US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Apr 2nd 2004, 6:36 pm
#1
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US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
geez.. I hope you've all seen this
U.S. to Fingerprint More Foreigners
2 minutes ago
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By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A program requiring foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the country is being expanded to include millions of travelers from some of America's closest allies, U.S. officials said Friday.
Reuters Photo
The move affects citizens in 27 countries � including Britain, Japan and Australia � who had been allowed to travel within the United States without a visa for up to 90 days, according to the Homeland Security Department.
Under changes in the US-VISIT program that will take effect by Sept. 30, they will be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter through any of 115 international airports and 14 seaports. There are no changes in unique rules covering visits by Canadians and Mexicans.
The Bush administration made the move after determining most of the so-called "visa-waiver countries" won't meet an October deadline to have biometric passports, said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security. Such passports include fingerprint and iris identification features that make the documents virtually impossible to counterfeit.
Citizens from those countries still won't have to go through the consulate interviews, background checks, fingerprinting and photographing that people from other nations must do to obtain a visa.
The US-VISIT program was passed by Congress in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In January, the U.S. government began fingerprinting and photographing visitors from nations other than the visa-waiver countries.
About 5 million people have been processed so far and more than 200 with prior or suspected criminal or immigration violations have been stopped, according to Homeland Security.
Hutchinson said adding the estimated 13 million annual visitors from visa-waiver countries should not create massive backlogs at airports and seaports. He said it takes only 23 seconds per person to take fingerprints and photos and check them against government files.
However, fingerprinting the visa-waiver citizens could have ramifications for Americans when they travel abroad. When US-VISIT began last winter, Brazil retaliated by requiring Americans visiting that country to be fingerprinted and photographed.
Hutchinson said he does not expect other countries will follow Brazil's example. He and other U.S. officials have been talking to their counterparts in the visa-waiver countries and told them their nations could be added to US-VISIT. None expressed strong reservations, he said.
"Our allies, they will see this as a good security measure," he said.
The visa-waiver countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
___
On the Net:
Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov
U.S. to Fingerprint More Foreigners
2 minutes ago
Add White House - AP Cabinet & State to My Yahoo!
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A program requiring foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the country is being expanded to include millions of travelers from some of America's closest allies, U.S. officials said Friday.
Reuters Photo
The move affects citizens in 27 countries � including Britain, Japan and Australia � who had been allowed to travel within the United States without a visa for up to 90 days, according to the Homeland Security Department.
Under changes in the US-VISIT program that will take effect by Sept. 30, they will be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter through any of 115 international airports and 14 seaports. There are no changes in unique rules covering visits by Canadians and Mexicans.
The Bush administration made the move after determining most of the so-called "visa-waiver countries" won't meet an October deadline to have biometric passports, said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security. Such passports include fingerprint and iris identification features that make the documents virtually impossible to counterfeit.
Citizens from those countries still won't have to go through the consulate interviews, background checks, fingerprinting and photographing that people from other nations must do to obtain a visa.
The US-VISIT program was passed by Congress in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In January, the U.S. government began fingerprinting and photographing visitors from nations other than the visa-waiver countries.
About 5 million people have been processed so far and more than 200 with prior or suspected criminal or immigration violations have been stopped, according to Homeland Security.
Hutchinson said adding the estimated 13 million annual visitors from visa-waiver countries should not create massive backlogs at airports and seaports. He said it takes only 23 seconds per person to take fingerprints and photos and check them against government files.
However, fingerprinting the visa-waiver citizens could have ramifications for Americans when they travel abroad. When US-VISIT began last winter, Brazil retaliated by requiring Americans visiting that country to be fingerprinted and photographed.
Hutchinson said he does not expect other countries will follow Brazil's example. He and other U.S. officials have been talking to their counterparts in the visa-waiver countries and told them their nations could be added to US-VISIT. None expressed strong reservations, he said.
"Our allies, they will see this as a good security measure," he said.
The visa-waiver countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
___
On the Net:
Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov
Apr 2nd 2004, 7:14 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 39
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Brilliant! Treat tourists and business visitors like criminals! Kiss the tourism and convention industry goodbye. This whole thing is a farce, any dedicated terrorist group will simply send their lunatics over the southern border, which, as we know, is uncontrolled anyway.
Apr 3rd 2004, 3:30 pm
#3
American Expat
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,598
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Originally posted by Kocourkov
Brilliant! Treat tourists and business visitors like criminals! Kiss the tourism and convention industry goodbye. This whole thing is a farce, any dedicated terrorist group will simply send their lunatics over the southern border, which, as we know, is uncontrolled anyway.
