Ports in US and Hong Kong add contactless ‘self-service immigration’ channels

Passengers disembarking from international cruise ships at the US port of New Orleans can now verify their identity on entry to the country using biometric face recognition technology rather than by presenting physical documents to immigration officers.

Hong Kong also expands its face recognition non-touch e-channel service for residents re-entering the territory to entry control points at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

The New Orleans service has been introduced by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Carnival Cruise Line and uses facial biometric technology that verifies the traveller’s identity within two seconds and is more than 98% accurate.