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Title 8, Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-110

§1732 Machine-readable, Tamper-resistant Entry and Exit Documents

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Within 180 days after May 14, 2002, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and NIST must give Congress a report that lays out what is needed to meet two goals by October 26, 2004: to start issuing only machine-readable, tamper-resistant visas and other travel documents for noncitizens that use biometric identifiers, and to deploy the equipment and software to compare and check those biometrics. The report must also estimate the costs, staff, hours, and other support the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and NIST will need. By October 26, 2004, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State must issue to aliens only those machine-readable, tamper-resistant travel documents with biometric identifiers and must set joint standards for the documents and biometrics based on recognized standards bodies. By October 26, 2005, the Attorney General must install equipment and software at all U.S. ports of entry to compare and authenticate those visas, related travel documents, and any passports referenced in subsection (c)(1). The readers and scanners must be highly accurate by standards groups, read the chosen biometrics, and authenticate the documents. Systems must use the technology standard named in section 1379. Funds may be provided as needed, including payments to standards organizations.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1732

Aliens and Nationality, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Report
(1)In general
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)Estimates
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)Requirements
(1)In general
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)Readers and scanners at ports of entry
(A)In general
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)Use of readers and scanners
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)Use of technology standard
The systems employed to implement paragraphs (1) and (2) shall utilize the technology standard established pursuant to section 1379 of this title.
(c)Repealed. Pub. L. 114–113, div. O, title II, § 202(c), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2989
(d)Authorization of appropriations
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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110