The conference begins Sunday, May 26 and ends Friday, May 31, 2019.

Registration opens Saturday, May 25. Registration times will be published in early 2019  

Registration and housing will open on March 1, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. EST. Further information on registration will be available late 2018.

Registration materials will be distributed on site upon checking in at the registration counters. Please bring your registration confirmation to receive your registration materials. Both print and electronic confirmations will be accepted on site, you can also enter your name into the terminal to pull up your registration. Registration counters will be located in the West Salon of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Please note, registration materials will not be mailed to attendees in advance.

Once you are registered for the annual conference you will be able to view and print your confirmation, as well as log in to your registration portal at any time to make changes, print receipts and/or confirmations and create your itinerary. You will no longer receive a receipt on-site. You may not cancel your registration online – see the cancellation policies on the Registration page of the NAFSA website.

Mail registration form (available March 1, 2019 ) to:
Attn: NAFSA 2019
C/O Experient
5202 Presidents Court, Suite G100
Frederick, MD 21703

After you have registered for the conference, simply log in to the My Schedule portion of this site using your email address and registration confirmation ID to create and access your personal agenda for the conference.

The personal agenda that you build in the online program and planner will export to your mobile app account automatically each time you log in to the app.

The NAFSA 2019 App, which includes the participant list and a communication tool for app users, will be available to registered attendees in the Apple Store and Google Play in early May 2019

Cancellation requests must be made in writing and received no later than Friday, May 24, 2019. No refunds or credit will be provided for cancellations made after Friday, May 24, 2019. A $100 (USD) cancellation fee will be deducted from conference registration refunds and a $100 (USD) cancellation fee will be deducted from workshop and signature program/special event registration refunds up to a $200 (USD) maximum deduction for multiple cancellations. Changes to a preconference workshop registration will result in a $25 change fee per workshop. If NAFSA cancels a workshop, you will receive notification of the cancellation and a full refund.

Registration payments made via credit card will be refunded to the original credit card and will be processed four to six weeks after the conference. Otherwise, a refund check will be issued.

Send request by email to [email protected], fax +1.301.694.5124, or mail to
Attn: NAFSA 2019
C/O Experient
5202 Presidents Court, Suite G100
Frederick, MD 21703

Conference sessions and workshops are held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from Sunday, May 26 through Friday, May 31, 2019.

Many preconference workshops will be filled. Please check with the registration desk on the ground level of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Schedule information for NAFSA 2019 programming will be available in the NAFSA 2019 Online Program beginning in February 2019.

Locations for NAFSA 2019 programming will be published in the NAFSA 2019 Online Program and Mobile App in May 2019.

NAFSA's annual conference provides a multitude of educational offerings for international education professionals at all levels of experience and in every specialty. These opportunities will help you develop the knowledge, skills, and ideas you need to better serve your organization or institution, move forward in your professional development, and engage effectively with colleagues from around the globe.
NAFSA is no longer accepting proposals for sessions and workshops. Poster proposals will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. EST, January 9, 2019. See the Call for Proposals web page for details on submitting a poster proposal for NAFSA 2019.
Programming will be finalized late 2018 with additional details published early 2019.

To obtain a letter of invitation, you will need to fill out an electronic form to request visa support. Requests for letters of invitation cannot be accommodated after April 29, 2019. Please check with your local U.S. Consulate to allow sufficient time for visa processing. Your request for a letter of invitation to attend the NAFSA Annual Conference does not guarantee you will obtain a visa. Individuals submitting requests for letters of invitation are expected to provide sufficient proof of professional or academic affiliation with the field of international education and/or the NAFSA: Association of International Educators as whole.

Attendees are encouraged to visit the DestinationDC website, D.C.’s official tourism site, to learn more about the conference city and all it has to offer. While attending the conference, attendees may also visit the Conference Information and Hospitality Center located in the Grand Lobby of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Based on documented hours worked, volunteers may be reimbursed 50%-100% of the general conference registration fee paid.

A link to Shiftboard, NAFSA's online scheduling tool for volunteers, will be available in late March 2019. For more information, please visit our Volunteering page.

You must be a conference attendee in order to serve as a conference volunteer.

Examples of shifts are as follows:

• Working at the NAFSA Pavilion in the Expo Hall to answer questions and assist attendees in discovering information on NAFSA’s products and services
• Taking tickets and directing traffic at plenaries and special events
• Assisting with exhibitor check-in at registration
• Working registration area to hand out materials and totebags
• Providing local information and conference directions at Conference Information and Hospitality Center
• Working as monitor for sessions, handing out and collecting session evaluations.

 

Shifts range from 2 hours to 6+ hours, so plan your schedule accordingly and be sure you are able to commit to shifts you take.

Yes. All available shifts will be in the calendar section of the Shiftboard webpage. Volunteers will be able to add shifts to their calendar based on their own availability and interest. Check back for further instructions once volunteer enrollment opens.

Additional shifts will be added throughout March and April as the conference schedule and needs develop.

When you check in at the LAT office at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for your first volunteer shift, you will be given an identifier to wear when on duty, to show that you are a volunteer. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as most shifts require you to be on your feet for long periods of time.

NAFSA will provide support services upon request. Please request accessibility services or accommodations for people who experience disabilities at the time of registration and/or four weeks in advance to maximize our efforts. Contact information for accessibility services is forthcoming.

Please inquire about child care services with the concierge at your selected hotel. Be certain to make arrangements prior to your arrival in D.C..

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center will have designated areas for privacy. Please check back for specific locations and information.  

Details for scooter rental at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center will be available late Fall 2018.  

There will be seating marked Reserved for Accessible Seating at all plenaries. All events and receptions will have seating available for those who are unable to stand for long periods of time.

All plenary events will have interpreting services, and will have front row seating reserved for those with mobility, visual, or interpreting needs.

There will be no complimentary shuttle provided for NAFSA 2019. Attendees may walk, take public transportation, or taxi/uber throughout the city.Read more about Washington D.C.'s public transportation system. .

There are no meals included with conference registration. However, food and beverage served at the networking, opening, and closing receptions are complimentary with conference registration.

Restrooms and telephones are located on all levels of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Please visit the NAFSA 2019 Event Overview for general conference information. Program information is available on the Program page found within the Annual Conference website. Attendees will also be able to utilize the Online Planner and Mobile App for general conference and program information.
While attending the conference, attendees may speak with volunteers at the Conference Information and Hospitality within the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Check with volunteers at the Conference Information and Hospitality Center located on the ground level of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The NAFSA 2020 Annual Conference & Expo will take place May 24-May 29, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Yes, NAFSA will again use eventBit® technology at the NAFSA 2019 Annual Conference & Expo. Learn more about how the data will be used and your options for participating.