International Travel Information
Global Attendees
We Look Forward to Welcoming You to Boston
The AAGL Global Congress is the world's premier gathering for the MIGS community. We welcome international attendees and are providing the below resources to assist you with your travel plans to the United States. We look forward to seeing you in Boston!
Visa Process
The visa application process may require long lead times due to high demand, so we encourage attendees who are not U.S. citizens to apply for a visa as soon as they decide to travel to the United States, ideally a minimum of 3-6 months in advance of their first day of travel. As many U.S. embassies and consulates have long visa interview wait times, we recommend that you review visa appointment wait times for the location where you will apply and take this into consideration when planning for your travel.
For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of State's website.
Visa Waiver Program
The U.S. Visa Waiver Program permits citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. Travelers are required to apply for and obtain approval authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the United States. To learn more about how to apply for ESTA authorization, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
Visa Application Tips
- Include a letter of invitation from AAGL.
- When possible, provide proof of professional scientific and/or educational status, society membership and/or meeting registration.
- Visa applicants are expected to provide evidence that they intend to return to their country of residence. Therefore, applicants should provide proof of binding or sufficient ties to their home country or permanent residence abroad.
- All applicants must be able to qualify for a visa on their own merits under the requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Consider another embassy or consulate with shorter wait times, if feasible.
Letter of Invitation
AAGL will provide a letter of invitation stating that you are registered to attend the AAGL Annual Meeting once you are registered and paid in full, which may assist you in obtaining your travel visa. Visa letters are not available to attendees who are not paid in full, are registered virtually or canceled their registration.
If you are unable to receive a visa to leave your country or are unable to enter the United States, please contact AAGL about changing your registration to a virtual registration. Please be sure to review and cancel any other reservations or purchases you made regarding on-site activities, hotel accommodations and/or travel.
Questions
If you have any questions about the visa process, please contact your local embassy or consulate. For questions about AAGL registration or to request an invitation letter, contact Gerardo Galindo via email at: ggalindo@aagl.org.
Disclaimer: While AAGL believes this information is correct, it is being provided only as a free convenience to assist our international attendees. In no event will AAGL accept any responsibility for the accuracy or efficacy of this information and no information provided constitutes legal advice. International attendees are encouraged to check the relevant U.S. government sources for the latest information and to conduct their own research into visa requirements. If you have any specific questions regarding the type of visa you should be seeking, visa application process and/or have specific concerns, we advise you to contact a U.S. immigration law attorney and seek specific legal advice. AAGL cannot intervene on behalf of attendees with any U.S. embassies or consulates. Attendees are responsible for securing exit from their home country and entry into the United States.