What is required to travel to Puerto Rico?
U.S. CITIZENS:
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States of America. A U.S. passport is not required to enter Puerto Rico. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens. As of May 7, 2025, travelers will need to have a REAL ID-compliant identification, like a driver’s license or other state identification.
NON-U.S. CITIZENS:
Puerto Rico follows the same entry rules as the mainland U.S. Travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries can visit for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your trip. Always double-check with the U.S. embassy or consulate before you travel. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html
General VISA Information for ICES Conferences hosted in the United States
For information about the U.S. visa application process, current membership requirements, and updates on recent developments, visit the U.S. Department of State: https://www.state.gov/travel/
Letter of Invitation
International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) can provide an official letter of invitation to include with a visa application for any individual participating in an ICES event that falls under one or more of the following categories:
- Author – primary or co-author of a paper* to be presented at the conference *(We are only able to issue a letter of invitation to an author after a draft manuscript has been submitted. We cannot supply a letter based on an abstract alone.)
- Session Organizer – session chair or co-chair for an ICES Technical Session
- ICES Student Poster Competition Participant – primary or co-author of the annual student poster competition that takes place at the annual conference.
Contact the ICES Steering Committee directly at info@ices.space to request an Invitation.
International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) meetings and events are open to persons who pay the requisite registration fee. ICES is not able to provide financial support to meeting or event participants. Airfare, ground transportation, hotel, meals, travel insurance, and any other meeting or event related expenses are the responsibility of each participant.
If you need to apply for a temporary non-immigrant visa to attend an ICES meeting or event in the United States, you are advised to apply for your visa as soon as possible. If you require a visa to attend an ICES meeting or event outside the United States, please refer to the visa rules of the host country to determine the applicable visa requirements and the suggested timeframe for submitting your visa application. You can submit ICES meeting or event information, such as the name, dates, location, and purpose of the meeting or event, with your visa application.
ICES cannot intervene with, or call or send personal letters to, the State Departments, Embassies or Consulates of the United States or other government on behalf of any meeting or event participant. However, once you have registered for the ICES meeting or event, ICES will provide you with a registration confirmation that you can use for your visa application or interview.
U.S. visa information, including required documentation and fees, can be found on the U.S. Department of State’s website at https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html
