Thousands of attendees travel to the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting from outside the U.S. to learn, network and exchange ideas. From Nov. 3–8 in San Diego, speakers from more than 30 different countries are scheduled to participate.
The ACR is taking action to maintain diverse attendance in a challenging climate for international travel. New traveler vetting and executive orders under judicial review make travel to the U.S. more complex, says ACR President Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, FACP.
Online Resources for International Travelers
On the ACR website, you will find:
- Updated H-1B visa information and international attendee travel resources;
- A meeting invitation letter from the ACR that attendees may download, personalize and print to be used with visa applications; and
- A link to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine online visa questionnaire. Any attendee experiencing significant visa delays may complete the questionnaire and list “2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting” under “purpose of visit.” The ACR is a member of the National Academies.
The ACR is doing everything it can to alleviate travel snags for international physicians who wish to attend the Annual Meeting, says Dr. Lakhanpal.
“The world has become very small due to advances in technology and transportation. It is very important for rheumatologists to come together and learn from each other, so we can provide better care for our patients around the world, and learn what others are doing,” Dr. Lakhanpal says. “The ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting is the largest and most well attended of all rheumatology meetings in the world. It’s like a mini U.N. of rheumatology. The personal connections we make at the meeting cannot be duplicated with technology.”
Advocacy as Support
Advocacy is another channel for the ACR to support rheumatologists and fellows from outside the U.S. who wish to travel or work here, says Dr. Lakhanpal. On May 18, the ACR sent a letter to the U.S. State Department regarding visa applications and collection of information from applicants, a program now under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In the letter, the ACR requests exemptions for physicians and scientists traveling to the U.S. for professional meetings and research. ACR leaders also recently met with more than 100 lawmakers to urge support for the Conrad State 30 & Physician Access Act, which would allow U.S.-trained international doctors to remain here if they practice in underserved areas. The ACR also introduced resolution language, which was subsequently passed, at the recent AMA House of Delegates Annual Meeting, directing the AMA to work to ensure physicians can efficiently utilize H-1B visas, helping shore up the rheumatology workforce in rural and underserved areas.
Additional ACR Support & Resources
The ACR has taken steps to promote international attendance at the meeting, but it also wants to support the education and contributions of rheumatologists worldwide; therefore, it now offers the following resources:
- Free registration to fellows in training from developing countries (as determined by the World Bank);
- An updated online education platform in conjunction with the 2017 Annual Meeting; and
- A new social media hashtag, #GlobalRheum, to highlight advances in research and patient care from the global rheumatology community.
“I implore people to make a special effort to come to the Annual Meeting this year, to prove that the exchange of science and knowledge is important,” says Dr. Lakhanpal. “We want to maintain our diversity. We need to make it a point to prove to people that artificial barriers will not block the advancement of science and knowledge. The ACR feels a responsibility to develop an international platform for medical education.”
Guest speakers and educational sessions at the 2017 meeting will appeal to a broad, global audience, he says. Keynote speaker Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), will address border-crossing pathogens, such as Zika and chikungunya, affecting patients seen by rheumatologists in many regions. The international rheumatology leagues, AFLAR, PANLAR and APLAR will hold sessions in San Diego.
Apply for necessary visas at least four months prior to travel departure, Dr. Lakhanpal says. Visa requirements have changed, so check the ACR website for information.
Travel Tips & Info
Here are some practical tips and information for international travel to the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting:
- All U.S. Visa Waiver Program visitors must now have an e-passport with an embedded electronic chip.
- It is mandatory for anyone traveling under the Visa Waiver Program to submit an application via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA is not a visa. Visitors traveling on valid visas are not required to apply through ESTA.
- ESTA applications must be submitted at least three days before departure. Once approved, the ESTA is valid for two years or until a traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first. It allows for multiple trips to the U.S. without reapplying for a new ESTA each time. Visa Waiver Program visitors are no longer required to complete the I-94W green card.
- Passports must be valid for at least six months after planned departure from the U.S., with some country-specific exemptions.
The ACR will refund registration fees if requested by October 20, 2017, if visa is not approved. For more information on registration or international travel to the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego, visit the meeting website.
Susan Bernstein is a freelance journalist based in Atlanta.
