US VISIT Begins Deployment of Biometric Entry Procedures to Additional Land Border Ports of Entry with Canada and Mexico

Release Date: 09/26/05 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: US-VISIT Media Services (202) 298-5200
September 26, 2005

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today the scheduled expansion of the US VISIT program’s biometric entry procedures to additional land border ports of entry (POE).

US-VISIT entry procedures have been operational in the secondary inspection areas of the 50 busiest land border ports of entry since December 29, 2004, and are also in place at 115 airports and 15 seaports. Listed below are the additional land border ports of entry that will begin using US-VISIT biometric entry procedures, including dates of deployment, so that the deployment will be completed by December 31, 2005.

“By moving ahead with the scheduled expansion of US VISIT to these additional land border ports of entry, we are taking the next step toward achieving our long-term and comprehensive vision of 21st century immigration and border management system,” said Jim Williams, director of the US VISIT program at the Department of Homeland Security.

No changes will be made to the US-VISIT process or to the classifications of visitors subject to US-VISIT as the result of this expansion to added locations. US-VISIT applies to all visitors who apply for entry with a nonimmigrant visa, including those using a Border Crossing Card to travel beyond the border zone or for more than 30 days, or under the Visa Waiver program. As part of the process, Customs and Border Protection Officers collect digital, inkless finger scans and take a digital photo of the visitor.

To date, more than 38 million international visitors have been processed through US VISIT at air, sea and land border ports, and more than 850 criminals or immigration violators have been denied admission to the United States with the help of US-VISIT procedures.

Experience has shown that the US-VISIT process is simple, fast, and clean for visitors. Indeed, at many land border ports of entry, the introduction of US VISIT procedures has led to reduced processing times as DHS has automated processes where paper forms used to be used.

Since the program launched in 2004, US VISIT has informed stakeholders across North America about what to expect when going through US-VISIT entry procedures at United States ports of entry by hosting public forums, media briefings, and advertising in border communities. US VISIT will continue similar public education activities in the communities surrounding the remaining land border ports of entry slated to begin US VISIT entry procedures.

DHS and US-VISIT are helping the United States demonstrate that it remains a welcoming nation – keeping America’s doors open and the nation secure. For more information on US VISIT, or to learn more about entry procedures, please visit the US-VISIT Web site.

Estimated start date of September 26, 2005:

Falcon Heights POE, Falcon Heights, Texas
Amistad Dam POE, Route 349, Amistad Village, Texas
Fort Hancock POE, Route 1088, Fort Hancock, Texas
Sasabe POE, Highway 286, Sasabe, Ariz.
Morley Gate, Nogales POE, Nogales, Ariz.
Columbus POE, Route 11, Columbus, N.M.

Estimated start date of October 7, 2005:

Skagway POE, Klondike Highway, Skagway, Alaska
Alcan POE, Alaska Highway, Alcan, Alaska
Dalton’s Cache POE, Haines Highway, Dalton Cache, Alaska

Estimated start date of October 26, 2005:

