We look forward to your
participation as an exhibitor in an upcoming show ("Show"). In
order for you to enter the United States to attend a show, however,
it is your responsibility to obtain a visa if the United States
requires it for entry from your country. While the United States is
"import friendly" and encourages business visitors, you must be sure
that you have the required documentation in advance.
Consular officers are under no
obligation to grant a visa application. In fact, if there is any
doubt about the validity of your request, they will refuse you. We
therefore offer the following thoughts and suggestions to assist you
in the process:
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You must apply early. Consular
officers know that trade shows set dates well in advance. A
professional business person would not wait until the last moment
to apply, and hence you lessen your chance of securing a visa if
you apply late. We recommend applying at least 90-120 days prior
to your trip.
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You will need, and we can
provide you, a letter of introduction from us to take with you on
your personal interview. Our letter will confirm your
participation and payment, but we will need to have received your
full deposit payment for exhibit space and your signed Exhibit
Space Agreement. We will also need to include in the letter the
name and address of your company, the booth number(s) assigned to
you, your full name, job title, sex, date of birth, passport
number/personal identification number, date of issue and
expiration, and the number of days you wish to be in the United
States. Also, if possible, the address of the Embassy or Consulate
at which you are applying should be included. (Please note that we
will send our letter to you, not to the
Consular Office where you have scheduled your interview.)
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You will need documentation to
prove that you have a valid reason to visit the U.S. This should
include a copy of your Exhibit Space Agreement signed by both
parties, and an invoice showing you have made your payments. Also,
if available, you should provide records of previous visits abroad
to attend trade shows, particularly visits to U.S-based shows.
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You must be prepared to present
solid reasons why you must and will return to your country after
the show.
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If refused, you can reapply as
many times as you like, but each time you will need to supply more
supporting information than at previous interviews.
We also recommend that you do not
attempt to have too many people from your company apply for visas.
As a rule of thumb, no more than three company employees should
apply for each contracted 10 ft. x 10 ft. (3m x 3m) booth.
Medical Tourism World Fair
Official Policy for Exhibit Space Cancellation due to VISA Denial
According to the Exhibit Space
Agreement issued by Medical Tourism World Fair, if an exhibiting
company cancels participation for any reason after the stated
balance due date, the exhibitor will remain liable for the full
amount of the booth fee. In an effort to accommodate international
exhibitors who are required to have a personal visa to enter the
U.S., Medical Tourism World Fair policy was recently revised.
If a company should be unable to
exhibit due to the denial of a visa to its employee(s), the
following policy applies:
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Refunds and transfers for visa
denial are issued only when all persons from an individual company
are denied their visas. If any person is granted visa approval,
the company will not be issued a refund as they are still able to
participate.
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With a written cancellation
notice to Medical Tourism World Fair of at least forty-five (45)
business days prior to the opening of the Show, 90% of the total
exhibit fee as stated on the exhibit space agreement, will be
either transferred to the next Show or refunded. A 10%
administration fee, is non-refundable, and non-negotiable.
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Official documentation supplied
by the U.S. Embassy at the time of the visa denial must be given
to Medical Tourism World Fair within 10 days of cancellation
notice in order for any transfer or refund to be processed.
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If an exhibitor cancels its
exhibit space less than forty-five (45) business days before the
Show, the exhibitor is liable for the full amount of the exhibit
fee as stated on the Exhibit Space Agreement. No transfers or
refunds will be honored, so please be sure to set the date for
your personal interview with this cancellation policy in mind.
Information from the U.S.
Department of State:
There is no entitlement to a U.S.
visa. The Nationality Act states that applicants are presumed to be
ineligible unless they can demonstrate otherwise. The issuance of a
visa indicates that a U.S. consular officer has reviewed an
individual's application, and that the officer has made a
preliminary determination that the individual is eligible to enter
the country for a specific purpose.
A visa allows a person to travel to
the United States as far as the port of entry – in this case the
airport or the border crossing. Then an immigration inspector makes
the decision whether or not to allow the person into the country.
Only the immigration officer has the authority to allow a person
into the U.S., and it is he/she who decides how long the person can
stay for a particular visit. You should have details of your trip
itinerary with you to show to the immigration officer, especially if
you plan to visit other cities or take a vacation while you are in
the U.S.
All visa applications are
considered individually on their merits. Each applicant must qualify
in his or her own right for a visa, whatever the purpose of the
trip. There are a number of categories of ineligibility, including
terrorists, convicted felons, and persons who pose a health risk.
The most common ground for
ineligibility is that the applicant has failed to show compelling
ties to his or her own country that would overcome the presumption
that he or she is planning to become an immigrant and seek to stay
in the U.S. Proof of family or business in your country may help.
Also proof of regular or past participation by the company and named
individuals in trade shows, such as an exhibitor list, letter from
show management, or contracts and invoices with proof of payment,
will also show that you have made business trips and returned to
your country in the past.
A majority of experienced
businesspersons apply for and receive multi-entry visas. The period
of this type of visa will vary from one to ten years, and is
determined by the reciprocal agreements between the United States
and the specific country. Even if you have a multi-entry visa,
individuals seeking to visit the U.S. must apply for a specific
business visitor visa each trip. Do not assume because you have a
multi-entry visa that you will automatically gain entry to the U.S.
You must contact your U.S. Embassy or Consular office and receive a
trip visa each time you wish to travel to the U.S. The advantage of
having a previously approved multi-entry visa is that, generally,
your request will processed more quickly.
Remember that just because you are
exhibiting in a trade show, you will not automatically gain entry to
the United States.
The U.S. Department of State has
added to its Web site information on visa wait times. To visit this
site, go to:
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php.
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