International participants traveling to Berkeley, California, for the SA3CC Meeting should verify the current entry requirements for the United States based on their nationality, passport, and individual circumstances.

Travelers coming to the United States to attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business meeting or conference may generally travel using a B-1 or B-1/B-2 visitor visa, or, if eligible, through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with an approved ESTA.

Important: The United States introduced additional visa restrictions and visa-bond requirements affecting nationals of certain countries in 2025 and 2026. Participants from the countries listed below should carefully review the applicable U.S. Department of State requirements before making travel arrangements.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and ESTA

Citizens or nationals of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program may be able to travel to the United States for business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

Eligible travelers must obtain an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before traveling.

Official ESTA application:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Current Visa Waiver Program countries include:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Travelers should verify their individual eligibility before relying on the Visa Waiver Program. Previous travel to certain countries, dual nationality, and other circumstances can affect ESTA eligibility.

Special U.S. Visa Restrictions

Effective January 1, 2026, the United States suspended or restricted visa issuance for nationals of a number of countries under Presidential Proclamation 10998.

Countries Subject to Full Visa Issuance Suspension

Visa issuance is currently fully suspended for most immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories, including B-1/B-2 visitor visas, for nationals of:

Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

The restrictions also apply to individuals applying using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.

Limited exceptions may apply, including certain diplomatic or official travel, qualifying dual nationals traveling on a passport from a country not subject to the suspension, lawful permanent residents, and certain other categories identified by the U.S. government.

Countries Subject to B-1/B-2 Visa Issuance Restrictions

For nationals of the following countries, issuance of B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as certain student and exchange visitor visas, is currently suspended subject to limited exceptions:

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Because attendance at the SA3CC Meeting would normally fall under B-1 business visitor activities, participants holding passports from these countries should review the current Department of State restrictions before beginning an application.

Official U.S. Department of State information:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-visa-issuance-to-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states.html

Countries Subject to Visa Bonds

The U.S. Department of State currently requires certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants who are nationals of designated countries to post a visa bond if otherwise found eligible for a visa.

As of May 2026, the designated countries are:

Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Important: Applicants should not pay a visa bond unless specifically instructed to do so by a U.S. consular officer. Being a national of a listed country does not mean that an applicant should independently purchase or submit a bond before their visa interview.

Some countries appear on both the visa-bond list and the B-1/B-2 visa-restriction list. Participants from these countries should consult the latest U.S. Department of State guidance because visa issuance restrictions may affect their ability to obtain a B-1/B-2 visa regardless of the bond requirement.

Official visa bond information:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/countries-subject-to-visa-bonds.html

Temporary Changes to Visa Services

Visa processing locations and appointment availability may also change.

As of 2026, the Department of State has realigned routine visa services from several U.S. diplomatic posts in Africa to regional visa-processing hubs. Applicants from affected countries may therefore be required to apply at a designated U.S. Embassy or Consulate in another country.

In addition, visa operations may occasionally be temporarily suspended at particular U.S. Embassies or Consulates.

Applicants should verify where they are required to apply before paying fees or scheduling travel.

B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa

Participants who are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program and are not affected by a visa issuance suspension will generally need to apply for a B-1 or B-1/B-2 visitor visa.

The U.S. Department of State permits B-1 business visitors to participate in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions, conferences, or seminars.

The current application fee for a B visitor visa is $185 USD.

Documents and Information Needed

Requirements may vary by applicant and by U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Applicants may generally need:

• A valid passport
• Completed DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
• DS-160 confirmation page
• Visa application fee payment receipt, when required
• Photograph meeting U.S. visa requirements
• Documentation explaining the purpose of the trip
• Evidence of the applicant’s intention to depart the United States after the visit
• Evidence that travel expenses can be covered
• SA3CC Meeting invitation letter, if applicable

Additional documents may be requested by the consular officer.

How to Apply

Step 1: Complete the DS-160 application

Complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application and save the confirmation page.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html

Step 2: Pay the visa application fee

The application fee for a B visitor visa is currently $185 USD. Additional fees may apply depending on nationality and circumstances.

Step 3: Schedule a visa appointment

Nonimmigrant visa applicants should generally schedule their interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence, or at the designated processing location specified by the Department of State.

Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate:
https://www.usembassy.gov/

Step 4: Attend the visa interview

Applicants should bring all required documentation. A consular officer may request additional information regarding the purpose of the trip, financial resources, employment or academic ties, and the applicant’s intention to depart the United States following the meeting.

Invitation Letter

International attendees who require documentation supporting their visa application may request an official SA3CC Meeting invitation letter from the meeting organizers. Please email vchergar@fiu.edu

The invitation letter may be used to confirm the purpose of travel and participation in the SA3CC Meeting.

Please note: An invitation letter does not guarantee visa approval. Visa eligibility and issuance decisions are made solely by the U.S. Department of State.

Apply Early and Check Current Requirements

International participants are strongly encouraged to begin reviewing their entry requirements as early as possible.

U.S. visa policies, country-specific restrictions, visa-bond requirements, appointment availability, and processing locations may change. Participants should check the official U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy or Consulate websites before applying and again before traveling.

Visa appointment wait times:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-times.html

To assist you during your stay, we have compiled a guide to the neighborhood surrounding your accommodations. Staying near the Residence Inn by Marriott on Shattuck Avenue puts you within a 5-minute walk of numerous dining options and local attractions, as well as the primary transit link to the laboratory.

Below is an overview of nearby spots, including estimated costs per person and direct navigation links.

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The locations featured in this guide are situated on a flat grid, making them easily navigable on foot.

To commute to your daily sessions at the lab, you can board the free LBNL Shuttle (Blue Line). The shuttle stops directly outside the Downtown Berkeley BART station, which is less than a 2-minute walk from the Residence Inn entrance. This shuttle drops off directly at the main laboratory buildings on the hill.