Travel arrangements for accepted participants in this workshop

Dear All,

Please find below further information relating to the travel arrangements for the British Council funded Educational dialogue and transformative learning in STEM subjects workshop on 9^th – 13^th February 2015.   Please read the information below carefully.  

Flights

If you have not done so already please ensure that you book your flights as soon as possible.   UK Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.  Participants should contact the University of Hull’s travel agent Good Travel Management - http://www.good-travel.co.uk/ - to make arrangements.  Alternatively, participants can book flights themselves and claim reasonable costs back.   For participants who choose to book their own flights and claim the cost back, the necessary expenditure form is attached to this email and should be completed and returned to Anna Hodgson as soon as possible – A.S.Hodgson@hull.ac.uk.   Please note that only economic fares (not first class) will be reimbursed.  

Travel Insurance

Participants are required to be covered by their our institutions travel insurance.   Please contact the institution that you work for to arrange travel insurance. 

Visas

A visa is not required for entry into Mexico for participants who hold a passport from the UK.  Visa Exemption will be given for a stay of up to 180 days providing the traveller:

         Holds a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page

         Holds proof of sufficient funds

         Holds proof of onward/return airline tickets

         Holds documents showing proof of purpose of trip

         Holds all documents required for the next destination

         Confirms with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa as these conditions are subject to change

For participants who hold non-UK passports please check visa requirements with the relevant Embassy. 

A visa is required, however, for participants entering the United States of America for connecting flights.  If you are travelling via America you will require a visa waiver (VWP) which can be applied for online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).  Please check eligibility and apply for VWP at http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/vwp.html.   Please note that the American government requires registration at least 72 hours before departure but I would suggest that you do this as soon as possible.

The visa application may incur a small cost (less than £20).  The cost of the visa can be claimed back using the attached expense form.  Please send completed expense forms to A.S.Hodgson@hull.ac.uk

For further guidance on visa please visit http://london.usembassy.gov/visas.html

Accommodation

Accommodation and reasonable subsistence is included for all participants.  UK participants should send Sandra Gudiño their flight details and itinerary as soon as possible please.  This is so that hotel rooms can be confirmed. Participants should not contact the hotel individually. Just for your information, the hotel will be booking is Fiesta Inn Tecnológico ( http://www.fiestainn.com/es/mx-monterrey/hotel-monterrey-tecnologico)

Once your travel arrangements are confirmed please send the details to myself (A.S.Hodgson@hull.ac.uk) and Sandra Gudiño (sandra_gudino@hotmail.com).

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Kind regards,

Anna