U.S. Department of State
96/08/23 Statement: Machine-Readable Visas Worldwide
Office of the Spokesman


Press Statement by Glyn Davies/Acting Spokesman
August 23, 1996



            Machine-Readable Visas Available Worldwide


The State Department has reached another important milestone in meeting 
the Administration's goals in improving border security.

On August 23, the U.S. Consulate General in Perth, Australia became the 
final U.S. consular post to begin issuing machine-readable non-immigrant 
visas, which are now available at all 221 U.S. visa-issuing posts 
throughout the world.  These computer-generated visas enhance U.S. 
security and accelerate visa processing at U.S. ports of entry.

The new machine-readable visas have enhanced security features and are 
created and read by customized software at the issuing posts and ports 
of entry.  The visa includes a computer-generated photo of the passport 
holder which helps eliminate several kinds of visa fraud.  The software 
and visa were designed by the Bureau of Consular Affairs with various 
security features to prevent terrorists and others ineligible for a visa 
from entering the United States.  The software includes a comprehensive 
automated check of the applicant's name against a database of more than 
four million aliens who are potentially ineligible to enter the United 
States.

The machine-readable visa also helps improve border security and service 
to travelers at U.S. ports of entry by reducing processing time.  
Immigration officers can scan information directly from the machine-
readable visa, which will speed up the clearance process for persons 
arriving in the United States.

As part of the President's Initiative on Immigration, the Department of 
State was tasked with tightening our border security by upgrading our 
automation.  Creating machine-readable visas is part of a large 
modernization effort by Consular Affairs.  In the next few years, 
Consular Affairs will launch a series of new computer systems to improve 
border security, enhance services to U.S. citizens abroad, and increase 
productivity in issuing visas.

Approximately 5 million non-immigrant visas are issued each year.