Deadlines are rapidly approaching for several new requirements for travel to the United States.  Following is a brief explanation of these upcoming changes with links to official U.S. government sites for more detailed information.  The SeeAmerica Travel Planner Alert is intended to supplement official U.S. government outreach efforts to the benefit of travelers, the industry and those responsible within government for implementing the changes.  Please feel free to share this information.

US-VISIT Enrollment for Visa Waiver Travelers

Deadline:        September 30, 2004  
This regulation applies to travelers from all Visa Waiver Program countries.

Beginning September 30 travelers from all 27 Visa Waiver Program countries will be required to enroll in the US-VISIT program and have their index fingerprints digitally scanned and their photograph taken upon entering the U.S.  US-VISIT is an Entry-Exit system designed to enhance control of U.S. borders and more effectively enforce U.S. immigration law.  This system is intended to better protect the United States, its citizens and all international visitors who are within the United States. 

The twenty-seven Visa Waiver countries are Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.

Question:  Will the new US-VISIT policy for Visa Waiver countries make clearing U.S. inspections upon arrival lengthier?
Answer:  US-VISIT “entry” procedures have been in place at all U.S. airports and seaports for non-Visa Waiver program country visitors since January 5, 2004.    According to U.S. government sources, this process has added, on average, only 10 – 15 seconds to the usual screening process.  According to U.S. Customs and Border Control statistics, there have been no major delays as a result of this program.  Click below for wait times at airport primary inspection: 
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/leavingarrivinginUS/airport_wait_times.ctt/airport_wait_times.xls

Question:  Initially US-VISIT will only be upon entry into the U.S.  When will the “exit” portion of the program be completed?
Answer:  Technology for the exit portion of US-VISIT is currently being tested at a number of U.S. airports and seaports.  Full implementation of the exit portion is probably at least another year away.  Click here for more information concerning where the biometric “exit” process is being tested:  http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0476.xml

Question:  Does U.S. VISIT apply to all visitors, regardless of age or gender?
Answer:  No.  The US-VISIT enrollment does not apply to children under the age of 14, or adults over the age of 79. 

Question:  Is there any special documentation or anything else I must do prior to departing my country for the U.S. to prepare for US-VISIT?
Answer:  No.  Visa Waiver Program travelers are enrolled, or entered, in the US-VISIT system upon entry into the United States. 

Question:  Is the finger scanning process with ink?
Answer:  No, it is a digital scanning process of both index fingers so there is no ink and no mess.

Question:  Is the United States the only country planning to implement this system?
Answer:  No, a number of other countries are currently testing various forms of biometric technology with plans toward implementation in the future.  They are considering implementation for the same reason as the U.S. – to enhance their security and enforce their own immigration laws.

For more information on US-VISIT from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, click on http://www/dhs.gov/us-visit

Machine-Readable Passports

Deadline:        October 26, 2004       
This regulation applies to travelers from all Visa Waiver Program countries.    

All Visa Waiver Program travelers entering the United States must possess a machine-readable (or scannable) passport starting October 26, 2004.  The original deadline was October 26, 2003 but it was extended by the U.S. government for 21 of the 27 Visa Waiver Program countries.  Six of the Visa Waiver Program countries have already had to comply with this requirement (Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Slovenia).    

Question:  What if my current passport is not machine-readable? 
Answer:  Many countries issue passports that are valid for up to ten years.  Several countries began issuing machine-readable passports only a few years ago, so if you hold a valid passport that is not machine-readable, it will be necessary for you to get a new machine-readable passport prior to your visit to the United States.  Your other option is to obtain a U.S. visa to accompany your non-machine-readable passport.

Question:  Where do I get a machine-readable passport?
Answer:  Passports are issued by each country under different rules and procedures.  Check with your government to see what the requirements are for issuance.

Question:  I understand several countries will still have some difficulty ensuring that all of their passports currently in circulation will be machine-readable by the October 26, 2004 deadline.  Will there be another extension of the deadline?
Answer:  No, there will not be any further extension of this deadline granted by the U.S. government.

For more information on Machine-Readable Passports from the U.S. Department of State, click on http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_novisa_waiver.html

Biometric Passports for Visa Waiver Countries
Deadline:        October 26, 2005                   
This regulation applies to all Visa Waiver Program countries.

All Visa Waiver Program countries will be required to begin issuing passports with biometric identifiers by October 26, 2005.  A biometric identifier is an electronic scan of a physical feature, such as an eye, hand, fingerprint, or face.  It allows an immigration inspector to know for certain that the person appearing before them is the same person to whom a passport (or visa) was issued.  The initial deadline for beginning to issue biometric passports was extended by one year to October 26, 2005.

Question:  Will I be required to have a biometric passport after October 26, 2005 in order to enter the United States?
Answer:  Not if you have a valid, machine-readable passport that was issued prior to October 26, 2005.  The new regulation applies only to new passports issued after October 26, 2005.

Question:  Will all Visa Waiver Program countries be able to issue biometric passports by the October 26, 2005 deadline?
Answer:  The U.S. travel industry is greatly concerned that the October 26, 2005 deadline for biometric passports is still not achievable for all countries.  The industry will continue to work with the U.S. Congress to try and obtain a further extension of the deadline if that is absolutely necessary.  It is by no means certain however that Congress will vote for an extension so countries issuing passports and the worldwide travel industry should operate on the assumption that the October 26, 2005 deadline will not change.

For more information on Biometric Passports from the U.S. Department of State, click on http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/biometrics.html
 

Important Information Contacts

U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/

U.S. Department of State http://www.travel.state.gov or www.state.gov

Travel Industry Association of America http://www.tia.org/GovAffairs/

 Travel Industry Association of America