Make immigration form optional
Published:Monday | September 11, 2023 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
I was not surprised at all to learn of the hacking of the online Customs and Immigration new entry system/C5 form. Hackers have been demanding a fee through third party websites, to complete the entry form for visitors and residents alike.
As of September 1, all travellers to Jamaica are required to complete these forms online. While the idea is good in concept, I think it should be optional and some adjustments made. First, these forms were too long and detailed, it is like completing a survey. Cuba receives more visitors than Jamaica per year, and they use a very simple card with basic information. Many countries don’t require an immigration form, they control borders using information scanned from passport and visas if required, and there may be an optional customs declaration form. Japan receives 40 million visitors per year, 10 times more than Jamaica; they use an online customs form through a secure Government of Japan portal, and the online form is also optional.
Hackers have mastered the art of scamming and they are also notorious. Hackers have outsmarted local experts, even if we assume that the site had security protocols and firewalls in place. These measures were obviously not secure enough. The minister of national security and head of Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency have urged Jamaicans and visitors to ignore the requests for payment. This is not good enough, many were already scammed and paid the illegal fees. And how safe is personal information entered and saved online? I am sure many will now understand the concerns raised by many about the national ID system NIDS, which is being rolled out expeditiously with detailed and personal biometric information captured.
I believe the Jamaican entry form should be optional and the portal should be through a Jamaican Government domain which must be secure. This is how Japan does it. There should be less detail on these forms; in fact, the focus should be on customs since the immigration information is captured from a passport scan. If we must survey tourists for tourism statistics, do so at hotels or point of departure. We must also consider elderly travellers who might not be tech savvy.
P. CHIN