United States Visa Information
This information is intended to provide travelers outside the United States with information regarding the U.S. visa process to enable you and members of your district to effectively plan travel to the
United States to attend the 2011 Rotary International Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Who Requires a Visa?
To determine if your country of residence requires a nonimmigrant visa (B2) for entry into the United States, visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html. The visa process typically requires completion of an application in addition to a personal interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and
may also include additional security clearance after the personal interview.

Citizens of many western European and some Asian countries are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa, provided the traveler has a machine-readable passport. Those travelers who do not have a machine-readable passport must obtain a non-immigrant visa. For additional information on the Visa
Waiver Program or to see if your country of residence is a member of this program visit
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html. Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries are now required to register electronically using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ before entering the United States.

Advance Travel Planning
Advance travel planning is critical to ensure you have done everything possible to obtain a U.S. tourist visa to attend the 2011 RI Convention. Registrants need to consider the entire process that
begins with registering for the convention with Rotary International through the visa interview. The entire process can take approximately four (4) months — but keep in mind, this does not take into consideration the “busy season” of the embassies or if additional security clearance might be required. By following the steps below, you will ensure that you have allotted a sufficient amount of time for a visa application to be processed for the 2011 RI Convention.

Step 1 – Register for the convention through RI Registration Services. After your registration is processed, RI Registration Services will send the main registrant an email which will include the
registration confirmation and letter of invitation in PDF format, on official letterhead. This is normally sent within 2 weeks of registration, with additional time at peak periods. Those registrants who do not have email, or whose email attempt failed, are sent confirmation materials by post. Depending on your country of residence, if materials are sent by post it could take 2-5 additional weeks to receive the mailed confirmation packet.

Step 2 – Research procedures for obtaining a visa by locating the nearest U.S. embassy to your country of residence. The following site,
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embassies/embassies_1214.html, provides links to all the U.S. embassies throughout the world. Per the U.S. Department of State, applicants should apply for a
tourist visa more than 60 business days prior to travel.

Step 3 – Follow the U.S. embassies’ instructions and apply for a visa. Many countries will require a personal interview as part of the visa application process.

Step 4 – Gather the required documentation for your personal interview with the visa consular, including registration confirmation, hotel confirmation, letter of invitation, and proof that
you can support yourself during your stay in the United States and have “strong ties” to your country of residence.

Step 5 – Arrive on time to the visa interview with all required documentation. It is the registrant’s responsibility to provide the U.S. embassy with any and all documentation that may
facilitate the visa process and includes all fees and expenses associated with obtaining a visa.

EN
Visa Application Timeline 1 July – 1 November 2010 –
Register for the 2011 RI Convention with Rotary
International either through Member Access with credit
card payment or download a form at www.rotary.org.

15 December 2010 – If you registered on or before 30 November, you should have received your confirmation documents by this date.
Contact RI Registration Services at ri.registration@rotary.org if you
have not received your confirmation documents.

1 January 2011 – Apply for U.S. visa on or before this
date.

22 May 2011 – Deadline for RI Registration Services to receive
written cancellation and refund request if the visa is denied. Contact RI Registration Services at e-mail ri.registration@rotary.org to
submit your registration cancellation.

What Should I Expect at the Interview with the Visa Consular?
Requirements for personal interviews vary by embassy/consulate. As a visa applicant, you must prove to the consular officer that you will not immigrate to the United States, are eligible to attend
the meeting, and provide supporting documentation, including proof that you will be able to support yourself during your stay and pay for the trip. In addition, a finger scan, a digital photo,
name check and possibly, additional security clearance, may be required. Remember that the visa consular has sole discretion in determining who will receive a visa.

IMPORTANT! Review the requirements that the U.S. embassy requires for your country of residence and bring any and all documentation that would support your request for a visa with you to the interview.

What Do Visa Denials Mean?
The U.S. Department of State’s Web site provides comprehensive information about visa denials at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/denials/denials_1361.html.
Section 214(b) – The most common visa denial. This typically indicates that the visa applicant has not provided sufficient information to the visa consular to overcome the burden of proof that he/she will not overstay the visitor’s visa. This denial is not permanent and if additional information is obtained to overcome the burden of proof, individuals may re-apply for a visa.

Section 221(g) – This is not a denial but a request for additional information before the visa consular makes the final decision.
Should you receive a visa denial, send your cancellation and refund request directly to RI Registration Services at ri.registration@rotary.org or fax: +1-847-866-3064 by the 22 May 2011 deadline date. Refer to the registration cancellation policy on the registration and event ticket order form for the complete cancellation policy.

To cancel your hotel reservations or host event tickets, follow the cancellation policies as indicated on the respective forms.

What Can Rotary International Do For Attendees That Require a Visa?
Encourage early registration!! Rotary International’s involvement in the visa process is limited to providing the emailed or mailed registration confirmation materials that includes the registration
confirmation and letter of invitation and providing the U.S. Department of State with a list of convention registrants on a regular basis. The visa consular has sole discretion in reviewing and determining who receives a visa for entry into the United States.

For further information visit the Rotary.org web site