1. A method for fingerprint matching using virtual minutiae, said method implemented by an automatic fingerprint identification system including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an interface to a fingerprint scanning device, and a sensor associated with the fingerprint scanning device that indicates a fingerprint match, said method comprising: receiving a first similarity score between a list of search minutiae from a search fingerprint and a list of file minutiae from a reference fingerprint; generating (i) a list of virtual search minutiae for the list of search minutiae, and (ii) a list of virtual file minutiae for the list of file minutiae; computing a second similarity score based at least on comparing the list of virtual search minutiae and the list of virtual file minutiae; computing a fused similarity score between the search fingerprint and the reference fingerprint based at least on combining the first similarity score and the second similarity score; and providing the fused similarity score for output to the automatic fingerprint identification system to determine the fingerprint match.