Brilliant! Treat tourists and business visitors like criminals! Kiss the tourism and convention industry goodbye. This whole thing is a farce, any dedicated terrorist group will simply send their lunatics over the southern border, which, as we know, is uncontrolled anyway.
The terrorists have been coming through the ports of entry so far. There's no reason not to close that hole, and then strenghten the southern border.
Apr 3rd 2004, 3:32 pm
#4
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 928
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Originally posted by jaytee
geez.. I hope you've all seen this
U.S. to Fingerprint More Foreigners
2 minutes ago
Add White House - AP Cabinet & State to My Yahoo!
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A program requiring foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the country is being expanded to include millions of travelers from some of America's closest allies, U.S. officials said Friday.
Reuters Photo
The move affects citizens in 27 countries � including Britain, Japan and Australia � who had been allowed to travel within the United States without a visa for up to 90 days, according to the Homeland Security Department.
Under changes in the US-VISIT program that will take effect by Sept. 30, they will be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter through any of 115 international airports and 14 seaports. There are no changes in unique rules covering visits by Canadians and Mexicans.
The Bush administration made the move after determining most of the so-called "visa-waiver countries" won't meet an October deadline to have biometric passports, said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security. Such passports include fingerprint and iris identification features that make the documents virtually impossible to counterfeit.
Citizens from those countries still won't have to go through the consulate interviews, background checks, fingerprinting and photographing that people from other nations must do to obtain a visa.
The US-VISIT program was passed by Congress in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In January, the U.S. government began fingerprinting and photographing visitors from nations other than the visa-waiver countries.
About 5 million people have been processed so far and more than 200 with prior or suspected criminal or immigration violations have been stopped, according to Homeland Security.
Hutchinson said adding the estimated 13 million annual visitors from visa-waiver countries should not create massive backlogs at airports and seaports. He said it takes only 23 seconds per person to take fingerprints and photos and check them against government files.
However, fingerprinting the visa-waiver citizens could have ramifications for Americans when they travel abroad. When US-VISIT began last winter, Brazil retaliated by requiring Americans visiting that country to be fingerprinted and photographed.
Hutchinson said he does not expect other countries will follow Brazil's example. He and other U.S. officials have been talking to their counterparts in the visa-waiver countries and told them their nations could be added to US-VISIT. None expressed strong reservations, he said.
"Our allies, they will see this as a good security measure," he said.
The visa-waiver countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
___
On the Net:
Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov
geez.. I hope you've all seen this
U.S. to Fingerprint More Foreigners
2 minutes ago
Add White House - AP Cabinet & State to My Yahoo!
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A program requiring foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the country is being expanded to include millions of travelers from some of America's closest allies, U.S. officials said Friday.
Reuters Photo
The move affects citizens in 27 countries � including Britain, Japan and Australia � who had been allowed to travel within the United States without a visa for up to 90 days, according to the Homeland Security Department.
Under changes in the US-VISIT program that will take effect by Sept. 30, they will be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter through any of 115 international airports and 14 seaports. There are no changes in unique rules covering visits by Canadians and Mexicans.
The Bush administration made the move after determining most of the so-called "visa-waiver countries" won't meet an October deadline to have biometric passports, said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security. Such passports include fingerprint and iris identification features that make the documents virtually impossible to counterfeit.
Citizens from those countries still won't have to go through the consulate interviews, background checks, fingerprinting and photographing that people from other nations must do to obtain a visa.
The US-VISIT program was passed by Congress in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In January, the U.S. government began fingerprinting and photographing visitors from nations other than the visa-waiver countries.
About 5 million people have been processed so far and more than 200 with prior or suspected criminal or immigration violations have been stopped, according to Homeland Security.
Hutchinson said adding the estimated 13 million annual visitors from visa-waiver countries should not create massive backlogs at airports and seaports. He said it takes only 23 seconds per person to take fingerprints and photos and check them against government files.
However, fingerprinting the visa-waiver citizens could have ramifications for Americans when they travel abroad. When US-VISIT began last winter, Brazil retaliated by requiring Americans visiting that country to be fingerprinted and photographed.
Hutchinson said he does not expect other countries will follow Brazil's example. He and other U.S. officials have been talking to their counterparts in the visa-waiver countries and told them their nations could be added to US-VISIT. None expressed strong reservations, he said.
"Our allies, they will see this as a good security measure," he said.
The visa-waiver countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
___
On the Net:
Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov
Wow 200 minor criminals or immigration violators found out of 5 million and no terrorists! Catch rate of 0.00004. It was really worth it!
