Q: What is the U.S. Visit Program?

A: US VISIT stands for United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology. It is an automated entry/exit system that follows a series of data based model systems intended to track and identify immigrants and non-immigrants who come to work, visit or live in the United States.

As of October 1, 2002, passenger arrival and departure information on individuals entering or departing the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program has been electronically collected from airlines and cruise lines, through the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Advanced Passenger information System.

US VISIT combines elements of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, designed to let university officials electronically update the government on changes in the status of their international students and the National Security Entry Exit Registration System (NSEERS).

According to the Department of Homeland Security, when the US VISIT system is fully implemented, it will provide the information necessary to account for nearly all temporary foreign visitors in the U.S. Any remaining elements of NSEERS, such as port of entry arrival registration, will become part of the US VISIT System.

Q: Who created the U.S. Visit Program?

A: The Secretary Department of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of State.

Q: When will it be effective?

A: It will be effective January 1^st of 2004. 

Q: How does it work?

A: When a foreign visitor comes to the U.S. through an international airport or arrives at a U.S. seaport, the visitor’s travel documents will be scanned. Then once a photo or a fingerprint is taken, the person will be checked against lists of those who are to be denied entry for any reason (terrorist connections, criminal violations or past visa violations). The information required will include immigrant and citizen status, nationality, the country of residence, and the person’s address while in the United States.

When the visitor departs, his or her identity will be verified and the Department of Homeland Security will know if that person entered legally or may have stayed illegally.

Q: How will the program be managed?

A: The Department of Homeland Security is establishing a new compliance office. This team of compliance officers will review US VISIT information and refer the information, when appropriate, to criminal investigators. This information will also be made available to inspectors, agents, consular officials and other government officials. Law enforcement will also have access to the information, but only for strictly defined and limited purposes.

Q: What is the purpose of the US VISIT program?

A:  According to DHS, one of the main purposes of the US VISIT program is to help the government in its immigration enforcement efforts. Newer visas contain biometric features that will enable the Department of Homeland Security to identify visitors when they arrive at an airport or seaport and to access the information abut that visitor. This information will be available at the ports of entry as well as throughout our entire immigration enforcement system. Through this virtual border the Department of Homeland Security will have an easier time tracking immigration violations.

The US VISIT system was designated to collect, maintain, and share information, including biometric identifiers through a dynamic system to determine if an individual: a) should be prohibited from entering the U.S.  b) can receive, change, or adjust their immigration status c) has overstayed his or her visa d) needs special protection.

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A fact sheet on the US VISIT program is available on the DHS website at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=736