ISA Annual Convention 2011 Blog

Before You Leave

Here is a list of helpful tips to check off before you leave for Montreal:

• Travel: Ensure that your travel plans are in order including: passport, travel visa (if required), hotel guest room reservation (and confirmation number) and plane tickets (boarding passes)
• Weather: ISA panels/events are occurring in 3 different hotels (the Sheraton, Fairmont and Marriott), within a 4-5 minute walk of each other - we recommend you check the weather prior to departure
• ISA Registration: Review your Convention Registration to ensure that ISA has received your registration information and fee
• Coordinate with Panel: Be sure to coordinate with your panel chair about presentation length and ensure that the panel discussant(s) has received your paper (contact information for your panel(s) can be obtained from the detail tab to the left of your panels in the My Program area of MyISA)
• Upload Paper: To ISA Paper Archive no later than 1 week prior to your scheduled panel(s)
• Flashdrive: Be sure to bring your presentation (Windows compatible) on a flashdrive for your panel session (PDF or Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 ONLY, a Windows netbook is set up on-site in each panel room)
• Revisit Online Program: To check for any last minute panel/meeting changes to the program and take advantage of MyISA's option to search and build your own program schedules

Visa Requirements

For everyone attending ISA's 2011 Annual Convention in Montreal, please be aware that conference participants from particular countries are required to have a Visa to enter Canada. Click the link below to access a list of countries that require a Visa. If you require a Visa, please apply for a Tourist Visa. If you need a letter  from ISA, please let us know as soon as possible and we will be happy to assist you.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Travel Grant Deadline Reminder

The travel grant application process for the ISA 2011 Annual Convention end tomorrow. The ISA travel grant program has been created to allow junior scholars and senior graduate students some assistance to enable them to attend conferences that would otherwise be out of reach. Therefore, all of these grants will be awarded to junior scholars and senior graduate students. There is only a relatively small budget set aside for this travel grant. Any grants awarded are considered to be "seed" support of a limited amount and will only assist in funding a limited part of the entire cost of attendance. Travel grants are available only for ISA members. If you are not an ISA member you may still apply, your membership fee will be deducted from your grant.You may use the MyISA system to apply. Applications are due by September 9, 2010. The online application system will close at 12 PM PST. Applicants will be notified about their award status on Oct. 11th. Please see the grant guidelines for more information.

U.S. Imposes New Travel Fees

Those of you planning to travel to the U.S. before or after the ISA Annual Convention, please note that starting Sept. 8, U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to begin collecting, through the newly established Electronic System for Travel Authorization, a $14 fee once every two years from travelers entering the United States from visa-waiver countries. The fees will fund a new federal tourism bureau established this year by the Travel Promotion Act. See the ESTA website for more information on how to apply to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program.