US VISIT

US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) is a United States immigration and border management system. The system involves the collection and analysis of biometric data (such as fingerprints), which are checked against a database that claims to track individuals deemed by the United States to be terrorists, criminals, and illegal immigrants.

Purpose and overview

The U.S. government states that the purpose of US-VISIT is to advance the security of both the United States and worldwide travel, through the use and sharing of biometric information for identity management. Non-U.S. citizens who wish to enter the United States must have their index fingers – or, at some entry ports, all of their fingers – digitally scanned and a digital photograph taken at the respective U.S. port of entry. Immigration officials have the ability to instantly check the person seeking entry against several "lookout" databases using the Interagency Border Inspection System. DHS has said that it intends to deploy a biometric exit data collection system to all commercial airports and cruise ship departure ports by December 2008.

Initially, only visitors who required a Visa (document) inserted in their passport were included in the US-VISIT program. However, since September 30, 2004 visitors eligible for the [[[Visa Waiver Program]] have also been required to use the US-VISIT program. For a list of countries participating in VWP, see Visa Waiver Program.

The United States and Canada have special agreements for visa-free travel, and currently most Canadians are not subject to US-VISIT. U.S. citizens are not required to be digitally fingerscanned or photographed when they enter United States territory. The Department of State began issuing biometric passports to its citizens in 2006.