Fingerprints at US Immigration

[Kazzyd]

Does anyone know why they take your fingerprints on entering the USA? Do they save them on record so that they can check they match next time you arrive in the USA? TIA.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

You have answered your own question. Photographs and prints are retained for at least 10 years.

When we had the Global Entry interview the CBP Guy had every photo of us going back to 2007. He checked every one of them and then asked my Wife why she had married an old man

[Toria_dee]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

He checked every one of them and then asked my Wife why she had married an old man

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:p gig:

You know what they say, the older the fiddle the better the tune

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Kazzyd

Does anyone know why they take your fingerprints on entering the USA? Do they save them on record so that they can check they match next time you arrive in the USA? TIA.

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Hi Kazzy, whilst US immigration may database fingerprints from first/previous entry, when arriving into an airport with the biometic system, prints are not taken as your photo provides the required facial recognition.

When we arrived into Atl last Nov the banks of kiosks were all taped off, odd to see them with lights on but nobody home! Our admitting IO was very pleasant and explained the biometric system.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Hi Kazzy, whilst US immigration may database fingerprints from first/previous entry, when arriving into an airport with the biometic system, prints are not taken as your photo provides the required facial recognition.

When we arrived into Atl last Nov the banks of kiosks were all taped off, odd to see them with lights on but nobody home! Our admitting IO was very pleasant and explained the biometric system.

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Chris. Spot on. Using your Visa do they still stamp your passport as with GE they don't take your photo or stamp it.
All they do is keep the printout from the GE machine and wave you through. So good.

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Chris. Spot on. Using your Visa do they still stamp your passport as with GE they don't take your photo or stamp it.
All they do is keep the printout from the GE machine and wave you through. So good.

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Oh aye T, our pp's are stamped B2/180, hence why I was oblivious of the 61 day overstay flag due to admitting IO keystroke error when he keyed me as 90 day VWP. First time in after acquiring B2, bit of an oops moment for me when I was hauled to Secondary the following Nov!

Considering the profiling we go thro when applying for B2 it would've been canny for it to include GE, but then as it's another money spinner they're unlikely to include with the visa process.

[Phild]

Came through MCO last week and they weren’t taking fingerprints or photos of anybody. Just a quick check of passport and a few taps on their computer and we were through. First time we have never had prints and photos.

[Quensabob]

Originally Posted by Phild

Came through MCO last week and they weren’t taking fingerprints or photos of anybody. Just a quick check of passport and a few taps on their computer and we were through. First time we have never had prints and photos.

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Yes we had nothing last September it took seconds he looked at us smiled and said welcome back!

[mouli1]

In 2015 sh came with me having not previously been to USA for 10 years we were questioned as to why had been lots and he hadn't
They know everything !

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by mouli1

In 2015 sh came with me having not previously been to USA for 10 years we were questioned as to why had been lots and he hadn't. They know everything!

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Hi mouli Oh aye, they know far more about travellers than some like to believe. In 2011, after advising the admitting IO we were staying for 3 month he nearly swallowed his tongue, don't know why, he can see our return to UK date. He proceeded to go thro every flippin' year/US stamp in my pp (altho I knew he was actually looking at his puter), pointing out that I'd been in 3 times or 4 times in this, that and the other year, he went back to 2006, the year that pp was issued - howay man I'm thinking... on such occasions it's better I keep my sarky mouth shut but every time he threw up, 'you came X times that year', I thought, 'aye, I kna bonny lad, and I went yam X times 'n'all'... he repeatedly told us, 'don't over-stay', even shouting it after we'd waked away, hubs had had it by then and turned around and shouted back, 'guaranteed'.

Oddly, since B2 visa approval in 2012 we've never been asked how long we're staying, they seem more accepting/unconcerned of our winter stays.