Biometric data required for visiting UK for 6 months
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
BRUNEIANS planning to visit and stay in the UK for more than six months, whether for education or employment purposes, will now have to undergo an additional visa application process that requires them to submit their biometric data.
The new biometric visa technology has been introduced at the British High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. Effective today, it is part of efforts to to control the United Kingdom's borders.
"The provision of an individual's biometric data will make it easier to identify individuals as trusted visitors to the UK," said Martin Walley, the Deputy High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam.
The process of recording of biometric data is discreet, simple, quick and non-intrusive and takes no more than five minutes. A digital photograph is reproduced on the visa vignette but no other biometric data will be included.
"The vignette will not contain a datachip or other electronically enabled storage device. The fingerprint data of the visa applicant will be compared with, and stored on, a secure database in the UK, containing asylum and immigration records," he added.
The Deputy High Commission further explained that with the use of biometric data, it will be "virtually impossible for anyone else to claim their identity should their visa be stolen or duplicated" and that it would also "reduce fraud and abuse of the UK immigration system".
Explaining the new system to the Director of Immigration and National Registration, Hj Zainal Abidin Dato Paduka Hj Ahmad, Martin Walley said, "The addition of biometric identifiers makes our security systems for entry to the UK more effective, where the use of biometric identifiers, in addition to biographic data, will make it more difficult for individuals to hide their true identities in an attempt to escape detection and enter the UK illegally."
Brunei too is introducing a biometric system which is currently in the second phase of installation, said Hj Zainal. He added that Bruneian citizens and residents can expect data chips passport to be introduced to the country in August.
The new biometric visa process has already been implemented in 70 countries, and will be introduced worldwide by March 2008, to every British High Commissions and Embassies. Biometric data collection will not be restricted to foreign nationals only.
British citizens will also have to provide biometric data when they apply for a first adult passport or renew an existing passport starting in 2009.
The Brunei Times
The new biometric visa technology has been introduced at the British High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. Effective today, it is part of efforts to to control the United Kingdom's borders.
"The provision of an individual's biometric data will make it easier to identify individuals as trusted visitors to the UK," said Martin Walley, the Deputy High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam.
The process of recording of biometric data is discreet, simple, quick and non-intrusive and takes no more than five minutes. A digital photograph is reproduced on the visa vignette but no other biometric data will be included.
"The vignette will not contain a datachip or other electronically enabled storage device. The fingerprint data of the visa applicant will be compared with, and stored on, a secure database in the UK, containing asylum and immigration records," he added.
The Deputy High Commission further explained that with the use of biometric data, it will be "virtually impossible for anyone else to claim their identity should their visa be stolen or duplicated" and that it would also "reduce fraud and abuse of the UK immigration system".
Explaining the new system to the Director of Immigration and National Registration, Hj Zainal Abidin Dato Paduka Hj Ahmad, Martin Walley said, "The addition of biometric identifiers makes our security systems for entry to the UK more effective, where the use of biometric identifiers, in addition to biographic data, will make it more difficult for individuals to hide their true identities in an attempt to escape detection and enter the UK illegally."
Brunei too is introducing a biometric system which is currently in the second phase of installation, said Hj Zainal. He added that Bruneian citizens and residents can expect data chips passport to be introduced to the country in August.
The new biometric visa process has already been implemented in 70 countries, and will be introduced worldwide by March 2008, to every British High Commissions and Embassies. Biometric data collection will not be restricted to foreign nationals only.
British citizens will also have to provide biometric data when they apply for a first adult passport or renew an existing passport starting in 2009.
The Brunei Times
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