Amendment to the Biometric Visa Program, 39323-39324 [2010-16671]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 130 / Thursday, July 8, 2010 / Notices
DATES: The Department will accept
comments from the public up for up to
30 days from July 8, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any of the following methods:
• E-mail: AllowancesO@state.gov.
• Mail (paper, disk, or CD–ROM
submissions): Office of Allowances (A/
OPR/ALS), Room L314 SA–1,
Department of State, Washington, DC
20522–0103.
• Fax: (202) 261–8707 or (202) 261–
8708.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Office of
Allowances (A/OPR/ALS), Room L314,
Department of State, 2401 E Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20037.
• If you have access to the Internet
you may view and comment on this
notice by going to ‘‘https://
www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/
home.html#home’’.
You must include the DS form
number (if applicable), information
collection title, and OMB control
number in any correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct requests for additional
information regarding the collection
listed in this notice, including requests
for copies of the proposed information
collection and supporting documents, to
George W. Indyke, Director, Office of
Allowances, Room L314 SA–1,
Washington, DC 20522–0103, who may
be reached on (202) 261–8700 or at
AllowancesO@state.gov.
We are
soliciting public comments to permit
the Department to:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary for
the proper performance of our
functions.
• Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected.
• Minimize the reporting burden on
those who are to respond, including the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of technology.
Abstract of proposed collection: The
collected data is used by the Department
of State to carry out its responsibilities
under 5 U.S.C. 5924(1), and Executive
Orders 10903 and by the Department of
Defense to carry out responsibilities
under 37 U.S.C. 405. It is the primary
source of information used to establish/
justify post (cost of living) allowances
for all Federal civilian employees
assigned abroad and cost of living
allowances for uniformed service
members. The respondents are the store/
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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17:09 Jul 07, 2010
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department managers of approximately
40 retail outlets at each foreign post and
approximately 48 retail outlets in the
Washington, DC area.
Methodology: U.S.G. employees or
contractors visit the retail outlets and
gather prices personally. The estimated
burden for respondents is based on the
time the Price Collectors may spend
with them to explain the purpose of the
data collection and seek their
cooperation with having the price
collector gather prices. Once the price
collector has completed the cost data
collection, the information is entered in
the eAllowances program for electronic
submission to the Department of State’s
Office of Allowances.
Dated: June 21, 2010.
George W. Indyke, Jr.,
Director, Office of Allowances, Bureau of
Administration, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010–16672 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–24–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7047]
Amendment to the Biometric Visa
Program
Department of State.
Notice of Amendment to the
Biometric Visa Program.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This public notice announces an
amendment to the Biometric Visa
Program. Section 303 of the Enhanced
Border Security and Visa Entry Reform
Act of 2002 has required, since October
26, 2004, that all visas issued by the
Department must be machine-readable
and tamper-resistant and use biometric
identifiers. In consultation with the
Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) and the Department of Justice
(DOJ), the Department determined that
fingerprints and a photo image should
be required as biometric identifiers.
When the biometric visa program began,
available technology allowed for the
efficient capture and comparisons of
only two fingerscans. As a result of
technological improvements, the
Department instituted a ten fingerscan
standard to raise the accuracy rate in
matching fingerscans and enhanced our
ability to detect and thwart persons who
are eligible for visas.
In establishing the Biometric Visa
Program, the Department coordinated
closely with the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS). The
Biometric Visa Program is a partner
program to the DHS US–VISIT Program
that is in effect at U.S. ports of entry and
that uses the same biometric identifiers.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
39323
By coordinating these two programs, the
two departments have ensured the
integrity of the U.S. visa. This is
accomplished by sending the
fingerscans and photos of visa
applicants to DHS databases. When a
person to whom a visa has been issued
arrives at a port of entry, his or her
photo is retrieved from a database and
projected on the computer screen of the
Customs and Border Protection officer.
The person’s fingerscans are compared
to the fingerscans in the database to
ensure that the person presenting the
visa is the same as the person to whom
the visa was issued.
Certain exemptions to the fingerscans
under the Biometric Visa Program were
also coordinated with the Department of
Homeland Security to coincide with the
exemptions to fingerscans under the
US–VISIT Program. Under the Biometric
Visa Program, applicants for diplomatic
or official visas, for visas to represent
their governments at recognized
international organizations such as the
United Nations or for visas to serve as
employees of such organizations, for
NATO visas, or for government officials
on official transit through the U.S. are
exempt from the fingerscans. The
aforementioned are represented by visa
categories: A–1, A–2, G–1, G–2, G–3, G–
4, NATO–1, NATO–2, NATO–3, NATO–
4, NATO–5, NATO–6 and C–3 (except
for attendants, servants, or personal
employees of accredited officials). In
addition, persons under age 14 and
persons age 80 or above are generally
exempt from the fingerscans, unless the
person is applying for a visa at a
consular post in Mexico and in Yemen.
