Biometrics from baby at the US border? (VWP)

[simonschus 58]

Hi there all
 

Some friends are coming to visit us and they're bringing their baby (will be about 6-7 months old by the time of travel). 

 

They've got the baby a UK passport and will be applying for the Visa Waiver Program for her (and for themselves).

 

The parents will have to do the photographs and fingerprints upon arrival into the US by flight. However, will the baby have to provide fingerprints and have her photograph taken at the border too? I can't remember what I've seen before when noticing other babies at the border.  I was just hoping to prepare them

 

Anything else I should be aware?

 

Edited March 10, 2017 by simonschus
grammar

[KierenHby 897]

Reckon baby is fingerprinted with assistance from a parent? Or photographed only? Assuming baby somehow 'signed' the pp application. 

[jostermacedo 54]

Children below a cut-off age (I believe is 12 or 14) neither have their fingerprint taken nor have to be photographed.

[simonschus 58]

Thanks for both of your responses.

 

It should be noted that I couldn't find too much when I did a search online on the CBP webpages confirming that this would be the case.

 

I had assumed that the age limit would be the case. I'm familiar with the scientific research literature underlying both fingerprinting and photography, and it is broadly posited that neither are the most accurate methods of uniquely identifying people at any age, but even more at a particular age. It suffices because the devices are cheap, fairly well-known by the public, "do the job fairly well", and the demographics of those for whom it doesn't work are generally considered low (but not entirely devout of) risk. I am also familiar with the research literature about the social acceptability of asking for these from children though wasn't sure if that would be applied to policies of CBP involving children who weren't LPRs or USCs.

 

I'll advise my friend that "nah, you won't have to bother with baby biometrics" and hope it is an accurate statement without major nuances.

 

P.S. Responding to one the comments earlier: I don't think the baby signs the passport in any way I think that would be unrealistic and difficult to justify as having any meaningful use. One of the parents presumably signed the passport application, and a friend/family members countersigned the photograph as outlined on the UK passport application website for children under five years.

 

 

Edited March 16, 2017 by simonschus

[jostermacedo 54]

4 minutes ago, simonschus said:

Thanks for both of your responses.

 

It should be noted that I couldn't find too much when I did a search online on the CBP webpages confirming that this would be the case.

 

I had assumed that the age limit would be the case. I'm familiar with the scientific research literature underlying both fingerprinting and photography, and it is broadly posited that neither are the most accurate methods of uniquely identifying people at any age, but even more at a particular age. It suffices because the devices are cheap, fairly well-known by the public, "do the job fairly well", and the demographics of those for whom it doesn't work are generally considered low (but not entirely devout of) risk. I am also familiar with the research literature about the social acceptability of asking for these from children though wasn't sure if that would be applied to policies of CBP involving children who weren't LPRs or USCs.

 

I'll advise my friend that "nah, you won't have to bother with baby biometrics" and hope it is an accurate statement without major nuances.

 

 

I entered the US four times with my daughter (she was under 14). Three times with a B1/B2 visa and once with an immigrant visa. She never was either photographed or had her fingerprints taken. Myself and my wife were a different story.

 

I know this is just one sample, but I believe underage kids and babies are not on the list of high risk individuals to be monitored.

 

 

Edited March 16, 2017 by jostermacedo

[KierenHby 897]

2 hours ago, jostermacedo said:

 

I know this is just one sample, but I believe underage kids and babies are not on the list of high risk individuals to be monitored.

 

This isn't about high risk monitoring.. but about every individual that enters the US through it's border must be inspected, incl USCs.

[jostermacedo 54]

 

4 minutes ago, KierenHby said:

This isn't about high risk monitoring.. but about every individual that enters the US through it's border must be inspected, incl USCs.

 

Minors are inspected and have their visa processed and an I-94 issued. Fingerprinting and photograph is about risk monitoring: immigration, terrorism etc. What benefit of photographing/fingerprinting a baby would bring to government authorities?

Edited March 16, 2017 by jostermacedo

[KierenHby 897]

Babies are inspected, that's all. 

[jostermacedo 54]

Just now, KierenHby said:

Babies are inspected, that's all. 

Of course they are. My comment was about the photo/fingerprinting.