US embassy launches biometric visas

THE American Embassy yesterday presented the new visa security system, which requires all applicants to be fingerprinted before travelling to the United States.

Known as Biometric Visas, the system seeks to enhance the security of visitors and American citizens and detect terrorists and criminals during the visa application process.
It would also prevent the use of counterfeit or altered US visas.

The system would complement current application procedures by scanning the applicant’s fingerprints during the visa interview.

The visitor would be asked to place one and then the other index finger on a glass plate that would electronically capture two fingerprints in around 10 seconds.

Facial photos provided by the applicants would also be digitally scanned and added to the file, the embassy said.

Travellers to the US would then undergo a scanning process at ports of entry to determine whether their prints match those on file.

According to the embassy, the data would be securely stored and made available only to authorised officials and selected law-enforcement agencies on a need-to-know basis.

All non-immigrant visa applicants will be fingerprinted, except those under 14 and over 79, diplomats and members of international organisations travelling to the US on official business and individuals travelling for urgent medical care who cannot apply in person.
Biometric identifiers make it virtually impossible for anyone else to claim another person’s identity should their travel documents be stolen or duplicated, the embassy said.

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