However, Bahamians travelling to the US through pre-clearance in Nassau and Freeport arfe exempt from the programme. The only passengers affected are those who require a visa to enter the US, and all those not travelling via the pre-clearance lounges, who will have fingerprints and a photo taken on arrival at their US destination.
These measures are part of a new “US visit” programme implemented at all points of entry to the US, which plans to “let visitors in but keep terrorists out” by using biometric data to check that travellers are who they say they are. Passengers fingerprints and photo are checked against those provided when they aplied for a US visa.
“If they amtch you are welcomed into the United States. If they don’t match we get very suspicious,” said US cahrge d’affaires Bob Witajewski.
Source: Robert Bain, The Tribune
