US announces new entry-exit system

Staff Report

LAHORE: United States Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has announced plans for a new US entry-exit system called US VISIT, designed to make entering the US easier for legitimate tourists, students and business travellers.

According to a statement by United States Information Service (USIS), the US Visitor and Immigrant Status Indication Technology (US VISIT) system would make it more difficult to enter the country illegally through the use of biometrical identifiers such as photographs, fingerprints and iris scans. The system will be in its first phase of operation at international air and sea ports of entry by the end of 2003.

Drawing heavily on developing technologies and scientific capabilities, the system will utilize a minimum of two biometric identifiers, such as photographs, fingerprints or iris scans, to build an electronic check in/check out system for people coming to the US to work, study or visit.

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