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| Sunday, 28 December 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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New US entry-exit system effective from Jan. 5 Those travelling to the United States beginning January 5, 2004, will have two fingers scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken by immigration officials upon entry at US air and seaports. The new US entry-exit system is being introduced to enhance security and to reduce forgery, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Asa Hutchinson. Briefing the new technologies at the State Department Foreign Press Centre in Washington, December 22, Hutchinson, said US-VISIT will enhance security, and increase the integrity of the U.S. immigration system. The automated entry/exit system will be in place at 115 airports and 14 major seaports in early 2004 and will be phased in at U.S. land borders throughout 2005 and 2006. The goal of US-VISIT, Hutchinson told the reporters, is to enhance the security of the United States while expediting legitimate travel and trade. The program provides the capability to verify the identity of incoming visitors, record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens into and out of the United States, and confirm compliance with visa and immigration policies, he said. "For the first time in history we will be able to biometrically confirm the identity of a visa traveller to the United States," said Hutchinson, explaining the significance of the new security capability. Under US-VISIT, many of the procedures upon entry and exit to the United States will remain unchanged. Upon entry, he said, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers will continue to review travel documents, such as a visa and passport, and ask questions about the visitor's stay in the U.S. But now when an immigration official electronically scans the visa in the visitor's passport, the photo and biographic data collected during the visa application interview will become available on the official's computer. The visitor will then be asked to put one and then the other index finger on a glass plate that will electronically capture two fingerprints. The fingerprints will be run through a database to ensure the visitor is eligible to enter the United States. Visitors also will be photographed. The photo can be taken while fingerprinting is in process. "This is something that will be done in a very inoffensive manner and it will be done very quickly," said Hutchinson. |
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