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Release Date: 08/08/05 00:00:00
US-VISIT entry had little impact on wait times. Will this new technology impact wait times? There will be no effect on travelers exiting the United States. As visitors leave the United States they will exit at current speeds with no additional stops. Through our public education program, we suggest that the visitor keep the RFID enabled Form I 94A “VISIBLE,” so that it is in the best position to be read properly by readers located at entry and exit points at the port.
Will there be RFID-enabled gantries at every vehicle lane at these test port locations? Yes, every lane will be able to read the RFID “tag” embedded inn the Form I-94A.
If you enter through a port with the RFID readers, can you exit through another port? Yes. Visitors can exit from whichever port they choose, however, the RFID technology test will only occur at this time at the five locations we have indicated.
How long will this test of RFID technology be in effect? This test of RFID technology begins in August and runs through early summer 2006.
Who will receive a Form I-94A with the enabled RFID tag? Those visitors who currently receive a Form I-94 will now be issued an RFID enabled Form I-94A at these locations only.
With respect to exiting, do you anticipate a 100 percent read rate? Our goal is to have a system that provides a 100 percent read rate. This is why US VISIT is testing the technology, to see if the RFID tag gets read.
How do you know if someone has exited? By electronically reading the RFID tag, US-VISIT will know that the Form I-94A exited the country.
How will travelers know that their tags were read? Travelers will not know that their tags have been read. There will be no visible sign that a traveler’s tag has been electronically read. Travelers should not attempt to stop at the port to inquire about whether their crossing was recorded.
What or who does it benefit knowing that someone left the country? This is critical to maintaining the integrity of the country’s immigration system.
How do visitors traveling in a car get a Form I-94A? Visitors will follow the same entry process that they do today. All travelers who require a Form I-94 will be directed to secondary inspection where they will receive an RFID enabled Form I-94A
What is the estimated cost of the test? In FY 2004 and FY 2005 US-VISIT expended $100,000,000 to plan, design and implement the technology that we are currently testing.
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August 8, 2005
This page was last modified on 08/08/05 00:00:00