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Statement of Need: This rule establishes an exit system at all air and sea ports of departure in the United States. This rule requires aliens subject to United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program biometric requirements upon entering the United States to also provide biometric identifiers prior to departing the United States from air or sea ports of departure.

Alternatives: The proposed rule would require aliens who are subject to US-VISIT biometric requirements upon entering the United States to provide biometric information before departing from the United States at air and sea ports of entry. The rule proposed a performance standard for commercial air and vessel carriers to collect the biometric information and to submit this information to DHS no later than 24 hours after air carrier staff secure the aircraft doors on an international departure, or for sea travel, no later than 24 hours after the vessel’s departure from a U.S. port. DHS is considering numerous alternatives based upon public comment on the alternatives in the NPRM. Alternatives included various points in the process, kiosks, and varying levels of responsibility for the carriers and government. DHS may select another variation between the outer bounds of the alternatives presented or another alternative if subsequent analysis warrants.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: The proposed rule expenditure and delay costs for a 10-year period are estimated at $3.5 billion. Alternative costs range from $3.1 billion to $6.4 billion. US-VISIT assessed seven categories of economic impacts other than direct expenditures. Of these, two are economic costs: Social costs resulting from increased traveler queue and processing time; and social costs resulting from increased flight delays. Ten-year benefits are estimated at $1.1 billion. US-VISIT assessed seven categories of economic impacts other than direct expenditures. Of these, five are benefits, which include costs that could be avoided for each alternative: Cost avoidance resulting from improved detection of aliens overstaying visas; cost avoidance resulting from improved U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efficiency attempting apprehension of overstays; cost avoidance resulting from improved efficiency processing exit/entry data; improved compliance with NSEERS requirements due to the improvement in ease of compliance; and improved national security environment. These benefits are measured quantitatively or qualitatively.