New Laser Visas Required at Mexican Border

Posted on October 3, 2001

About 2 million Mexicans have not converted their border crossing cards into the new laser visas. Hundreds were turned back from border checkpoints this week. The old cards were identity cards similar to driver's licences. The new laser visas include data encrypted magnetic strips and "biometric information" from the holder's fingerprint embedded in them. Most of the border posts already have the machinery to read the new cards in place. The new features of the cards are aimed at increasing security.

For those who do not yet have the laser visa in their possesion, the State Department has the following instructions per their memo provided to AILA:

-Those who have been approved for the new laser visas (before Oct. 1), but have not yet received them, will be permitted to use the old BCCs as entry documents, provided the old BCC has been clipped and stickered by the post. INS will not require these applicants
to complete an I-94 or pay a fee as long as their visit is
confined to the border area.

- Those persons who have been approved for new laser visas
after October 1 will also be permitted to present the old
BCCs as entry documents, provided the old BCC has been
clipped and stickered by post. INS will not require these
applicants to complete an I-94 or pay a fee as long as
their visit is confined to the border area. Posts should
continue to sticker these cards after September 30 until
further notice.

- Holders of combination B1/B2/BCC visas will be permitted
to enter if they present a valid passport, complete an I-
94 form, and pay the six dollar I-94 fee. The BCC portion
will no longer be valid after September 30.

- All other holders of old BCCs will not be permitted to
enter, except under exigent/emergency circumstances. INS
will provide these persons a handout that explains how to
apply for a laser visa.

- Old BCCs will not be lifted by INS, except in cases
involving fraud or other misuse, since these applicants
can still use these cards as part of the application
process for a laser visa after September 30.

Many of those who attempted to cross with the old cards were unaware of the cutoff date or had expected the US Congress is issue an extension to the deadline. The situation could result in "a major distruption in the commerce of the entire southern border," commented Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz (D-Tex.).