DHS Now Taking Ten Fingerprints from Arriving International Visitors at Dulles International with 9 Other Airports Soon to Follow – Philadelphia International Not Yet Included
On December 10, 2007, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is now collecting 10 fingerprints from international visitors arriving at Washington’s Dulles International Airport as an enhanced security measure.
This makes Dulles the first port of entry to perform the 10 fingerprint collection from international visitors.
The next ports scheduled to collect 10 fingerprints from international visitors are: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Boston Logan International Airport; Chicago O'Hare International Airport; San Francisco International Airport; George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport; Miami International Airport; Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport; Orlando International Airport; and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Philadelphia International will be among the 278 remaining ports will begin this process by the end of 2008.
Of course, the U.S. is not the only country taking such measures. In November, Japan began taking not only fingerprints but also photographs of all foreigners entering Japan. In Japan, all foreigners over the age of 16, including even permanent residents of Japan, must undergo this biometric processing (only ethnic Korean permanent residents of Japan and diplomats are exempt).
