|
hier noch der ganze text: Bush Administration Seeks Two-Year Extension For ePassports Saying there are "serious problems" with the Oct. 26 deadline for Visa Waiver countries to biometrically-enable passports, the Bush administration is asking Congress for a two-year extension. A letter from Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge informed the House of Representatives` Judiciary Committee that there are numerous obstacles the 27 Visa Waiver countries would have to overcome and that none of them would be able to meet the existing deadline. "It’s not a lack of will, but rather due to interoperability issues, privacy issues, chip durability concerns, as well as production and procurement delays," the letter states. Frank Moss, deputy assistant secretary for passport services in the U.S. State Department, told IDNewswire (March 17) that a two-year extension is needed to work out technology issues with the new passports. The United Kingdom, Japan and Germany have informed the United States that the countries will not begin issuing biometric passports until 2006. If the deadline is not extended citizens of the 27 waiver countries will have to apply for visas before traveling to the United States. The State Department estimated that 5 million more visas would have to be issued if the deadline is not extended. State currently issues 5 to 6 million visas a year. Powell and Ridge also voiced economic concerns about the passport deadline. "It is important to note that the U.S. economy would likely suffer if travelers ‘vote with their feet’ and go elsewhere, possibly resulting in multi-billion dollar losses to the economy," the letter states. In response to the letter Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) sent letters to 21 Visa Waiver country ambassadors requesting information about their ability to meet the deadline. Questions from the committee included: Did the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security provide your government with sufficient and timely information about the new requirements? Will [country] be able to issue legally compliant passports before October 26, 2004? If not, has [country] initiated a process to revise its passports at a later date? When is it anticipated that [country’s] passports will be compliant? The original Oct. 26 deadline was set in the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 and any change would take an act of Congress. Ridge and Powell are asking that the deadline be extended until Dec. 2006. A House Judiciary spokesperson says that a hearing on the matter is scheduled for late April and Powell and Ridge are expected to testify. (2004-03-23) |
|
| aus der Diskussion: | UPGRADE vor dem Neuanfang !!?? |
| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | Dschingis_Khan (25.03.04 19:06:28) |
| Beitrag: | 5,101 von 8,649 (ID:12554223) |
| Alle Angaben ohne Gewähr © wallstreetONLINE | |