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09/30/2004: "US-Visit scheme"

Just reading about the new procedures which visitors to the US will be subjected to as of today. These prodecures apply also to us, members of the VWP (Visa Waiver Program). Under this new scheme you will be photographed and fingerprinted and your information stored. After October 2005 you should have a "smart" or "biometric" passport which contains unique details about you; fingerprint, picture of the eye etc. Now add this to the fact that the EU has agreed that airlines can hand over passenger information such as credit card numbers, address or email. Don't know about you but it makes me feel very uneasy. Travel to the US can be difficulty enough and now this? Bugger!