In Mexico, fingerscans are required for
applicants beginning at age 7 and above
under the program for issuance of
biometric Border Crossing Cards
(commonly known as ‘‘laser visas’’),
which began in 1998. We have recently
expanded that policy to include visa
applicants in Yemen, and may further
expand it to include additional
countries in the future. The Secretary of
State retains the authority to require
fingerscans of children under age 14 or
adults age 80 or above in all other
countries. All visa applicants are
required to submit a photograph with
the visa application, except at consular
posts in Mexico where most
nonimmigrant visa applicants have a
live-capture photo taken at post. All
persons, regardless of whether they
submit fingerscans or not, are reviewed
against the Department’s facial
recognition database, one of the largest
facial recognition databases in the
world.
By checking fingerscans against a
biometric watchlist, the Biometric Visa
E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM
08JYN1
39324
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 130 / Thursday, July 8, 2010 / Notices
Program enables consular officers to
deny visas to persons on the watchlist
who are ineligible for visas. For the
great majority of travelers, the Biometric
Visa Program performs a travel
facilitation function by allowing for
biometric identity verification at ports
of entry, which serves to facilitate
admission to the United States.
DATES: Effective upon date of
publication in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lauren Prosnik, Visa Analyst, U.S.
Department of State, 2401 E Street, NW.,
Room L603, Washington, DC 20520.
Phone 202–633–2951.
Dated: June 25, 2010.
Janice L. Jacobs,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular
Affairs, Department of State.
or United, and (3) reissue the certificates
and other authority issued to United to
United and/or Continental, Continental
Micronesia and Air Micronesia.
Renee V. Wright,
Program Manager, Docket Operations,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2010–16614 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Applications for Certificates
of Public Convenience and Necessity
and Foreign Air Carrier Permits Filed
Under Subpart B (formerly Subpart Q)
During the Week Ending June 5, 2010
[FR Doc. 2010–16671 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Office of the Secretary: Notice of
Applications for Certificates of Public
Convenience and Necessity and
Foreign Air Carrier Permits Filed Under
Subpart B (formerly Subpart Q) During
the Week Ending June 26, 2010
The following Applications for
Certificates of Public Convenience and
Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier
Permits were filed under Subpart B
(formerly Subpart Q) of the Department
of Transportation’s Procedural
Regulations (See 14 CFR 301.201 et
seq.). The due date for Answers,
Conforming Applications, or Motions to
Modify Scope are set forth below for
each application. Following the Answer
period DOT may process the application
by expedited procedures. Such
procedures may consist of the adoption
of a show-cause order, a tentative order,
or in appropriate cases a final order
without further proceedings.
Docket Number: DOT–OST–2010–
0163.
Date Filed: June 24, 2010.
Due Date for Answers, Conforming
Applications, or Motion to Modify
Scope: July 15, 2010.
Description: Application of
Continental Airlines, Inc., and United
Air Lines, Inc. requesting: (1) Approval
of a defacto transfer of the certificates
and other economic authority held by
Continental, Continental Micronesia
and Air Micronesia to the same carriers
under common ownership with United
and vice versa, (2) reissue the
certificates and other authority issued to
Continental, Continental Micronesia
and Air Micronesia to Continental and/
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17:09 Jul 07, 2010
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The following Applications for
Certificates of Public Convenience and
Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier
Permits were filed under Subpart B
(formerly Subpart Q) of the Department
of Transportation’s Procedural
Regulations (See 14 CFR 301.201 et
seq.).
The due date for Answers,
Conforming Applications, or Motions to
Modify Scope are set forth below for
each application. Following the Answer
period DOT may process the application
by expedited procedures. Such
procedures may consist of the adoption
of a show-cause order, a tentative order,
or in appropriate cases a final order
without further proceedings.
Docket Number: DOT–OST–2006–
25940.
Date Filed: June 3, 2010.
Due Date for Answers, Conforming
Applications, or Motion to Modify
Scope: June 24, 2010.
Description: Application of Kuzu
Havayollari Kargo Tasimacilik A.S
requesting the Department issue an
amended foreign air carrier permit of its
current charter authority in the name of
ULS Havayollari Kargo Tasimacilik S.A.
Renee V. Wright,
Program Manager, Docket Operations,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2010–16609 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
PO 00000
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Applications for Certificates
of Public Convenience and Necessity
and Foreign Air Carrier Permits Filed
Under Subpart B (Formerly Subpart Q)
During the Week Ending June 12, 2010
The following Applications for
Certificates of Public Convenience and
Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier
Permits were filed under Subpart B
(formerly Subpart Q) of the Department
of Transportation’s Procedural
Regulations (See 14 CFR 301.201 et
seq.). The due date for Answers,
Conforming Applications, or Motions to
Modify Scope are set forth below for
each application. Following the Answer
period DOT may process the application
by expedited procedures. Such
procedures may consist of the adoption
of a show-cause order, a tentative order,
or in appropriate cases a final order
without further proceedings.
