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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Gordon wrote: |
| Not everyone gets fingerprinted when they go to the US. Canadians don't, not sure who else doesn't. |
Not entirely true, Gordon. Some Canadians are exempt, but some are not. Read this.
http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/editorial_0695.shtm
Most citizens of Canada are not subject to the US-VISIT process, including:
Canadian citizens who are visa-exempt.
Canadian citizens traveling on Canadian passports with diplomatic visas or visas for international organizations (A, G or NATO).
Canadian citizens who are studying or working in the United States, who normally do not have a non-immigrant visa in their passports.
Canadian citizens who are permanent residents of the United States.
Children under 14 and persons over the age of 79 are exempt.
Applicants for admission at primary vehicle inspection presenting a valid, unexpired, multiple-entry Form I-94 may be admitted without being subject to secondary inspection even if the applicant is not yet enrolled in US-VISIT.
Note: Customs and Border Protection Officers retain the discretion to refer a visitor for US-VISIT processing as part of the inspections process if there is a concern about the nature of travel.
Canadians who are subject to the US-VISIT process include:
Citizens of Canada applying for admission with a non-immigrant visa such as Canadian citizens with K visas (fianc�s) and E visas (treaty trade investors).
Canadian permanent residents. Under U.S. regulations, Canadian permanent residents are identified by their citizenship (i.e., the nationality of the passport that they carry), not by the fact that they may be permanently residing in another country such as Canada.
Canadians with dual nationality who present a non-Canadian passport when seeking to enter the United States.
Others who are subject to the US-VISIT process include:
Current Canadian permanent residents who are participants in NEXUS and/or FAST who may be required to enroll in US-VISIT when they renew their multiple entry Form I-94s.
Visitors renewing their multiple-entry Form I-94. All current, valid Form I-94s remain in effect. US-VISIT biometric collection requirements will be either at the time of the next issuance of the Form I-94 or at the discretion of the Customs and Border Protection Officer. |
OK, 95% of Canadians are exempt. |
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chollimaspeed
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Posts: 120
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| So the US system is similar to the Japanese system in that it is selective about the foreigners it fingerprints. |
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Brooks
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1369
Location: Sagamihara
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| Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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no, not true.
In the US, with a green card you don't get fingerprinted, or if you are a legal resident. So my wife does when we go back for a vacation, since we don't live in the US.
My wife can be with me in the line for Americans, and get fingerprinted.
But after November 20th, my wife gets to be in the line for Japanese and I will be in the longer foreigner line.
But in Japan it looks like I will get fingerprinted every time I come back here, even though I live in Japan and have a Japanese spouse. |
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chollimaspeed
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Posts: 120
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:20 am Post subject: |
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Brooks, I said similar in that it is selective about which groups of foreigners it chooses to fingerprint. In the US, Canadians aren't usually fingerprinted whereas in Japan zainichi residents aren't fingerprinted. That was the comparison I was making and it was a response to Glenski who said:
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Foreigners are not being treated fairly with this policy. Some are exempt. Does the US treat all foreigners equally with its fingerprinting policy, or is it like Japan's?
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:44 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm
I wonder also how much pressure there was from the US to implement this program. I mean for tracking the movement of people etc, I know Australia has a super dooper microchipped passport so it's easier to get into the US. |
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chollimaspeed
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Posts: 120
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:55 am Post subject: |
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| markle wrote: |
Hmmm
I wonder also how much pressure there was from the US to implement this program. I mean for tracking the movement of people etc, I know Australia has a super dooper microchipped passport so it's easier to get into the US. |
I think the UK has this. Personally I would welcome putting chips in people's brains and exploding collars around everyone's necks. As soon as people start acting up or being suspicious push a button down and blow their heads off. That should keep everyone in line.
Seriously this is just dumb. If anything it promotes lower vigilance in security as the "system" is now taking care of everything. Besides if there are "hydra-like terrorist organizations" plotting endlessly to cause death and destruction then they now know who to employ for their attacks, those exempt from the fingerprinting process. Either that or they'll choose different targets. Why anyone thinks that aircraft are the best choice of terrorist target is completely beyond me. Hasn't Japan had enough experience in the past with the subway gas attack? Perpetrated by a home-grown religious cult. |
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AgentMulderUK
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 360
Location: Concrete jungle (Tokyo)
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:52 am Post subject: |
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Fingerprinting eh...
Just another little thank we get from Japan for coming to teach their brats.
From now on I will be stealing with my toes. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:54 am Post subject: |
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| Brooks wrote: |
no, not true.
In the US, with a green card you don't get fingerprinted, or if you are a legal resident. So my wife does when we go back for a vacation, since we don't live in the US.
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Only because you have already been fingerprinted and photoed several times as part of the green card process. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:09 am Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| Brooks wrote: |
no, not true.
In the US, with a green card you don't get fingerprinted, or if you are a legal resident. So my wife does when we go back for a vacation, since we don't live in the US.
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Only because you have already been fingerprinted and photoed several times as part of the green card process. |
And, people like me provided a fingerprint for my alien registration card before they stopped that process, too, however now I have to do it all over again...and each and every time I reenter Japan!? |
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Brooks
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1369
Location: Sagamihara
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:19 am Post subject: |
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| no, I am a US citizen. No fingerprints for me. For my wife, yes. |
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J.
Joined: 03 May 2003
Posts: 327
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:57 am Post subject: Aside from the discrimination issue |
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How about those of us who have been here long enough to have already given our fingerprints to the local town office, when we got our alien registration cards?
As well, we have our photographs right on the cards, since we have to give them updated ones every time they are renewed. That means that the data is already on file, or could be on file, if they wanted to reinstate the fingerprinting at the same time as you get your alien card ( the lesser of two evils). Why do we have to have a photograph and fingerprints every time we go through? They should be able to look at our faces and compare them to the cards and /or run them through machines if they need to.
The whole thing is disorganized and inefficient and guaranteed to make weary travellers annoyed. My journey is usually over 36 hours, with no sleep, and I don't relish standing in lines for photographs and fingerprints.
Also I can't see this facilitating the Japanese government's goal of increasing tourists to Japan. Just a bad idea all around.
Fukuda could start things off right by scrapping or modifying this plan (at least to exclude residents who have already been thoroughly "processed") before it alienates more people. But apparently he's not going to. |
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