YorickBrown
12-05-03, - 08:35 AM
Caribbean nationals applying for United States visas from March next year, will be required to have their finger prints recorded. :what:
"It is just the two index fingers on an electronic pad and it takes a couple of seconds," US Consul General, Bob Fretz said on Wednesday.
He said the process, which has already been implemented in 10 countries, is aimed at increasing the United States security, as part of new measures since the terrorist attacks in September 2001.
Fretz told a news conference that the new law which comes into force on
March 30, would affect travellers between the ages of 14 and 79.
"It is what we have decided to do and it's the law and we have to carry it out. It will not have a tremendous impact but it will have the impact that a lot of people who are used to dropping off their passports for renewal will not be able to do that anymore, they will have to come inside for an interview, so it will make it a little bit harder for some folks to get a visa to the United States," he said.
However, he said the security measure would not affect Caribbean Diplomats and individuals who are too ill to come to the embassy here.
The decision by Washington comes at a time when the US visa office in
Bridgetown has seen a 44 per cent increase in visa applications form the Eastern Caribbean.
Fretz said a break down of that figure revealed that in the case of Antigua and Barbuda, there was an increase of 29 per cent in the number of persons who applied for a visa in the last year, one per cent more than that for Barbados.
In the case of Dominica, it was 47 per cent, Grenada 85 per cent and in St. Lucia, the figure was 76 per cent.
Fretz said the finger printing measure would result in a significant
increase in individuals from other Caribbean islands travelling to Barbados to have their documents processed.
However, he said he was unsure as to whether it would lead to a decline in the number of Caribbean nationals applying for a US visa. :dgi:
"But what I would say to those on the other islands is if you have a visa that is valid right now and it is going to expire next year or in 2005, you might want to mail it in now before March 30, to get the visa renewed because starting from then, everybody between 14 and 79 will have to make the trip to Bridgetown," Fretz added.
He said that while finger printing may cause some concern in the region, it would finally put an end to visa fraud.
"For years, the criminal element around the world has been falsifying
passports and visas and this sort of will complete the circle and we will be able to have a complete identification of the applicant, so really its good news for travel security," Fretz said. :rolleyes:
"It is just the two index fingers on an electronic pad and it takes a couple of seconds," US Consul General, Bob Fretz said on Wednesday.
He said the process, which has already been implemented in 10 countries, is aimed at increasing the United States security, as part of new measures since the terrorist attacks in September 2001.
Fretz told a news conference that the new law which comes into force on
March 30, would affect travellers between the ages of 14 and 79.
"It is what we have decided to do and it's the law and we have to carry it out. It will not have a tremendous impact but it will have the impact that a lot of people who are used to dropping off their passports for renewal will not be able to do that anymore, they will have to come inside for an interview, so it will make it a little bit harder for some folks to get a visa to the United States," he said.
However, he said the security measure would not affect Caribbean Diplomats and individuals who are too ill to come to the embassy here.
The decision by Washington comes at a time when the US visa office in
Bridgetown has seen a 44 per cent increase in visa applications form the Eastern Caribbean.
Fretz said a break down of that figure revealed that in the case of Antigua and Barbuda, there was an increase of 29 per cent in the number of persons who applied for a visa in the last year, one per cent more than that for Barbados.
In the case of Dominica, it was 47 per cent, Grenada 85 per cent and in St. Lucia, the figure was 76 per cent.
Fretz said the finger printing measure would result in a significant
increase in individuals from other Caribbean islands travelling to Barbados to have their documents processed.
However, he said he was unsure as to whether it would lead to a decline in the number of Caribbean nationals applying for a US visa. :dgi:
"But what I would say to those on the other islands is if you have a visa that is valid right now and it is going to expire next year or in 2005, you might want to mail it in now before March 30, to get the visa renewed because starting from then, everybody between 14 and 79 will have to make the trip to Bridgetown," Fretz added.
He said that while finger printing may cause some concern in the region, it would finally put an end to visa fraud.
"For years, the criminal element around the world has been falsifying
passports and visas and this sort of will complete the circle and we will be able to have a complete identification of the applicant, so really its good news for travel security," Fretz said. :rolleyes: