Airports in the European Union (EU) are getting ready for the European Entry-Exit System (EES), which will eliminate passport stamps at airports and be implemented for non-EU citizens in October 2024.

Third-world nationals entering the Schengen Area will also need to have their biometric data collected for this new system.

The EES seeks to expedite border crossings while improving border security.

The EES, set to launch in October 2024, mandates the collection of biometric data from nationals from developing (third world)countries entering the Schengen Area, aiming to enhance border security and streamline border crossings.

Already, between 2020 and 2024, nearly 7.1 million non-immigrant visas were granted to foreign nationals for tourism or business purposes in the US.

However, reports indicate that many of these individuals entered the country without undergoing the required in-person consular interviews and biometric screening.

The Inspector General of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged that the exact number of visa applicants who bypassed biometric screening remains unknown.

Biometric Update reveals that the fingerprint waiver program for non-immigrant visa holders ended in December. Despite this, many port directors at various entry points were unaware of this change for the past four years.

These findings come as the DHS Inspector General also highlighted inefficiencies in the department’s screening and verification processes, including for asylum seekers with long-pending applications.

Thus the EES is designed to register travelers from non-EU countries each time they enter or exit the Schengen zone, capturing biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images upon arrival and departure.