The Travel Industry Association of America (TIAS) recently warned that
several new security measures intended to deter terrorists from entering
the United States will also quite likely put off foreign tourists. The
rules, which will take effect over coming months, means that all tourists
who require a visa to enter the US will be interviewed by immigration
officials. The TIAS notes that by January, the government will expand
its tracking system for foreign visitors, which will include fingerprints
and photographs. Officials say the changes are necessary for protection
against terrorism. Travel executives, representing the largest airlines,
hotels, cruise lines and car rental companies were critical, saying that
the measures could further weaken the tourism industry. Since the Sept.
11, 2001 terrorist attacks, there has been a 20% drop on the number of
international visitors to the US.

What does this mean for foreign visitors? US visa staff in embassies
and consulates around the world will begin to interview almost all tourists
who apply for visas, and this will create significant delays. In the past,
consular officials had the option of allowing tourists who did not present
security risks or did not seem likely to overstay their visas to apply
by mail. In countries assessed likely to be sources of terrorists or illegal
aliens, consular officials already routinely conduct interviews of visa
applicants. For visitors from the 27 or so countries, mostly in Europe,
who are not required to obtain visas, they will be required to produce
computer-readable passports. Most British and Japanese visitors already
have such passports, but travellers coming from France, Italy, Spain and
Switzerland do not routinely carry computer-readable passports.