**GAO-08-361**                      Published: Feb 29, 2008. Publicly Released: Mar 31, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program's goals are to enhance the security of U.S. citizens and visitors, facilitate legitimate travel and trade, ensure the integrity of the U.S. immigration system, and protect the privacy of visitors. It is to use biometric and biographic information to control and monitor the pre-entry, entry, status, and exit of foreign visitors. GAO was asked to determine (1) whether DHS has defined and economically justified a strategic solution for meeting US-VISIT goals; (2) the biometric technology options DHS has considered and the basis for the selected options; and (3) DHS's efforts to define, manage, and coordinate the relationships between US-VISIT and other immigration and border management programs. To accomplish this, GAO assessed key program documentation against relevant criteria and examined available biometric research.

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## Topics

Homeland Security

Biometric identificationBiometric visasBorder securityFingerprintsHomeland securityIdentification cardsImmigrantsImmigrationImmigration and naturalization lawPerformance measuresPort securityProgram evaluationProgram managementStrategic planningVisasProgram coordinationProgram goals or objectives