| US-VISIT expanded |
| published 23 August 2004 |
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On August 3, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expanded US-VISIT, the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, to include biometric scanning of nonimmigrants exiting the U.S. from 13 additional air and sea ports. On August 20, 2004, DHS modified the number of entry ports requiring US-VISIT, adding fifteen ports and deleting two ports from the US-VISIT program. US-VISIT exit pilot programs The new US-VISIT exit pilot programs are now operating at 15 major air and sea ports, including the San Francisco International Airport, which has over one million nonimmigrant visitors per year. US-VISIT was launched on January 5, 2004, and requires that most nonimmigrants seeking to enter the United States through major air and seaports submit to biometric scans upon entry in order to record their arrival and departure, verify their identities, and authenticate travel documents through comparison of biometric identifiers. US-VISIT mandates that an automated entry/exit system be implemented at all ports of entry by December 31, 2005. DHS is currently collecting two fingerprints and photographs from subject nonimmigrants upon entry, but is expected to expand its data collection in the future. DHS estimates that US-VISIT scanning adds approximately 15 seconds per person to the inspection and admission process. The data collected will be compared against "lookout lists" of intelligence, law enforcement, and immigration government agencies. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer will admit the visitor, conduct secondary inspection, or deny admission based on the information received. The new pilot programs announced this month mean that exit procedures are currently operational at thirteen airports:
In addition, US-VISIT exit programs are operational at two seaports: Miami and Los Angeles. Officials hope to have the exit procedures in place in 80 airports, including Oakland and San Jose, sometime during 2005. US-VISIT procedures do not currently affect foreign nationals entering the U.S. through land ports of entry, such as the land ports along the Canadian and Mexican borders. However, US-VISIT is required to be implemented at the 50 busiest land border ports by December 31, 2004. DHS announced that these pilot departure programs will test different methods of collecting the required information from nonimmigrants departing the United States, including self-serve kiosks and US-VISIT contractors using hand-held scanners at airport departure gates. When exiting the U.S. through any of these departure locations, visitors will be required to "check-out" of the country at exit stations located within the airport or seaport terminal. This "check-out" procedure will require individuals to have their travel documents read, their two index fingers scanned, and their digital picture taken. Upon completion of these procedures, individuals will be issued a receipt confirming their compliance with the exit procedures. (Individuals may also be asked to present this receipt at the departure gate.) Alternatively, individuals may be required to undergo these same biometric procedures at the departure gate. US-VISIT entry pilot programs The entry procedures, including fingerprint/photo scanning, are fully operational at over 100 airports, including San Francisco International, San Jose International and Metropolitan Oakland International, and 12 major seaports. Effective August 20, 2004, US-VISIT entry procedures are operational at the following additional ports:
In addition, effective August 20, 2004, US-VISIT entry procedures are not operative at the following ports, which were erroneously listed in January 2004 as ports deploying US-VISIT and are now deleted from the list:
Effective September 30, 2004, individuals entering the United States pursuant to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will be subject to US-VISIT entry and exit procedures. Currently, persons entering the U.S. under the VWP may bypass the biometric scans. Others who are exempt from US-VISIT include travelers entering the United States who are younger than 14 or older than 79 and most diplomats and employees of international organizations. U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents are also not subject to US-VISIT procedures. For full details and a list of frequently asked questions on the US-VISIT Program, click on http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit. |
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