International Attendees

International attendees who require a U.S. visa to attend qBio19 should apply for a B-1 (Business Visitor) nonimmigrant visa. Conference attendance, including presenting research, falls under the B-1 category. We strongly encourage applicants to begin the visa process as early as possible, and no later than three months before the conference.

How to Request an Invitation Letter

The qBio19 Organizing Committee will issue official invitation letters to registered attendees who require one for their visa application. To request a letter:

●      Complete your conference registration and ensure payment is confirmed.

●      Email your request to annisa@uchicago.edu with the subject line: Visa Invitation Letter Request — qBio19.

●      Include the information listed below in your email.

●      Allow 5–7 business days for your letter to be prepared and sent as a PDF.

Information Required in Your Request

Please include the following in your email:

●      Full legal name (exactly as it appears on your passport)

●      Date of birth

●      Nationality

●      Passport number and expiration date

●      Expected date of arrival in the United States

●      Expected date of departure from the United States

●      Institutional affiliation and title

Please Note

Invitation letters are issued only to confirmed registered attendees. The qBio19 Organizing Committee is not able to contact U.S. embassies or consulates on behalf of individual applicants, and cannot intervene in visa decisions. The letter is a supporting document only — visa approval remains at the discretion of the consular officer.

If you have questions about the visa process, please consult the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence, or visit travel.state.gov.