Fingerprint check planned at US airports
Foreigners entering US airports and seaports – except those from Western Europe and a handful of other countries – will soon have their fingerprints scanned and their photographs taken as part of a new programme designed to enhance border security.
The programme, to be up and running on January 5 at all 115 airports that handle international flights and 14 major seaports, will let Customs officials instantly check an immigrant or visitor’s criminal background.
The programme, called US-VISIT, or U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology, will check an estimated 24 million foreigners each year.
The only exceptions will be visitors from 28 countries – mostly European nations whose citizens are allowed to come to the United States for up to 90 days without visas.
