The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is enacting a series of security measures intended to make border crossing faster, while also tightening security.

    US-VISIT is part of a series of security measures that begins overseas and continues through a visitor’s arrival to and departure from the United States. It incorporates eligibility determinations made by both the departments of Homeland Security and State.

    In cases where a visa is issued by the Department of State, biometrics such as digital, inkless fingerscans and digital photographs allow the Department of Homeland Security to determine whether the person applying for entry to the United States is the same person who was issued the visa by the Department of State. Additionally, the biometric and biographic data is checked against watch lists, improving the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to make admissibility decisions as well as the Department of State’s ability to make visa determinations.

    US-VISIT currently applies to all visitors (with limited exemptions) holding non-immigrant visas, regardless of country of origin.

    By Sept. 30, US-VISIT procedures will be expanded to include visitors traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) arriving at air and sea ports of entry.

    An extension is being sought to an Oct. 26, 2004 deadline set in the Enhanced Border Security Act of 2002 for countries in the VWP to certify that they have programs in place to issue their nationals machine-readable passports that incorporate biometric identifiers that comply with standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). According to the mandate, any passport issued on or after Oct.  26, 2004, must be an ICAO-compliant travel document that uses biometrics, if the bearer applies for admission into the United States under the VWP.

    Due to technical challenges, few countries will be able to meet that deadline. Therefore, a two-year extension is being requested to make it possible for countries to comply with this mandate.

    US-VISIT entry procedures are currently in place at 115 airports and 14 seaports. By Dec. 31, US-VISIT will be expanded to the 50 busiest land ports of entry and to all 165 land ports entry by Dec. 31, 2005.

Pre-entry

    Visitors applying for a visa have their information reviewed before they enter the United States. Both the departments of Homeland Security and State play a role in determining the eligibility of a visitor to receive a visa.

Entry

    Many of the entry procedures in place today at air and seaports remain unchanged and are familiar to international visitors. When a visitor arrives through an air or seaport, they are enrolled in US-VISIT as part of the primary inspection process. Once land border processing is operational, if the visitor arrives with a visa through a land border they will be enrolled in US- VISIT at the secondary inspection area. (This does not initially apply to those Mexicans who use their Border Crossing Cards for trips under 72 hours and within the 25-mile border zone.)

    The new, inkless digital fingerscanner is easy to use. Visitors first put the left index finger, then the right index finger on a glass plate that electronically captures their fingerscans. Visitors will also look into a camera and their digital picture will be taken.

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers will review travel documents and ask questions about the visitor’s stay in the United States. The biometric enhancements to the entry procedures add minimal time to the process - an average of 15 seconds in most cases.

    Should a visitor seek to adjust status or extend his/her stay, US-VISIT would be updated with any modifications to the individual’s status.

Exit

    US-VISIT is testing and evaluating departure confirmation alternatives. The tests and evaluation will continue in 2004. Ultimately, all visitors will be required to check-out before leaving the United States.

    Currently, US-VISIT has departure confirmation kiosks in two locations: Baltimore Washington International Airport and Miami International Cruise Line Terminal. Only visitors leaving from either of these locations must check-out using the automated, self-service kiosk. At the departure kiosk, visitors will scan their travel documents and repeat the digital fingerscanning process on the inkless device. Attendants are available to assist departing visitors.

    Currently, visitors with a visa who depart from a port where the departure confirmation system is in place must comply. By Sept. 30, visitors traveling to the United States under the VWP will also need to check out before leaving the United States. This exit confirmation information 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.

    US-VISIT compares arrival and departure biographical manifest data provided by the airlines and cruise lines to know when someone entered and exited the country.

    The Department of Homeland Security safeguards the biometric and biographic information provided by travelers and ensures that their privacy interests are not violated. US-VISIT records will be protected in a manner consistent with all applicable privacy laws and regulations. Personal information will be kept secure and confidential and will not be discussed with or disclosed to any person within or outside the US-VISIT program other than as authorized by law and as required for the performance of official duties.