INSPASS Update

INS Internet Home Page. The URL for this location is http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-823.htm

Briefing Paper (For general use)

The INS Passenger Accelerated Service System (INSPASS) is an automated system that can significantly reduce immigration inspection processing time for authorized travelers. INSPASS combines automation with a hand geometry biometric image to validate the claimed identity of an individual. Travelers enroll in the program at an INSPASS enrollment office.

Arriving at a Port-of-Entry, the traveler proceeds to an INSPASS inspection queue. There, the person inserts a card issued to them at enrollment to an INSPASS kiosk, similar to automated bank teller devices.

Responding to messages on the kiosk's touch-screen display, the traveler is prompted to enter their flight number (certain persons only) and to place their hand in a hand geometry reader. Screen prompts are used to achieve correct alignment of the hand with the hand reader. The kiosk software automatically compares the live scan of the traveler's hand geometry biometric to the image captured at enrollment.

If the traveler's identity is validated by this comparison, an I-94 / receipt of his inspection is printed by the kiosk, a gate opens, and the traveler can proceed. If this check is not successful, a screen message refers the traveler to an Immigration Inspector in a nearby inspection booth. Processing times of 15 - 20 seconds are typical, and times as low as 11 seconds have been observed at existing INSPASS kiosks.

These inspections do not require direct intervention. Through August 1998, more than 70,000 frequent travelers enrolled in or renewed their INSPASS enrollment, and there are presently over 30,000 active participants. More than 220,000 admissions have been made at INSPASS kiosks since 1995. During this time, nearly 10,000 compliance checks of INSPASS admitted persons were made by inspectors without fraud detected.

INSPASS is currently operational at international airports at: Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York (JFK), San Francisco, as well as the U.S. preclearance sites at Vancouver, and Toronto in Canada. Site development activity continues at Washington-Dulles, and Honolulu for planned late spring 1999 installations.

Citizens of the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP) countries who travel to the U.S. on business three or more times a year, or who are diplomats, representatives to international organizations, or airline crews from the VWPP nations may voluntarily enroll in the INSPASS Program. Access to INSPASS is not available to anyone with a criminal record or to aliens who require a waiver of inadmissibility to enter the U.S. The PortPASS card used with INSPASS remains the property of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and may be revoked or canceled at any time.

Currently, no fee is associated with INSPASS enrollment, although this may change in the future.

Currently, PortPASS cards issued for INSPASS use are valid for one year. Users are warned of pending card expiration by the kiosk. When a PortPASS card expires, the kiosk refers the user to an Immigration Inspector when an expired card is used in any PASS system.

Visit or contact an INSPASS enrollment office and request INS form I-823. You can also download the form from the INS Internet site (http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-823.htm). Complete the application according to the instructions provided. Return to an enrollment center with the required documents to support your application. Applicants must be prepared to provide a valid passport to support claimed citizenship and identity. The fact that INSPASS enrollment is valid at all airports with INSPASS capability, regardless of the foreign location the person is coming from, creates the requirement for all applicants to provide a valid passport, except those specifically exempted by law.

At your enrollment interview, an Immigration Inspector will enter your application data to a database system, and collect a digital photograph, fingerprints, hand geometry, or other biometrics from you. The inspector will interview you to determine your admissibility to the U.S., and INSPASS enrollment eligibility. If approved, you will be issued a PortPASS card and instructions on using an INSPASS kiosk.

You can then use INSPASS on your next entry to the U.S. from a foreign port of embarkation. Not all U.S. Ports-of-Entry have INSPASS kiosks. If you enter the U.S. at a Port-of-Entry that does not have an INSPASS kiosk, or if the INSPASS system is temporarily unavailable for your use, you will have to wait in a queue for the next available Immigration Inspector as was the case prior to your enrollment.

The following provisions also apply to the INSPASS program or use of a PortPASS card:

• Mere enrollment in INSPASS, or possession of an INS PortPASS card, does not confer any special immigration benefit or preferential immigration inspection status;
• The PortPASS card is not a substitute for a passport and, or a visa if one is required for you to enter the U.S.;
• Your PortPASS card is only valid for use in an INSPASS program kiosk. You must also have a valid travel document (passport, visa, or U.S. alien registration receipt card) in your possession when you make your entry to the U.S. In the case of land border INSPASS systems, the list of acceptable travel documents that must be carried is expanded to include a valid Border Crosser Card (BCC); and,
• All persons using automated inspections kiosks provided at a Port-of-Entry in connection with an INSPASS program are subject to automated random or discretionary compliance reviews to ensure that U.S. laws are enforced, or for quality control purposes for the various INSPASS programs.

