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Jan. 16th, 2009 05:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
109When does the expansion of the US-VISIT Program to include lawful permanent residents take effect?
As of January 18, 2009, the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program (US-VISIT) will expand to include green card holders. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced an increase in the scope of the US-VISIT program to include screening of almost all non-U.S. citizens, including lawful permanent residents, when entering the United States after international travel. The US-VISIT program previously included only individuals entering the U.S. with temporary visas and visitors under the visa waiver program.
What kind of screening does the US-VISIT program involve?
This program, first implemented in 2003 to verify the identity and authenticity of travel documents, involves collection of fingerprints, photographs and other biometric identifiers at many ports of entry to the United States. At the port of entry, the Customs and Border Protection division of the Department of Homeland Security will take digital fingerprints and photographs of lawful permanent residents as well as scanned images of their travel documents. The government will check green card holders’ backgrounds in various databases to detect past violations of criminal or immigration law. In addition, DHS will link individuals to their travel documents which will lessen the risk of fraudulent use of those documents in the future.
Will this mean that I will be delayed at the airport when traveling?
Your first entry into the U.S. under this program may take longer than usual as the government collects the initial required biometric data. On your first entry under the program, you may be required to provide up to 10 fingerprints. On subsequent entries, you will provide fewer than 10 fingerprints. Reports we have received from our employees on non-immigrant work visas who are currently subject to the US-VISIT program are the US-VISIT process at the port of entry is generally quite smooth and we have not heard of many delays. However, we would recommend that you allow additional time for immigration inspection, particularly the first time you re-enter the U.S. after January 18, 2009. Overall waiting times for immigration inspection at ports of entry vary greatly depending on a variety of factors.
DHS has confirmed that the agency will continue to allow families where some members are U.S. citizens and some are lawful permanent residents to go to the same immigration inspection counters at airports when possible.
Is every U.S. port of entry included in the US-VISIT program? Will I have to go through US-VISIT screening when I exit the U.S.?
No, the program includes most major ports of entry, but it has not yet been expanded to all U.S. ports of entry. There is currently no exit US-VISIT screening, although the DHS may expand the program to include this in the future.
Is there anything I need to do proactively to comply with US-VISIT before I travel abroad?
No, this is a requirement upon entry to the United States. You cannot have the fingerprints or photographs taken ahead of time. They will be taken at the port of entry, which is the airport or land border crossing.
I have already given my fingerprints and photographs to the USCIS for many of my immigration applications. Why does the government need them again?
DHS states that it will compare your fingerprints given at the port of entry to the fingerprints taken by the USCIS during the adjustment of status application, when available in the system, to verify your identity.
I am traveling into the United States as a lawful permanent resident using a re-entry permit. Will I still need to go through US-VISIT?
Yes, all lawful permanent residents, even those with re-entry permits, are required to comply with the requirements of this program when entering the United States.
I have an N-400 application pending. Will I still need to go through U.S. Visit?
Yes, you are required to comply with the requirements of this program when entering the United States even if you are in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. U.S. citizens are not included in the US-VISIT program, but you will not be considered a U.S. citizen until you take the oath of allegiance and receive your naturalization certificate. Remember that once you become a U.S. citizen, you should not travel internationally until you obtain a U.S. passport.
As of January 18, 2009, the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program (US-VISIT) will expand to include green card holders. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced an increase in the scope of the US-VISIT program to include screening of almost all non-U.S. citizens, including lawful permanent residents, when entering the United States after international travel. The US-VISIT program previously included only individuals entering the U.S. with temporary visas and visitors under the visa waiver program.
What kind of screening does the US-VISIT program involve?
This program, first implemented in 2003 to verify the identity and authenticity of travel documents, involves collection of fingerprints, photographs and other biometric identifiers at many ports of entry to the United States. At the port of entry, the Customs and Border Protection division of the Department of Homeland Security will take digital fingerprints and photographs of lawful permanent residents as well as scanned images of their travel documents. The government will check green card holders’ backgrounds in various databases to detect past violations of criminal or immigration law. In addition, DHS will link individuals to their travel documents which will lessen the risk of fraudulent use of those documents in the future.
Will this mean that I will be delayed at the airport when traveling?
Your first entry into the U.S. under this program may take longer than usual as the government collects the initial required biometric data. On your first entry under the program, you may be required to provide up to 10 fingerprints. On subsequent entries, you will provide fewer than 10 fingerprints. Reports we have received from our employees on non-immigrant work visas who are currently subject to the US-VISIT program are the US-VISIT process at the port of entry is generally quite smooth and we have not heard of many delays. However, we would recommend that you allow additional time for immigration inspection, particularly the first time you re-enter the U.S. after January 18, 2009. Overall waiting times for immigration inspection at ports of entry vary greatly depending on a variety of factors.
DHS has confirmed that the agency will continue to allow families where some members are U.S. citizens and some are lawful permanent residents to go to the same immigration inspection counters at airports when possible.
Is every U.S. port of entry included in the US-VISIT program? Will I have to go through US-VISIT screening when I exit the U.S.?
No, the program includes most major ports of entry, but it has not yet been expanded to all U.S. ports of entry. There is currently no exit US-VISIT screening, although the DHS may expand the program to include this in the future.
Is there anything I need to do proactively to comply with US-VISIT before I travel abroad?
No, this is a requirement upon entry to the United States. You cannot have the fingerprints or photographs taken ahead of time. They will be taken at the port of entry, which is the airport or land border crossing.
I have already given my fingerprints and photographs to the USCIS for many of my immigration applications. Why does the government need them again?
DHS states that it will compare your fingerprints given at the port of entry to the fingerprints taken by the USCIS during the adjustment of status application, when available in the system, to verify your identity.
I am traveling into the United States as a lawful permanent resident using a re-entry permit. Will I still need to go through US-VISIT?
Yes, all lawful permanent residents, even those with re-entry permits, are required to comply with the requirements of this program when entering the United States.
I have an N-400 application pending. Will I still need to go through U.S. Visit?
Yes, you are required to comply with the requirements of this program when entering the United States even if you are in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. U.S. citizens are not included in the US-VISIT program, but you will not be considered a U.S. citizen until you take the oath of allegiance and receive your naturalization certificate. Remember that once you become a U.S. citizen, you should not travel internationally until you obtain a U.S. passport.
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Date: 2009-01-17 04:23 am (UTC)