Mobile Passport is a mobile app that enables US and Canadian passport holders entering the United States to submit their passport information and customs declaration form to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) via smartphone or tablet and go through the inspections process using an expedited lane. Mobile Passport is available to U.S. passport holders and Canadian passport holders when entering the United States. 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 operations have increased threefold from 2016 to 2017.[1]

History

The Mobile Passport app was developed by Airside Mobile, Inc, an organization started by former executives at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Hans Miller and Adam Tsao.

Mobile Passport 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. [2][3]

How it works

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. The Mobile Passport app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on to an iOS or Android device and complete their digital passport profile(s) before they travel. A pre-approval is not required and the app is for free. To set up a digital passport profile, travelers may use the document scanner feature within the Mobile Passport app to capture their passport information, and then verify that it is correct. Or, they may manually enter the information directly on the app. The name must appear exactly as it does on the passport. For instance, under Surname, users have to enter their last name. Under Given Names, travelers have to enter their first name [SPACE] middle name [SPACE] middle name, and so on. All hyphens and apostrophes should be replaced by a [SPACE]. To complete the passport profile, users have to touch the box at the bottom of the screen. The camera on the mobile device will open up to allow a “selfie” to be taken of the respective passport holder. According to CBP, group submissions may be made using the Mobile Passport app on one mobile device for all family members of the same household traveling together provided that each family member is a U.S. citizen with a valid U.S. passport or a Canadian citizen with both a valid Canadian passport and B1 or B2 visa status. The Mobile Passport app will not work for U.S. Legal Permanent Residents nor will they be able to process through the designated Mobile Passport lane upon arrival in the United States.[4]

Upon landing or docking in the United States, and instead of filling out a traditional customs declaration paper form, Mobile Passport users may power up their mobile device, turn on Wi-Fi or data, select all of the passport profiles for their traveling party, and complete the New Trip section on the Mobile Passport app. Within a few moments, CBP will review the submission and send the traveler a digital Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code receipt(s), which expires after four hours. This provides travelers enough time between landing or docking and approaching the FIS area, where they may access the designated Mobile Passport lanes. Mobile Passport 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]

Travelers using Mobile Passport may access their mobile devices to use the Mobile Passport app, when processing through the FIS area, but they may not conduct phone calls. Personal data is encrypted and saved is on the device as a profile and transmitted securely to CBP for review, similar to using an Automated Passport Control kiosk. The Mobile Passport app offers an option to store the user profile on the device or to delete it after the trip. Because the Mobile Passport app is used upon entry to the United States, the port of entry is defined as the location where travelers will initially enter the U.S. and undergo screening by CBP. Travelers who would like to use the Mobile Passport app should make sure they are arriving in the U.S. at one of the airports or cruise ports participating with Mobile Passport.[4]

Locations

US airports

  • Baltimore (BWI)
  • Boston (BOS)
  • 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) [4]
  • Washington Dulles (IAD)

International preclearance locations

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

Seaports

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ 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
  2. ↑ 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
  3. ↑ "Airside Mobile Raises $6m in Series A Funding", "FinSMEs", London, 17 November 2017. Retrieved on 2 March 2018
  4. 1 2 3 https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection”, 12 March 2019. Retrieved on 13 March 2019
  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.
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