Complete visa information and the OF-156 application form are available online at http://travel.state.gov/visa;visitors.html. For further information on obtaining a visa, you may contact any U.S. Consulate Office, or you may check the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at: http://travel.state.gov. For links to the official Web sites of U.S. posts worldwide, please visit http://travel.state.gov/links.html.

A citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must usually obtain a visa. The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure (B-2). A consular officer can provide additional information. Travelers from some countries may be able to visit the U.S. without a visa. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a U.S. visa. For more information and to see if your country is a participant in this program, please visit http://travel.state.gov/vwp.html.

International attendees requiring a visa to visit the United States should contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest them. The visa application process should be initiated well in advance of the estimated departure date.

For visas, most applicants must have a passport, valid for six months beyond the duration of the proposed visit, and one pass port size photograph. It is helpful for an applicant to have a letter of invitation from the conference. If you need a personal letter of invitation to attend ICASSP 2002, please contact Stephanie Cantu, Conference Management Services, (scantu@cmsworldwide.com). You should provide her with your complete mailing address, email address, and fax number. The letter of invitation with an original signature will be sent to you immediately.