US-VISIT

Effective January 5, 2004, all nonimmigrant visa holders who are not subject to the National Security Entry Exist Registration System (“NSEERS special registration”) and who are entering the U.S. are subject to the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (“US-VISIT”). U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and visitors under the Visa Waiver Program are exempted from US-VISIT. US-VISIT is being implemented in most, but not all, ports of entry.

US-VISIT is a new U.S. entry-exit system with enhanced security at designated ports of entry to and ports of exit from the U.S. It collects arrival and departure information on foreign visitors to enhance the security of the U.S. and its individuals. Currently, it is implemented through digital fingerprinting of the visa holder’s left and right index fingers and digital photographing for verification of such individual’s identity and their travel documents.

US-VISIT is an additional form of inspection and does not supersede any existing operating procedures of inspection currently in place.

A nonimmigrant visa holder who is subject to US-VISIT (except those subject to NSEERS) and who has entered the U.S. legally through US-VISIT may depart the U.S. at any port of exit, even a port where US-VISIT is not in place. Such a nonimmigrant should retain proof of evidence of timely departure from the U.S.

A nonimmigrant visa holder who is subject to US-VISIT requirements and who makes a timely departure from the U.S. via a port which has US-VISIT in place must “check out” at the work stations at the port.

An individual subject to the US-VISIT requirements who fails to comply with its entry procedures later may be denied admission into the U.S. An individual subject to the US-VISIT procedures who fails to comply with its exit procedures, where required, may be denied a visa or admission to the U.S. in the future.

In certain instances, a nonimmigrant visa holder who is subject to US-VISIT may be waived from the fingerprinting or other biometric requirement.

For further information or updates on the US-VISIT program, and a list of ports of entry and ports of exit currently subject to US-VISIT, please visit www.dhs.gov/us-visit. You are welcome to contact imminfo@gtlaw.com for further information.

The following public information has been attached for your convenience.

  DHS’ list of ports of entry and ports of exit subject to US-VISIT in English (PDF/142 kb, 2 pages)

  DHS’ US-VISIT brochure in English (PDF/102 kb, 3 pages)

  DHS’ US-VISIT brochure in Spanish (PDF/104 kb, 3 pages)

  Federal Register’s interim regulation for DHS’ US-VISIT (PDF/156 kb, 15 pages)