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September 28, 2001 New Biometric Mexican Border
Crossing Cards WASHINGTON – On October 1, 2001, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will begin implementing the legal requirements for the new biometric Mexican border crossing cards (BCCs). The new DSP-150, also known as the laser visa, has a photo and machine-readable information. Any Mexican national who seeks admission with a BCC will be required to present the new biometric card to an inspector before being admitted to the United States. The requirement is mandated by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Holders of the old border crossing cards, Form I-186 or I-586, must replace them with the new biometric, machine-readable, cards (DSP-150). The new card is both a BCC and a B1-B2 visitor’s visa. The procedures for applying for the biometric BCC have been in place since 1998. Department of State (DOS) consular staff in Mexico photograph and fingerprint the applicants, adjudicate the applications, then electronically forward the data to INS, which manages the BCC card production contract. When complete, the cards are returned to Mexico for delivery to the applicant by DOS. The credit card style document is valid for 10 years. Until their new BCCs arrive, otherwise eligible applicants who have been approved for the new BCC will be admitted under a temporary lawful waiver. Those persons seeking admission to the United States on or after October 1, 2001, must possess one of the following documents:
The DOS has been accepting applications for the new document since April 1, 1998. Persons must call a toll fee number in Mexico (listed below) to arrange for an appointment at a U.S. consulate. At their scheduled appointment, consular staff in Mexico photograph and fingerprint the applicants. As of September 2001, DOS and INS have adjudicated and processed more than 4 million applications. The posts that are accepting biometric BCC applications are located in Mexico City, Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Merida, Matamoros, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, and at the Tijuana and the Mexicali Temporary Processing Facilities. In Mexico, visa information is available by calling 01-900-849-4949. In addition, visa information is available at no charge on the U.S. Embassy homepage at www.usembassy-mexico.gov. - INS - |
Last Modified 02/20/2003