2008-09-18 16:47
Automation Quickens Immigration Procedures
By Kim Rahn Staff Reporter A growing number of travelers are using an automatic immigration examination system at Incheon International Airport, with the cumulative number of users topping 20,000 since June 26 when the system was introduced. The system was designed to automate and simplify immigration procedures using state-of-the-art biometric identification technology, clearing passengers of an examination by immigration officers. A total of 20,854 people have registered with the fast-track system, including 10,847 flight crewmembers, according to Incheon Airport Immigration Wednesday. Those who want to use the service are required to register their passports and bio-information, including fingerprints and a photo, at a registration center located near check-in counter F on the third floor of the airport. The registration is available for every Korean national aged 17 and over who has a passport and resident registration card, and for who overseas travel is not banned by authorities. People can register by visiting the center on the day of departure. A prior reservation on their Web site www.hikorea.go.kr will allow faster registration. The center is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday. Those registered can pass immigration by using their passports like a transportation card on a bus. They apply their passports to the passport reader of the automatic immigration counter; put their index fingers on the fingerprint reader, and have their photo taken ― that is the end of the immigration procedure. ``Under the catch phrase `Stopless Airport,' Incheon International Airport Corp. and Incheon Airport Immigration developed the system to simplify the immigration process,'' a corporation official said. The airport corporation plans to automate more facilities for passengers, cargo and information service, with a 100 billion won budget by 2010. About 4,260 travelers use the automatic immigration service per day on average, roughly 1.8 percent of the total daily travelers. rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr |
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