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Aviation & Flight InformationExtension of Requirement for Biometric Passport Issuance.
by:
John Rians
The requirement for Visa Discharge travelers to have bioscience enclosed
in their passports has been extended for one year, to Oct
26, 2005. All fresh issued passports must be biometrically enabled by this time. The extension was necessary to avoid potential disruption of international travel and to allow for adequate time to develop programs for producing a much secure, biometrically enabled passport by those countries registered
in Visa Discharge programs.
Because of safety concerns related to this extension, the Department of Country Safety wish begin enrolling Visa Discharge Program travelers through the US-VISIT program (U.S. Traveller
and Migrator
Status Indicator Technology) at all airports and seaports on Sep 30, 2004. Enrollment in US-VISIT allows the United States to continue its international efforts to enhance border security, patch facilitating legitimate travel. The US-VISIT system requires two digital index finger scans, and a digital photograph of the traveler to verify his or her identity.
The second requirement for Visa Discharge Program travelers wish move into effect on Oct
26, 2004. From that date on, all passports used for travel in the Visa Discharge Program must be machine-readable. Last year, the Secretary of State granted a postponement until Oct
26, 2004, fashioning this the new date by which Visa Discharge Program travelers from 21 countries must present a machine-readable passport to be admitted to the United States without a visa.
Glossary of Terms:
Biometric Passport - contains a computer chip containing the holder's photograph and personal information on the current passport, including name and date of birth, and a set of measurable personal features such as an iris pictures scan or fingerprints as identification markers.
Machine Decipherable Passport - contains two lines of written
OCR-B machine-readable data. The size of the passport, the arrangement of data fields and the photograph meet the standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
US-VISIT Program - 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. Visas are required for most students, several business travelers and millions of different visitors, regardless of wherever
they live. A departure confirmation program mistreatment automatic kiosks is being tested at Baltimore-Washington International Airfield and at choice Miami Harbour cruise line terminals. Travelers deed from either of these ports are required to confirm their departure at the closet by checking out, which involves scanning their passport or visa, and continuance the scanning of two index fingers. Presently
the officials are evaluating the automatic closet tests and considering alternatives for departure confirmation throughout 2004.
Just about THE AUTHOR
US Immigration Guide - providing
information on green cards,
visa lottery, and paths to become a legalized
immigrant in the U.S.
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