Attending From Overseas

Passport | Visa | Symposium Page | Event Calendar

The QFD Institute Symposia and training programs have welcomed attendees from overseas for many years and we continue to do so for all of our QFD events. In this page, we have summarized the basic travel information to make your preparation easy.

Due to frequent changes in immigration laws, however, we recommend you verify the latest passport and visa information with your local U.S. embassy or consulate. To contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country, please see http://usembassy.state.gov/

Additionally, to aid our international attendees, the QFD Institute may issue an official letter of invitation, upon request, to pre-registered attendees. Please indicate this need at the time of your registration.

Travel Documents

PASSPORT

A valid passport is required to enter the U.S., regardless of your nationality and method of travel. The expiration date on your passport should be at least 6 months later from the last day of the QFD event which you plan to attend.

If you need to apply for a new passport or renew one, we recommend you begin the application process as soon as possible, so you will not have to miss the QFDI event you wish to attend.

VISA

Citizens of the Visa Waiver Program Countries

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

If your passport was issued by one of the 27 Visa Waiver Program countries listed above, you do not need a visa to enter the U.S. However, you must present the following type of Passport at the U.S. port of entry; otherwise, a U.S. visa is required.

Machine-readable passport (MRP) with a bar-code zone if your passport was issued before October 26, 2005; or

Machine-readable passport with a digital photograph if your passport was issued between October 26, 2005 and October 25, 2006; or

'e-Passport' if your passport was issued after October 2006. [Japanese]

For the latest information concerning the Visa Waiver Program, please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0021.shtm

Attendees from Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda: Citizens of the Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda are now required to present a valid passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere. For the latest information about specific requirements that apply to you, please contact your local U.S. embassies and consulates: http://usembassy.state.gov/
Attendees from All Other Countries: Please consult your local U.S. embassy or consulate early to find out what type of a visa and travel documents you will need in order to enter the U.S. to attend a QFD program.

We recommend you begin the application process as soon as possible, so you will not have to miss the QFDI event you wish to attend.

For those who are applying for a visa or having an embassy interview, QFD Institute may issue an official letter of invitation, upon request, when your registration is complete. Please indicate this need at the time of registration. To contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country, please see http://usembassy.state.gov/

Travel Tips for QFD Attendees

Electricity: The U.S. uses 110-120 volts AC, 60 cycles.

If your laptop runs on 220-240 volts, you will need a 110-volt transformer and a plug adapter which fits into two flat parallel pins (photo below).

The shape of U.S. electrical plug has 2 parallel pins and an optional half-round pin. Most laptops need only the 2 parallel pins. We recommend you bring them with you because it is sometimes difficult to find them in the United States.

If your laptop runs on 100 volts, it will probably work fine in the U.S. without a voltage converter, but you may still need a plug adapter.

Internet: The symposium and training venues which QFD Institute selects always have access to high-speed Internet. Some of them offer free access.

Cell Phone: We suggest you check with your mobile phone company whether their service is available in the U.S. cities you plan to visit.

Money & ATM: It is best to exchange foreign money for U.S. dollars before arriving in the U.S., although most businesses in U.S. cities accept credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express. (Exceptions may be small shops and taxis.) Most U.S. banks are open 9 am - 4 pm on weekdays.

ATMs (automated teller machines) are easy to find in most cities and they are typically available for 24 hours. Two most popular networks are Cirrus (www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (www.visa.com). If you are not sure, check with your card bank for ATM locations at your destinations.

Tap Water: Tap water is generally safe to drink in the U.S. The venue hotels which QFD Institute selects for our symposium and training always have potable tap water.

Safety: We make every effort to select hotel venues in a neighborhood that is usually safe for our attendees to walk and enjoy. It is advised, however, you use common sense and precautions as you would in any city. When venturing out in the evening, consult the hotel front desk about safe areas and avoid wandering alone late in the evening.

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