General

PortPass ("Port Passenger Accelerated Service System") is a generic term for programs developed to reduce the processing time of legal travelers. Through technology, automation, and other means needing less personal attention by inspectors, PortPASS allows preapproved border crossers faster and easier passage, while freeing inspectors to focus on high-risk entrants. INSPASS, SENTRI, and OARS are all PortPASS Programs. In an interim rule dated March 4, 2003, the Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS") extended the validity period of PortPass documents from one year to two years.

Programs

INSPASS

The airport INSPASS is a automated inspection system currently being utilized at airports in Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Newark, NJ; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA.; and pre-flight inspection at Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON. It was designed to decrease inspection time by automating the admission of low-risk travelers to the United States. The INSPASS is a Pre-Flight Inspection version of the PORTPASS program, which operates at selected land borders.

The airport INSPASS is available to citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States, citizens of Canada or Bermuda, and landed immigrants of Canada who are citizens of British Commonwealth countries. Citizens of Visa Waiver Pilot Program countries are also eligible. Applicants for the airport INSPASS must travel to the United States on business at least three times per year.

The airport INSPASS is not available to travelers who have a criminal record or require a waiver of a ground of exclusion in order to enter the United States. [Editor's Note: Despite the fact that not all criminal offenses result in excludability, materials published by INS suggest that even a criminal offense that would not result in excludability will disqualify the applicant from the INSPASS program.]

In order to take advantage of the INSPASS program, the applicant completes Form I-823 and submits it to the INS at one of the participating airports. If the applicant is approved, biometric information is collected through the use of hand geometry. The length, thickness and translucency of the applicant's hand is recorded and coded onto the plastic INSPASS. An airport INSPASS is issued for a period of up to two years.

Aliens who are eligible for the INSPASS may apply for it at any of the participating airports. In Toronto, INSPASS applications are processed at Terminal 2. The application process takes about thirty minutes to complete.

When the INSPASS holder arrives at one of the participating airports, he or she proceeds to an automated inspection booth. The biometric information stored on the card is used to establish that the INSPASS belongs to the bearer. If the biometric information matches that of the bearer, an automated gate opens and the traveler enters.

An INSPASS does not exempt the traveler from compliance with normal immigration requirements. He or she must still be in possession of any required documentation, such as a passport or visa, if required under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The INS reserves the right to conduct an in-depth inspection of any airport INSPASS holder at the time of application for admission to the United States.

SENTRI

SENTRI ("Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection") facilitates admission at land ports of entry using automated dedicated commuter lanes. SENTRI allows the INS and the U.S. Customs Service to enforce the law and accelerate the inspections of certain low risk, pre-enrolled crossers. The system identifies travelers who pose little risk to border security, verifies their low risk status through extensive record checks, and electronically screens participants and their vehicles every time they enter the United States.

Participation in the SENTRI program is voluntary. To participate in the program applicants complete Form I-823 and submit it to the SENTRI Enrollment Center at the Port-of-Entry. SENTRI Enrollment Centers currently exist at Otay Mesa, CA; San Ysidro; CA; El Paso, TX; Detroit, MI; and Buffalo, NY.

Applicants are fingerprinted, and criminal and immigration records are checked to determine eligibility. Applicants are notified if they clear the background check and arrangements are then made to get an inspection of their vehicle by a U.S. Customs inspector and an interview with an Immigration Inspector. After successful completion of this process, applicants will receive a PortPASS identification card and a Radio Frequency ("RF") transponder for their vehicle.

OARS

The Outlying Area Reporting Station ("OARS") was developed as an alternative to the Canadian Border Boat Landing Program or, as it is commonly known, the I-68 program (seasonal permit). The I-68 program allows certain persons who enter the U.S. by small boat to be inspected once every two years, and thereafter enter from time to time for recreational purposes without further inspection.

OARS provides a user-friendly, automated inspection to boaters with inspection time comparable to a land border inspection. The OARS program uses videophones, typically located at public marinas, which boaters may use to report to INS. The OARS units have been deployed to areas where the public has easy access to them, such as public gas docks, boating marinas, and state parks.

United States citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States, Canadian citizens, Landed Commonwealth Residents of Canada, and nationals of designated Visa Waiver Pilot Program countries with a valid, stamped I-94 or I-94W, Arrival/Departure Record are eligible to participate in this program. For more information about participating in OARS please contact the following Districts: Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Detroit, MI; Portland, ME; Philadelphia, PA; and St. Paul, MN.