News for International Visitors
to the United States
The US Department of Homeland Security
process has launched a new program called US-VISIT.
The program is intended to enhance the nation’s
security while facilitating legitimate travel. The
goals of US-VISIT include:
According to the Agency, “the
initiative of US-VISIT will involve collecting travel
information and ‘biometric identifiers’
(such as fingerprints, using a simple inkless device)
from visitors to assist the border officer in making
admissibility decisions.” The procedure will
also include two fingerprint scans with an inkless
device and a digital photograph. Homeland Security
assures visitors that the process will only add seconds
to the processing time. Exit procedures will change
as well. Those visitors who need a visa will need
to verify their departure. Travel documents as well
as fingerprints will be scanned for verification.
For more information on this procedure, visit the
Homeland security website at http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit.
