US officials sought to reassure European travellers today that electronic fingerprint scans and other tighter border controls – meant in part to catch terrorists – will be painless and quick.

Starting Friday, EU citizens, who have enjoyed visa-free travel to the United States, will have to undergo new electronic procedures, including having their fingerprints scanned and photos taken, as part of the new “US-Visit” programme.

The “biometric checks” will be used on travellers from 15 EU nations, said Hale VanKoughnett, head of the consular section at the US embassy in Brussels.

The beefed up security is part of new anti-terrorist legislation passed in the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

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