Airport

Boston is serviced by the Boston Logan International Airport (www.massport.com ). Public transportation to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) and a number of the official hotels is available from Logan Airport via the “Silver Line” and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, locally known as the “T”. For more information on transportation to and from Logan Airport click here. One way Silver Line and “T” fare is $2.00.

Public Transportation to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center

From Logan Airport: Take the Sliver Line Bus SL1 (MBTA) from any airport terminal. Exit at the World Trade Center stop, and take the elevator up to Level 2.
Take a left onto World Trade Center Ave, and the BCEC will be directly in front of you. One way Silver Line fare is $2.00.

From Amtrak:  Exit at the South Station stop, and take the escalators downstairs to the Silver Line Bus SL1 or SL2 (MBTA). Exit at the World Trade Center stop, and take the elevator up to Level 2.
Take a left onto World Trade Center Ave, and the BCEC will be directly in front of you.

For more information visit: www.massport.com

Shuttle Bus Service

The ICAAC Courtesy Shuttle will operate Saturday, September 11 (11am) – Wednesday, September 15 (12pm), 2010. Please reference the shuttle schedule for hotel route numbers and hours of service. An updated and final schedule will be published in the Final Program and placed in each hotel.

Taxi Service

24-hour dependable service is available to and from all destinations. Taxi cabs are also easily accessible at the Convention Center, major hotels, and other downtown locations.

Automobile Rental

Avis Rent-A-Car

Avis Rent-A-Car has extended special rates to ASM attendees. US attendees can contact Avis at 800-331-1084 and provide the code J947942. International attendees may call 918-664-4600. Automobiles may also be reserved on-line at www.avis.com.

Airline Discounts

Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer the following special benefits for attendees traveling to and from Boston. A global route network, there are discounts on all fares. The program includes a competitive frequent flier program. And now you can make your travel arrangements through a friendly person-to-person reservation service. Call Delta Meeting Network reservations at 1-800-328-1111, Monday through Friday, 7:00 am - 7:00 pm central time. Refer to the special code: NM4X3

International Travelers

New Security Measures
The United States has recently adopted new security measures at airports and seaports designed to protect the safety of U.S. citizens and international visitors. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security promises that these new measures will be quick and efficient, requiring no more than seconds in most cases. For more information, visit here.

Temporary International Visitor Requirements
The American Society for Microbiology invites and welcomes scientists from every part of the world to attend and participate in ICAAC.

A valid passport issued by the visitor's home government is required to enter and leave the United States. Passports should be obtained in the visitor's home country.

In addition, visitors of many countries will need a visa. Nonimmigrant visas are for international travelers, (citizens of other countries), coming to the U.S. temporarily for a wide variety of reasons, including tourism, business, medical treatment and certain types of temporary work. While in the U.S., temporary visitors are restricted to the activity or reason for which their nonimmigrant visa was issued, with few exceptions. Please allow ample time for visa processing, as the application process can take several months in some countries.

Visa Information
To obtain a visa and enter the United States, you must begin by completing an application form, DS-156 (http://evisaforms.state.gov.) Contact the U.S. Embassy in your country (http://www.usembassy.gov/) to make an appointment. Take your application, passport, a photograph, and supporting documents to the embassy or consulate, where you will be interviewed about the purpose of your visit. The Consular Officer at your embassy or consulate will decide what kind of visa you need, when you apply. The visa allows you to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry where an official will again look at your travel documents before granting you permission to enter the country. To find out if you need a Visa, or for more information on the application process, visit here.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
U.S. visa policy permits citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa. Currently 35 countries qualify for the VWP. The foreign national must be coming from an eligible country, staying no more than 90 days, for pleasure/medical purposes, and able to prove they are not inadmissible. The foreign national is still required to have a passport. For more information, visit here.

Italian Agents
The American Society for Microbiology has appointed Pandani Viaggi S.R.L, Milan, to collect, on our behalf, all applications from Italian pharmaceutical companies and to file them with the appropriate Italian Health Ministry officials.

For further information, please contact:

PANDANI VIAGGI S.r.l.
Via Fara, 13 20124 Milano - Italy
Tel. +39 02.6693007
Fax +39 02.66716063
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.pandaniviaggi.it

Letter of Invitation
Should you need a Letter of Invitation for your Visa application, please fill out this interactive form .

Arriving in the U.S.
On the airplane, you will be asked to complete a short arrival/departure form. You will need your visa and/or passport handy. You will need to present your visa and/or passport at the port of entry in the United States. Most often that port of entry will be the airport where you land.

When you deplane, follow signs for non-citizen entry. At that location, a Department of Homeland Security official will interview you and verify all of your paperwork. Under the US-VISIT Program of the Department of Homeland Security, most people arriving in the U.S. will submit to a finger scan of the two index fingers and a photograph. Once admitted, you will receive an immigration stamp and proceed to baggage claim and customs. For information about arriving in the U.S., including arriving by land or sea, see US-VISIT.

Upon arrival in the U.S., certain foreign citizens are required to register under Special Registration, which is the National Security Entry Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program. Registration under NSEERS is a distinct process from US-VISIT.