NEW BIOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS AT U.S. IMMIGRATION

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that effective January 18, 2009, international travelers should expect to provide digital fingerprints and a photograph at U.S. Immigration when entering or reentering the United States by sea, air, or during a secondary inspection at a land point of entry. These new biometric requirements are for non-United States citizens but apply to lawful permanent residents of the United States as well as: individuals entering the U.S. who seek admission on immigrant visas; individuals seeking admission as refugees and asylees; Canadian citizens who are entering the country for purposes other than shopping, visiting friends and family, vacation or short business trips; and individuals paroled into the United States. The biometric requirements are part of the US-VISIT program and are implemented by Customs and Border Protection. Supporters of the new requirements cite that travel documents that are biometrically linked offer protection against theft and fraud. Individuals exempt from the biometric procedures include visitors under age 14 and over 79.(www.usimmigrationsupport.org)