Visa Procedures Booklet Iberoamerican Leadership Congress 2011 Hosted by AIESEC Puerto Rico March 18 th to the 24 th, 2011

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1 Visa Procedures Booklet Iberoamerican Leadership Congress 2011 Hosted by AIESEC Puerto Rico March 18 th to the 24 th, 2011 Please read thoroughly. Reference:

2 About Puerto Rico Hey AIESECers! It s with great pleasure and excitement that AIESEC Puerto Rico brings you the Iberoamerican Leadership Congress This is our first ILC 2011 delegate booklet and one of our main concerns is the visa procedure for Puerto Rico and we want for this area to run smoothly for every delegate. This is why it s important that you read this booklet and clear any doubts at the webpage of the embassy you are applying. Puerto Rico is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico has been under U.S. sovereignty for over a century and Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since Both Spanish and English are the official languages, the local currency is the U.S. dollar, and no visas or passports are required to enter Puerto Rico from the United States. This means that you have to apply for the visa appointment in the U.S. embassy of your country or the country you are currently in. There s no Puerto Rican embassy and all these procedures are done through the United States. For United States citizens or people traveling directly from the United States: No passport is required for traveling to the island if you re coming from the U.S. It s considered a domestic flight so you only will need a valid ID.

3 Visa Information for the United States YOU MUST APPLY FOR THE B-1/B-2 VISA/combination of both (B-1/B-2)purposes. This falls under the category: Visitor Visa. (B-1)Business Visitor Visa If the purpose for your planned travel is to consult with business associates, travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or conference on specific dates, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract. (B-2) Pleasure, Tourism, Medical Treatment Visitor Visa If the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, and participation by amateurs, who will receive no remuneration, in musical, sports and similar events or contests. Qualifying for a Visitor Visa There are specific requirements, which must be met by applicants to qualify for a visitor visa under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The consular officer at the embassy or consulate will determine whether you qualify for the visitor visa. The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants for visitor visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that: 1. The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business, pleasure, or medical treatment; 1. That they plan to remain for a specific, limited period; 1. Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States; 1. Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad; and 1. That they have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties that will insure their return abroad at the end of the visit.

4 Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. Applying for a Visitor Visa Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of review than in the past so it is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date for ILC As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Making your appointment for an interview is the first step in the visa application process. The waiting time for an interview appointment for applicants can vary, so early visa application is strongly encouraged. Visa wait times for interview appointments and visa processing time information for each U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide is available on the department of State s website at html and on most embassy websites. During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant s interview by a Consular Officer.

5 Required Documentation Each applicant for a visitor visa must submit these forms and documentation as explained below: 1. Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS Visit the Department of State page at DS-160 webpage ( ms_4230.html) to learn more about the DS-160 online process. 2. A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States (unless countryspecific agreements provide exemptions). 3. One (1) 2x2 photograph. See the required photo format explained in Nonimmigrant Photograph Requirements at the Department of State page ( /info_1287.html) or the embassy page

6 Visa Wait Times (Retrieved August 31, 2010) Remember that not necessarily it s going to be this amount of days. To check for updated day estimates and other countries waiting times enter: 8.html or your embassy or consulate webpage.

7 Visa Waiver Program Currently, 36 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, as shown on the table. Travelers coming to the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less from qualified countries may be eligible to visit the U.S. without a visa if they meet the visa waiver program requirements. Nationals of VWP countries must meet eligibility requirements to travel without a visa on VWP, and therefore, some travelers from VWP countries are not eligible to use the program. Detailed information about this program is available at the Department of State webpage: 0.html

8 Websites of U.S. embassies and consulates Learn how to schedule an appointment for an interview, pay the application processing fee, review embassy specific instructions, and much more by visiting the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will apply. The Department of State s recommended first source of visa information is this Visa Services internet site. It is also recommended that you review the Embassy Consular internet site, for the country where you will be applying for your visa. All countries can find the website to their respective embassy or consulate here: Please note that even though there may be a consulate in your city you probably have to have the interview at the capital city of your country where the Embassy is often located. Check for the specific instructions regarding the process of your country in the webpage.

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10 Note: AIESEC Puerto Rico, non-for-profit organization, is not responsible for the denial of Visas with the intention of visiting Puerto Rico for the Iberoamerican Leadership Congress The letter does not guarantee Visa approval. ILC 2011 process for applying for the Visa 1. Get the approval of the MC of your respective country and AI to participate as a delegate for ILC Make your appointment for an interview at the USA Embassy or Consulate of your country or the country you are currently in. Applicants will have to pay the full fee in effect on the day they apply, which is approximately $140 USD. 3. Notify the CCVP Delegates of ILC Puerto Rico the following information: full name passport number birth date nationality embassy where you re applying appointment date Important: Invitation Letters will only be sent out to approved delegates. The letter from the Department of State is sent directly to the embassy not to the delegate. 1. The day of your appointment the Invitation Letter from the Department of State of Puerto Rico will be at the embassy. This letter is sent directly because is signed by an official of the Department of State, if you request it we can send you personally an Invitation Letter signed by the CCP Yesenia de Jesús Oquendo. 5. Notify the CCVP Delegates if your Visa was approved or declined.

11 Tips for the Visa interview 1. Have a defined budget for your trip to Puerto Rico because they re looking for evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States. Keep in mind: Fee for 7 days and 6 nights is $250 USD + $25 USD Food (per meal): Budget: $8-12 Moderate: $13-20 High: $25+ Accommodations: Budget: $65-85/night Moderate: $ /night High: $ /night Beverage: Beer: $2-4 Soda: $1-2 Drinks (alcohol): $3-7 (varies) Juice: $ Taxis in the metro area (San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde) is $1.90 per Mile. Currency exchange site Remember we use US Dollars (USD). 2. Bring prove that you are currently studying, working, financial situation and family ties in your country. Examples of documents you can bring are a letter form your employer, bank statements that can prove your financial situation or documents related to your family ties like birth or baptism certificates issued in the past three months. Information that can show you have strong binding ties with the country is beneficial. Remember that you have to overcome the presumption that you are an intending immigrant. 3. Be ready to answer questions about your family and their work, your household income, your studies, your work, AIESEC, your reasons for coming to Puerto Rico, the exact days you re staying and where you are staying. It is essential that you are able to describe a clear, coherent travel plan and provide accurate answers to all written and oral questions.

12 Available discounts for your flights Receive a 5% discount of your flight to ILC Puerto Rico when you book it with American Airlines to San Juan (SJU). Just enter the promotional code: 9631BS at Receive a 15% discount of your flight to ILC Puerto Rico when you book it with Copa Airlines to San Juan (SJU). Just enter the promotional code: C3230

13 Contacts If you need more information write to the CC at Specific doubts about visa: CCVP Delegates Naihomy at CCP Yesenia de Jesús at