Department
of Homeland Security Begins US-VISIT
Biometric
Exit Pilot at Philadelphia International Airport
Department
of Homeland Security Begins US-VISIT Biometric Exit Pilot at Philadelphia
International Airport
Washington,
DC � April 2005 � U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
announced that beginning Wenesday (April 6), foreign visitors departing
from Philadelphia International Airport are required to follow checkout
procedures before departing on their flight. Visitors are asked to provide
their two index fingerscans and hold for a digital photo as part of a pilot
program to test and evaluate an automated biometric exit process. US-VISIT
procedures apply to all visitors (with limited exemptions) to the United
States. Most visitors experience US-VISIT�s biometric procedures � a digital,
inkless fingerscan and digital photograph � upon entry to the United States.
Now, if they leave from an airport or seaport that has an exit capability
like that of Philadelphia, they must also check out.
The
exit procedures being piloted at Philadelphia require:
-
Foreign
visitors departing the United States will check out of the country at exit
stations located within the airport. Similar to the entry process at airports
or seaports, their travel documents will be read, their two index fingers
will be scanned at the exit station, their digital picture will be taken,
and they will receive a printed receipt that verifies that they have checked
out. A workstation attendant will be available to assist with checkout.
-
Some
locations include an additional step � verification � at the departure
gate. In locations with this extra process, visitors will be required to
present their receipt at the departure gate to confirm that they checked
out at the exit station. The workstation attendant will scan the receipt
and then ask the visitor to place an index finger on the scanning device.
Once the person�s identity is matched to the receipt, the workstation attendant
will hand back the receipt and the visitor will board the airplane.
To
help the process run smoothly, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers
will provide foreign visitors with a card explaining the exit process when
they arrive in the United States at one of the airports participating in
the pilot. Directional map cards will be distributed by the airlines and
signs will be strategically located throughout the airport directing the
visitors to the exit stations.
The
exit pilot program has been operating for a number of months at Baltimore/Washington
International Airport, Chicago O�Hare International Airport, Denver International
Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and the Miami International
Cruise Line Terminal.
Exit
procedures became operational at Newark Liberty International Airport,
Luis Munoz International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Francisco
International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in
January. Additional exit pilots began last week at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport and Los Angeles� San Pedro and Long Beach Seaports.
US-VISIT
is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It enhances
security for our citizens and visitors while facilitating legitimate travel
and trade across our borders.
US-VISIT
entry procedures are currently in place at 115 airports, 15 seaports and
in the secondary inspection areas of the 50 busiest land ports of entry.
By December 31, 2005, US-VISIT entry procedures will be implemented in
the secondary inspection areas of all remaining land ports of entry.
To
date, more than 23 million foreign visitors have been processed through
US-VISIT without adversely impacting wait times, and more than 500 criminals
or immigration violators have been denied admission to the United States
because of US-VISIT.
US-VISIT
is helping the United States demonstrate that it remains a welcoming nation
-- that we can keep America�s doors open and our nation secure.
For
more information, visit www.dhs.gov/us-visit.
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