Dear Colleagues, Please see below for an update from ICANN on the visa situation for Argentina. Best regards, Byron From: David Olive [mailto:david.olive@icann.org] Sent: June 9, 2015 7:57 AM To: Byron Holland; thomas.schneider@bakom.admin.ch; jonathan.robinson@ipracon.com; axel.pawlik@ripe.net; louie@louie.net; patrik@frobbit.se; tsinha@umd.edu; liman@netnod.se; alan.greenberg@mcgill.ca; tonyarholmes@btinternet.com; Elisa Cooper; gregshatanipc@gmail.com; Rafik Dammak; william.drake@uzh.ch; rudi.vansnick@isoc.be; Michele@blacknight.com; kdrazek@Verisign.com; gbruen@knujon.com; hilaliaziz@yahoo.fr; siranush_vardanyan@hotmail.com; alberto@soto.net.ar; wolf.ludwig@comunica-ch.net Cc: Global Leadership; Robert Hoggarth; Duncan Burns; Nick Tomasso; Diane Schroeder Subject: ICANN53 - Update on the Current Visa Situation Dear Community Leaders: As we all prepare for ICANN53, we wanted to provide you with an update on the current visa situation. Obtaining visas for ICANN meeting participants remains a challenge. There are government requirements imposed on us all and these are ever changing. Many are involved in efforts to resolve the issues - the meetings team in suggesting locations, the local host in accepting to host an ICANN meeting, the GAC representative from the country where the meeting is taking place, and Constituency Travel in preparing information. And each time we learn more and prepare as best we can in advance of the ICANN meeting. For Buenos Aires, we have been experiencing a greater than usual number of delays. ICANN staff in the region as well as community travel staff continue to work daily with those Community members who have not yet received their visas. We have reconfirmed recently that communications have been sent to the embassies/consulates regarding their questions. Many individuals have interviews scheduled this week so we hope that we will see most visas issued that have been requested to attend ICANN53. Of the 244 ICANN-funded Community travelers, nine will not be able to obtain a visa, mainly due to embassies in certain countries imposing very stringent visa application processes. Many other Community members -- about 26 -- have confirmed that they are having their interviews with the embassies/consulates this week, so we are waiting for them to confirm soon whether they will be able to attend ICANN53. While we would like to make sure that all Community members wishing to attend the ICANN meeting in person are able to do so, the visa challenges will remain. We are committed to continue our best efforts in cooperation with our local hosts and government representatives to ensure timely visa application processes with as few delays as possible. Finally, we also note that ICANN continues to make sure that remote participation is available for those who are unable for whatever reason to make an ICANN meeting (See ICANN 53 http://meetings.icann.org/remote-participation). Best regards, David David A. Olive Vice President, Policy Development Support General Manager, ICANN Regional Headquarters -Istanbul Hakki Yeten Cad. Selenium Plaza No:10/C K:10 34349 Fulya, Besiktas, Istanbul Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Direct Line: +90.212.999.6212 Mobile: + 1. 202.341.3611 Mobile: +90.533.341.6550 Email: david.olive@icann.org<mailto:david.olive@icann.org> www.icann.org<http://www.icann.org>