Washington: Foreign visitors, including from India, arriving at US airports and seaports beginning January 2004 will have their photographs and fingerprints taken and identification checked against lists of those who should be denied entry for reasons like terrorist links and criminal violations.

"By January 1, 2004, if a foreign visitor, holding a Visa, flies into an American airport or arrives at an American seaport, the visitor's travel documents will be scanned, and a photo and fingerprint will be taken," Asa Hutchinson, US Undersecretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security, told a press conference in Washington.

"The person will then be checked against lists of those who should be denied entry for a whole variety of reasons -- from terrorist connections to criminal violations, or past visa violations," he said, releasing details of new US Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology (US VISIT).

The information requested will include immigration and citizenship status, nationality, country of residence, and the person's address while in the US. Incomplete information will no longer be good enough, Hutchinson said.

He said in 99.9 per cent of the cases, the visitors will simply be wished a good day and sent on their way. "With that small percentage of hits, our country will be made much safer, and our immigration system will be given a foundation of integrity that has been far too lacking."

The system is being introduced under directions given by Congress before the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks on the US, Hutchinson said, adding the arrangements at seaports and airports will affect 23 million people.

PTI