US Visa-Fingerprint
March 18, 2004 8:55pm
United News of Bangladesh
Dhaka, Mar 18 (UNB) - The US mission here introduced from today a new visa process that would require visa-applicants to give their fingerprints as identification mark under a new security measure for travelling to America. Under the new process called "biometric identifiers", one finger (index finger) from the right hand and one from the left hand of a visa-seeker will be electronically scanned on the day of interview. Once scanned, the finger images will be sent to Washington, DC, for review, which may delay the issuance of visa. The finger images collected at the time of a visa application will be in addition to the digitized photos already included on the US visa. The existing structure of interview will, however, remain unchanged. All visa-applicants except children bellow 14, adults over the age of 79, diplomats and others engaged in official travel to the United States must submit fingerprints to be taken by an electronic device at the Consular Section of the US Embassy. With the introduction of scanning fingerprints as identifiers of the America-goers, more than 50 visa-applicants were checked today. It takes about 10 minutes to get back the report of the fingerprints from Washington. "However, these are not your typical, somewhat stigmatizing, police station fingerprints," US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas told a media conference at the consular section where a demonstration of finger scanning was held. Ambassador Harry said like many countries, including Bangladesh, the US continues to balance its ability to facilitate international travel with the need to maintain the security of its borders. He said the new procedures are required by US law at all visa-issuing posts worldwide to enhance US national security as well as security of all visitors to the USA. Thomas said Bangladesh is not the only country to be subject to this new procedure. "This is not something for Muslim countries. In fact, Bangladesh today joined over 60 other visa-issuing posts worldwide" that have already implemented the programme. The collection of biometric data along with the US visit programme will not only enhance the security of US citizens, residents and visitors but also make entry into the US easier for legitimate visitors, he said, adding that biometrics is not to hinder travel to the United States. Richard Adams, Head of the Consular Section, told reporters that the US follows the policy of "open door" as well as "secure border". The system of collecting fingerprint is crucially linked with US national security as it would be easy detecting any difference of fingerprints at the port of entry in the United States. This would, he said, also improve the security of travelers, and imposters will not be able to use one's legitimate visa. In last two months, this system has been introduced at 115 US airports and 14 seaports. Adams said following the introduction of fingerprints some 150 persons had been caught at the port of entry. He would not say if any Bangladeshi national has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism since the September 11 terror attacks on America. In reply to another question, Adams said before the September 11 attacks some 30,000 to 35,000 Bangladeshi nationals had applied for US visa annually. The number of applicants has dropped after the September 11 troubles, he admitted. Vice-Consuls Sean O'neill and Danna Brennan were also present explaining to journalists different aspects of collecting fingerprints of visa-seekers.
(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)
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