Chief Mountain POE, Route 17, Chief Mountain, Mont.
Piegan POE, Highway 89, Babb, Mont.
Del Bonita POE, Chalk Butte Road, Del Bonita, Mont.
Willow Creek POE, Route 241, Turner, Mont.
Wild Horse POE, Highway 232, Harve, Mont.
Turner POE, Highway 24, Turner, Mont.
Morgan POE, Highway 191 , Loring, Mont.
Opheim POE, Route 24, Opheim, Mont.
Whitetail POE, Highway 411 N., Whitetail, Mont.
Raymond POE, Highway 16, Raymond, Mont.
St. John POE, Highway 30, St. John, N.D.
Danville POE, Highway 21, Danville, Wash.
Laurier POE, Highway 395, Laurier, Wash.
Frontier POE, Highway 25, Frontier, Wash.
Boundary POE, Boundary Highway, Boundary, Wash.
Metaline Falls POE, Highway 31, Metaline Falls, Wash.
Hansboro POE, Highway 4, Hansboro, N.D.
Sarles POE, Highway 20, Sarles, N.D.
Hannah POE, Highway 13, Hannah, N.D.
Walhalla POE, Highway 32, Walhalla, N.D.
Fortuna POE, Highway 85 NW, Fortuna, N.D.
Pembina POE, Interstate 29, Pembina, N.D.
Noonan POE, Highway 40, Noonan, N.D.
Portal POE, 301 West Railway Avenue, Portal, N.D.
Northgate POE, Highway, Northgate, N.D.
Sherwood POE, Highway 28, Sherwood, N.D.
Antler POE, Highway 256, Antler, N.D.
Carbury POE, Highway 14, Carbury, N.D.
Maida POE, Highway 1, Maida, N.D.
Porthill POE, Highway 1, Porthill, Idaho
Coburn Gore POE, Route 27, Coburn Gore, Maine
Eastport POE, Eastport, Maine
Lancaster POE, Highway 59, Lancaster, Minn.
Roseau POE, including Pine Creek crossing, Highway 89, Roseau, Minn.
Baudette POE, Highway 72 and International Border, Baudette, Minn.
Roosville POE, Highway 93 N. and International Border, Roosville, Mont.
Algonac POE (Ferry), Mich.
Marine City POE (Ferry), Mich.
Pittsburg POE, Highway 3, Pittsburg, N.H.
Cape Vincent POE (Ferry), N.Y.
Ogdensburg POE, Ogdensburg Bridge Plaza, Route 812, Ogdensburg, NY
Trout River POE, State Route, Trout River, N.Y.
Chateaugay POE, Route 374, Chateaugay, N.Y.
Mooers POE, Route 219, Mooers, N.Y.
Rouses Point POE, Highway 11, Rouses Point, N.Y.
Highgate Springs POE, Interstate 89, Highgate Springs, Vt.
West Berkshire POE, West Berkshire Road, West Berkshire, Vt.
Richford/Pinnacle POE, Pinnacle Road, Richford, Vt.
North Troy POE, Route 243, North Troy, Vt.
Derby Line POE, Interstate 91, Derby Line, Vt.
Norton POE, Route 114, Norton, Vt.
Sweetgrass POE, Interstate 15 N., Sweetgrass, Mont.
Scobey POE, Highway 13 North, Scobey, Mont.
Neche POE, Highway 18, Neche, N.D.
Ferry POE, Ferry, Wash.

Estimated start date of November 28, 2005:

Fort Kent POE, 98 West Maine St., Fort Kent, Maine
Madawaska POE, Bridge Street, Madawaska, Maine
Hamlin POE, Route 218, Hamlin, Maine
Limestone POE, Route 229 East, Limestone, Maine
Fort Fairfield POE, Route 165, Fort Fairfield, Maine
Bridgewater, POE Boundary Road, Bridgewater, Maine
Houlton POE, Interstate 95, Houlton, Maine
Lubec POE, Route 189, Lubec, Maine
Fort Covington POE, Dundee Road, Fort Covington, N.Y.
Alburg POE, Route 225, Alburg, Vt.
Eastport POE, Highway 95 N., Eastport, Idaho
Ambrose POE, State Highway 42, Ambrose, N.D.
Westhope POE, Highway 83, Westhope, N.D.
Dunseith POE, Highway 281, Dunseith, N.D.
Oroville POE, Highway 97, Oroville, Wash.
Nighthawk POE, Loomis Oroville Highway, Nighthawk, Wash.

Estimated start date of December 19, 2005:

Los Ebanos POE (Ferry), Texas
Naco, South Towner Avenue, Naco, Ariz.
Antelope Wells, Route 81, Antelope Wells, N.M.
Warroad POE, State Highway 313, Warroad, Minn.
Ely POE, Ely, Minn.
Grand Portage POE, Highway 61, Grand Portage, Minn.
Jackson Street Pier POE (Ferry), Ohio
Beebe Plain POE, Beebe Plain, Vt.
Canaan POE, Route 141, Canaan, Vt.
Beecher Falls POE, Route 253, Beecher Falls, Vt.
Alburg Springs POE, Alburg Springs Road, Alburg Springs, Vt.
Morses Line POE, Route 235, Morses Line, Vt.
Richford POE, Route 139, Richford, Vt.
East Richford POE, Route 105A, East Richford, Vt.
Vancouver, Canada (Amtrak Station)
Rochester POE (Ferry), Rochester, N.Y.
Niagara Falls POE (Amtrak Station), Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Champlain POE (Amtrak Station), Champlain, N.Y.
Overton Corners POE, Route 276, Champlain, N.Y.
Jackman POE, Route 201, Jackman, Maine
Van Buren POE, Bridge Street, Van Buren, Maine
Vanceboro POE Route 6 (Water Street), Vanceboro, Maine
Heart Island (Ferry), N.Y.
Bar Harbor POE (Ferry), Maine

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This page was last modified on 09/26/05 00:00:00