Due to new rules regarding the entrance of international visitors into the United States, it is important that you understand the following:

If you require a visa to enter the United States and would like to receive an invitation letter from the International Home + Housewares Show to assist in this process, please follow the steps below:

 

1. Register to attend the Show by selecting, “Register for Badges” found in the navigation menu at left.
2. At the end of the registration process, select the "Visa Invitation Letter Request" link and complete the brief online request form. This link will also appear in your badge registration confirmation email after you register.
3. A personalized invitation letter will then be automatically sent to the e-mail address supplied.

If you do not require a visa and plan to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program* (VWP), please note the following:

Nationals of the below listed countries are able to travel without a visa for tourist and business travel of 90 days or less provided they possess a biometric passport and register on-line through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Review the Visa Waiver Program quick reference handout, as well as this webpage to learn more about VWP travel.

Since January 12, 2009, all nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries are required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States under the VWP. This authorization may be obtained online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA™), an Internet application administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a U.S. government Web site.

Eligible visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP may apply for travel authorization via the ESTA™ Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established Web sites, which charge visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP, for information about ESTA™ and for submitting ESTA™ applications to DHS on behalf of the traveler. These businesses and Web sites are not endorsed by, associated with, or affiliated in any way with DHS or the United States Government. Use of a private service to apply for travel authorization via ESTA™ will not expedite the granting of approval.

The ESTA™ application Web site is available in 22 languages and includes a help section that provides additional information for VWP travelers to guide them through the application process. Additional information about ESTA™ may be found at http://www.cbp.gov/esta.

NOTE: Any traveler without a machine-readable passport will be required to obtain a visa before coming to the United States.

Visa Waiver Program Countries
There are currently 36 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program:

  • Andorra
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Brunei
  • Czech Republic 
  • Denmark
  • Estonia 
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary 
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Korea, Republic of
  • Latvia 
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania 
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia 
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom

Additional information about United States Visa Requirements can be found on the US Department of State website at:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html, http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html