US-VISIT: Entry and Exit System

US-VISIT is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security program that enhances United States' entry and exit system. It enables the United States to effectively verify the identity of incoming visitors and confirm compliance with visa and immigration policies.

The goals of US-VISIT are to:

Enhance the security of our citizens and visitors
Expedite legitimate travel and trade
Ensure the integrity of the immigration system
Safeguard the personal privacy of the visitors

The initiative will involve collecting travel information and "biometric identifiers" (such as fingerprints, using a simple, inkless device) from visitors to assist the border officer in making admissibility decisions.

The identity of visitors who need a visa to travel to the U.S. will be verified upon their arrival and departure. These entry and exit procedures address our critical need for tighter security and ongoing commitment to expedite travel for the millions of legitimate visitors United States welcomes to conduct business, learn, see family, or tour the country.

The verification process strengthens security by more accurately verifying the identity of visitors who legitimately travel into the United States. By capturing "biometrics" through the use of simple fingerprint scanners, we will be able to conduct this verification process more quickly and with more certainty than by searching databases by name alone.

Exceptions:
Following types of people do not have to go through US-VISIT finger printing and photograph process:

Canadian and Mexican citizens. However, Canadian citizens(by naturalization or birth) of Pakistani origin are required to go through US-VISIT finger printing.
Exempt nonimmigrants that includes most diplomatic visa classifications such as A, G, and NATO visa holders.
Children under the age of 14 and individuals over the age of 79.
U.S. citizens (including naturalized U.S. citizens) or U.S. permanent residents (green card holders).

Many of the arrival process will remain unchanged and will be familiar to international visitors. At an airport or seaport, travel documents such as a passport and a visa will be reviewed and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will ask specific questions regarding the visitor's stay in the U.S.

As part of the enhanced procedures, most visitors traveling on visas will have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken. All of the data and information is then used to assist the border inspector in determine whether or not to admit the traveler. These enhanced procedures will add only seconds to the visitor's overall processing time.

All data obtained from the visitor is securely stored as a part of the visitor's travel record. This information is made available only to authorized officials and selected law enforcement agencies on a need-to-know basis in their efforts to help protect the nation against those who intend to harm Americans or visitors to United States.

Upon Departure

Effective May 6, 2007, international visitors will no longer be required to use the US-VISIT exit kiosks when they leave the United States. International visitors who received a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, upon arrival must still return the form to an airline or ship representative when departing the United States.

Conclusion

US-VISIT will enhance the security of the United States while expediting legitimate travel and trade. While this has required some changes in US entry and exit procedures, many things have not change. The United States of America is still a nation where diversity is celebrated and people from all over the world are welcome. Today United States - like most other countries - is working to keep its borders secure while it maintains the freedom to exchange ideas, keep businesses thriving, and enrich lives all over the world.

Airports/Seaports

As of August 26, 2004, following ports have US-VISIT program in place.

Airports with Reentry Program

Alaska
Anchorage - Anchorage International Airport
Fairbanks - Fairbanks International Airport
Juneau - Juneau International Airport

Arizona
Phoenix - Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Tucson - Tucson International Airport
Yuma - Yuma International Airport

California
Los Angeles - Los Angeles International Airport
Oakland - Metropolitan Oakland International Airport
Ontario - Ontario International Airport
Sacramento - Sacramento International Airport
San Diego - San Diego International Airport
San Francisco - San Francisco International Airport
San Jose - San Jose International Airport

Colorado
Denver - Denver International Airport

Connecticut
Hartford / Springfield - Bradley International Airport

Delaware
Dover / Cheswold - Delaware Airpark

Georgia
Atlanta - William B. Hartsfield International Airport

Guam
Agana - Agana International Airport

Florida
Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport
Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport
Fort Myers - Fort Myers International Airport
Key West - Key West International Airport
Jacksonville - Jacksonville International Airport
Miami - Kendall / Tamiami Executive Airport
Miami - Miami International Airport
Opa Locka / Miami - Opa Locka Airport
Orlando - Orlando International Airport
Orlando / Sanford - Orlando / Sanford Airport
Sarasota / Bradenton - SarasotaBradenton International Airport
Tampa - Tampa International Airport
St. Lucie - St. Lucie County International Airport
St. Petersburg / Clearwater International Airport
West Palm Beach - Palm Beach International Airport

