Checklist for Travel to the US

Post

In an effort to assist international attendees entering the US, The Psychometric Society is extending the offer to provide letters of invitation to anyone traveling to the US, regardless of whether the letter is required for obtaining a travel visa. All requests for letters of invitation should be submitted via this letter request form.

Travel Documents

The official source for information on travel to the United States is the US Department of State.

  • Passport: Remember to check your passport expiration date! Most countries require that your passport be valid for 6 months AFTER your scheduled return date!
  • Visitors from countries that are not part of the US Visa Waiver Program require a visitor visa.
  • Visitors from countries that are part of the US Visa Waiver Program are required to complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
  • Driver’s License or Other Government Issued Identification
  • Health Insurance Card or Identification: Contact your health insurance provider before traveling to make sure you are covered. Many health insurance policies DO NOT provide coverage outside of the country. Travel medical insurance is available for very low cost through numerous sources.
  • Boarding passes – either a hard copy or a saved image on your mobile device.
  • Consider registering with your embassy in the US.
  • Consider keeping a hard copy of your embassy’s contact information on your body.

NOTE: You should copy or scan the identification pages of your passport prior to traveling. Keep a copy with you, and give a copy to someone you trust at home. This will speed up the replacement process in case your passport is lost or stolen.

NOTE: To minimize delays when clearing customs when entering the United States, it is recommended that you make sure that you declare any items that may cause concern for US Customs and Border Patrol agents. This includes gifts, food items, medications, and currency that is in excess of allowed amounts. If you are not sure, declare the item. Be prepared to answer routine questions regarding your travel plans and destinations. Have your documentation ready to show to the customs officer.

Travel warnings

The US government has recently increased border security, and this has resulted in several recent  reports of individuals traveling to the US being denied entry or detained. Consequently, several countries have issued warnings about traveling to the US, especially for

  • Transgender people
  • People who have expressed negative views of the current US administration
  • People who are nationals of (or have recently visited) countries that the US is currently considering for additional travel bans (see below; source)

 List of proposed travel ban countries

Communications

  • Verify whether your hotel or the conference venue has public Wifi, and know whether Internet access is free or available for an extra cost.
  • Connect ONLY to trusted Wifi connections. These should be published or available from the conference staff, your hotel, or the conference venue.
  • Avoid using open, unsecure Wifi Hotspots.
  • Install a personal firewall and/or VPN on your computer and portable electronic devices.
  • Contact your cellular provider before leaving and make sure that your cellular phone plan allows international use, as well as the costs.
  • Make sure that your phone and computer are secured with a password or PIN.
  • Backup your phone data to the Cloud to make sure that you can access contacts and other important data if your phone is lost or stolen.

Medication

  • If you are taking prescription narcotics or psychotropic drugs, you should have the following:
  • A letter from your doctor stating what medications you are prescribed.
  • A copy of the original prescription.
  • Enough prescription medication to last the entire trip, plus up to 5 days extra in case of delays or loss.
  • Prescription medications should be in the original packaging, with the label attached.
  • You should not mix prescription medications in a single container.

Emergency Contact Information

  • People at home who you would want contacted in the event of an emergency. It is a good idea to keep a copy of this list in your passport in case you are ill, injured or otherwise unable to communicate.
  • Contact information for your hotel or lodging at your destination (it is a good idea to obtain and carry a business card from the hotel or lodging).
  • Keep a printed hard-copy of your passport identification page in your luggage when traveling, and in your hotel room safe when you are at the conference.

Log in

Commands