Initial results indicate that US-VISIT’s biometric identification procedures at land border ports of entry are saving visitors time crossing the border, and CBP officers have been instrumental in making this happen. For example, processing time at the Laredo, Tex., port of entry took more than 10 minutes before US-VISIT was implemented, but now, with US-VISIT’s new technology, officers can process visitors in less than five minutes, and often in as little as two.

Photo Credit: Gerald L. Nino

US-VISIT entry procedures are now operational at the 50 busiest land ports, 115 airports and 15 seaports and will be expanded to all land ports of entry by December 31, 2005.

"Everything's come together on time so far," said Adele Fasano, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s San Diego district, who oversees some of the busiest land ports in Southern California.

“I want to acknowledge CBP officers for the critical role they play in keeping our borders safe. The partnership among the CBP Office of Field Operations, Office of Information Technology, Office of Public Affairs, and Office of Training is vital for US-VISIT to operate efficiently and effectively,” said Jim Williams, director of US-VISIT.

The Next Phase
Beginning this spring, US-VISIT will test radio-frequency identification, or RFID, technology to develop an automated entry-exit solution at CBP land borders. This testing, or “proof of concept,” phase will start at a simulated port and then be expanded to five select land ports of entry in Arizona, New York and Washington in the summer of 2005.

The optimal RFID technology will use a unique automatic identifier—unique in the same manner that fingerprints or eye scans are unique—that would be issued to visitors at the same time they receive the Form I-94 at the land border port of entry. This identifier would then be used to record their exit from the United States through a land border port. This automatic identifier would speed subsequent entries, making it another tool for CBP officers who process visitors.

Exit solutions for airports and seaports are also currently in the test phase at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Miami International Cruise Line Terminal, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Francisco International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Additional sites to test exit procedures include the airports in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Seattle, and the Los Angeles seaports at Long Beach and San Pedro.

By incorporating US-VISIT technology into their routine, CBP officers who process visitors at ports of entry will reach the agency’s four stated goals of enhancing the security of our citizens and visitors, facilitating legitimate travel and trade, ensuring the integrity of our immigration system, and protecting visitors’ privacy.

To date, more than 19.4 million foreign visitors have been processed through US-VISIT, and 442 criminal or immigration violators have been arrested or denied admission because of US-VISIT.