International Attendees

Approximately a third of the attendees at SCCT Annual Scientific Meetings arrive from countries outside the U.S., and SCCT’s goal is to make their entire experience as hassle-free and rewarding as possible. All sessions will be conducted in English.

If you are attending SCCT2025 from a country requiring a visa, please be sure to apply early and complete all required fields. Applications may be denied if necessary information is not included when submitted.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Information
The U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens and nationals from 38 countries to travel to and enter the U.S. for business or visitor purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. Please review the U.S. Department of State website to stay up to date with important government announcements.

VWP Requirements

• As of April 1, 2016, you must have an e-passport to use the VWP. An e-Passport is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. You can readily identify an e-Passport, because it has a unique international symbol on the cover.
• All eligible travelers who wish to travel under the VWP must apply for authorization using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website.
  

ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the U.S. under the VWP. It collects the same information as the paper I-94W form that VWP travelers currently fill out en route to the U.S. ESTA applications may be  completed online and submitted at any time prior to travel, though it is recommended that travelers apply when they begin preparing travel plans.

An ESTA authorization generally will be valid for up to two years. Authorizations will be valid for multiple entries into the U.S. DHS recommends that ESTA applications be submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans.

Visa Information
Some participants from outside the U.S. will need to apply for a visa at the American Embassy, Consulate or other visa-issuing office in their country of origin. To obtain a visa you will need a letter of invitation, a valid passport, a photo ID and a completed Form DS 156 (nonimmigrant visa application form).

A visa is not required for visitors from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. Currently, 34 countries are enrolled. For more information about visa requirements, how to apply for a visa or the Visa Waiver Program, visit the “Visas for Foreign Citizens” section of the U.S. Department of State website. Use the Visa Wizard as a guide to help foreign citizens understand which visa category might be appropriate for their travel to the U.S.

Apply for a letter of invitation

Visa Application Tips

• If you are planning to come to SCCT2025, apply for your visa as early as possible.
• Attaching evidence of your previous visits to SCCT2025 may help the application processing time.
• Attaching evidence of your intended return trip to your home country can shorten the application processing time.