Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum

If you will be travelling to the United States to attend APEC, you may require a visa depending on your purpose of travel and citizenship.

Those who do require a visa are advised to apply early to ensure there is sufficient processing time. While our standard processing time in Sydney is 2-3 business days, some applications may require additional administrative processing, which can take up to 30 days.

Expedited appointments will be available for APEC visitors, and all applications will be processed as expeditiously as possible.

Please read below to determine which visas is most appropriate for you.

Government Officials

If you will be attending APEC on behalf of a foreign government, you must have a visa in the appropriate classification. Representatives of the Australian federal government will either need an A1 or A2 visa. Attendees representing a state government must apply for a B1 visa, unless they are eligible to travel to the United States on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Additionally, individuals who work for a foreign government but who will not perform official duties in the United States during APEC should not apply for an A1 or A2 visa, nor should they travel on an existing A1 or A2 visa. These individuals should apply for a B1 visa, unless they are eligible to enter the United States on the VWP.

For information on how to apply for an official or diplomatic visa, please click on the following link: http://canberra.usembassy.gov/diplomat-visa.html

Also, please contact us at SydneyOfficials@state.gov if you require clarification. In the subject line of your message be sure to include 'APEC'.

Media

If you will attend APEC as a member of the media, you will need to ensure that you have a valid media visa (I visa) prior to travel. More information regarding the media visa is available at the following link: http://canberra.usembassy.gov/media-visa.html

Other

If you plan to attend APEC as a member of the private sector, you will need to apply for a B1/B2 Business/Tourism visa unless you are eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). In order to travel on the VWP all individuals must register online with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). For more information regarding the VWP and ESTA please visit the following link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

If your attendance at APEC will be fully or partially funded by the Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) you will need to apply for the J1 cultural exchange visa. This visa requires a DS-2019 to be issued by the sponsor, please contact us directly for more information.

APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

U.S. law does not allow for acceptance of the ABTC in lieu of a visa. Therefore, ABTC holders will need to apply for an appropriate visa.

The following link provides more information on the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) and how it can be used: http://www.apec.org/apec/business_resources/apec_business_travel0.html

Contact Us

For all APEC related inquiries, please contact us at SydneyOfficials@state.gov and include 'APEC' in the subject line.

If you need an expedited appointment, please first schedule an appointment through our online VisaPoint system, then contact us at the email address above to request that the appointment be expedited.