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#1
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
The US has about 45 million visiting per year, and lost
about 5 million visitors from 2000 to 2001. New rules also will start In March for just visitors. New French passports already have the biometric info, but the older one`s do not. This will cause some problems. Earl *** Soon, new rules for foreigners Millions of foreign visitors to the United States, already under strict scrutiny since the 2001 terrorist attacks, soon will have to be fingerprinted and photographed to get through the nation's airports and seaports. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans for a high-tech system that will help track the 24 million foreigners who enter the country with work, student or travel visas each year. Congress ordered the system after the Sept. 11 attacks, when officials learned that two of the 19 hijackers had violated the terms of their visas. The program's goal is to prevent potential terrorists from entering the country and to register foreigners who are allowed in. It also requires foreigners to check out when they leave so officials can look for people who stay after their visas expire. The program replaces a controversial measure that required people in the United States from 25 mostly Muslim countries to register with the government. Asa Hutchinson, head of border security at the department, called it a "dramatic step forward" in tightening security. But airport managers and travel industry officials say they're concerned that the program will cause delays and discourage tourism. Civil libertarians worry that the information collected won't stay private. The first part of the new entry-exit system will be launched at 115 airports and 14 major seaports on Jan. 5. Border agents will use a digital camera on a desktop tripod and an electronic fingerprint machine not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes to collect biometric information. The data will be compared with lists of known and suspected terrorists and other lawbreakers. Within seconds, the agent's computer will indicate whether there was a "hit." Foreigners from 27 countries deemed low-risk will not have to be photographed or fingerprinted. But they will have biometric information put in chips in their passports by late 2004. The exit part of the new system will require visitors to go to a self-service kiosk, swipe their passports and provide their fingerprints. The kiosks will operate at only about 30 airports in January. Officials said the technology for that part of the program is still being developed. The most difficult part of the program setting up the system at border crossings must be done by 2005. It will be complicated and expensive because there are no lanes or booths for agents to check people on their way out of the country. Studies show that adding an exit system could add hours of waiting time. Congress, concerned about how the program was being managed, cut its funding this year. President Bush ( news -web sites ) requested $480 million for 2004; Congress approved $330 million. Rick Webster of the Travel Industry Association said his group supports the idea of registering foreign visitors. But he expressed concern that there may not be "enough equipment, personnel and training to support expeditious processing." If people face three or four-hour waits at airports, he said, "it only adds another disincentive for people to come here." |
#2
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
Thats not travelling in Europe
"Earl Evleth" a écrit dans le message de The US has about 45 million visiting per year, and lost about 5 million visitors from 2000 to 2001. New rules also will start In March for just visitors. New French passports already have the biometric info, but the older one`s do not. This will cause some problems. Earl *** Soon, new rules for foreigners Millions of foreign visitors to the United States, already under strict scrutiny since the 2001 terrorist attacks, soon will have to be fingerprinted and photographed to get through the nation's airports and seaports. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans for a high-tech system that will help track the 24 million foreigners who enter the country with work, student or travel visas each year. Congress ordered the system after the Sept. 11 attacks, when officials learned that two of the 19 hijackers had violated the terms of their visas. The program's goal is to prevent potential terrorists from entering the country and to register foreigners who are allowed in. It also requires foreigners to check out when they leave so officials can look for people who stay after their visas expire. The program replaces a controversial measure that required people in the United States from 25 mostly Muslim countries to register with the government. Asa Hutchinson, head of border security at the department, called it a "dramatic step forward" in tightening security. But airport managers and travel industry officials say they're concerned that the program will cause delays and discourage tourism. Civil libertarians worry that the information collected won't stay private. The first part of the new entry-exit system will be launched at 115 airports and 14 major seaports on Jan. 5. Border agents will use a digital camera on a desktop tripod and an electronic fingerprint machine not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes to collect biometric information. The data will be compared with lists of known and suspected terrorists and other lawbreakers. Within seconds, the agent's computer will indicate whether there was a "hit." Foreigners from 27 countries deemed low-risk will not have to be photographed or fingerprinted. But they will have biometric information put in chips in their passports by late 2004. The exit part of the new system will require visitors to go to a self-service kiosk, swipe their passports and provide their fingerprints. The kiosks will operate at only about 30 airports in January. Officials said the technology for that part of the program is still being developed. The most difficult part of the program setting up the system at border crossings must be done by 2005. It will be complicated and expensive because there are no lanes or booths for agents to check people on their way out of the country. Studies show that adding an exit system could add hours of waiting time. Congress, concerned about how the program was being managed, cut its funding this year. President Bush ( news -web sites ) requested $480 million for 2004; Congress approved $330 million. Rick Webster of the Travel Industry Association said his group supports the idea of registering foreign visitors. But he expressed concern that there may not be "enough equipment, personnel and training to support expeditious processing." If people face three or four-hour waits at airports, he said, "it only adds another disincentive for people to come here." |
