The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), launched its Voluntary Self-Reported Exit (VSRE) Pilot program. According to a Federal Register notice, this two-year initiative will collect facial images from individuals required to submit Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) when leaving the United States, using the CBP Home mobile application. The pilot aims to test biometric technology as part of efforts to develop a comprehensive entry-exit system and automate the I-94 process.
The notice states, “CBP will conduct the VSRE Pilot to determine the effectiveness of this technology as part of CBP’s initiatives to create a comprehensive biometrics entry-exit system, as well as to further automate the I-94 process for these aliens.” The program, which employs facial recognition, targets gaps in tracking departures, particularly at land borders and for those using private boats or aircraft.
Participation is open to all individuals with an I-94 exiting the U.S. during the pilot period. Volunteers can use the CBP Home app to submit a “selfie” and passport details after departure. The notice explains, “Participants will use the CBP Home app to take a ‘selfie’ picture after exiting the United States,” with the app using geolocation to verify the user is outside the U.S. and “liveness detection” to confirm the photo is current. CBP will compare the image to stored travel document photos to record the exit.
The pilot evaluates two aspects: “This pilot will help CBP evaluate both: (1) the technology’s user-friendliness; and (2) the technology’s vulnerabilities with regard to ‘liveness detection’ … and geolocation (whether the technology can correctly determine whether a person is at least three miles outside of the United States),” according to the notice. This aligns with DHS’s legal authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to implement a biometric entry-exit system.
Currently, CBP collects biometrics from arriving individuals but lacks a uniform system for departures. The notice notes, “Although CBP routinely collects biometric data from aliens entering the United States, there currently is no comprehensive system in place to collect biometrics from aliens departing the country.” At land borders, “CBP does not routinely staff exit lanes nor does CBP have a single process for aliens subject to I-94 requirements to voluntarily report their departure from the United States,” often leading to unrecorded exits until re-entry.
The program is voluntary, and the notice specifies, “Inability to use the app or failure to participate in this pilot program to self-report exit does not create any adverse consequences for travelers.” Participants will receive guidance upon U.S. entry, and the app will flag errors, directing users to the official website if issues arise. Data, including facial images and geolocation, will be retained for one year after the pilot for analysis, with the notice stating, “CBP will temporarily store all facial images captured during this pilot … for one year from the date of collection.”
Running for two years from today, March 19, 2025, to March 18, 2027, the pilot will assess the technology’s practicality. The notice indicates, “CBP will analyze the results of this pilot to assess the operational feasibility of using facial verification and geolocation to confirm the exit of aliens subject to I-94 requirements.” Extensions, if any, will be announced in the Federal Register.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
