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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 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.
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Travel Documents you will
need ..
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.
If you are a citizen of a Visa
Waiver Program Country
If your passport was issued by one of 34
countries listed listed here (Visa Waiver Countries), you do not need a visa to
enter the USA for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less.
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However, in order to attend QFDI events
without a visa:
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You must register online and
receive the
Electronic
System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) at least 72 hours
before you begin travel to the USA.
This is a new rule as of January
2009; the ESTA replaces the paper forms that used to be filled
out in flight or at the airport.
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You must present
an e-Passport or Machine-readable Passport
at the U.S. port of entry.
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You must have round-trip air
tickets and arrive aboard an air
carrier signatory to Visa Waiver country program (example: EU,
US, Japanese airlines).
For the latest information concerning the Visa
Waiver Program, please visit:
http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0021.shtm
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Visa Waiver
Countries
(as of Jan.
09)
Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Republic of Korea
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Monaco
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom |
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If you are a citizen of 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/
If you are a citizen of 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/
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Travel Tips
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).
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.
Mobile 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.
Drinking 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. Bottled water is
readily available in hotels and shops.
Safety
We make every effort to select
hotel venues in a neighbor-hood 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.
Weather
Weather in the US varies greatly, depending on
the region. Please refer to the Venue and Travel information of the program
you are attending and pack clothing accordingly.
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