International Visitors

The International Plant and Animal Genome conference welcomes visitors from over 61 countries each year. Below are resources we have compiled to help make your travel and meeting experience as convenient as possible.

Apply Early For Your Visa

We recommend first visiting the U.S. Department of State Newsroom web page for for information about the current status of visa services and visa restrictions related to the COVID-19 global pandemic

If you are traveling to PAG from outside the USA, advance planning and early visa application is crucial. Applying for a visa can be a lengthy process. We recommend that you start as early as possible (at least 6 months in advance) and do not wait for your abstract acceptance.  We cannot stress enough, how important it is to start this process early.

Requirements vary by passport-issuing country and citizenship (not just residency) and are constantly subject to change, in this era of COVID-19. For the most current requirements and those specific to your situation, please check with your local U.S. consulate or embassy or the U.S. Department of State Website.

Please remember that the visa decision is made by the U.S. Embassy (consular/visa section) in the country in which the person wishing to travel to the PAG meeting, is traveling FROM. (i.e., is currently working). For example, a citizen of India working in a lab in the United Kingdom needs to go to the U.S. Embassy in London.  Please see links at the right for more information.

If you are initially rejected, you are advised to request a copy of the reason for the rejection in writing, and obtain the name and title of the person in charge of the visa process at that embassy. Please send this information with a request for further assistance to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we may be able help you.

Letter of Invitation

The Organizing Committee is offering assistance should you need a Letter of Invitation to facilitate the visa application process, or obtain authorization for your attendance of the conference. At this time, we are waiving the requirement that you pre-register for the PAG meeting before we can send your letter. Please request a Letter of Invitation at least four (4) months prior to the meeting — six (6) months is preferred. 

Please note that we have changed our policy regarding Letters of Invitation, and they will be sent via EMAIL ONLY. A hard copy of the letter will not be mailed to you. According to the U.S. State Department, an electronic letter should be acceptable for visa purposes. In the rare case where the U.S. Embassy to which you are submitting your visa insists on having a hard copy letter, we can mail a hard copy of the letter.

NOTE: We are no longer sending Letters of Invitation for PAG 30, as we do not expect a candidate can schedule a visa appointment in time. If you need other assistance please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Interviews

Some, but not all visa applicants must have an interview. Attendees from some countries, such as Mexico, must schedule an interview with their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

It is advised that you provide the following information at your interview:

• Your entire trip itinerary, including travel to any countries other than the United States. (If completion of travel plans is contingent upon early approval of the visa application, specify this at the time of the application.)
• Proof of scientific status.
• Meeting brochure and Letter of Invitation.
  
• Evidence that you are intending to return to your country of residence.
  This includes items such as:
  1. Family ties in current country of residence.
  2. Property ownership.
  3. A bank account.
  4. An employment contract or statement from employer showing that position will continue after the dates of the meeting.

Some consulates may have backlogs in scheduling visa interviews so applicants should first contact the consulate to find out how long the wait is for an interview.