The program is expected to minimize the possibility of document fraud and identify individuals who are on a terrorist watch list, with the goal of preventing them from entering the country. All US Visa applicants are now asked to come, in person, to the Consular Section of the US Embassy to apply and be interviewed. At the time of the interview, each applicant between the ages of 14 and 79 will be required to provide fingerprints of two fingers.

   This new procedure is a result of the US State Departmentís ambitious program to be compliant with the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 that stipulates that no later than October 26th, 2004, the United States must issue to international visitors "only machine-readable, tamper-resistant visas and travel and entry documents that use biometric identifiers." This new finger printing process will facilitate rapid and precise identification and will therefore enable more secure processing of travelers at ports of entry.

   The Consular Section would also like to remind the general public that non-immigrant visa working hours are Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

   According to information provided by the US Embassy in Belize, this is how the US-VISIT Program works:

Entry

    Many of the entry procedures in place today will remain unchanged and are familiar to international travelers.

    The new, inkless digital "finger scanner" is easy to use. Visitors with visas will first put one index finger and then the other index finger on a glass plate that will electronically capture two finger scans.

   US Customs and Border Protection Officers will review travel documents, such as a visa and passport, and ask questions about the visitorís stay in the United States.

   Visitors will also look into a camera and their digital picture will be taken.

   The enhancements to the entry procedures add minimal time to the process - an average of 15 seconds in most cases.

Exit

   On January 5th, 2004, US-VISIT began a pilot test of departure confirmation systems, including an automated, self-service kiosk where visitors with visas will scan their travel documents and repeat the digital "finger scanning" process on the inkless device. Attendants will be available to assist departing visitors. The exit pilot began with kiosks in Baltimore-Washington International Airport and at one Miami Seaport cruise line.

   During 2004, US-VISIT will pilot several alternatives for exit procedures and after an evaluation, select the most effective process.

   Visitors with visas who depart from a port where the departure confirmation system is in place must comply. The exit confirmation will be added to the visitorís travel records to demonstrate compliance and record the individualís status for future visits to the United States. Enhancing Security

   Digital "finger scans" will be checked against a database of known and suspected terrorists and criminals. These "biometric identifiers" protect US visitors by making it virtually impossible for anyone else to claim their identity should their travel documents be stolen or duplicated. By combining these entry and exit processes, and by securely stor

   ing the travel records, the US can account for visitors who require a visa for travel to the United States.

Facilitating Travel

   US-VISIT procedures are designed to be easy. The enhanced entry procedures at airports and seaports add minimal time, in most cases only seconds, to the immigration process, which typically takes about one minute without US-VISIT procedures. Respecting Privacy

    Travel data will be securely stored, and is made available only to authorized officials and selected law enforcement agencies on a need-to- know basis.