International Attendees – ISHI News

International Attendees

In 2023, we welcomed many international attendees representing 40+ different countries from all over the globe. We greatly value our international attendees, and would be happy to assist with obtaining a Nonimmigrant Visa, in the event that one is needed.

Planning your travel and Visa needs in advance is very important as Visa applications may be subject to greater scrutiny than in previous years. Citizens of countries who participate in the Visa Waiver Program generally do not need a letter of invitation, however, we will gladly provide a letter should you desire one. For more information regarding the Visa Waiver Program, go to the U.S. Department of State website.

The Visa application process may be lengthy, so if you determine that you need to apply for a Nonimmigrant VISA, we recommend requesting a letter of invitation as soon as you’ve decided to attend.

 

Please see the links below for additional resources about the Visa application process:

Travel Planning:

The 35th International Symposium on Human Identification kicks off with the Welcome Reception on Monday evening, September 23, 2024 and the General Sessions talks will conclude mid-day on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Optional workshops will be held Sunday, September 21, Monday, September 22, and Thursday afternoon, September 26. You may want to consider extending your stay to enjoy some of the area attractions.

 

Currency Conversion:

 

Be sure that you are aware of the current currency conversion rate. A currency converter calculator is available here.

 

Mobile Phones and Internet Access:

 

Did you know that you could use your mobile phone abroad without the roaming charges? If you’d like to save some charges on your phone bill, consider purchasing a local pre-paid SIM card or a pre-paid Global SIM card. Global SIM cards allow you to travel to multiple countries, on different networks, on a single SIM card. Determine which type of SIM card you’ll need.. To purchase a SIM card, we recommend these websites:

One more important note – check whether or not your mobile phone is locked to a particular network before leaving your home country. If so, you’ll need to make arrangements with your network to be able to activate and use an international pre-paid SIM card upon arrival.

There will be Wi-Fi available at the Hyatt Regency and Colorado Convention Center. To avoid all international charges, there are a couple of apps that we recommend to use to keep in touch with family or colleagues back home.

  • Skype – Use this app to make calls and receive messages. Additional minutes can be purchased to use when making calls.
  • Whatsapp – This app will allow you to send and receive text, picture, and video messages on your mobile device for free.

 

Travel Tips:

 

If you are traveling internationally (including Canada and Mexico), you will be required to present a valid machine-readable passport at the U.S. port of entry to enter the U.S. Be sure to check your passport expiration date well in advance of your travel to ensure you have ample time to get the documents you’ll need. Please note – your passport must be valid for 6 months from your day of arrival. More details on travel into the United States are available here. Additional information on travelling to the United States (including some items you may not have considered) can be found on the sites below: