Passport & Visa

International Travelers

Requirements to enter Canada
All visitors to Canada (including residents of North America) must have a passport. Please note:

• If you are a U.S. citizen and need to apply for or renew your passport, please visit the United States State Department's website for instructions. Currently, the processing time for routine applications is about four to six weeks. For renewals, the State Department asks travelers to renew their passport approximately nine months before it expires. Canada requires that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will deny boarding if this requirement is not met.
  
  
• U.S. law requires that Americans entering the United States from Canada by air (including those returning by air from short trips to Canada) must have a valid passport. For more passport details, visit the U.S. Department of State's Passports Web page.

To view all Canadian entry requirements, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web page. U.S. citizens and permanent residents do not need a Canadian visa. All other AAIC registrants should review the travel eligibility information.

To find a list of countries and territories that require citizens to have a visa in order to enter Canada as a visitor, please review the Visa and Exemptions information.

Please check with your local Canadian consulate to allow sufficient time for visa processing. Your request for a letter of invitation to attend AAIC 2012 does not guarantee that you will receive a visa.

Transport companies, such as airlines, must ensure you have proper, valid travel documents when you enter Canada. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or denied entrance into the country.

Attendees with a criminal record (including misdemeanors or Driving While Impaired (DWI) charges) may be barred from entering Canada and must obtain a special waiver well in advance of any planned travel. To determine whether you may be inadmissible and need this special waiver to enter, please refer to the Canadian citizenship and immigration website.

Canadian currency (CAD)
Visitors can exchange currency at Canadian chartered banks, trust companies, credit unions or at the offices of foreign exchange brokers, but it is advised to have local currency on hand prior to arriving. Some hotels, merchants, restaurants and suppliers accept other foreign currency at a pre-determined rate, which may differ from the daily rate posted by financial institutions.

Invitation letters
Meeting registrants outside of the United States and Canada will receive an invitation letter by email after their AAIC 2012 registration is complete.