End of Iris? [effective 17 September 2013]
Mar 8, 2011, 2:44 pm
#76
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Mar 8, 2011, 2:46 pm
#77
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Mar 8, 2011, 3:25 pm
#78
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I noticed when I was arriving at LHR T5 on 4th that they had those e-passport gates at the non-EU end of the "UK Border". I wonder if they will become the e-passport gates for non-EU people?
Mar 8, 2011, 3:28 pm
#79
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I've been a member for 6 months now. It requires going in for an interview but to me the hassle and cost was well worth it in time saved. I've had to wait more than 45 minutes in immigration lines in the past (and this was for the US citizens/permanent residents line, which generally moves faster than the visitors line) and have missed connections due to the wait.
Authentication is done by reading your passport and then scanning your fingerprints, and then it looks up the data on your flight (APIS I believe?). I wonder if fingerprint recognition is more accurate than the facial recognition which lead to the "breach" at MAN cited earlier in this thread.
I read an article recently that IAH is the most popular for use of the program, followed by IAD. There are typically a few machines available, so I've never had to wait more than a minute or two.
Authentication is done by reading your passport and then scanning your fingerprints, and then it looks up the data on your flight (APIS I believe?). I wonder if fingerprint recognition is more accurate than the facial recognition which lead to the "breach" at MAN cited earlier in this thread.
I read an article recently that IAH is the most popular for use of the program, followed by IAD. There are typically a few machines available, so I've never had to wait more than a minute or two.
Last I knew it wasn't available to us, so if it is, that is a revelation. Quite a few Dutch colleagues are signed up through Privium/Flux though.
Mar 8, 2011, 4:28 pm
#80
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Only available to Brits who are permanent residents of the US (i.e. Green Card holders). Those of us here on non-immigrant visas, or using ESTA need not apply.
Mar 8, 2011, 5:00 pm
#81
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My last arrival into JFK involved a 2 hour wait just to get through immigration.
Mar 8, 2011, 5:04 pm
#82
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Mar 8, 2011, 5:06 pm
#83
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Mar 8, 2011, 11:18 pm
#84
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I think you'll find it's the length of the queue that people complain about. I've no objection to joining the non-citizen line, but hate the fact there are only ever 3 - 5 lanes operating to process 500+ people.
My last arrival into JFK involved a 2 hour wait just to get through immigration.
My last arrival into JFK involved a 2 hour wait just to get through immigration.
Mar 9, 2011, 3:27 am
#85
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So, taking a more 'global' approach, how does anyone/anywhere expedite the process? More staff? More desks? More IRIS/e-passport systems that actually work? All of the foregoing? And if not, why not?
Mar 10, 2011, 1:31 pm
#86
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Another data point, for what it's worth: LHR-T3 had both Iris machines shut Monday eve, T5 had both open Wednesday. Not sure if the closures aren't anything more than neglect. Shame, it was one of the few bits of government that most of us will use that really worked well, and entirely typical that it's being dumped for something that if we're lucky will work almost as well.
I've always thought that when you stand in front of an immig guard, it's the one time when as a citizen of a democracy, in another democracy, you have no rights whatsoever and are entirely at the mercy of authority... a small glimpse of insight into living under more authoritarian regimes. In that light, the East German style queues are entirely natural.
I've always thought that when you stand in front of an immig guard, it's the one time when as a citizen of a democracy, in another democracy, you have no rights whatsoever and are entirely at the mercy of authority... a small glimpse of insight into living under more authoritarian regimes. In that light, the East German style queues are entirely natural.
Mar 10, 2011, 1:49 pm
#87
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I've always thought that when you stand in front of an immig guard, it's the one time when as a citizen of a democracy, in another democracy, you have no rights whatsoever and are entirely at the mercy of authority... a small glimpse of insight into living under more authoritarian regimes. In that light, the East German style queues are entirely natural.
Mar 10, 2011, 2:38 pm
#88
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Mar 13, 2011, 10:47 pm
#89
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Mar 14, 2011, 2:46 am
#90
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AND they said it would take a week or so. They must do it very carefully...