Legislative Agenda - International Traveler Facilitation Issues Position Paper

OBJECTIVE
TIA supports the development and expansion of new and existing programs that increase security at all U.S. ports-of-entry while facilitating increased international travel to the United States.

BACKGROUND
While efforts to improve security at all U.S. ports-of-entry are a major priority, the goal of heightened airport and border security should not diminish the federal government's responsibility to process inbound international travelers in a professional and efficient manner. Failure to do so could jeopardize the nearly $80 billion in spending that results from international travel to the U.S., and the 822,000 U.S. jobs directly resulting from these visitors.

Enhanced inspection and security can go hand-in-hand with improved facilitation and treatment of arriving international travelers. TIA is working with the Departments of State and Homeland Security to improve traveler facilitation, as new security programs are developed and additional resources allocated to border inspection.

The priority facilitation issues for TIA are:

Biometric Passports: Legislation passed in 2003 required that all Visa Waiver countries have a program to issue passports with biometric technology by October 26, 2004. TIA and others successfully lobbied for a one-year extension of the deadline, and expect a second may be needed. Only a few of the 27 Visa Waiver countries will be able to meet the current deadline to begin issuing biometric passports in October, 2005.

US-VISIT Program: The U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program is designed to accurately record the entry and exit of all international visitors and to verify their identity through the use of biometric information and scanning. The initial phase of the program was launched at U.S. airports and seaports on January 5, 2004. Implementation of the US- VISIT program at the land borders should be completed in early 2006.

Visa Processing: The August 2003 requirement that nearly all visa applicants appear in person at a U.S. embassy or consulate has increased the workload at many visa-issuing posts. While additional staff have been deployed since then, in some locations major delays continue to occur due to shortages of personnel or office space. TIA continues to be concerned that delays in visa issuance are acting to deter prospective international visitors.

CURRENT STATUS
TIA is closely monitoring visa-processing and US-VISIT implementation. TIA is pleased that the State Department has responded to our suggestion to post the visa processing wait times on the Internet for U.S. visa-issuing posts worldwide.

TIA continues to work with Homeland Security to identify communication tools and target audiences for announcements on implementation of the US-VISIT program. For example, staff from the US-VISIT office was invited to participate in TIA's annual trade show, International Pow Wow®, and demonstrated the US-VISIT inspection process. TIA and others have impressed upon DHS the need to fully inform prospective international visitors about the program prior to their departure for the U.S.

OUTLOOK
TIA will continue to monitor wait times for visas at U.S. posts abroad, and will continue to work with DHS as it deploys US-VISIT at airports, seaports, and land border ports-of-entry. TIA expects it may be necessary to approach the Senate and House Judiciary Committees and request a second one-year extension of the biometric passport deadline. TIA will follow initiatives to improve the facilitation of international travel, such as the expansion of overseas U.S. pre-inspection and new professional training for Customs and Border Protection officers.