Mobile Passport Control

Mobile Passport Control is a mobile app that enables eligible travelers entering the United States to submit their passport information and customs declaration form to Customs and Border Protection via smartphone or tablet and go through the inspections process using an expedited lane. It is available to "U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA".^[1]

The app is available on iOS and Android devices and is operational at 29 US airports, 10 international airports offering preclearance facilities, and 4 seaports. The use of Mobile Passport Control operations have increased threefold from 2016 to 2017.^[2]^{[needs update]}

History[edit]

Mobile Passport Control operations were launched in Atlanta at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in 2016 and are now available at 24 U.S. airports and 1 U.S. cruise port. The Mobile Passport app is authorized by CBP and sponsored by the Airports Council International-North America, Boeing, and the Port of Everglades. Airside Mobile, Inc. secured a Series A funding of $6M in the fall of 2017. ^[3]^[4]

How it works[edit]

During the customs process at the Federal Inspection Service (FIS) area of a U.S. airport, travelers arriving from international locations typically wait in long lines before presenting passports and paperwork and verbally answering questions made by CBP officials. U.S. passport holders and Canadian passport holders who have downloaded the Mobile Passport app can expedite this process by submitting information regarding their passport and trip details via their mobile device to CBP officials, then access an expedited line. CBP will review the submission and send the traveler a digital Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code receipt(s), which expires after four hours. Mobile Passport Control users will be required to show their physical passport(s) and QR code receipt(s), and briefly talk to a CBP officer.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Locations[edit]

US airports[edit]

Baltimore (BWI)
Boston (BOS)
Charlotte (CLT)
Chicago (ORD)
Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
Denver (DEN)
Ft. Lauderdale (FLL)
Honolulu (HNL)
Houston (HOU and IAH)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Miami (MIA)
Minneapolis (MSP)
New York (JFK)
Newark (EWR)
Oakland (OAK)
Orlando (MCO)
Palm Beach (PBI)
Philadelphia (PHL)
Phoenix (PHX)
Pittsburgh (PIT)
Portland (PDX)
Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
Sacramento (SMF)
San Diego (SAN)
San Francisco (SFO)
San Jose (SJC)
San Juan (SJU)
Seattle (SEA)
Tampa (TPA) ^[8]
Washington Dulles (IAD)

International preclearance locations[edit]

Aruba (AUA)
Bermuda (BDA)
Calgary (YYC)
Edmonton (YEG)
Halifax (YHZ)
Montreal (YUL)
Ottawa (YOW)
Toronto (YYZ)
Vancouver (YVR)
Winnipeg (YWG)

Seaports[edit]

Fort Lauderdale (PEV)
Miami (MSE)
San Juan (PUE)
West Palm Beach (WPB)

References[edit]

^ "Mobile Passport Control (MPC) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection". www.cbp.gov.
^ Rosenbloom, Stephanie. “How to Bypass Airport Lines With the Tips of Your Fingers”, “The New York Times”, New York, 28 February 2018. Retrieved on 4 March 2018
^ Medici, Andy. "Exclusive: Airside Mobile has made the customs process quicker — and now it has raised $6 million to expand", “Washington Business Journal”, Washington, 3 October 2017. Retrieved on 2 March 2018
^ "Airside Mobile Raises $6m in Series A Funding", "FinSMEs", London, 17 November 2017. Retrieved on 2 March 2018
^ Fowler, Geoffrey A.. “Get Through Airport Customs Faster With This Free App”, “The Wall Street Journal”, New York, 29 June 2016. Retrieved on 10 February 2018.
^ Herrera, Chabeli. “This South Florida port is the first in the U.S. to let passengers disembark using an app”,”Miami Herald”, Miami, 3 November 2016. Retrieved on 11 February 2018.
^ Brady, Paul. “Mobile Passport Will Get You Through Customs and Immigration in Under 60 Seconds”,”Condé Nast Traveler”, New York, 27 February 2018. Retrieved on 2 March 2018.
^ https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection”, 12 March 2019. Retrieved on 13 March 2019

External links[edit]

Official website

[1] "Mobile Passport Control (MPC) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection". www.cbp.gov.

[2] Rosenbloom, Stephanie. “How to Bypass Airport Lines With the Tips of Your Fingers”, “The New York Times”, New York, 28 February 2018. Retrieved on 4 March 2018

[3] Medici, Andy. "Exclusive: Airside Mobile has made the customs process quicker — and now it has raised $6 million to expand", “Washington Business Journal”, Washington, 3 October 2017. Retrieved on 2 March 2018

[4] "Airside Mobile Raises $6m in Series A Funding", "FinSMEs", London, 17 November 2017. Retrieved on 2 March 2018

[5] Fowler, Geoffrey A.. “Get Through Airport Customs Faster With This Free App”, “The Wall Street Journal”, New York, 29 June 2016. Retrieved on 10 February 2018.

[6] Herrera, Chabeli. “This South Florida port is the first in the U.S. to let passengers disembark using an app”,”Miami Herald”, Miami, 3 November 2016. Retrieved on 11 February 2018.

[7] Brady, Paul. “Mobile Passport Will Get You Through Customs and Immigration in Under 60 Seconds”,”Condé Nast Traveler”, New York, 27 February 2018. Retrieved on 2 March 2018.

[cbp-8] ttps://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection”, 12 March 2019. Retrieved on 13 March 2019

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