 | | Mr. William Ehrman, British Ambassador to China, has his fingerprints collected to show how the biometric visa is made at the UK Visa Center in Beijing on October 24, 2007. |
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Chinese applicants for a UK visa will be required to have their fingerprints collected and a head shot photo taken starting October 25.
The biometric system had been in use in 108 countries around the world before it was put into use at 12 visa centers in China. The UK is the first EU country to launch it.
Mr. William Ehrman, British Ambassador to China, said the system prevents identity fraud, illegal immigration, and crime. He assures that the process maintains an individual's dignity; and is quick and free of charge.
Children at or below the age of four are exempt from the process. Those who cannot have their fingerprints scanned for medical reasons-such as the disabled-are also exempt and will only have photos of their face taken.
Personal data collected will be stored in the UK and destroyed ten years after it is collected.
From 2009, British citizens who apply for ID cards will also go through the same process.
The US was the first country in the world to issue biometric visas globally.
On October 23, China's Foreign Ministry declared that China was considering the same practice in the process of entry and exit.
By People's Daily Online
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