United States Visitor & Immigrant Status Indicator Technology

The program is backed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service Data Management Improvement Act (DMIA) of 2000.

According to the US-VISIT policy, certain non-US citizens who wish to enter the US will have their two index fingers digitally scanned, and a digital picture will be taken, at the US port of entry. Immigration officials will have the ability to instantly check the criminal background using IAFIS of the person seeking entry.
There is also a pilot program in effect at certain airports and seaports where visitors who used US-VISIT on entry will have to perform a similar procedure upon exiting the US. Passengers will check out of the country at exit kiosks located within the terminal. Similar to the process the visitors encountered on entry, their travel documents are read, their two index fingers will be digitally scanned at the exit kiosk, a digital picture will be taken and they will receive a printed receipt that verifies that they have checked out. An exit workstation attendant will be available to assist with visitors' check out. Visitors also may be required to present the receipt at their departure gate to confirm that they checked out at the exit kiosk. An alternative under the pilot exit program is a biometric check-out process with a US-VISIT exit attendant stationed at visitors' departure gates.

Initially, only visitors who require a visa inserted in their passport were included in the US-VISIT program. However, since September 30, 2004 visitors who are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) have also been required to use the US-VISIT program. For a list of countries participating in the VWP program see: Visa Waiver Program.

USA and Canada have special agreements for visa-free travel, and currently most Canadians are not subject to US-VISIT.

Additionally, an initial requirement for citizens of visa waiver countries to show that their passports incorporate biometric technology by October 26, 2004, has been postponed until October 26, 2005.

US citizens are not required to be digitally fingerscanned and photographed when they enter US territory. The Department of State is researching the possibility of issuing US passports with biormetric technology.

Brazil has requested to be exempted from this measure, and failing this, has implemented a similar program of fingerprinting and photographing American citizens entering Brazil. The Brazilian program has commenced in Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo in January 2004.

See also