Description
The first generation of machine readable BCC's, known as "laser visas", was produced from April 1, 1998, until September 30, 2008. The laminated, credit card-size document is both a BCC and a B1/B2 visitor’s visa. The cards are valid for travel until the expiration date on the front of the card, usually ten years after issuance. They are nearly identical to the previous generation Permanent Resident Card.
October 1, 2008, marked the beginning of production of a second generation B1/B2 visa/BCC. The new card is similar in size to the old BCC, but contains enhanced graphics and technology. The original BCC was produced by the now defunct Immigration and Naturalization Service but the current card is produced by the Department of State. It is virtually identical to the Passport Card, which is issued to citizens and nationals of the United States for the purposes of land and sea border crossings, in its general design layout. The card includes an RFID chip and Integrated Contactless Circuit and is part of the same PASS System that the Passport Card belongs to.
Border Crossing Cards are issued exclusively to Mexican citizens. Use of them accounts for the vast majority of non-immigration entry into the United States; in 2006 the Pew Hispanic Center noted that of 179 million "non-immigrant admissions" into the country, fully 148 million were Mexicans using Border Crossing Cards.
Read more about this topic: Border Crossing Card
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