Information for International Attendees

The 68th ASH Annual Meeting will be held virtually and in person at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, December 12-15, 2026.

ASH values the participation of its international attendees and is committed to making the ASH annual meeting accessible to all. With flexible registration options tailored to varying schedules, travel needs, and access preferences, ASH ensures a seamless experience — whether attending in person or virtually — at the world’s leading hematology event.

The ASH community boosts my spirits as a hematologist and provides me with invaluable insight into my daily practice.

Charlotte Niemeyer

ASH international member from Germany

Visa Application Process

If you are not a U.S. citizen and are planning to attend the ASH annual meeting in person, advance planning is critical.

Citizens of some foreign countries will need a visa to enter the United States and attend the ASH annual meeting. Because of U.S. State Department regulations, U.S. embassies and consulates may require a face-to-face interview for most nonimmigrant visa applications. ASH recommends the following steps when going through the visa application process:

Step 1: Schedule Your Interview

There is no required documentation to schedule your face-to-face visa interview; you do not need to be registered, have a hotel reservation, or have a travel itinerary to make an appointment. ASH strongly suggests that all international travelers schedule face-to-face interviews as soon as possible.

Please note: While travelers should schedule their appointment as soon as possible, the appointment itself should take place after registering for the annual meeting. For registration dates, please refer to the annual meeting key dates found on the annual meeting landing page.

To schedule an interview for the visa application process, please contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. For more information, please visit Travel.State.Gov. For current visa wait times, please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-times.html.

Step 2: Register for the Meeting

Before the scheduled visa appointment date, international travelers must register for the annual meeting. For registration dates, please refer to the annual meeting key dates found on the annual meeting landing page.

Step 3: Request an Invitation Letter From ASH

To request an invitation letter from ASH for a visa application, international travelers must first register and pay in full for the meeting. To obtain a visa invitation letter, have your registration confirmation number available and visit the visa link in your registration confirmation email.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact ashregistration@spargoinc.com.

Step 4: Attend the Visa Interview

With all required materials in hand, attend your visa interview as part of the visa application process.

Visa Waiver Program and ESTA Authorization

Effective January 20, 2010, citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program may be unable to enter the U.S. without Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval from the U.S. government.

For information on participating countries and to apply for ESTA authorization, please visit the ESTA website.