2004 Press Releases
U.S. Embassy Begins Fingerprint Scans
Bratislava, January 14, 2004
Beginning January 14, 2004, the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava began collecting digitally scanned fingerprints from visa applicants. This new procedure was instituted in accordance with U.S. law, which required that biometric identifiers be collected from all visa applicants. Over 50 U.S. embassies and consulates around the world have already begun collecting these fingerprint scans.
All visa applicants will be fingerprinted except:
- children under 14 years of age
- applicants over 79 years of age
- employees of foreign governments and international organizations traveling on official business
Only those who are applying for a new visa must be fingerprinted. Previously issued visas will remain valid; no one will need to renew a valid visa until it expires. Travelers who do not require a visa do not need to come to the Embassy to be fingerprinted.
Two fingerprints will be collected from each applicant by using a scanner. No ink will be used, and the process will take only seconds. Prints of the right and left index fingers of applicants will be taken. If a visa applicant refuses to be fingerprinted, his or her application will be considered incomplete and therefore not processed. However, an applicant who later decides to provide fingerprints could reactivate that application.
The collection of fingerprints is the latest step in the U.S. government's efforts to improve the security of the visa process. On January 5 of this year, fingerprint scans and digital photographs began to be taken of all travelers arriving in the U.S. with visas. These efforts will enhance the security of U.S. citizens and visitors, expedite legitimate travel and trade, and protect the integrity of the immigration system by ensuring that the person entering the U.S. is the same person who applied for the visa. Further information on the visa application process is available on the embassy website, http://www.usembassy.sk.