to visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Make sure you ask if there are any fees required. Most fees must be paid before your appointment. Wait times for appointments may be longer than in the past. Schedule the appointment as soon as possible. Information on Visa wait times can be found at http://travel.his.com/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php
• Get your documents ready—Passport, applications, documents to support the application with employment details (reason for travel along with financial status), and proof of payment of fees.
• Submit your application, passport along with supporting documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
• Start early, additional reviews may be required—this could add an additional 4–6 weeks to the processing time.