The ministry said the e-passport, which increases document security and therefore speeds up immigration procedures, had already played an important role in obtaining visa-waiver status in the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union.
Some 3.88 million biometric passports have been issued since December 2008, but the number only accounts for about 35 percent of all valid Republic of China (Taiwan) passports in circulation, according to the ministry.
The MOFA said Taiwan’s biometric passport adheres to standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It has an implanted chip that contains the passport holder’s personal information and photograph to help prevent identity fraud.
Using biometric passports has also been a precondition in Taiwan’s bid to become a candidate country for the United States visa waiver program.
Jason Yuan, Taiwan’s representative to the United States, said Thursday in the U.S. that Taiwan had already met U.S. criteria for visa waiver candidacy with its biometric passports and a low visa rejection rate, but said an agreement on preventing and combating serious crime was still needed to push the process forward.
---
Quelle/Source: eTaiwan News, 12.12.2011
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
