Viisage wins deal for face recognition technology

Viisage Technology Inc. has won a contract with the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Office for facial recognition technology to help cut fraud and increase border security through its Diversity Visa Program.

The value of the contract was not released.

The visa program receives up to 15 million applications each year from people wanting to immigrate to the United States.

From this pool of applications, about 15,000 special immigrant visas are issued. Under U.S. law, applicants are allowed to submit only one application per year.

However, the gap between the number of applicants and the number of visas has led people to file multiple applications, trying to improve their odds of getting a visa, according to Viisage of Littleton, Mass.

Beginning in February, the Consular Affairs Office will use the Viisage solution to check applicant photos for duplicates and fraud. The State Department will eliminate anyone submitting multiple applications.