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1st LD: U.S. tightens Visa-Waiver Program amid security concerns

Xinhua, December 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

The White House on Monday announced steps to tighten the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for citizens of 38 foreign countries in the wake of the deadly Paris terrorist attacks.

New changes include more aggressive steps by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect information from VWP travelers on past travel to countries regarded by the United States as a terrorist safe haven and possible pilot programs for collecting biometric information from VWP travelers, said the White House in a statement.

The DHS would start to identify any VWP partner countries that are "deficient in key areas of operation," and recommend options to the White House on how to force compliance by a range of penalties and incentives, it said.

New changes also include efforts by the DHS to seek authorities from the Congress to increase fines for air carriers which fail to verify a traveler's passport data, the statement said. Enditem