Now the US wants all your fingers printed
WASHINGTON – Travel associations in the United States continue to grapple with evidence that overseas visitors are being turned off America by perceptions that the US is no longer a tourist-friendly destination.
Security issues at airports are the chief culprits as authorities intensify the scrutiny of visitors arriving at US ports.
And it’s getting worse.
Over the next few months, major US airports from Boston to San Francisco will start requiring 10 fingerprints from most non-US citizens – not just both index fingers – to help prevent terrorism.
By the end of 2008, all US points of entry will enforce the rule, the Homeland Security Department (DHS) said this week. The new rule will make it easier for border officials to check the fingerprints against a government database of terrorist suspects.
Dulles International, Washington’s main airport, started the new procedure November 20. New York’s Kennedy airport, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago O’Hare airport, San Francisco, Houston, Miami, Detroit and Orlando, Florida, will follow during the next few months, DHS said.
To enter the country, most foreign nationals between ages 14 and 79, who arrive in the US or apply for visas, will have to provide the digital fingerprints as well as a photograph, DHS said.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025