United Kingdom Using Fingerprint Information In Visa Process

While biometrics continue the march toward mainstream acceptance, the United Kingdom is using fingerprint information from visa applicants to protect the country’s borders.

The information, along with a digital photo, is being collected by the government from foreigners applying for visas to enter the country. More than 100,000 sets of fingerprints per month are now being collected from applicants in 100 countries across the globe. The information collection is mandatory if the applicant wants to visit the country for work, education or tourism.

When fingerprints are taken, the information is checked against government records to see if the person is known to the country’s Border and Immigration Agency. So far, more than 8,000 sets of prints have been matched to individuals of concern.

“Biometric checks are essential to protect our borders,” said UK Immigration Minister Liam Byrne. “They allow us to screen each visa applicant before they are given the right to enter the United Kingdom, meaning tighter border controls and increased security. But it's not just abroad that these fingerprint records are used. Once these individuals are in the UK, Immigration Services use the same database for enforcement activity, such as illegal working operations.”

After starting in 2006, the government plans to roll out the biometric function to every foreign national applying for a British visa by April 2008.

And the program has already paid dividends to protecting the country, which has taken a priority after the London bus bombings in July 2006 and foiled car bombing attacks this summer.

Numerous applications have been denied thanks to the fingerprints. For example, a biometric check helped to identify a Pakistani passport holder who has previously traveled to the United Kingdom using a false identity and Afghanistan nationality. Because of the fingerprint check, the application was refused, and the person was not allowed to travel to the country.

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3