Biometrics Finding Its Way into Customs Checkpoints

It's already been an active new year for customs checkpoints.

Earlier this week, European Parliament approved the use of biometric data in EU passports, and yesterday the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that upgraded biometric technology has been installed at every major port of entry, and that most visitors should expect to use the new technology upon entering the country.

The European Parliament will amend a 2004 regulation to include fingerprints and facial patterns in passports issued in the EU, thus making it more difficult for criminals to forge identification documents and/or travel under stolen passports. Additionally, the new EU regulations will set the minimum age to take fingerprints at twelve, as fingerprints change as children grow. Instead of being included in their parent's passports, all children will be required to carry their own in an effort to make child trafficking more difficult.

Back in the U.S., the DHS announced that it has updated biometric technology in its US-VISIT program, which records biographic information to conduct security checks and verify identities of international visitors to the United States. The program is also expanding the categories of non-U.S. citizens required to provide digital fingerprints and a photograph upon entry to the U.S. in December, and requiring 10 fingerprint collections rather than two. Many experts agree that collecting a full set increases matching accuracy and also reduces the chance of misidentification.

With increased wait times expected and obstacles associated with integrating the various Extended Access Control (EAC) systems now in use across the globe, it will take years for travelers and customs officials to get acclimated to the new procedures and documents. In the meantime, bring a magazine for that next trip through customs.