Letter of Invitation

Over the last couple of years, the visa application process has become subjected to greater degrees of scrutiny. For this reason, the application process can take up to six months or more. You will need to apply for your visa as early as possible, but no later than three months before you wish to enter a foreign country.

One factor that increases the processing time is the personal interview, now required for most applicants as a standard part of visa processing. As soon as you know that you will need a visa for travel, you should contact the embassy or consulate to schedule an appointment for screening.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
As of 12 January 2009, all nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries will be required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States under the VWP. This authorization may be obtained through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a free internet application administered by the Department of Homeland Security though a U.S. government website. Additional information may be found here: http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/.

Individuals requiring letters of invitation to obtain travel visas may contact OSA directly by one of the following methods:

1. Email
   invitations@osa.org
   
   
2. Fax
   +1 202.416.6100
   
   
3. Mail
   The Optical Society, Meetings Department
   2010 Massachusetts Ave. NW
   Washington, DC 20036
   
   
4. Online
   Non-authors or non-presenting attendees may request a letter of support via the online form.

Please include your full name as it appears on your passport, your complete mailing address, and your phone and fax numbers. Be sure to indicate which meeting you will be attending. If you are presenting a paper, include the title and the session in which that paper will be presented, or if you are exhibiting, please indicate that in your request. When requesting letters for more than one individual, please include all information above for each person. Individuals from China should include the passport number, the date of birth and the gender of each person requesting an invitation letter.

All letters of invitation will be sent by email in PDF format. Please allow ample time for processing requests. Conference management is not able to contact foreign embassies in support of an individual attempting to gain entry into the host country.

Following completion of the online form, the letter will be emailed in locked PDF format. This service will be available until April 17, 2009. Unfortunately, we can no longer send the completed document to you by FedEx, fax or other means.