Smart cards and biometrics may make it easier to get through immigration check points at Saudi Arabia international airports, according to a news report in the Saudi Gazette. Travelers swipe a biometric immigration card at the gate and walk through. The system uses iris and fingerprint biometric to authenticate the cardholder. All Saudi Arabia residents […]

The Israeli government has proposed a bill that would introduce biometric identity cards and passports to the country with the purpose of relieving theft and counterfeiting of identities, according to a Jerusalem Post article. While officials behind the proposal assure that the proper steps to ensure high security for personal data, others from the Knesset […]

UK Home Office Secretary Alan Johnson announced that the identity scheme put in place would be voluntary for citizens. The only individuals forced to apply for the cards would be foreign national living in the UK, 50,000 of these cards have already been issued. The IDs also will no longer be mandatory for airport workers. […]

The June meeting of the Government Smart Card Interagency Advisory Board (IAB) was recently held in Washington D.C. FIPS201.com was on hand to cover the event and has provided, as a service to the IAB and the smart card community, an audio recording of the presentations. Click on the link below to access a list […]

Immigration officials from Kyoto, Japan have reported that their biometric system located at the Narita International Airport has detected four individuals since the system’s installation in January that tried to fool the system, according to a Japan Times Online article. The four who were caught had attempted to alter their fingerprints through surgical removal and […]

By Stephen Price-Francis, vice president of marketing, LaserCard Corporation Executive Summary In July 2005, Costa Rica passed an immigration reform act to serve as a key instrument for fighting corruption and regularizing the status of a growing migrant population. In accordance with this legislation, the DGME (Department of Immigration) determined that an advanced ID credential […]

United States Senator and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Charles Schumer, has proposed that fingerprint records be used to verify immigration status of U.S. workers, according to a Next Gov article. Schumer is optimistic that should his bill pass the program could be up and running by the end of the year. Before […]

Saudi Arabia will begin a biometric visa program in an effort to improve their visa services while also strengthening their national security, according to an Economic Times article. The system, which is expected to begin in 2010, will require a seeker of a visa provide fingerprint samples and a digital photograph. Officials from the country’s […]

The FBI has awarded a contract for managing its Criminal Justice Information Services Division Card Scanning Services (CSS) program to biometrics and security company Lockheed Martin. The contract, which spans five years and $47 million, covers the handling and conversion of paper-based fingerprint, palm print and photo records into electronic records for the FBI. The […]