Los Angeles, California - Los Angeles International Airport (Pacific time, GMT -8)

Location: Tom Bradley International Terminal - international arrivals level, by the information desk.

Open Hours: Monday - Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This enrollment office is closed on Sundays.

Telephone: (310) 215-2101 extension 467

Mailing Address: USINS - INSPASS, 380 World Way Box N-20, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Miami, Florida - Miami International Airport (Eastern time, GMT -5)

Location: Concourse B - international arrivals level, outside the customs area, next to the ramp leading to the Dolphin parking garage (third level), across from the currency exchange counter.

Open Hours: Daily, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Telephone: (305) 874-5469

Mailing Address: USINS - INSPASS, PO Box 997895, Miami, FL, 33299-7895

Newark, New Jersey - Newark International Airport: (Eastern time, GMT -5)

Location: Terminal B - outside customs on the ramp from the customs exit to the arrivals hall.

Open Hours: Daily, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Telephone: (973) 645-3239, extension 281 (from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ONLY!)

Mailing Address: INSPASS, PO Box 2010, Newark, NJ, 07114-2010

New York City, New York - John F. Kennedy International Airport: (Eastern time, GMT -5)

International Arrivals Building #9; (This is NOT the new terminal one)

Location: Departure level lobby

Open Hours: Daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Telephone: (718) 244-3722

Location: Departure level, center of terminal building

Open Hours: Daily, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Telephone: (718) 632-2317

Location: Next to United Airlines & British Airways first class lounges

Open Hours: Daily, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Telephone: (718) 553-5932

Location: Departure level East side

Open Hours: Daily, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Telephone: (718) 632-3722

Mailing Address: USINS (INSPASS), PO BOX 300766, JFK Airport Station, Jamaica, NY 11430

San Francisco, California, San Francisco International Airport: (Pacific time, GMT -8)

Location: International Terminal (D), arrivals level, opposite exit from Customs, near smoking lounge

Open Hours: Monday - Saturday, TBD

This enrollment office is closed on Sundays.

Telephone: TBD

Mailing Address: USINS, P.O. Box 280551, San Francisco, CA 94128, ATTN: INSPASS Enrollment Center

Toronto, Ontario - Pearson International Airport: #9; (Eastern time, GMT -5)

Location: In the U.S. Federal Inspection Services (FIS) area on the departures level behind Air Canada check-in counters. Non-ticketed passengers wishing to enroll in INSPASS should call the number, ask for the Terminal 2 supervisor, and arrange to be escorted into the FIS area. Once in the FIS, the enrollment center is located to the traveler's left.

Open Hours: Daily, from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location: In the FIS area on the departures level behind the American Airlines check-in counters. Non-ticketed persons wishing to enroll in INSPASS should call the number below, ask for the Terminal 3 supervisor, and make arrangements to be escorted into the FIS area. Once in the FIS, the INSPASS enrollment center is located to the traveler's left.

Open Hours: Daily, from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Telephone: (905) 676-2563

Mailing Address: U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service, Lester B. Pearson International Airport

PO Box 6011, Toronto AMF, Ontario, Canada , L5P 1B2

Vancouver, British Columbia - Vancouver International Airport (Western / Pacific time, GMT - 8)

Location: Before the duty free shop and the U.S. Federal Inspection Services (FIS) area, on the departures level behind the U.S. bound airline check-in counters.

Open Hours: Until October, Monday - Friday, from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Starting October, Monday - Saturday, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

This enrollment center is closed on Sunday.

Telephone: (604) 278-2520

Mailing Address: U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service, Vancouver International Airport

International Terminal Building - Level 3

Richmond, BC Canada V7B 1Y3

or:

INS - VCV

PO Box 450

Port Roberts, WA 98281-0450

Yes

PortPASS cards issued by the INS for use in INSPASS or other INS systems may not be able to be read by automated inspection systems used by other countries. In addition, as the INS is not exchanging enrollment data with other nations, travelers will need to provide separate enrollment information to each country.

