fingerprinted for going to america?
Discussion
ErnestM said:
I don't believe that they use ink. I think it is an electronic scanner. Of course, if you travel through Hartsfield in Atlanta, with their level of technology, you may just have to leave a hand... 
ErnestM
Nope. I landed at Jackson Field (Atlanta) and they only took a finger.....
They have a standard scanner issued at all ports of entry. Uses infra-red to scan both index fingers, then you have your face photo taken. It is a quick process, but there is no charter on what they will use the info for. Some airports also use a scanner at exit (O'Hare and SFO) and you need to go through this process before you can leave, but this is very inconsistent. Most airports have this gear (seen recently in Detroit, Washington, Seattle, etc) so it will probably become mandatory soon.
I went through Atlanta a few weeks ago with a badly cut and bandaged index finger and had a real problem with the *sshole immigration guy who couldn't figure out what to do (just use the next finger).
max.
I went through Atlanta a few weeks ago with a badly cut and bandaged index finger and had a real problem with the *sshole immigration guy who couldn't figure out what to do (just use the next finger).
max.
polarbert said:
is it true that all non americans going to america get fingerprinted when they pass through customs? what happens to the fingerprints? how long do they stay on file?
can you refuse to give your fingerprints? do they send you back if you do?
Yep - I've got timeshare in Florida and the last time we went we had to go through all of that. Pain in the neck. Also, I was in Hawaii recently and every time we flew internally (about 8 times) because we weren't American they put us in a "security queue" where we were searched and questioned before each flight. "So much for the speacial relationship with Britain", I moaned on more than one occasion.
tinman0 said:
Ive gotta go through all this in about a month, oh joy just what i want to do after a 9+ hour flight! oh well at least i will be in Florida for 2 weeks
takes about 30 seconds if that.
times that by a number of flights landing at the same time and going through immigration
whittaker52 said:
takes about 30 seconds if that.
times that by a number of flights landing at the same time and going through immigration
They have more than one scanner you know...
In SFO they have about 30 booths for US and the same for non-US citizens. All the kiosk things have the scanners so once the Yanks have gone through their side the security (nice chaps btw, not at all aggressive or uptight) send the non-US people to the US side to go through. I travelled on a full 747 and I think it took me about 10 minutes to queue, be asked the usual questions about fruit, holiday or work, etc., be scanned, and get through to baggage claim.
whittaker52 said:
whittaker52 said:
Ive gotta go through all this in about a month, oh joy
takes about 30 seconds if that.
times that by a number of flights landing at the same time and going through immigration
considering the immigration people arent exactly quick in the first place it hardly adds anything to the time as they do the fingerprinting while they do a few other important things.
also, since they've introduced it, the queues have been much much shorter as they a) seem to have more staff b) seem to work a bit quicker.
and occasionally - they even smile at you now almost as if they are human.
Just got back from a trip to the West Coast - flying in/out of SFO.
Arrived on the Virgin VS19 flight at around the same time as Air France and KLM flights - utter chaos. Queued for around 20-30mins for the routine. Not helped by the fact that you line up in the queuing system then get to the front at one side of the line of booths. There's room for about 6-8 people to queue for each booth, reaching back to the cordon. So everyone had to squeeze past lines of people in order to join a queue. At Boston and JFK they have organization, so you sit in a queue when told.
Bit concerned at the fact they don't wipe the scanners clean - how many people with what communicable germs?
No scans on the way out of SFO - and no different systems for non-nationals flying from Las Vegas to SFO. Having said that allow plenty of time at Las Vegas, it's the 5th busiest airport in the USA, and it's not able to cope with the numbers! Minimum 2 hours!
Arrived on the Virgin VS19 flight at around the same time as Air France and KLM flights - utter chaos. Queued for around 20-30mins for the routine. Not helped by the fact that you line up in the queuing system then get to the front at one side of the line of booths. There's room for about 6-8 people to queue for each booth, reaching back to the cordon. So everyone had to squeeze past lines of people in order to join a queue. At Boston and JFK they have organization, so you sit in a queue when told.
Bit concerned at the fact they don't wipe the scanners clean - how many people with what communicable germs?
No scans on the way out of SFO - and no different systems for non-nationals flying from Las Vegas to SFO. Having said that allow plenty of time at Las Vegas, it's the 5th busiest airport in the USA, and it's not able to cope with the numbers! Minimum 2 hours!
puggit said:
Having said that allow plenty of time at Las Vegas, it's the 5th busiest airport in the USA, and it's not able to cope with the numbers! Minimum 2 hours!
Hmm...thanks for that - I going to Vegas in a couple of wks and had thought Vegas would be OK.
Other recent trips to the US (Chigago, LA, Orlando, San Francisco) have been fine. I did get stuck in a 2 hr queue at LA a few yrs ago, though.
My company gets a lot of visitors from the US and they frequently complain about the delays in Immigration that they suffer at Heathrow.
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