#3
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
Lennart Petersen wrote in message
... "Jeremy Henderson" skrev i meddelandet ... Not to mention that the immigration people at US airports are often appallingly rude and patronising. Last time I visited there were enormous queues and some little hitler-type was marching up and down the lines yelling orders and abuse in equal measure - not the best way to start off a vacation . J. Believe you ,but I've only one experience and that was pleasant. Arrival to LAX from Auckland. Not long queues and rather relaxed. Polite immigration officer just asked "business or pleasure trip?" and that was I have had mixed welcomes. Coming into Atlanta was the worst. The customs were outright hostile to me, in that they questioned why I was from one country, but living in another. I couldn't believe they thought that was strange! They ended up asking me all sorts of odd stuff, including whether I had ever been guilty of "moral turpitude", whatever the hell that is. (I answered no, and THEN they asked me if I knew what it meant!!!!!) --- DFM |
#4
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
Seems like they've overreacted to American tightening of security. I
wouldn't want to rely on the judgement of a perhaps sleepy, perhaps ill customs immigration officer on who to record or not record. Too easy for undesirables to slip past them. Perhaps having watched the WTC towers come down 1/2 mile away from my office has jaded my thinking! You mean the WTC towers that were brought down by people who entered the country legally under their real identities which were fully recorded by the INS at the point of entry? Ah. And then (IIRC) a few weeks later two of the dead terrorists got granted visas. (if someone has a link to this story, can they post it?) This level of control is largely for a psychological effect - to give the impression of control. It certainly does not gurantee purity and wholesomeness of the entrants. Nothing can. --- DFM |
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
Charles Hawtrey wrote in message
... Wolfgang Barth staggered to the nearest keyboard and wrote: On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 11:57:54 -0800, Go Fig wrote: Let me ask this, in Germany, if I want to participate in a religious congregation, why does the government need to know which congregation I belong to ? I understand it is also for the distribution on funds, but this is very intrusive ... don't you think ? This is a direct attack on privacy. You are allowed to say: "no religion" and nobody will hinder you to go to any church synagoge or whatever. The tax authorities ask for the religion because they have contracts with several churches to collect the fees for the churches in context with the normal taxes. Holy mackerel, the government collects membership fees for churches??!??!? I thought you sophisticated, agnostic Europeans were much more advanced on concepts of separation between church and state than us backward, benighted Americans. Umm, there is a difference between "Germans" and "Europeans", isn't there? p --- DFM |
#6
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
In article , Earl Evleth
writes The US has about 45 million visiting per year, and lost about 5 million visitors from 2000 to 2001. New rules also will start In March for just visitors. New French passports already have the biometric info, but the older one`s do not. This will cause some problems. Earl *** Soon, new rules for foreigners Millions of foreign visitors to the United States, already under strict scrutiny since the 2001 terrorist attacks, soon will have to be fingerprinted and photographed to get through the nation's airports and seaports. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans for a high-tech system that will help track the 24 million foreigners who enter the country with work, student or travel visas each year. Congress ordered the system after the Sept. 11 attacks, when officials learned that two of the 19 hijackers had violated the terms of their visas. The program's goal is to prevent potential terrorists from entering the country and to register foreigners who are allowed in. It also requires foreigners to check out when they leave so officials can look for people who stay after their visas expire. The program replaces a controversial measure that required people in the United States from 25 mostly Muslim countries to register with the government. Asa Hutchinson, head of border security at the department, called it a "dramatic step forward" in tightening security. But airport managers and travel industry officials say they're concerned that the program will cause delays and discourage tourism. Civil libertarians worry that the information collected won't stay private. The first part of the new entry-exit system will be launched at 115 airports and 14 major seaports on Jan. 5. Border agents will use a digital camera on a desktop tripod and an electronic fingerprint machine not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes to collect biometric information. The data will be compared with lists of known and suspected terrorists and other lawbreakers. Within seconds, the agent's computer will indicate whether there was a "hit." Foreigners from 27 countries deemed low-risk will not have to be photographed or fingerprinted. But they will have biometric information put in chips in their passports by late 2004. The exit part of the new system will require visitors to go to a self-service kiosk, swipe their passports and provide their fingerprints. The kiosks will operate at only about 30 airports in January. Officials said the technology for that part of the program is still being developed. The most difficult