System and method of pre-approving applicants for visa processing using an emerging country's international travel approval control card

• US 8,074,878 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MiNiT IP Holding LLC.
• Original Assignee: The F3m3 Companies Inc.
• Inventors: Daniel, Isaac Sayo
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/730,990
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/439, 235/488, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07372 by detecting tampering with the circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method, and more particularly to a system and method of pre-approving applicants for visa processing using an emerging country'"'"'s international travel approval control card, i.e. an electronic data card that includes biometric verification means for verifying a biometric identifier stored thereon, used to uniquely identify the card holder to a local foreign embassy as pre-approved for visa application processing.

Claims

1. A system comprising of:

(a) an electronic data card configured for electronically storing thereon a biometric identifier;

(b) biometric verification means positioned on the electronic data card, where the biometric verification means is configured for validating a visa applicant'"'"'s biometric sample by comparing the biometric sample with the biometric identifier stored on the electronic data card or with a foreign embassy; and

(c) a passport reader connected to a computer, wherein the passport reader is configured for reading the electronic data card for verifying the visa applicant'"'"'s pre-approval status for a travel visa at the local foreign embassy where the visa applicant resides, wherein upon pre-approval the visa applicant need not return to a birth country to submit the visa application to the foreign embassy of an intended destination country.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) an application program executable on a computer; and

(b) computer executable instructions executable by at least one computer processor and configured to perform any one or more of the following;

(i) control the passport reader to read an electronic data card;

(ii) receive a biometric sample used to verify the identity of the visa applicant;

(iii) compare the biometric sample with the biometric identifier previously stored for the visa applicant;

or

(iv) review a background report to determine the visa applicant'"'"'s pre-approved status for visa processing at the local foreign embassy, wherein upon preapproval the visa applicant need not return to a birth country to submit a visa application to the foreign embassy of an intended destination country.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic data card is configured for being accessed by the application program executable on the computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-approved status may include but is not limited to:

approved or denied.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein background report includes but is not limited to:

information concerning criminal background check, verification of local address, bank account information, verification of education, flag indicating the pre-approved status of the visa applicant showing whether visa applicant qualifies for a travel visa from the local foreign embassy and flag indicating the pre-approved status of the visa applicant showing why visa applicant does not qualify for a travel visa from the local foreign embassy.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the biometric verification means includes but is not limited to:

fingerprint recognition means, hand geometry recognition means, palm geometry recognition means, iris recognition means, retina recognition means, speech recognition means.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic data card is configured for communicating with the computer or passport reader in any of the following manner:

wirelessly or wired.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic data card is selected from the group of electronic devices comprising essentially of smart cards.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic data card includes memory means.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory means may include any one or more of the following stored thereon:

a biometric sample, biometric identifier, background report, visa application information, or data structures.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein visa application information includes but is not limited to:

pre-approved status, photograph, issuing country, passport number, surname, given names, address, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, gender, race, height, color of eyes, passport number, date of issue, passport expiration date, occupation, place of issue, authority, contact information, current visa information, type of visa or endorsement.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein data structures includes but is not limited to:

card number, security parameters, visa application information, card validation information, activity log and global positioning system location information.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising location determining means for determining the location of the emerging country'"'"'s international travel approval control card.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising of a kiosk adapted to include at least one passport reader.

15. A method comprising:

(a) electronically storing a biometric identifier on an electronic data card; and

(b) providing biometric verification means positioned thereon the electronic data card, where the biometric verification means is configured for validating a visa applicant'"'"'s biometric sample by comparing the biometric sample with the biometric identifier stored on the electronic data card or with a foreign embassy; and

(c) reading the electronic data card for verifying the visa applicant'"'"'s pre-approval status for a travel visa at a local embassy where the visa applicant resides, wherein upon pre-approval the visa applicant need not return to a birth country to submit a visa application to the foreign embassy of an intended destination country.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

(a) providing an application program executable on a computer for accessing an electronic data card; and

(b) providing computer executable instructions executable by at least one computer processor and configured to perform any one or more of the following;

(i) control the passport reader to read an electronic data card;

(ii) receive a biometric sample used to verify the identity of the visa applicant;

(iii) compare the biometric sample with the biometric identifier previously stored for the visa applicant;

or

(iv) review a background report to determine the visa applicant'"'"'s pre-approved status for visa processing at the local foreign embassy, wherein upon preapproval the visa applicant need not return to a birth country to submit a visa application to the foreign embassy of an intended destination country.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the pre-approved status may include but is not limited to:

approved or denied.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein background report includes but is not limited to:

information concerning criminal background check, verification of local address, bank account information, verification of education, flag indicating the pre-approved status of the visa applicant showing whether visa applicant qualifies for a travel visa from the local foreign embassy.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the biometric verification means includes but is not limited to:

fingerprint recognition means, hand geometry recognition means, palm geometry recognition means, iris recognition means, retina recognition means, speech recognition means.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising communicating in a wireless or wired manner.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic data card is selected from the group of electronic devices comprising essentially of smart cards.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein visa application information includes but is not limited to:

pre-approved status, photograph, issuing country, passport number, surname, given names, address, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, gender, race, height, color of eyes, passport number, date of issue, passport expiration date, occupation, place of issue, authority, contact information, current visa information, type of visa or endorsement.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein data structures includes but is not limited to:

card number, security parameters, visa application information, card validation information, activity log and global positioning system location information.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating with a passport reader or a computer.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising accessing an electronic data card.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing any one or more of the following in the electronic data card'"'"'s memory means:

a biometric sample, biometric identifier, background report, visa application information, or data structures.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the location of the emerging country'"'"'s international travel approval control card.

28. The method of claim 15, comprising reading any one or more of the following:

an electronic data card number, a biometric sample, biometric identifier, background report, pre-approval status or visa application information.