Apr 3rd 2004, 10:51 pm
#5
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 709
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
>Wow 200 minor criminals or immigration violators found out of 5 >million
It only takes 19 to take down a whole building.
We don't really need you. We got enough mexicans, japanese, canadians and indians comin' in as it is. Wah Wah Wah.
-= nav =-
It only takes 19 to take down a whole building.
We don't really need you. We got enough mexicans, japanese, canadians and indians comin' in as it is. Wah Wah Wah.
-= nav =-
Apr 4th 2004, 12:08 am
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 39
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Originally posted by supernav
>Wow 200 minor criminals or immigration violators found out of 5 >million
We don't really need you. We got enough mexicans, japanese, canadians and indians comin' in as it is.
-= nav =-
>Wow 200 minor criminals or immigration violators found out of 5 >million
We don't really need you. We got enough mexicans, japanese, canadians and indians comin' in as it is.
-= nav =-
A database of law-abiding pissed-off tourists is a database of law-abiding pissed-off tourists. If you treat them like dirt, they won't come back. Tourism dollars will vanish. I know at least ten people who've cancelled summer vacation plans because of this and the visa scare.
Like I said, why not start policing the southern border of the US, which is where any intelligent never do well is going to send someone through anyway.
Apr 4th 2004, 12:22 am
#7
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 928
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Originally posted by supernav
>Wow 200 minor criminals or immigration violators found out of 5 >million
It only takes 19 to take down a whole building.
We don't really need you. We got enough mexicans, japanese, canadians and indians comin' in as it is. Wah Wah Wah.
-= nav =-
>Wow 200 minor criminals or immigration violators found out of 5 >million
It only takes 19 to take down a whole building.
We don't really need you. We got enough mexicans, japanese, canadians and indians comin' in as it is. Wah Wah Wah.
-= nav =-
Apr 4th 2004, 6:05 am
#8
American Expat
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,598
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Originally posted by Squirrel
Yeah, 19 TERRORISTS, not 19 minor criminals or immigration violators. The 9/11 terrorists had no criminal records or immigration violations in the US so how would these new laws have caught them?
Yeah, 19 TERRORISTS, not 19 minor criminals or immigration violators. The 9/11 terrorists had no criminal records or immigration violations in the US so how would these new laws have caught them?
That's garbage. Atta violated his status, and didn't have the proper visa to reenter the U.S. Lax enforcement allowed him to reenter.
Apr 4th 2004, 6:08 am
#9
American Expat
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,598
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Originally posted by Kocourkov
Actually, you don't. University applications are way down this year, and you're pissing off the rest of the world. 200 minor violations are simply not worth it. It's a feel-good measure to make it look like Chimpy is actually doing something. He's not. Spain gets hit, they track people down. The US gets hit and.... the government is busy arresting guys who played paintball.
A database of law-abiding pissed-off tourists is a database of law-abiding pissed-off tourists. If you treat them like dirt, they won't come back. Tourism dollars will vanish. I know at least ten people who've cancelled summer vacation plans because of this and the visa scare.
Like I said, why not start policing the southern border of the US, which is where any intelligent never do well is going to send someone through anyway.
Actually, you don't. University applications are way down this year, and you're pissing off the rest of the world. 200 minor violations are simply not worth it. It's a feel-good measure to make it look like Chimpy is actually doing something. He's not. Spain gets hit, they track people down. The US gets hit and.... the government is busy arresting guys who played paintball.
A database of law-abiding pissed-off tourists is a database of law-abiding pissed-off tourists. If you treat them like dirt, they won't come back. Tourism dollars will vanish. I know at least ten people who've cancelled summer vacation plans because of this and the visa scare.
Like I said, why not start policing the southern border of the US, which is where any intelligent never do well is going to send someone through anyway.
Students never leave. They just stay to take our jobs anyway. Way too many are here on scholarships. If they don't come, then more Americans can get the scholarships, and the jobs. Also, many students never showed up for school, and just started working, or looking for crack whores to set up fake marriages with, and then stay in the U.S. It sounds good to me.
Apr 4th 2004, 12:52 pm
#10
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,391
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Just my opinion what is the big deal?
If I were to travel to a foreign country and they wanted to photo and print me at entry, I would not think twice. It is their right to know who is entering their country. After all it is not a free world and the world as we know it is in a state of violent unrest. Every country, yours and mine and theirs, has the right to know who they are giving the privilege of visitorship to.
