US tightens biometric rules: Indians face stricter screening at airports

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): There is important news for Indians and other foreign travelers traveling to the United States. US President Donald Trump has made significant changes to the entry and exit rules for foreigners in the country, making them very strict. Now, people traveling to the US will have to go through the rigorous process of the Traveler Verification Service (TVS). The biggest change is that children and the elderly, who were exempt from the checks till now, have also been brought under the scope of biometric checking.

Now they too will have to undergo biometric verification

The new rules, for the first time, include age groups that were previously exempt. Children under 14 and senior citizens over 79 will now be required to undergo mandatory biometric screening. Even diplomats traveling on diplomatic passports will now be subject to this strict screening process. This rule has been implemented at all US airports, border checkpoints, and seaports since December 26th.

What is Traveller Verification Service (TVS)?

TVS is a high-tech security system that uses biometric data to verify the identity of foreigners. Facial recognition technology captures a passenger's photo and verifies their identity. In some cases, travelers may also be required to undergo fingerprint scanning.

Indian travelers will be greatly affected

These new rules will directly impact Indian travelers, as they represent the third-largest group of foreigners traveling to the United States. Statistics show that an average of 4,000 Indians will arrive in the United States every day in 2025. So far this year, approximately 1.5 million Indians have traveled to the United States. Last year (2024), a total of approximately 2.2 million Indians traveled to the United States.

In such a situation, due to the new rules, Indian families, especially those travelling with small children or elderly parents, may now face longer check times at the airport.