2022 Travel

Getting to Nashville

By Air

Nashville International Airport (BNA) is located 10 miles away from Loews Vanderbilt Hotel name. The airport currently served by 20 airlines and offers 585 daily arriving and departing flights. Taxi service to the Lowes Hotel is approximately $25 each way and Uber/Lyft is approximately $20 each way. 

By Car

Nashville sits at the nexus of three major interstate highways (Interstates 24, 40, and 65), making it a convenient drive from many locations. 

The address of the Loews Hotel is 2100 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203.

Getting Around Nashville

The conference will take place at the Loews Hotel. Click here for information on how to get to and around Nashville. 

By Taxi

Taxis feature a flat-fee service between the airport, downtown, and the Grand Ole Opry. From point to point, taxi fares are currently set at $25 per cab for up to four passengers. Taxis pick up in the Ground Transportation Center, Level 1 of Terminal Garage 2. 

By Ride Share

Lyft and Uber are both active at the Nashville International Airport. To meet your ride share, follow the signs for Ride Share on Level 1 (one floor below baggage claim).  

Parking

The Loews Hotel offers parking at $25 per day. 

International Travelers/VISAs

Meeting attendees from outside the United States are advised to begin their visa application process as soon as possible (at least six (6) months before visa is needed is recommended). Consultants in some countries take several months to process applications. Obtaining visas are the responsibility of attendees and other participants. As part of security procedures, applications for visas are sent to the U.S. State Department for a security review. For further information, visit the State Department Website. Please check with the local U.S. consulate or embassy to find out the earliest that you may apply for a visa. Find your local U.S. embassy or consulate.

Important Steps to Remember

  • Review your visa status and find out if you need a U.S. visa or renewal Official United States Visa Website.
  • Provide your entire trip itinerary, including travel to any countries other than the United States, at the time of visa application.
  • If completion of travel plans is contingent upon early approval of the visa application, specify this at the time of application.
  • Provide proof of scientific status.  For example, proof that you submitted an abstract for the meeting.  Do not wait until you receive notification that your abstract has been accepted before applying for a visa.
  • Provide meeting https://www.pmena.org/pmena44/ copy of your registration confirmation or letter of invitation (see below for details)
  • Provide evidence that you are intending to return to your country of residence.  This can include things such as:
    • Family ties in current country of residence
    • Property ownership
    • Bank account
    • An employment contract or statement from employer showing that position will continue after the dates of the meeting
  • Requirements vary by passport-issuing country and citizenship (not merely residency)
  • The United States is expanding the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which enables citizens of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.  The Patriot Act legislated that all Visa Waiver Program travelers must have a machine-readable passport.
  • Visa Waiver Program (VWP) nationals need to submit an application to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before coming to the United States.  Visitors traveling to the United States from all countries (including the visa wavier countries) are required to register personal details at least three (3) days in advance of travel.  ESTA if approved, this authorization is good for two years from the date of authorization or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
  • If an ESTA application is denied and you still want to come to the conference, you will need to apply for a non-immigrant visa at an U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
  • Review the visa wait time information on the U.S. Department of State Website for interview appointments and visa processing times at each embassy and consular section.  Visit the embassy or consular website where you will apply for your visa to find out how to schedule interview appointment, pay fees and any other instructions.
  • Plan on an interview at the embassy or consulate, which is required for most visa applicants.  As part of the visa interview, quick inkless fingerprints scans should be expected.  Some visa applications require additional administrative processing, which requires some additional time

Attendance Verification Documentation

  • There are two types of verification generated through the registration process:
    • Registration Confirmation:  Once you have registered for the symposium, you will receive an e-mail or printed confirmation that you can refer to during your visa interview.
    • Official Letter of Invitation for Meeting Attendees:  This letter will be generated only if requested after your registration has been confirmed.  You can submit this letter with your visa application to verify the name, dates, location and purpose of travel.
  • All letters of invitation will be issued in pdf format and emailed unless otherwise requested.  To Request an Invitation Letter for a Visa after Receiving Registration Confirmation, please contact pmenaloc@gmail.com.
  • For the rare occasion that attendees require a letter prior to registration, please submit this request via pmenaloc@gmail.com with your name, title, organization, supervisor, address, email, phone, fax, date of birth, country issuing your passport, and passport number.

Visa Problems/Denials

  • Visa Problems
    • For applications that have not been approved 30 days after the interview, you should complete an online questionnaire. You will be asked to name the meeting (44th Annual Meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education) and explain the purpose of your visit. Click here for visa wait times.
  • Registration Refunds Due to a Visa Denial:
    • Visa processing may require long lead times. Please plan accordingly. If your visa has been denied and you would like to be considered for a registration refund, please make sure you have either an official denial document from the U.S. consulate or a stamped copy of your application form, showing the date when you applied and the date your visa application has been denied. Not all requests for a refund may be approved.

Helpful Tools

U.S. Point of Contact Information (for visa application purposes)

PME-NA 44 2022 Organizers c/o Middle Tennessee State University