Good night to everybody, I think that the visa policy that Wu Mei is referring to has the following "democratic" components: 1.- For people traveling from the middle east and other Muslim countries it is basically impossible to obtain a tourist visa from a US Embassy or Consulate 2.- For nationals of countries like China, Russia etc., you may get a visa but they give you hell in the airport. 3.- For nationals of some countries in Latin America (I can speak for Mexico) it takes an entire day to get the visa, you need to schedule your appointment some times with 4 months in advance, pay 135 USD, and even being a NAFTA national, doesn't protect you against "special" security checks at the airports. 4.- Last but not least, EVERY international visitor to the US is finger-printed and photographed which some people find humiliating. It is unfortanate that immigration policies of this sort deter/limit the chances for people to participate in academic conferences. We are missing a truly valuable exchange of knowledge in the name of national security. Maria Garrido PhD Candidate Department of Communication University of Washington