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Press Release
January 5, 2004
WASHINGTON, DC– The U.S. Department of Homeland Security
today launched US-VISIT, a new program to enhance the nation’s security
while facilitating legitimate travel and trade through our borders.
New entry procedures took effect today for most foreign visitors
with non-immigrant visas at 115 airports and cruise ship terminals
at 14 seaports. The system utilizes biometrics, which are physical
characteristics unique to each individual to verify identity. Biometric
technologies are the basis of an extensive array of highly secure
identification and personal verification solutions.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our
government’s commitment to securing our nation while upholding America’s
ideals about freedom of travel and the spirit of welcoming foreigner
visitors,” said Tom Ridge, Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security, while greeting passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport. “US-VISIT is an important new element in
the global war against terrorism and will serve as a catalyst in
the growing international use of biometrics to expedite processing
of travelers. We want to show the world that we can keep our borders
open and our nation secure.”
US-VISIT requires that most foreign visitors traveling
to the U.S. on a visa have their two index fingers scanned and a
digital photograph taken to verify their identity at the port of
entry. The US-VISIT program will enhance the security of U.S. citizens
and visitors by verifying the identity of visitors with visas. At
the same time, it facilitates legitimate travel and trade by leveraging
technology and the evolving use of biometrics to expedite processing
at our borders.
“US-VISIT represents the greatest improvement in border
inspection in more than three decades, and is a shining example
of what we can achieve when government works together,” said Asa
Hutchinson, Under Secretary of Border and Transportation Security
of the Department of Homeland Security. “US-VISIT is actually a
continuum of security measures that begins overseas, at the U.S.
consular offices issuing visas, where biometrics will be collected
to determine if the applicant is on a database of known or suspected
criminals or terrorists. When the visitor gets to our border, we
use the same biometrics – these digital “fingerscans” – to verify
that the person at our port is the same person who received the
visa or to see if we have learned new information about any involvement
in terrorism or crime. This type of identify verification helps
our Customs and Border Protection Officers make better admissibility
decisions and enhances the overall integrity of our immigration
system.”
The Department of Homeland Security has been testing
the new entry procedures since November 17 at Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport. The test showed that the new procedures
add an average of 15 seconds to the entry process at primary inspection
for foreign nationals traveling with visas. More than 20,000 passengers
from Central and South America, Europe, Asia and South Africa participated
in the voluntary test, which confirmed the program’s ability to
verify identity without adding significant time to the process.
The Department of Homeland Security today also began
a pilot test of exit procedures for departing passengers holding
visas. A departure confirmation program using automated kiosks is
being tested at Baltimore-Washington International Airport and at
selected Miami Seaport cruise line terminals. Foreign visitors exiting
the United States from those locations will be required to confirm
their departure at the kiosk. US-VISIT officials will evaluate the
tests and consider alternatives to the automated kiosks for departure
confirmation throughout 2004.
Congress has mandated that an automated entry-exit
program be implemented at the 50 busiest land ports of entry by
December 31, 2004, and at all land ports by December 31, 2005. A
Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued in November to engage the
private sector to help the US-VISIT program develop the optimum
solutions for entry and exit processing. The contract will be awarded
in May 2004.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/us-visit.
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