For general information regarding visas and whether or not you need one, please consult the following page Business Visits to Fermilab. Instructions for Visa Applications:
1). Fermilab must issue an Invitation Letter to each attendee. The Letter must confirm the general reason for the invitation (to attend meeting) and the general duration of the attendance. The invitation letter should refer to the meetings as a symposium.
2). The visitor's home institution also should issue a letter. The letter MUST explain who the visitor is, and briefly, his/her credentials. The letter must confirm that the individual's connections to the home institution (title, job, tenure, nature of appointment, etc.) and confirm that it is anticipated that the individual will return to the home institution at the conclusion of the meeting. If possible, the letter should say that the home institution wants the individual to attend the meeting because the information and discussions will be valuable to the continued work the individual will perform for the home institution upon return back home after the meeting.
3). The visitor then can apply to the consulate in his/her home country of current residence for a B-1 visa, or enter without a visa using the Visa Waiver Program. If they cannot get a visa appointment soon enough, they should look into the consulate's "expedite" procedures, or call back frequently as appointments will open up because of cancellations.
4). During the interview at the Consulate, they should ask when a decision might be made. If the decision will be made too late to enable the individual to come to the school, then they should explain this during the interview so the consular officer knows. If it appears that the decision will be too late regardless, they should contact us and we will see what we can do. If the "anticipated" decision date passes and there is no news, again they should contact us and we will see what we can do.
5). When the visitor enters the U.S. it is EXTREMELY important that the immigration officer at the airport write "WB" or "VWB" or "B-1" on the I-94 card. Whatever is written should not have a "T" in it. The "T" represents tourist status and we cannot let visitors into the Lab facilities if they hold a tourist status. If the "T" status is issued we would have to send the visitor back to the Chicago airport to get this corrected.
Should you have visa questions related to HCPSS please contact us
20–31 Aug 2018
Fermilab - Wilson Hall
US/Central timezone