The Change Mariner

Stricter Rules on Foreign Visitors

San Jose Mercury News:

The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that it planned to require travelers from 27 industrialized nations -- including longtime allies like Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Japan and Australia -- to be photographed and electronically fingerprinted when they arrive in the United States.

Officials described the move as a critical security measure intended to protect the country from future terrorist attacks. Once the program goes into effect by Sept. 30 at 115 airports around the nation, only diplomats, Canadians and Mexicans carrying border cards -- which are typically used for 72-hour visits to the United States -- will be exempt from the new rules.

Under an existing program, airport inspectors have already been photographing and fingerprinting travelers who need visas to visit the United States.

The new decision would extend that requirement to tourists from 22 European countries who can currently travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. Because they are required to carry visas, students and other visitors from those nations who stay for more than three months have already been subjected to the new security measures since January.

Posted by Bob King at April 3, 2004 07:58 AM | TrackBack
Related Categories: Area - Social - Privacy | Industry - Travel | Quadrant - Political | Theme - 'Response to Terrorism'

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