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| US to Fingerprint British Visitors, Other Allies |
| 2004-04-02 |
| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday it will fingerprint and photograph the citizens of 27 nations that do not require U.S. visas, including visitors from close allies like Britain, Australia and Japan. Good idea. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the new policy would be put in place at all U.S. airports and seaports by Sept. 30, requiring citizens of the 27 Visa Waiver Program countries to provide "two digital index finger scans and a digital photograph" to verify their identity. The photographs and fingerprints are already required from citizens of other nations that do require U.S. visas and have proved unpopular among many, although U.S. officials say the process takes a matter of seconds and is needed to protect against attacks like those of Sept. 11, 2001. Under U.S. law, the 27 nations must introduce passports with "biometric" data like fingerprints by Oct. 26 but the State Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have asked Congress to approve a two-year extension because most, if not all, are not expected to meet the deadline. "We believe that an extension ... will avoid potential disruption to international travel and at the same time (requiring the fingerprints and photographs) will help mitigate the security concerns related to extending the deadline for biometric passports," Ereli told reporters. The 27 countries affected are Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In related news, Illegal aliens can still get in free with no fingerprinting or picture and even get FREE health care and education. |
| Posted by:CrazyFool |
| #5 I dunno, I'm not convinced that hitting allies like the U.K. and Australia (and Lord knows they HAVE been allies) is such a wise thing. Seems to me that we'd work with those two governments and our other allies to come up with a plan whereas they can implement their own official procedures to insure that someone entering the U.S. is who they say they are, and not some sort of security threat. As far as I know, after arrival, once people have exited the terminal no one follows them around, so I don't see how getting fingerprints and a picture is going to "protect against attacks like those of Sept. 11, 2001", as they say. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-02 5:41:59 PM |
| #4 This should have been done from day one, and especially important a person who has to apply for a visa should be photographed and finger printed at the consular office thus tying the person to the document. Today's technology makes it quick and easy. Actually nowadays it is possible to verify at the point of embarkation at check-in whether to allow the passenger to fly. Come on America has to wake up to the fact that security has become more than a buzz word. |
| Posted by: Barry 2004-04-02 3:59:43 PM |
| #3 I have no problem with being fingerprinted and photographed upon entering a foreign country and anyone who does should stay home. Illegal Immigration will be shut down when the first attack on American soil that can be traced to terrorists entering via Mexico. Troops will be on the border and the willful blind eye turned to illegals will stop! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-04-02 3:44:43 PM |
| #2 In even more related news, terrorists can still obtain valid passports and visas and enter the US at will. I don't see how this could prevent another 9-11... they'll just be more careful. That said, maybe this should be the standard for international travel, all over the world, not just the US. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-04-02 3:19:57 PM |
| #1 In even more related news, terrorists can still obtain valid passports and visas and enter the US at will. I don't see how this could prevent another 9-11... they'll just be more careful. That said, maybe this should be the standard for international travel, all over the world, not just the US. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-04-02 3:19:53 PM |