Upon arrival to the United States, almost all foreign visitors traveling on visas will soon have their “pictures and fingerprints registered in the world’s largest biometric database before being allowed in the country,” Wired News reported. Visitors traveling on visas will also need to verify their departure in order to keep their individual travel record in good standing.
Critics question the plan’s effectiveness and impact on privacy, tourism and international trade.
The Changes in U.S. entry and exit procedures are part of a new program, called US-Visit, designed to verify the identity of incoming visitors and confirm compliance with visa and immigration policies.
The program was developed to fulfill a 1996 congressional mandate for an automated entry-exit system to collect records of arrival and departure from every foreign visitor entering and leaving the United States. 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.
(via Wired News)
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