Expansion opportunities for INSPASS can be roughly divided into two areas of consideration: "where" eligible persons can participate; and, "who" can participate.

Studies conducted at INS' request, indicated that the most heavily used North American airports by frequent travelers were: Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. A 1996 study listed the top 10 busiest airports by all travelers (domestic plus international) as New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Chicago, San Francisco, Newark, Boston, Dallas, and Houston.

Through 1998, the INS budget authorized funds to operate INSPASS at a total of 21 airports. The INS 1999 budget adds another two airports, bringing the eventual authorized total to 23.

The INSPASS airport deployment list meets the INS' objective of installing INSPASS where it would result in significant benefits to the government and the traveling public. Airports not listed are not major hubs or gateways, or do not have adequate volumes of qualifying frequent travelers to justify the significant costs attendant to deploying and maintaining INSPASS. The current INSPASS expansion schedule is planned as follows:

Remote locations where the INS conducts inspections such as Guam or Aruba are not planned to receive INSPASS. Logistical and communications problems inherent with long distance support and maintenance would reduce INSPASS reliability and could prove counter-productive to INS facilitation goals. These and other small domestic locations may be revisited as technical problems affecting remote locations are successfully addressed.

The "who" now includes citizens of the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP) countries in U.S. nonimmigrant visa classifications: B-1, D-1, TN, WB; and some nonimmigrants in classes A, E, G, and L. To be eligible to apply for VWPP admission to the United States, an applicant must:

• be traveling to the U.S. for business, or to transit through the U.S. enroute to another country;
• not plan to stay in the U.S. for a period greater than 90 calendar days;
• arrive on a commercial carrier, signatory to an agreement with the INS covering the VWPP program;
• have a valid, unexpired passport issued by a VWPP country to establish the applicant's citizenship;
• have a completed and signed INS form I-94W Arrival - Departure Record (green);
• possess a valid return or onward ticket that can be used to remove the traveler from the U.S.; and,
• have not previously violated their U.S. immigration status or laws.

Currently, the following 26 countries are participating members of the VWPP:

There are a number of nonimmigrant visa categories that might be added to INSPASS eligibility by the INS in the future. The non-VWPP country classifications whose inclusion would have the greatest affect on immigration inspection operations would be visitors to the U.S. for pleasure, nonimmigrant visa categories WT and B-2.

An additional factor in the "who" is the nationality of those persons authorized to enroll. Like the classes of nonimmigrant visa categories authorized to participate, the current list of nationalities authorized to participate was a decision made by INS to limit risk during the testing phase of INSPASS. According to information presented during a White House Conference on Travel and Tourism, the countries which send the most number of travelers to the United States and which are not included in the VWPP, include Mexico, Brazil and South Korea.

The INS anticipates maintaining current limitations on INSPASS enrollment eligibility through the remainder of 1999. Before including other nonimmigrant classes or nationalities, the INS must ensure that INSPASS and other supporting automated systems perform reliably and consistently to provide high levels of service to our customers, and that needed support is in place to ensure uninterrupted access to INSPASS. Until these needs are addressed, the INS considers it inadvisable to increase the numbers of persons having access to INSPASS. However, late in 1997, the INS made a preliminary decision to start planning to open eligibility for INSPASS enrollment to frequent travelers from nearly all nations by 2000. The INS will comply fully with the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), including a fully public rule-making process, and notice in the Federal Register, to allow for a full and open dialog on issues related to these changes and their effects on the traveling public and the travel industry.

If you did not receive a copy of INS Form I-823 with this document, to obtain a copy: call, or write to one of the INSPASS enrollment offices listed in this paper. They will be happy to send you a blank form; or, download the file from the INS Internet Home Page at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-823.htm

Once you have a clear copy of the blank application form, you may make copies on white paper for other persons to use. Depending on local enrollment office policy, you may submit pre-enrollment information through the mail. However, please remember that you must appear in person at an INSPASS enrollment office to be interviewed. You cannot complete your INSPASS application through the mail or by facsimile unless directed to do so by your servicing INSPASS enrollment office