International Travel

Travel to the United States

The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) invites professionals in the blood and biotherapies field from throughout the world to attend our Annual Meeting, which this year will be held Oct. 25-28 in San Diego. Anticipating more than 1,000 Annual Meeting attendees to hail from outside the United States, please find a variety of links below that will help attendees who will be traveling to the United States learn what is required.

Travelers from Visa Waiver Program Countries

Inbound travelers to the United States from Visa Waiver Program countries can locate information on included countries, policies and more by visiting the U.S. Visa Waiver Program homepage.

Travelers from Non-Visa Waiver Program Countries

As some countries may require up to a year to process visa applications, we recommend you make your VISA appointment as soon as possible if you plan to attend the 2025 AABB Annual Meeting.

Attendees traveling from countries that are not part of the Visa Waiver Program, will need to apply for a visa at the American Embassy, Consulate or other visa-issuing office in their country of origin.

Helpful information can be found on the following websites:

• U.S. Department of State - U.S. Visas
• U.S. Department of State - Visitor Visa
• U.S. Embassies, Consulates and Diplomatic Missions - Home page
• The National Academy of Science - International Visitors Office
  (specifically designed for scientists traveling to the US.)

Obtaining a travel visa to attend a meeting in the United States may take longer than usual so we recommend applying for your visa as soon as possible.

U.S. Domestic Travelers

On May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. Please find more information about REAL ID requirements on the DHS website.

Letter of Invitation

A letter of invitation may be required to obtain a visa. A letter of invitation to the 2025 AABB Annual Meeting can be requested by submitting this form. Once submitted, a personalized letter will be emailed to the address provided, which can be printed and/or saved.

Please note that submitting a letter of invitation request is not a guarantee of acceptance or attendance. Submitters must also register for the meeting once registration opens to attend the Annual Meeting. Requesters must also plan to attend at their own expense.

Please contact AABB at meetings@aabb.org if your country requires additional information to be included in the letter of invitation.

Request Letter of Invitation

NEW International Housing for Attendees and Sponsors!

Introducing AABB-IGH: Concierge-Level Housing Service
Whether you're coordinating travel for a group or booking individual rooms, AABB International Group Housing (AABB-IGH) provides all-inclusive, white-glove support tailored to global needs.

IGH Benefits:

• Includes room, breakfast, porterage, taxes, and gratuities.
• Guaranteed lowest official hotel rates - offering name changes.*
• Dedicated multilingual group manager from online to onsite.
• Group billing and master accounts processing for international delegations.
• Secure PCI credit card payment processing and live chat support.
• Exclusive online group management platform allows full control & handling of delegations.
• Assistance with travel visitor visas, CME credit conversions, and official invitation letters.
• Compliant with EU regulations and disclosure requirements.

For more information or to get started, contact info@aabb-igh.org or visit AABB-IGH.org to ensure a seamless, compliant experience.

* Flexible for changes of guest names without penalties up to the date of the event.