U.S. starts biometric controls on foreign travelers

U.S. starts biometric controls on foreign travelers    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an interim rule, effective Jan. 5, that implements biometric authentication requirements of the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program (US-VISIT).
   Under the interim rule, most non-immigrants entering the U.S. at certain airports and seaports will be photographed and fingerprinted, beginning immediately. The same data collection process will be repeated when the non-immigrant leaves the country.
   The biometric authentication does not apply to children under 14 or persons over the age of 79. Also exempt are aliens on A-1, A-2-C-3, G-1 to 5, and NATO 1 to 6 visas, but not their attendants, servants or employees.
   The Department of Homeland Security said that it initially planned to take a digital photograph and two fingerprints from each non-immigrant alien who presents a visa at designated air or seaport of entry.
   “In cases where a satisfactory fingerprint cannot be taken the inspecting officer may accept another biometric identifier,” the department said in a statement.
   The interim rule “has obviously been written with passengers in mind and little note has been taken of the particular situation of foreign crew members,” said Dennis Bryant, an admiralty attorney in Washington, D.C.
   “Foreign crewmembers arriving at one of 15 designated seaports will encounter increased administrative requirements if they try to go ashore,” he explained.
   “The new biometric requirements are expected to be applied at all U.S. ports of entry by Oct. 26,' Bryant said. 'This is like a massive beta-test. There are bound to be some bumpy spots as persons involved get familiar with the new system,” he added.
   Written comments on the new interim rule must be submitted by Feb. 4, 2004. For more information, call Patrice Ward at (202) 927-5200.