Going to the US? smile please

Going to the US? smile please
Tuesday December 23 2003 01:41 IST

NEW DELHI: On January 5, 2004, foreign visitors arriving at certain US ports of entry will be among the first to participate in a new entry-exit system that will incorporate biometric identifiers _ fingerprints and a photo.

The new process, part of the US-VISIT program, is a critical part of US efforts to facilitate legitimate travel while increasing border security. In conjunction with US-VISIT, by fall 2004, applicants for US visas at Embassies and Consulates General around the world will also provide biometric information at the time of the visa interview.

The process is designed to be both accurate and non-intrusive, will take only a few seconds to complete, and all information collected will be stored in secure databases......

Full Story Here