The US Homeland Security department has expanded its ?US-Visit? programme which requires foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the country to include all countries except Canada and Mexico.

The move means that even citizens from visa-waiver countries such as Australia, Japan, Britain and 20 other mainly European countries would be subject to the procedures at American airports and seaports.

A spokeswoman for the US Consulate General could not confirm last night whether Bermuda would be included. An announcement is expected on Monday.

Bermuda Immigration officials said they had not received any notification of any changes to the rules for Bermudians, who do not require visas to visit the US.

The US started the fingerprinting programme in January this year for nations other than the visa-waiver countries.

Those countries were expected to implemented biometric passports ? with fingerprints and iris identification features.

The changes are due to start by September 30.

?There has been no requirement that any additional information or demands will be made on Bermudian visitors to the US,? said Robert Horton, Permanent Secretary for the Home Affairs Ministry.

US-Visit was implemented as a security measure in January this year in response to the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Brazil reciprocated by requiring American visitors to be fingerprinted and photographed.