India to launch biometric projects in missions in US, UK, Pak

New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) Government is proposing to launch a pilot project in its diplomatic missions in the US, the UK and Pakistan to collect biometric data of all foreign nationals applying for visas to visit the country. The biometric procedures include capturing of ten fingerprints and facial biometrics, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said today. "Government proposes to complete the process of implementation of biometric procedures by September 2014 subject to completion of all requirements in the Indian Missions and Posts and other local factors in the host countries," the minister said in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha, Upper House of Parliament.. The biometric identification system is part of the immigration, visa and foreigners registration and tracking project that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared in March 2010. The step was taken to plug security loopholes in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks. The new system will generate profiles and identify of suspicious travellers. It will also send out alerts on those that overstayed or failure on part of any traveller to register with Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) at India's Bureau of Immigration. PTI