Transportation

Train:

From New Jersey and South:

Take New Jersey Transit (or Amtrak) to Penn Station (7th Ave & 33rd St). From there, walk 2 blocks east and 1 block north to the Grad Center.

From New York, Connecticut, and West and North:

Take Metro North or Amtrak to Grand Central Station (Lexington Ave & 42 St). From there, walk 7 blocks south and 2 blocks west to the Grad Center.

Driving:

From New Jersey and South:

Take 95 North (1) to the George Washington Bridge. Cross. This will bring you in at 178th Street. Take the Henry Hudson Parkway south (downtown) to 34th Street. Turn left onto 34th street and continue until you reach 5th Avenue. Or: (2) to the Lincoln Tunnel. Cross. This will bring you in at 34th Street. Go east until you reach 5th avenue.

From West and North:

Take 80, 684, or 95 South towards the George Washington Bridge. Before you reach the bridge, take the Henry Hudson Parkway south (downtown) to 34th Street. Turn left onto 34th street and continue until you reach 5th Avenue.

Flying:

Newark Airport:

Take the airtram to the train station from the airport. From there, take NJ Transit to New York Penn Station (7th Ave & 33rd St). From there, walk 2 blocks east and 1 block north to the Grad Center.

Laguardia Airport:

Take the M80 bus into Harlem. Get out at the 125th Street / Lexington Avenue Stop. Take the subway downtown (any train will work) to 33rd Street. Walk west to 5th Avenue. Walk north to 34th Street.

JFK Airport:

Take the Airtrain to the E subway (Sutphin Blvd & Archer Ave), NOT to the A train at Howard Beach. Take the E train into the city. It will take about 30 minutes, and deposit you on Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street. From there, you can either walk downtown 19 blocks or take the 4, 5, or 6 train downtown to 33rd Street.

Visas and Travel information

If you have any worries about passports and/or visas, please contact Mark Alfano for more information. A group coming from a given country, will have a higher the likelihood of obtaining visas. Below are some tips from a Consular Officer and MECCGer, Charles Bouldin.

First and foremost, read the information your country's US Embassy or Consulate has on nonimmigrant visas applications. E.G., www.usinfo.pl/consular/niv/

Have a formal invitation (e.g., a Xth Annual MECCG World Championship Registration Receipt or something similar that names the applicant and shows the where and when of the event.)

Have proof of ability to afford the visit (money for plane ticket, lodging, food and the like.)

Have a passport with more than six months remaining validity beyond the date of Worlds.

Fill out the form (DS-156) entirely and truthfully.

Sign the DS-156.

Pay the fee and have the receipt with you at the time you apply.

Make an appointment if necessary (check the information on the Consulate or Embassy nearest you).

Hints:

Tell the truth.
Answer the questions asked.
If your command of English is up to the task, after answering the consular officer's questions, you can chat about Tolkien and MECCG. Remember, a little goes a **long** way. If in doubt, a short sentence or two will suffice.
Apply before June 1.
If you are staying in someone's home, be ready to show an email from that person; e.g., Bill Kenyon invites you to stay Chez Bill from X to Y.
If you and others from the same Council are going to apply, apply as a group and let me know in advance when, where and who will apply. No guarantees, but ...
Be ready to relate how long you have been playing MECCG, whether you have played in tournaments before, the fact that these tournaments are attended by people from all over the world (Japan, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Hong Kong, France, UK, etc.) who are professionals (scientists, consular officers, lawyers, teachers, etc.) and students. If they ask what consular officer, you can give them my name.