This month, foreign nationals traveling to the United States will begin to see changes in airport security screening procedures, as the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration implements new screening policies that will focus less on a traveler's country of citizenship and more on intelligence data that flags security risks. In particular, foreign nationals from 14 countries of concern should no longer be automatically subject to heightened screening because of their nationality alone. The new policies were announced by the Department of Homeland Security.

Beginning this month, airport security personnel will use security databases and watch lists in combination with intelligence about specific terrorism suspects, their physical descriptions and travel patterns to identify travelers for increased scrutiny. Foreign nationals whose traits and travel histories are similar to intelligence data could be selected for additional airport screening. The new procedures replace an emergency measure implemented in January that required automatic additional screening for citizens and nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The expansion of the Type D visa provides employees working in Schengen member countries with greater flexibility and an expedited process for making short business trips within the Schengen Area during the validity of their work assignment. This is particularly true in countries where residence permits can take several months to process.