Hawaii
Honolulu - Honolulu International Airport
Kona - Kona International Airport

Illinois
Chicago - Chicago Midway Airport
Chicago - Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Indiana
Indianapolis - Indianapolis International Airport

Kansas
Kansas City - Kansas City International Airport

Louisiana
New Orleans - New Orleans International Airport

Maine
Bangor - Bangor International Airport
Portland - Portland International Jetport Airport

Maryland
Andrews Air Force Base
Baltimore - Baltimore / Washington International Airport

Massachusetts
Boston - General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport

Michigan
Detroit - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Minnesota
International Falls - Falls International Airport
Minneapolis / St. Paul

Missouri
St. Louis - St. Louis International Airport

Nevada
Las Vegas - McCarren International Airport
Reno - Reno / Tahoe International Airport

New Hampshire
Manchester - Manchester Airport
Portsmouth - Pease International Tradeport Airport

New Mexico
Albuquerque - Albuquerque International Airport

New Jersey
Newark - Newark International Airport
Teterboro - Teteboro Airport

New York
Albany - Albany International Airport
Buffalo - Greater Buffalo International Airport
New York - John F. Kennedy International Airport

North Carolina
Charlotte - Charlotte / Douglas International Airport
Raleigh / Durham - Raleigh / Durham International Airport
Wilmington - Wilmington International Airport

Ohio
Cincinnati - Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cleveland - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Columbus - Rickenbacker International Airport
Columbus - Port Columbus International Airport
Sandusky - Griffing Sandusky Airport

Oregon
Portland - Portland International Airport

Pennsylvania
Erie - Erie International Airport
Philadelphia - Philadelphia International Airport
Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh International Airport

Puerto Rico
Aguadilla - Rafael Hernandez Airport
Fajardo - Diego Jimenez Torres Airport
Isla Grande - Isla Grande Airport
Ponce - Mercedita Airport
Mayaguez - Eugenio Maria de Hostos Airport
San Juan - Luis Muntildeoz Marin International Airport

Rhode Island
Providence - Theodore Francis Green State Airport

South Carolina
Charleston - Charleston International Airport
Greenville - Donaldson Center Airport

Tennessee
Memphis - Memphis International Airport
Nashville - Nashville International Airport

Texas
Austin - Austin Bergstrom International Airport
Brownsville - Brownsville / South Padre Island Airport
Dallas / Fort Worth - Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport
Del Rio - Del Rio International Airport
El Paso - El Paso International Airport
Houston - Houston International Airport
Laredo - Laredo International Airport and Laredo Private Airport
McAllen - McAllen Miller International Airport
San Antonio - San Antonio International Airport

Utah
Salt Lake City - Salt Lake City International Airport

Virginia
Chantilly - Washington Dulles International Airport
Norfolk - Norfolk International Airport and Norfolk Naval Air Station
Richmond - Richmond International Airport

Virgin Island
St. Croix - Alexander Hamilton International Airport
St. Thomas - Cyril E. King International Airport

Washington
Bellingham - Bellingham International Airport
Kenmore - Kenmore Air Harbor
King County - King County International Airport
Seattle - Seattle / Tacoma International Airport
Spokane - Spokane International Airport

Wisconsin
Milwaukee - General Mitchell International Airport

Pre-Flight Inspection at non-US airports:

Aruba

Bahamas
Freeport
Nassau

Bermuda
Hamilton

Ireland
Dublin
Shannon

Canada
Calgary
Edmonton
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Vancouver
Victoria
Winnipeg

Seaports with Reentry Program

California
Long Beach
San Pedro

Florida
Jacksonville
Miami
Port Canaveral
Port Everglades
Tampa(Terminal 3)
Tampa(Terminal 7)
West Palm Beach

New York
New York City

Puerto Rico
San Juan

Texas
Galveston

Washington
Seattle(Cruise Terminal)
Seattle

Canada
Vancouver (Ballantyne Pier)
Vancouver (Canada Place)
Victoria (Pre Inspection)

If you are traveling on non-immigrant visa into/out of any of the ports listed above, you should follow all entry procedures. Even if you are not asked to go through the process, but if you are subject to this program, you should ask an immigration inspector before leaving the airport/seaport to avoid any potential complications when attempting to enter the U.S. in the future.