The United States is preparing to implement a series of enhanced entry procedures that will significantly affect international travelers beginning late December 2025. The new measures include expanded biometric screening at ports of entry and the introduction of a fee for foreign visitors intending to remain in the country for more than 29 days. Together, these changes mark a substantial shift in U.S. border management policy aimed at strengthening security, improving identity verification, and reducing long-term overstays.
Under the updated system, arriving travelers will undergo more comprehensive biometric checks, including the use of facial recognition, fingerprinting, and enhanced identity-matching technologies. While the U.S. has employed biometrics at major airports for several years, the forthcoming changes broaden both the scope and frequency of these procedures. Authorities say the expanded use of biometrics will streamline processing, reduce fraud, and ensure greater accuracy in verifying traveler identities across agencies.
In addition to the biometric enhancements, visitors who plan to stay in the United States for more than 29 days will be required to pay a newly introduced fee. The exact amount has not yet been disclosed, but officials describe it as part of a wider effort to modernize immigration processes and ensure better tracking of long-term arrivals. Short-term visitors and tourists will not be affected, but long-stay travelers — including extended vacationers, students on short programs, and remote workers — will be required to comply.
For travelers, the new protocols may result in longer wait times at airports and land borders during the initial rollout phase. Industry analysts note that airports will need additional staff, updated scanning infrastructure, and revised procedures to adapt to the increased screening requirements. Airlines have expressed concern that the transition could lead to congestion during peak travel periods, although the Department of Homeland Security maintains that efficiencies introduced by biometric automation will ultimately shorten processing times.
The enhanced measures reflect a global trend toward increased digital identity verification at borders. Similar systems have been implemented in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and parts of Asia in recent years. However, the U.S. plan has already raised questions among privacy advocates who warn that…
Read full article: What International Travelers Need to Know
The post “What International Travelers Need to Know” by Viktor Vincej was published on 11/20/2025 by www.travelinglifestyle.net