US-VISIT Underway
Posted Jan 09, 2004

The first phase of the US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) Program is underway at airports and seaports throughout the United States. The program, which has been discussed in previous MurthyBulletin articles, including our November 7, 2003 article, DHS Watch : Mechanics of US-VISIT Announced, began on January 5, 2004. US-VISIT requires fingerprinting and photographing of most nonimmigrant foreign nationals seeking to enter the U.S. The most notable exception is that visa-exempt nonimmigrants do not have to undergo the additional processing. This will make travel easier for Canadians and visitors from visa waiver countries. There is another group of exempt nonimmigrants that includes most diplomatic visa classifications like A, G, and NATO visa holders. Children under the age of 14 and individuals over the age of 79 are also exempt. US-VISIT affects those applying for admission or admitted pursuant to a nonimmigrant visa. It does not apply, therefore, to U.S. citizens (including naturalized U.S. citizens) or U.S. permanent residents (green card holders).

The automated entry-exit program is the result of a Congressional mandate. It must be implemented at all of the busiest land ports by December 31, 2004 and at every land port by December 31, 2005.

Basic Process - Entry

Entry procedures remain largely unchanged, with the exception that an inkless scanning of the index finger of each hand is made, and a digital photograph is taken. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the process should take no longer than a few seconds for most nonimmigrants entering the U.S. The procedure was tested at Atlanta, Georgia's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, using more than 20,000 passengers from around the world. According to the DHS, the process added only an additional 15 seconds per person in processing time. The purpose of this process is to verify the identity of each nonimmigrant who is seeking to enter the United States. According to DHS, the digital finger scans are used to verify that the person seeking to enter is the same person to whom a visa was issued. It is also used to check for new information (arising after visa issuance) regarding involvement in terrorism or crime.

The procedures are in use at 115 airports, ranging from Chicago's O'Hare International and New York's John F. Kennedy Airport to Greenville, South Carolina's Donaldson Center Airport and Sandusky, Ohio's Griffing Sandusky Airport. The procedures will also be followed at pre-flight inspection at select international locations, including Dublin, Ireland and Edmonton, Canada.

Basic Process - Departure

The DHS is also testing departure procedures. The tests are underway at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and at the seaport cruise terminal in Miami, Florida. The departures at the test sights will require confirmation of departure at a kiosk. The procedures will be tested and evaluated throughout 2004.

We will continue to follow developments with this new system, as it is implemented throughout the country and share them with our MurthyBulletin and MurthyDotCom readers.