Smile please....

[Loftus]

.....and make sure those fingers are nice and clean - don't want to mess up the scanner!

US to fingerprint British visitors, other allies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has
decided to fingerprint and photograph visitors from about 27
nations that do not require U.S. visas, including citizens of
close allies like Britain, a U.S. official said Friday.

The official, who asked not to be named, said the visitors
would be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival in the
United States, extending a requirement already imposed on
citizens of other nations that do require U.S. visas.

REUTERS

 

[kazzie]

Thanks Tim.

My DH alreday had this done as he has a visa,I don't have any problem having it down.

I'm sure they could pick up some wanted criminals from different Countries this way too.

 

[KayleeUK]

No problem

 

[Loftus]

I have no objection to this and the US can institute whatever policies it wants to make it feel more secure. But we had this debate on the debate board a while back and for the time being I am sure it is more of a gesture than any real increase in security.

According to Olaf's more comprehensive posting they are asking Congress for a 2 year delay in implementing the need for visitors to have biometric passports because most countries are not ready. So the very thing they would need to compare with your photograph and fingerprint they will not have - although they will be building up a database of visitors biometric information.
Also, unfortunately, most of the major terrorist threat comes from people with clean backgrounds recruited because of this very fact. They won't be on a computer anywhere - and if they are on a suicide mission they won't care if you know who they are after the event.