|
Only
visitors entering the United States with a visa are subject
to the new requirements. The visa waiver program (an agreement
maintained with 27 nations) allows travelers to enter the United
States without obtaining a visa, so they will not be subject
to biometric checks in the immediate future. Citizens of these
same nations entering to work or study are still required to
have a visa, however, and also will be subject to the new requirements.
Countries participating in the visa waiver program are:
| Andorra
(MRP) |
Iceland |
Norway |
| Australia |
Ireland |
Portugal |
| Austria |
Italy |
San
Marino |
| Belgium
(MRP) |
Japan |
Singapore |
| Brunei
(MRP) |
Liechtenstein
(MRP) |
Slovenia
(MRP) |
| Denmark |
Luxembourg
|
Spain |
| Finland |
Monaco |
Sweden |
| France |
the
Netherlands |
Switzerland |
| Germany |
New
Zealand |
United
Kingdom |
US-VISIT
is actually a continuum of security measures that begin overseas,
at the U.S. Consular offices issuing visas, where biometrics
will be collected to determine if the applicant is on a database
of known or suspected criminals or terrorists. When the visitor
gets to the U.S. Border, the same biometrics are used (digital
images and fingerscans) to verify that the person at the U.S.
Port of entry is the same person who received the visa.
The
entry enhancements to the immigration process (taking fingerprints
and photos) will be operative in 115 airports and 14 major seaports
by early 2004. Entry and exit enhancements at land borders will
be phased in throughout 2005 and 2006.
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How
it works:
On
Entry to the USA
Many of the entry procedures in place today remain unchanged and are
familiar to international travelers.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers will review travel documents,
such as a visa and passport, and ask questions about the visitor's
stay in the United States.
- The new, inkless fingerprint scanner is easy to use. The visitor
will be asked to put one and then the other index finger on a glass
plate that will electronically capture two fingerprints.
- Visitors also will be asked to look into a camera and their picture
will be taken. This can be done while fingerprinting is in process.
- The enhancements to the entry procedures add minimal time to the
process (only seconds in most cases).
On
Exit from the USA
The exit procedures at airports and seaports will be phased in, becoming
operational in 2004.
- At the international departure area, visitors will see automated,
self-service kiosks where they will be asked to scan their travel
documents and repeat the fingerprinting process on the inkless device.
Attendants will be available to assist with the process.
- The exit confirmation will be added to the visitor's travel records
to demonstrate compliance and record the individual's status for future
visits to the United States.
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Enhancing
Security
The addition of biometric identifiers, such as fingerprints, is intended
to make the U.S. security system more effective than names databases
alone. Biometric identifiers also are intended to protect U.S. visitors
by making it virtually impossible for anyone else to claim their identity
should their travel documents be stolen or duplicated.
Expediting
Travel
US-VISIT procedures are designed to be easy. The enhanced entry procedures
at airports and seaports add minimal time. In most cases only seconds
will be added to the immigration process, which typically takes 60-90
seconds without US-VISIT procedures.
Respecting
Privacy and the Environment
Travel data will be securely stored, and is made available only to
authorized officials and selected law enforcement agencies on a need-to-know
basis to help protect the U.S. against those who intend harm U.S.
citizens or U.S. visitors.
Timing
and Delivery
The Department of Homeland Security is aggressively working to meet
the Congressional end-of-year deadline to have in place an entry and
exit system that strengthens security through identity verification
and expedites travel for legitimate visitors while respecting their
privacy and our environment.
- The entry enhancements to the immigration process (taking fingerprints
and photos) will be operative in 115 airports and 14 major seaports
by early 2004.
- By early 2004, exit procedures will be operational at as many as
ten major airports and at one seaport. Visitors requiring a visa to
travel to the United States who leave from one of those sea or airports
will check out to confirm their compliance with immigration policies.
- Exit procedures will be phased in at the remaining major airports
and seaports in early 2004.
For further
details, contact
U.S.
Department Of Homeland Security
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