part of the program setting up the system at border crossings must be done by 2005. It will be complicated and expensive because there are no lanes or booths for agents to check people on their way out of the country. Studies show that adding an exit system could add hours of waiting time. Congress, concerned about how the program was being managed, cut its funding this year. President Bush ( news -web sites ) requested $480 million for 2004; Congress approved $330 million. Rick Webster of the Travel Industry Association said his group supports the idea of registering foreign visitors. But he expressed concern that there may not be "enough equipment, personnel and training to support expeditious processing." If people face three or four-hour waits at airports, he said, "it only adds another disincentive for people to come here." The EU has states it will not co-operate with this and will not include fingerprints, etc., in passports. So -- no visitors from the EU after "late 2004" ? I hope the EU requires this of visitors from the USA also. -- Marie Lewis |
#7
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
"Marie Lewis" wrote in message ... In article , Earl Evleth The EU has states it will not co-operate with this and will not include fingerprints, etc., in passports. So -- no visitors from the EU after "late 2004" ? You are incorrect. from http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/mob...2137803,00.htm "RFID tags loaded with biometric information will be embedded into EU passports to ensure travellers comply with strict US security regulations New EU passports will be embedded with a radio frequency ID chip that contains biometric data, after standards bodies put the technology on a fast-track to deployment" "The EU agreed to develop a biometric ID strategy during its June summit in Greece." see also http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/31380.html http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,336...73_1_A,00.html I hope the EU requires this of visitors from the USA also. The EU is planning to introduce biometric data on visas and residence permits of third country nationals residing in the EU starting next year, as a means to counter illegal immigration. Keith |
#8
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
On 30/10/03 10:51, in article , "Keith
Willshaw" wrote: "Marie Lewis" wrote in message ... In article , Earl Evleth The EU has states it will not co-operate with this and will not include fingerprints, etc., in passports. So -- no visitors from the EU after "late 2004" ? You are incorrect. from http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/mob...2137803,00.htm "RFID tags loaded with biometric information will be embedded into EU passports to ensure travellers comply with strict US security regulations New EU passports will be embedded with a radio frequency ID chip that contains biometric data, after standards bodies put the technology on a fast-track to deployment" "The EU agreed to develop a biometric ID strategy during its June summit in Greece." see also http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/31380.html http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,336...73_1_A,00.html I hope the EU requires this of visitors from the USA also. The EU is planning to introduce biometric data on visas and residence permits of third country nationals residing in the EU starting next year, as a means to counter illegal immigration. Keith New French passports already have this, I am about to renew mine and will find out shortly want it contains. I have never had my fingerprints taken in France, the French would react negatively to that. It is associated with being a criminal. By the way, recent French law "forces" all prison inmates to submit to DNA archiving. They don't force, a resisting prisoner gets an extra two years in prison. Some of those in prison for life, refuse since and extra two years means nothing. The crunch comes with regard the the massive amounts of data they want on air travelers. At one time they wanted what meals they ordered on the planes, but that has been dropped. I have not seen the total list of about 30 items the Americans are insisting on. Does anybody have this? The last time we went to the US, on American Airlines in June, the security agent asked us a really very large number of questions. We spooked her since we had both US and French passports, but there are a few us of "birds" around. Anyway, the what I thought was non-standard question was asking for our hotel and car rental reservations in the US! She wanted all our travel activity in the USA and even in London on the way back! The US authorities will require a lot of this information after March, including credit card numbers! What if you refuse? What if you lie? (like with WMDs in Iraq!). Ultimately it will be dissuasive to traveling to the USA. Will the European reciprocate? How would American travelers reaction to intrusive investigation of their travel plans. I personally don`t think European Governments want to repress tourism so will not do this. BUT, they might in retaliation. All this will unfold in the next year. Earl |
#9
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
Following up to Earl Evleth
The US authorities will require a lot of this information after March, including credit card numbers! What if you refuse? What if you lie? (like with WMDs in Iraq!). Ultimately it will be dissuasive to traveling to the USA. Yes, its quite a contrast to travelling within the EU. The long plane ride puts me off, customs fuss is maybe a last nail in the coffin. -- Mike Reid "Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso UK walking & photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site Spain,cuisines and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap |
#10
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Soon, new rules for foreigners visiting US
On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 12:05:20 +0100, Earl Evleth wrote:
The US authorities will require a lot of this information after March, including credit card numbers! What if you refuse? What if you lie? What if you haven't got a credit card ? -- Tim. If the human brain were simple enough that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn't. |
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