Introduction of Iris-Scanning Identification at UK Airports

The United Kingdom's (UK) Home Office recently announced the installation of an Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS) at Terminals 2 and 4 of London's Heathrow International Airport. IRIS is a component of the new "e-Borders" program, a recent effort to modernize UK immigration controls.

UK Immigration and Passport Control officers will register (on a voluntary basis) qualifying non-European Economic Area (EEA) national foreign travelers for IRIS at designated immigration control areas in Heathrow's Immigration Arrivals Hall. Other U.K. airports (Gatwick North and South, Stansted, Manchester and Birmingham) will be participating in the IRIS program later this year. IRIS is designed mainly for foreign nationals who frequently travel to the UK, in addition to foreign nationals who reside in the UK.

Enrollment in the IRIS program will require a foreign national to present his or her original passport and proof of entry/residence status (e.g. Tourist visa, Entry Clearance as a Work Permit holder, Indefinite Leave to Remain) to an Admitting Immigration Officer. A photograph of the foreign national will then be taken, along with an iris scan of both eyes to record individual iris patterns. The iris scan will be conducted utilizing the latest laser-based recording equipment and will not involve any discomfort. Total estimated time for enrollment will be approximately five to ten minutes (per individual).

Once the individual is registered as an IRIS user, the system will store and verify his/her iris patterns on both a special travel document (issued to the individual and separate from his or her passport) and in the U.K. Immigration Service's databases. Upon re-entering the United Kingdom, registered IRIS users will proceed to a designated immigration control area, present their original passport and pause for an iris scan. Once the iris scan is complete, the traveler is cleared for entry and he/she will be allowed to proceed without any additional processing by an immigration officer.

Copyright © 2005 by Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP.

July 12, 2005

For additional information, please contact Robert Banta (Telephone: 404.249.1200; E-mail: rbanta@bantalaw.com), Mike Eisenstadt (Telephone: 404.249.1203; E-mail: meisenstadt@bantalaw.com), John Wardle (Telephone: 404.751.3532; E-mail: jwardle@bantalaw.com), or Jamilia Smith (Telephone 404.969.3676; E-mail jsmith@bantalaw.com) of Banta Immigration Law Ltd.

This Update is provided by Banta Immigration Law Ltd. (prepared by Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy) with the permission of FDB&L.