A DUBLIN-US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have testified before Congress that the Department is moving forward with implementing US-VISIT biometric exit procedures at American gateway airports to improve national security.

If approved foreign visitors to the US will in the future have to provide biometric information at gateway airports when departing from the US.

Last week DHS officials said that the department is implementing these US-VISIT biometric exit procedures, with the new system possibly in place later in the year.

Foreign travellers already provide biometrics - fingerprints and a digital photograph - on entering the US. These procedures protect their identities and prevent someone from using a fraudulent document to gain entry into the US.

By collecting biometrics when travellers leave the US, the DHS will be able to match this information with their biometric entry data to confirm that the traveller has actually left the country and to identify those who overstay their visa terms.

One benefit of the new scheme could be the dispensation of the requirement to give up the temporary authorisation issued at the entry point, known as "the green card" which should be collected when leaving the country.

Often this does not happen and can cause serious embarrassment when trying to gain entry to the US at a later date.

Providing enough staff are engaged to carry out the scheme, no real problems are envisaged in terms of delays.