U.S. Border Crossings Go High Tech

The DHS and DOS programs differ in that the RFID chip used by the DHS contains a unique numeric identifier. In contrast, the DOS chip also contains a digital photo, fingerprints and biometric and biographical information. The DHS program is a pilot program that involves just five border crossings out of the 50 in the U.S. that fall under the aegis of US-VISIT. (There are 166 total US-VISIT ports of entry in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including airports and seaports.) The chip is embedded in the standard I-94 form issued to non-residents when they enter the country. US-VISIT has printed the forms being used in the pilot program on heavier stock to accommodate the chip. The pilot program is seeking to determine whether a balance can be struck between keeping the U.S. safer and avoiding onerous inconvenience for the millions of legitimate visitors who enter the U.S. for work and play each year, according to US-VISIT Director Jim Williams. http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=02000000GCGG

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