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Title 8 — Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73

§1732 Machine-readable, tamper-resistant entry and exit documents

Title 8 › Chapter CHAPTER 15— - ENHANCED BORDER SECURITY AND VISA ENTRY REFORM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - VISA ISSUANCE › § 1732

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) must send Congress a report within 180 days after May 14, 2002. The report must say what steps are needed to meet two deadlines (October 26, 2004 and October 26, 2005). It must also estimate the costs, staff, and hours the Justice Department, State Department, and NIST will need. By October 26, 2004 the Attorney General and Secretary of State must issue only machine-readable, tamper-resistant visas and travel documents for noncitizens that use biometric identifiers and follow jointly set standards. By October 26, 2005 the Attorney General must install readers and software at all U.S. ports of entry to check those biometrics and authenticate documents using the technology standard under section 1379. Money may be appropriated as needed, including to pay standards groups.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1732

Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Not later than 180 days after May 14, 2002, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), acting jointly, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive report assessing the actions that will be necessary, and the considerations to be taken into account, to achieve fully, not later than October 26, 2004—
(A)implementation of the requirements of subsections (b) and (c); and
(B)deployment of the equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of the documents described in subsections (b) and (c).
(2)In addition to the assessment required by paragraph (1), the report required by that paragraph shall include an estimate of the costs to be incurred, and the personnel, man-hours, and other support required, by the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and NIST to achieve the objectives of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1).
(b)(1)Not later than October 26, 2004, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall issue to aliens only machine-readable, tamper-resistant visas and other travel and entry documents that use biometric identifiers. The Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall jointly establish document authentication standards and biometric identifiers standards to be employed on such visas and other travel and entry documents from among those biometric identifiers recognized by domestic and international standards organizations.
(2)(A)Not later than October 26, 2005, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall install at all ports of entry of the United States equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of all United States visas and other travel and entry documents issued to aliens, and passports issued pursuant to subsection (c)(1).
(B)The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall utilize biometric data readers and scanners that—
(i)domestic and international standards organizations determine to be highly accurate when used to verify identity;
(ii)can read the biometric identifiers utilized under subsections (b)(1) and (c)(1); and
(iii)can authenticate the document presented to verify identity.
(3)The systems employed to implement paragraphs (1) and (2) shall utilize the technology standard established pursuant to section 1379 of this title.
(c)
(d)There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section, including reimbursement to international and domestic standards organizations.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–113 struck out subsec. (c), which related to technology standard for visa waiver participants. 2004—Subsecs. (b)(2)(A), (c)(1), (2). Pub. L. 108–299 substituted “2005” for “2004”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

8 U.S.C. § 1732

Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73