USA: US Lawful Permanent Residents Included in the US-VISIT Procedures Expansion

The Department of Homeland Security published a Final Rule that expanded the categories of all non-US citizens will be required to participate in biometrics collection - digital fingerprints and a photograph upon entry to the United States throught US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) Program.

Effective January 18, 2009 - all of the following non-US citizens will be required to provide biometrics when entering or re-entering the United States:

• Lawful Permanent Residents of United States (a. at land border port, if they are referred to secondary inspection under the discretion of the inspecting officer, b. at seaports, when returning to US from an 'open' cruise
• Persons entering US who seek admission on immigrant visas;
• Persons entering the US who seek admission as refufees and asylees;
• Canadian citizens who are currently required to obtain a Form I-94 (Arrival Departure Record) upon entry or who required a waiver of inadmissibility to the United States; including applicants for nonimmigrant classifications such as C, D, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, Q1, Q3, R, S, T, TN and others who are referred to a secondary inspection;
• Persons paroled into the US
• Persons applying for admission under the Guam VWP
• H1B Visa holders when applying for a new multiple entry Form I-94 or when referred to secondary inspection for other reasons
• Non-US citizens who seek admission with Border Crossing Cards and who do not have a Form I-94, at the discretion of the CBP Officers

Please click on the link to read the details of the Fact Sheet issued by the Department of Homeland Security, dated December 19, 2008.

For questions or inquiries regarding additional information to compliance please contact: info@jntconsulting.com

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