Asia Pacific Orthodontic Conference, Indian Orthodontic Conference

8th Asia Pacific Orthodontic Conference and the 47th Indian Orthodontic Conference

it is our pleasure and privilege in extending you a cordial invitation to participate in the 8th Asia Pacific Orthodontic Conference and the 47th Indian Orthodontic Conference to be held in the convention Capital of India- New Delhi, from 29th November to 2nd December 2012.

According to Indian folklore, Delhi was the site of the magnificent and opulent Indraprastha the capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata, founded around 2500 BC. According to Hindu texts, the city of Delhi used to be referred to as Hastinapur, which means "elephant-city". A village called Indraprast existed in Delhi until the beginning of the 19th century. The British re-engineered Delhi and its further growth let to the formation of New Delhi in the late 19th century. Since then Delhi has carved a unique niche for itself on the conference map of the world, providing on one hand, full complement of contemporary facilities of international standard and on the other, the lure of a city both ancient and modern.

The conference theme "Embracing Diversity, Enriching Orthodontics" aims to encourage Orthodontists from across the world to come together and learn from the experience of each other. Internationally renowned faculty shall be available for scientific deliberations and various platforms of interaction -to provide a truly enriching experience.

Apart from the outstanding scientific program an elaborate trade fair and the accompanying social events, shall provide an excellent opportunity to forge new relationships with professional colleagues from across the country and the Asia Pacific region.

Click Here For Travel Query and Hotel Booking Call 9810002772.

Travel Information
Passport and Visa requirements
All foreign nationals require visa to enter India. However, there are some relaxations for Bhutanese and Nepalese nationals. You are advised to contact the Indian Embassy / High Commission / Consulate in your country in order to obtain a visa of entry. Please apply for your visa in good time.

There is no provision of 'Visa on Arrival' in India and no fee is charged for immigration facilities at the airports. Foreign passengers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian Visa before they start their journey to India except nationals of Nepal and Bhutan who do not require visa to enter India and nationals of Maldives who do not require visa for entry in India for a period up to 90 days (a separate Visa regime exists for diplomatic/official passport holders).

Visa fees are non-refundable and subject to change without notice. The High Commission reserves the right on granting and deciding type/duration of visa irrespective of the fees tendered at the time of making application. Granting of Visa does not confer the right of entry to India and is subject to the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.

The instruction and information given here is general in nature, however for specific information, you may contact the respective Indian Mission

Visa Application Form
Visa application form is available at the Indian Mission in the country where the applicant resides. Visa form for nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh are generally different. All NRIs/PIOs, including children (who don´t possess OCI or PIO card) need to apply for Visa in separate visa forms.

Procedure for obtaining Visa
Visas can be applied for in person or by post at the High Commission of India based in the country from where the candidate intends to depart for India. Specific visas are granted for a variety of purposes that are aforementioned.

1. Travel Visa application requirements
Valid passport
Completed application form.(Nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh must complete special application forms)
Two passport-size photographs.(Nationals of Pakistan will require five)
Visa feeStamped self-addressed delivery envelope for postal applications.
2. Types of applicable Visa
Tourist Visa
Validity: 6 months. The applicant is required to submit documents in proof of his financial standing. Tourists traveling in groups of not less than four members under the auspices of a recognized travel agency may be considered for grant of collective tourist visa.
Business Visa
Validity: One or more years with multiple-entry. A letter from the sponsoring organization indicating nature of business, probable duration of stay, places and organizations to be visited incorporating there in a guarantee to meet maintenance expenses, etc. should accompany the application.
Conference Visa
Conference Visas are issued for attending conferences / seminars / meetings in India. The letter of invitation is to be submitted along with the visa application. Delegates coming to attend conferences may combine tourism with attending conferences.
3. Restricted and protected areas
Certain parts of the country have been designated protected or restricted areas that require special permits and in some cases prior government authorization which is easily obtained. Intent to visit a specific restricted region should be indicated when applying for a visa and a permit will be granted to visit that region only. Passengers are advised to check with Indian Tourism for updated information before departure. The following states are subject to some restrictions: Arunachul Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim.

Arrival & Departure Formalities
Arrival Formalities
If the visa, for stay in India, is for more than 180 days, a Registration Certificate and Residential Permit should be obtained from the nearest Foreigners' Registration Office within 15 days of arrival. Four photographs are also required for registration. The foreigners registered at Foreigners' Registration Office are required to report change of their addresses. All persons including Indian nationals are required to fill in a Disembarkation Card, at the time of arrival.

Departure from India
All persons, except nationals of Bhutan & Nepal, leaving by air, road or rail have to fill in an Embarkation Card at the time of departure.
Exit Formalities
Every foreigner who is about to depart finally from India must surrender his Certificate of Registration either to the Registration Officer of the place where he is registered or of the place from where he plans to depart or to the Immigration Officer at the Port / Check post of exit from India.

Foreign Travel Tax
Passengers embarking on trips to any place outside India from a Customs airport/seaport will have to pay a Foreign Travel Tax (FTT) of Rs. 500 and Rs. 150 on trips to Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Srilanka and Maldives. No tax is payable on trips performed by ship from Rameshwaram to Talaimanar and in case of transit passengers, provided they do not leave the customs barrier. Transit passengers travelling by air who have to leave the airport on account of mechanical trouble but continue their journey by the same aircraft and the same flight number by which they arrive are also exempt from FTT. Transit sea passengers leaving the ship for sightseeing, shopping etc. during the ships' call at any of the Indian ports will not be required to pay FTT.

