The U.S. government has dramatically increased its scrutiny of foreign citizens who visit the U.S. This has made it more difficult for foreign businesspeople to attend meetings in America, and it has dampened the resurgence of the meetings industry.The new rules are designed to keep all but the most trustworthy foreigners from entering the country. Except for citizens of 27 countries in Western Europe and the Far East, who may still visit for up to 90 days without a visa (provided they have a passport with computer-readable bar codes), most international visitors must meet stringent criteria before obtaining a visa necessary to attend a convention or business meeting in the U.S. They must gather extensive documentation and then submit to an in-person interview at the American Consulate in their home country. Only those applicants who overcome the presumption that they intend to violate their visas and stay in America permanently will receive a visa. And then there's the nonrefundable $100 application fee—a considerable sum for many.These rules have the potential to deva-state meetings and conventions that depend on international attendance. Meeting organizers should consider several solutions:Educate Attendees About the Visa ProcessMany foreign attendees are unfamiliar with the mandatory consular interview, as well as other parts of the visa process. Meeting organizers should provide a general explanation of the procedures—and particularly the extended time frames—along with registration materials.Encourage Early Visa ApplicationsMeeting organizers should assist foreign attendees by encouraging them to start the visa application process early. This will allow them to submit their documentation to consular officials and complete the interviews well before the meeting begins.Secure Up-to-Date PassportsGovernment regulations require many foreign nationals to have new machine-readable passports containing personal information in computer bar codes. These passports eliminate the need for nationals from "visa waiver" countries to obtain visas before arrival. Urge attendees to obtain these passports where available.Limit Invitation LettersMany foreign attendees request that convention hosts send them letters officially inviting them to attend the meeting. These letters are submitted with the visa application. For security and liability reasons, provide invitation letters only to registrants who already paid the meeting registration fee.Foreign meeting attendees face new hurdles to their attendance at American-based meetings. The key to overcoming them is to start early, learn about the visa process, and be patient with security procedures.