Paper Forms To Be Eliminated for US Visa Waiver Visitors

The elimination of the paper arrival/departure form (Form I-94W) for authorized travelers from nations participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) slated to take effect by summer’s end was praised by U.S. Travel’s president and CEO Roger Dow, who said it would speed entry into the U.S. for millions of visitors.

Travelers entering the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program will have their 10-fingerprints scanned and a digital photo taken during the immigration process at their port of entry, said Kimberly Weissman, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. “So while the traveler is being asked the purpose of his visit and how long his stay will be, the Customs and Border Protection officer is capturing his biometrics. The process is very fast and only takes seconds to complete.”

Visa Waiver travelers returning to the United States will also have four fingers scanned to verify identity. “Again, this makes this process more accurate and efficient,” Weissman said.

USTA’s Dow said that “The U.S. travel community applauds Secretary Napolitano and her team at the Department of Homeland Security for taking an important step in streamlining the entry process for international visitors. Today’s (May 20) announcement that Visa Waiver Program travelers with an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will no longer need to submit the paper I-94W form upon arrival at a United States port of entry will help reduce confusion and increase the speed of processing for millions of our guests. With full implementation of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, the United States is proving that it can simultaneously strengthen security and improve our customers’ experience. We will continue to work in support of Secretary Napolitano’s efforts to make America’s entry process both safe and welcoming.”

New Ten-Finger System Improves Accuracy

Collecting 10 fingerprints increases fingerprint matching accuracy and reduces the possibility that the system will misidentify an international visitor. It also strengthens DHS’s capability to check visitors’ fingerprints against the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) criminal data and enables DHS to check visitors’ fingerprints against latent fingerprints collected by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the FBI from known and unknown terrorists around the world. Additionally, Weissman pointed out, it helps protect travelers’ identities in the event that their travel documents are lost or stolen.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week that upgraded biometric technology is in place at major U.S. ports of entry, and most international visitors should expect to use the new technology when they enter the United States. DHS’s US-VISIT program began upgrading its biometric technology from a two to a 10 fingerprint collection standard in 2007 to make the entry process faster and more accurate, enabling DHS officials to focus their attention on people who may pose a risk to the United States.

Biometrics are unique physical characteristics like fingerprints that can be used for automated recognition. US-VISIT stores biometrics in its Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT). The use of biometrics began in 2004 and these procedures have been applied to Visa Waiver Program travelers. “Since 2004, biometrics have facilitated legitimate travel for millions of visitors entering the United States,” said US-VISIT Director Robert Mocny. “The 10 fingerprint upgrade makes this proven system even more efficient and enhances the security of our nation.”

For the last five years, U.S. Department of State consular officers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have collected biometric information — digital fingerprints and a photograph — from all non-U.S. citizens between the ages of 14 and 79, with some exceptions, when they apply for visas or arrive at major U.S. ports of entry. State consular officers began collecting 10 fingerprints from visa applicants in 2007.

New Exit Procedure Pilot

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also began collecting biometrics from non U.S. citizens departing the United States as part of a pilot program at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

“Collecting biometrics allows us to determine faster and more accurately whether non-U.S. citizens have departed the United States on time or remained in the country illegally,” said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. “The pilot programs in Atlanta and Detroit will help us determine and develop standard procedures for use at airports across the country to expedite legitimate travel and enhance our nation’s security.”

Non-U.S. citizens leaving the United States from Detroit and Atlanta airports should expect to have their biometrics collected before boarding their flights. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers collect biometrics at the boarding gate from non-U.S. citizens departing from Detroit; U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers will collect biometrics at security checkpoints from non-U.S. citizens departing from Atlanta. These pilots are expected to continue through early July.

Non-U.S. citizens departing the United States from all other ports of entry will continue to follow current exit procedures, which require travelers to return their paper Form I 94 (Arrival-Departure Record) or Form I 94W (for Visa Waiver Program travelers) to an airline or ship representative.

US VISIT, in collaboration with CBP and TSA, leads testing and deployment efforts for biometric exit procedures, collects biometrics from international travelers applying for visas and entering the United States, and provides biometric identification services to federal, state and local agencies.

Updates in 19 Languages

One of US-VISIT’s core goals is protecting the privacy of visitors, said Weissman. As part of a global education outreach campaign, it has developed materials in 19 languages as well as a mechanism to provide updates to those interested. To stay informed, sign up at subscribeusvisit@dhs.gov.

For more information on US-VISIT, visit www.dhs.gov/us-visit.