Customs
Visitors are generally required to make a baggage declaration in respect of baggage and foreign currency in their possession. They are also required to obtain the Currency Declaration Form from the Customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by the airline during the course of the flight.

There are two channels for clearance:

Green Channel :
For passengers not in possesion of any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage.

Red Channel :
For passengers with dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high value articles to be entered on the tourist Baggage Re-Export Form.
Dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high-value articles must be entered on a Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form (TBRE). These articles must be re-exported at the time of departure. A failure to re-export anything listed on the TBRE becomes a payable duty levied for each missing item. The following duty-free possessions are permissible- clothes and jewellery, cameras and up to five rolls of film; 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 95 liters of liquor, and gifts not exceeding a value of Rs. 600 (about US$15). Depending on the attitude of the customs' official, one may or may not have to enter a portable computer on a TBRE form.
For more and updated information kindly visit the Central Board of Customs & Excise website - http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm.
Currency Regulations

Entering in to India
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travellers' cheques a tourist may bring into India provided he makes a declaration in the Currency Declaration Form given to him on arrival. This will enable him not only to exchange the currency bought in, but also to take the unspent currency out of India on departure. Cash, bank notes and travellers' cheques up to US$ 1,000 or equivalent, need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of travellers' cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc. in convertible currencies, which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency, should be exchanged only through authorised money changers and banks who will issue an encashment certificate that is required at the time of reconversion of any unspent money into foreign currency. Exchanging of foreign currency other than banks or authorised money changers is an offense under Foreign Exchange Regulations Act 1973.

Leaving India
Rupees are not allowed out of India. Exchanging them before you depart is the best option. Banking facilities, for the conversion of rupees into foreign currency are usually located in the same airport hall as the check-in counters. Its best to access these facilities before immigration as they are not available thereafter. All animal products, souvenirs, and trophies are subject to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The export of skins made from protected wildlife species is not allowed. Such items cannot be imported into many countries, including the United States. As a general rule, avoiding such souvenirs that could be made of animal skins (except crocodile-leather goods) is best. Generally, items more than 100 years old cannot be exported without a permit from the Archaeological Survey, which has an office in Delhi. Reputable shops will provide you with the required permit or help you procure it. Items without permits will be detained by Indian Customs if they are believed to be over 100 years old.

Electricity
230-240V, 50 HZ. Sockets accept round pins. Should you wish to use appliances of 110 volts, some hotels may provide adaptors on request. It is advisable to carry universal adaptors.

Currency
The currency in India is the Rupee, which comes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000. Please use authorised money changers and banks to change currency. They will issue a certificate of exchange which is required at the time of re-conversion of any unused currency. The currency may be exchanged at the airport on arrival. The currency exchange facility will also be made available at the congress venue.
Most bank ATMs honour Visa, Visa Electron, Master & Maestro cards & you may use these ATMs also to withdraw money.
Most hotels, shops & other establishments accept credit cards. Master & VISA cards are accepted at almost all such establishments whereas some of them accept Diners & American Express cards as well.

Language
A host of languages are spoken in India. English is widely spoken or understood except in rural areas.

Health
If you are coming from or have visited Africa, South America or an area infected with Yellow Fever within five days prior to your arrival in India, proof of inoculation against Yellow Fever is required.
Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country excluding parts of the States of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim. No certificate required, but a course of anti-malaria pills is recommended.

Smoking Policy
All conference rooms and public areas in the venue are strict no-smoking zones. Smoking in public areas (eg. hotels, airports, restaurants) & transportation (eg. airlines, railways, cars & coaches) is a punishable offence.

Telephone
The Country Code for India is `91´. The City Code for New Delhi is `11´. Landline numbers in major cities like Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore & Chennai have eight digits whereas the numbers in smaller cities could have only 4-7 digits. All mobile numbers are 10 digit & begin with `9´.
Dialing from Outside India -

Landline
International access code (`00´ or `+") followed by 91, then STD CODE followed by LANDLINE NO., eg. +91 11 XXXXXXXX (`11´ is the STD CODE for New Delhi).

Mobile
International access code (`00´ or `+") followed by 91 and the 10-digit MOBILE NO., eg. +91 XXXXXXXXXX.
Dialing within India –
From Indian landline to Indian landline
Local call - LANDLINE NO.
Long distance call - 0 then STD CODE followed by LANDLINE NO
From Indian landline to Indian Mobile
Local call -10 digit MOBILE NO.
Long distance call - 0 followed by 10 digit MOBILE NO.
From Indian Mobile to Indian landline
Local or Long distance calls
0 followed by STD Code, followed by LANDLINE NO.
From Indian Mobile to Indian Mobile
Local Call - 10 digit MOBILE NO.
Long distance call - 0 followed by 10 digit MOBILE NO.
Dialing out from India to International numbers
The international access code when dialing out of India is "00" (or `+" when dialing from a mobile phone). In India both GSM & CDMA (WLL) mobile systems are present. Please contact your mobile service providers to check their roaming partners & tariffs in India. Indian SIM cards may not be made available easily on request.

Personal Property
Please take good care of your personal property. The Conference Organizers and staff at the venues are not responsible for any loss or damage to personal property.