New procedures when entering the United States

As of January 5 foreign visitors entering the United States with a visa will be subject to new procedures in accordance with a new program designed to improve border security of the United States, as well as to ease travel. Travelers entering at the 115 airports and 14 seaports are required to give their fingerprints and have their picture taken, both digitally. This information will use the unique physical characteristics of each individual to establish identity.

Upon the inclusion of fingerprinting for US visa applicants, this Consular Section wants to advise applicants that for this procedure, index fingers must not have cuts or other alterations that might hinder the exact sampling of index finger fingerprints. If there is permanent damage to any of the index fingers, an alternate fingerprint will be taken. However, if there is temporary damage to any index finger, the applicant will be asked to return to the Consular Section once the index finger has healed to be able to take the fingerprints.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this new measure might cause, but it is mandatory.