U.S.US-VISIT IMMIGRATION EXIT REGISTRATION PROGRAM BASED ON BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY

On August 3, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it will pilot and evaluate US-VISIT automated biometric exit procedures for foreign visitors.

2. The exit pilot program will be expanded from its current locations Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Miami’s International Cruise Line Terminal – to Chicago O’Hare International Airport beginning in August 2004 and will be piloted at the following airports and seaports in September 2004.

• Atlanta, Georgia (William B. Hartsfield International Airport)
• Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport)
• Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport)
• Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)
• Newark, New Jersey (Newark International Airport)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia International Airport)
• Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)
• San Francisco, California (San Francisco International Airport)
• Seattle, Washington (Seattle/Tacoma International Airport)
• Los Angeles, California (San Pedro and Long Beach Seaports)

3. Any foreign visitor with a visa, who leaves the United States through one of the pilot sites, is required to comply. After September 30, 2004, visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program will be required to comply as well.

4. The exit procedures being piloted require foreign visitors to check out at an automated exit station or with a US-VISIT exit attendant at the departure gate at the port. Foreign visitors will go through one of the following two processes, depending on location.

5. Visitors departing the United States will check out of the country at exit stations located within the airport or seaport terminal. Upon entry of the visitors at airports or seaports, their travel documents would be read, their two index fingers will be scanned at the exit station, their 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 station.

6. To help the process run smoothly, foreign visitors will receive a printed Card explaining the exit process from Customs and Border protection when they arrive in the United States. Also, directional signs are strategically located throughout the airports and seaports.