Docket Number: DOT–OST–2010–
0148.
Date Filed: June 8, 2010.
Due Date for Answers, Conforming
Applications, or Motion to Modify
Scope: June 29, 2010.
Description: Application of Privilege
Style, S.A. requesting an exemption and
foreign air carrier permit to conduct
charter foreign air transportation of
persons, property and mail between a
point or points in the European
Community and the Member States of
the European Union, and a point or
points in the United States, to the full
extent allowed under the Air Transport
Agreement between the United States
and the European community and the
Member States of the European Union.
Docket Number: DOT–OST–2010–
0150.
Date Filed: June 9, 2010.
Due Date for Answers, Conforming
Applications, or Motion to Modify
Scope: June 30, 2010.
Description: Application of Acropolis
Aviation Limited requesting an
exemption and a foreign air carrier
permit authorizing Acropolis Aviation
to engage in charter foreign air
transportation of persons, property and
mail to and from points in the United
States to the full extent permitted by its
homeland operating authority and the
EU–U.S. open-skies agreement, as well
as other charters pursuant to the prior
approval requirements.
Renee V. Wright,
Program Manager, Docket Operations,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2010–16621 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39323-39324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16671]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7047]
Amendment to the Biometric Visa Program
AGENCY: Department of State.
ACTION: Notice of Amendment to the Biometric Visa Program.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This public notice announces an amendment to the Biometric Visa
Program. Section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry
Reform Act of 2002 has required, since October 26, 2004, that all visas
issued by the Department must be machine-readable and tamper-resistant
and use biometric identifiers. In consultation with the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), the
Department determined that fingerprints and a photo image should be
required as biometric identifiers. When the biometric visa program
began, available technology allowed for the efficient capture and
comparisons of only two fingerscans. As a result of technological
improvements, the Department instituted a ten fingerscan standard to
raise the accuracy rate in matching fingerscans and enhanced our
ability to detect and thwart persons who are eligible for visas.
In establishing the Biometric Visa Program, the Department
coordinated closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The
Biometric Visa Program is a partner program to the DHS US-VISIT Program
that is in effect at U.S. ports of entry and that uses the same
biometric identifiers. By coordinating these two programs, the two
departments have ensured the integrity of the U.S. visa. This is
accomplished by sending the fingerscans and photos of visa applicants
to DHS databases. When a person to whom a visa has been issued arrives
at a port of entry, his or her photo is retrieved from a database and
projected on the computer screen of the Customs and Border Protection
officer. The person's fingerscans are compared to the fingerscans in
the database to ensure that the person presenting the visa is the same
as the person to whom the visa was issued.
Certain exemptions to the fingerscans under the Biometric Visa
Program were also coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security
to coincide with the exemptions to fingerscans under the US-VISIT
Program. Under the Biometric Visa Program, applicants for diplomatic or
official visas, for visas to represent their governments at recognized
international organizations such as the United Nations or for visas to
serve as employees of such organizations, for NATO visas, or for
government officials on official transit through the U.S. are exempt
from the fingerscans. The aforementioned are represented by visa
categories: A-1, A-2, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-
4, NATO-5, NATO-6 and C-3 (except for attendants, servants, or personal
employees of accredited officials). In addition, persons under age 14
and persons age 80 or above are generally exempt from the fingerscans,
unless the person is applying for a visa at a consular post in Mexico
and in Yemen. In Mexico, fingerscans are required for applicants
beginning at age 7 and above under the program for issuance of
biometric Border Crossing Cards (commonly known as ``laser visas''),
which began in 1998. We have recently expanded that policy to include
visa applicants in Yemen, and may further expand it to include
additional countries in the future. The Secretary of State retains the
authority to require fingerscans of children under age 14 or adults age
80 or above in all other countries. All visa applicants are required to
submit a photograph with the visa application, except at consular posts
in Mexico where most nonimmigrant visa applicants have a live-capture
photo taken at post. All persons, regardless of whether they submit
fingerscans or not, are reviewed against the Department's facial
recognition database, one of the largest facial recognition databases
in the world.
By checking fingerscans against a biometric watchlist, the
Biometric Visa
[[Page 39324]]
Program enables consular officers to deny visas to persons on the
watchlist who are ineligible for visas. For the great majority of
travelers, the Biometric Visa Program performs a travel facilitation
function by allowing for biometric identity verification at ports of
entry, which serves to facilitate admission to the United States.
DATES: Effective upon date of publication in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Prosnik, Visa Analyst, U.S.
Department of State, 2401 E Street, NW., Room L603, Washington, DC
20520. Phone 202-633-2951.
Dated: June 25, 2010.
Janice L. Jacobs,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-16671 Filed 7-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P