Rete
If I were to travel to a foreign country and they wanted to photo and print me at entry, I would not think twice. It is their right to know who is entering their country. After all it is not a free world and the world as we know it is in a state of violent unrest. Every country, yours and mine and theirs, has the right to know who they are giving the privilege of visitorship to.
Rete
Apr 4th 2004, 6:56 pm
#11
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 709
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
This forum is FULL of F1 students wanting to marry, or get H1B's, L1B's, etc. etc.
Since when did it become the US's responsibility to guarantee JOBS and EDUCATION to everyone on the planet?
American Citizens create American rules. Don't like it -- don't come.
Send a postcard.
-= nav =-
Since when did it become the US's responsibility to guarantee JOBS and EDUCATION to everyone on the planet?
American Citizens create American rules. Don't like it -- don't come.
Send a postcard.
-= nav =-
Apr 4th 2004, 10:40 pm
#12
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 928
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
Atta violated his status, and didn't have the proper visa to reenter the U.S. Lax enforcement allowed him to reenter.
Apr 4th 2004, 10:51 pm
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 129
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
This forum is FULL of F1 students wanting to marry, or get H1B's, L1B's, etc. etc.
Since when did it become the US's responsibility to guarantee JOBS and EDUCATION to everyone on the planet?
American Citizens create American rules. Don't like it -- don't come.
I say allow more immigrants into the US that way the American economy will be healthier, don't you agree NAV?
Since when did it become the US's responsibility to guarantee JOBS and EDUCATION to everyone on the planet?
American Citizens create American rules. Don't like it -- don't come.
I say allow more immigrants into the US that way the American economy will be healthier, don't you agree NAV?
Apr 5th 2004, 12:22 am
#14
American Expat
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,598
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
[i]
I say allow more immigrants into the US that way the American economy will be healthier, don't you agree NAV?
I say allow more immigrants into the US that way the American economy will be healthier, don't you agree NAV?
Apr 5th 2004, 1:01 am
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 129
Re: US to Fingerprint Visitors from Britain
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I don't mind immigrants coming to the U.S. However, we should be allowed to screen them first. Look at California's economy. They have the most illegal aliens. It doesn't seem to be helping their economy. There are 3 migrant farm laborers for every farm job in California. If one guy comes and gets takes a job, and then puts his 3 kids in public school, and gets some free medical treatment for the 5 of them, how is the U.S. economy benefiting?
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I used to bitch & moan so much about the number of immigrants coming into the UK & making life harder & more expensive for the rest of us. So I can understand why the Americans are always moaning about the number of immigrants allowed into their country. Here in the UK we also have that problem but its not something that will stop, people are always going to want a better life for themselves & their families. Poor people from third world countries will emigrate legally or illegally it won't matter to them they will have nothing to loose & everything to gain. I myself am also trying to emigrate to the US as I want a better quality of life so I also understand why immigrants do all they can to get into the US or the UK or any other developed country. The US is not the only country where this is happening, its happening everywhere. What the American government is doing right now with the lenghy processing times is not right, it is playing with peoples lives & their families, hopes & dreams. Personally I do not think the photo taking, finger printing & FBI name checks is going to stop terrorism but if thats what they wish to do then fine but it only delays people wanting to legally enter the US, as for the illegals they don't care as long as they get in which they will one way or another.
I don't mind immigrants coming to the U.S. However, we should be allowed to screen them first. Look at California's economy. They have the most illegal aliens. It doesn't seem to be helping their economy. There are 3 migrant farm laborers for every farm job in California. If one guy comes and gets takes a job, and then puts his 3 kids in public school, and gets some free medical treatment for the 5 of them, how is the U.S. economy benefiting?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I used to bitch & moan so much about the number of immigrants coming into the UK & making life harder & more expensive for the rest of us. So I can understand why the Americans are always moaning about the number of immigrants allowed into their country. Here in the UK we also have that problem but its not something that will stop, people are always going to want a better life for themselves & their families. Poor people from third world countries will emigrate legally or illegally it won't matter to them they will have nothing to loose & everything to gain. I myself am also trying to emigrate to the US as I want a better quality of life so I also understand why immigrants do all they can to get into the US or the UK or any other developed country. The US is not the only country where this is happening, its happening everywhere. What the American government is doing right now with the lenghy processing times is not right, it is playing with peoples lives & their families, hopes & dreams. Personally I do not think the photo taking, finger printing & FBI name checks is going to stop terrorism but if thats what they wish to do then fine but it only delays people wanting to legally enter the US, as for the illegals they don't care as long as they get in which they will one way or another.