The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today the scheduled expansion of the US-VISIT program's biometric entry procedures to 10 additional land border ports of entry (POE) in Maine, New York and Vermont. The ports along the U.S.-Canada border in Maine, New York and Vermont starting US-VISIT entry procedures are: -- Fort Kent POE, 98 West Maine St. (Fort Kent, Maine) -- Madawaska POE, Bridge St. and International Border (Madawaska, Maine) -- Hamlin POE, Route 218 and International Border (Hamlin, Maine) -- Limestone POE, Route 229 East and International Border (Limestone,Maine) -- Fort Fairfield POE, Route 165 and International Border (Fort Fairfield,Maine) -- Bridgewater POE, Boundary Road and International Border (Bridgewater,Maine) -- Houlton POE, Interstate 95 and International Border (Houton, Maine) -- Lubec POE, Route 189 and International Border (Lubec, Maine) -- Fort Covington POE, Dundee Road and International Border (For ovington, N.Y.) -- Alburg POE, Route 225 and International Border (Alburg, Vt.) 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. The ports in Maine, New York and Vermont that began processing visitors today are part of a multi-phased deployment of US-VISIT entry procedures to additional land border ports. US-VISIT procedures became operational at ports in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas in September, and Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington in October. "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 a 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 or traveling under the Visa Waiver program. Most Canadian citizens are not subject to US-VISIT procedures. As part of the process, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers collect digital, inkless finger scans and take a digital photo of the visitor. To date, more than 42 million international visitors have been processed through US-VISIT at air, sea and land border ports, and more than 900 criminals or immigration violators have been denied admission to the United States with the help of US-VISIT's biometric 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 in secondary inspection as DHS has automated processes where paper forms were previously 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 and 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 at http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit .

Source: PR Newswire