Air America breaking news: "USA to fingerprint ALL visitors !!!"

On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 15:08:54 GMT, "Pete"
wrote:

...and even with that, it's still going to be faster than most customs
checks in 99% of the countries in the world.

When I arrive at JFK, I often wait 10-30 minutes in line, and I am a
USA citizen. The other lines are worse, and this is without the finger-
printing and photographing. I contrast that to countries like Finland,
Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland, where I breeze by passport control
hardly slowing down. I am sure this is the same for Denmark, Norway,
Iceland, and many other European countries. Your 99% must exclude
Europe, right?


His 99% would exclude much of Asia as well. I would imagine it was the
first number that came in to his head rather than based on any actual
experience.
--==++AJC++==--

On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 13:57:38 GMT, Chad Irby wrote:

.and even with that, it's still going to be faster than most customs
checks in 99% of the countries in the world.

Say what? The US is one of a few countries that doesn't allow arriving
passengers to pick a green lane if they have nothing to declare.

Mexico is another exception, but I seen others lately that I can
recall.

Are you perhaps immigration with customs?

Dick Locke wrote:

On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 13:57:38 GMT, Chad Irby wrote:


.and even with that, it's still going to be faster than most customs
checks in 99% of the countries in the world.


Say what? The US is one of a few countries that doesn't allow arriving
passengers to pick a green lane if they have nothing to declare.

We don't need one. I can't recall ever waiting for Customs. You usually
just hand them the form on the way out.

Chad Irby schrieb:

In article ,
"nobody760" wrote:

So the message is visiting the USA is more trouble than its worth so I'll go
some place else.

Yeah, that two minute fingerprinting and photo is *sooo* hard after a
six-hour plane flight...

...and even with that, it's still going to be faster than most customs
checks in 99% of the countries in the world.

Obviously you have never stood in line at SFO behind 4 other jumbojets
of passengers and 2 officers on duty.

T.


--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Chad Irby wrote in message .com...
In article ,
"nobody760" wrote:

So the message is visiting the USA is more trouble than its worth so I'll go
some place else.

Yeah, that two minute fingerprinting and photo is *sooo* hard after a
six-hour plane flight...

...and even with that, it's still going to be faster than most customs
checks in 99% of the countries in the world.

US Customs lines are much longer than anyplace else I've gone through
customs. The last time through US customs was pre 9-11 and it took
over an hour to clear immigration and customs (and I'm a US citizen by
birth). I spent about 10 minutes in the El Salvador International
Airport processing my tourist card then 2-3 additional minutes going
through customs, 5 minutes in Honduras at the International Airport in
San Pedro Sula processing my tourist card and 2-3 minutes at customs.
Both of these during the peak Christmas travel season 2003.

And the American's wonder why US airlines are going broke? This looks like
the final nail in the coffin for UA and AA. When will George ever wake up
and realise he's not John Wayne..
"Oelewapper" wrote in message
...
Dear allies, welcome to the age of digital fascism... :

Millions of visitors from some of the United States' closest allies soon
will have to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the
country,
U.S. officials said yesterday. Officials said the requirements of the
U.S.
VISIT program will be expanded this fall to cover about 13 million
travelers
each year from 27 countries, including Australia, Britain and Japan, whose
citizens are allowed to travel within the United States for as many as 90
days without a visa. The program -- an effort to track down criminals,
suspected terrorists and travelers who overstay visas -- began Jan. 5 and
now applies mainly to about 19 million visitors each year from Central and
South America, Africa and Asia.

The expansion, which will take effect by Sept. 30, means only diplomats
and
travelers from Mexico and Canada will not be fingerprinted and
photographed
when they enter the United States through 115 airports and 14 seaports,
said
Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security at
the
Department of Homeland Security. ...

Here is a list of the 27 countries in the Visa Waiver Program whose
citizens
will have to be photographed and fingerprinted on arrival in the United
States under a new program announced today.

Andorra
Austria
AUSTRALIA
Belgium
Brunei
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
PORTUGAL
San Marino
Singapore
Slovenia
SPAIN
Sweden
Switzerland
UNITED KINGDOM

U.S. Will Fingerprint 13 Million More in Fall - Visitors From Close Allies
To Be Photographed, Too - By Christopher Lee and Sara Kehaulani Goo -
Washington Post Staff Writers - Saturday, April 3, 2004; Page A01

-----
Air America: The greatest CIA-operation ever !!!

In article ,
"jboy" wrote:

And the American's wonder why US airlines are going broke? This looks like
the final nail in the coffin for UA and AA. When will George ever wake up
and realise he's not John Wayne..

I have no idea. Bush could not be a worse president if he tried. Have
you heard about what the National Park Service is doing to "secure" the
Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia? The National Park
Service's plan is an absolute joke, but than this is the same
administration that thinks we can survive a biological or chemical
attack with duct tape.

"Oelewapper" wrote in message
...
Dear allies, welcome to the age of digital fascism... :

This is not "fascism", unless you're one of those morons who thinks dealing
with the DMV and getting fingerprinted for a driver's license is "fascism".
When you lace your writing with such stupid hyperbole, you've lost your
credibility.

You're also mistaken if you think this will be limited to the US. Wealthy
democracies will all be implementing these very same procedures. If you
doubt me, wait and see what happens after the next round of terrorist
attacks.

Millions of visitors from some of the United States' closest allies soon
will have to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the
country,
U.S. officials said yesterday.

"Quantum Foam Guy" wrote in message
...
"Oelewapper" wrote in message
...
Dear allies, welcome to the age of digital fascism... :

This is not "fascism", unless you're one of those morons who thinks
dealing
with the DMV and getting fingerprinted for a driver's license is
"fascism".
When you lace your writing with such stupid hyperbole, you've lost your
credibility.

Please note that fingerprinting is not nearly as common in, for example, the
UK, as in the USA.
Here, you have to be suspected of a crime to be foingerprinted, and if you
are innocent, those prints are destroyed.

You're also mistaken if you think this will be limited to the US. Wealthy
democracies will all be implementing these very same procedures. If you
doubt me, wait and see what happens after the next round of terrorist
attacks.

We have had many, many terrorist attacks in the UK (many financed by the
USA) and have never founnd this necessary or useful. I am 67 and have never
had my finger prints taken.
If the present government were to introduce it, then, in spite of being a
life long member opf the Labour party, at elections I would vote against
them. It matters that much.

So, I doubt you. Other countries are not so

Millions of visitors from some of the United States' closest allies soon
will have to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the
country,
U.S. officials said yesterday.

There won't be as many millions in future.

"Marie Lewis" wrote in message
...


Please note that fingerprinting is not nearly as common in, for example,
the
UK, as in the USA.
Here, you have to be suspected of a crime to be foingerprinted, and if you
are innocent, those prints are destroyed.

I'm afraid the writing is on the wall for the UK

Already the police can take and retain DNA samples if they arrest you; these
samples are retained even if you're not subsequently charged with a crime.

Fingerprinting will probably come in with ID cards. I'd be very surprised if
the cards are not made compulsory as the police are bleating for this.

Brgds,

--
Peter X-Files Fan
Please Note: Emailed replies cc'd / bcc'd , containing HTML or attachments
auto-binned as spam