Are you waiting for a Global Entry interview or just don’t want to pay the $120 application fee? There is another option that can help you save almost as much time in customs. Plus, it’s completely free.
“It’s not Global Entry, but it’s pretty close,” said Marc Calixte, former U.S. Customs and Border Protection port director at Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C.
We’re talking about Mobile Passport Control, a CBP app that allows you to handle most of the international arrivals process right on your smartphone. After submitting some personal information online and snapping a selfie, you can skip the long line at passport control and head to a separate (usually much shorter) lane.
This time-saving option works for many travelers, from those who haven’t yet been approved for Global Entry to those who don’t travel frequently enough to warrant the program’s cost.
Related: Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which Is Better?
In some cases, travelers who are not eligible for Global Entry at all may be able to use this shortcut.
Despite all the benefits of the program, it remains a well-kept secret in the eyes of the federal government.
“It’s been out for a while,” Calixte said in a conversation with TPG. “But what we’re missing is adoption.”
Who is eligible to use mobile passport control?
As we all know, MPC is available to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and Canadian B1/B2 travelers. It’s also an option for travelers from 41 “visa-waiver” countries who have been to the United States, from Australia to Belgium, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
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You can find Mobile Passport Control for free on Google Play and the Apple App Store. It is available at dozens of airports across the country and at numerous international pre-clearance facilities where travelers must clear customs abroad.
How to use Mobile Passport Control
After landing, open the app and follow the prompts. You will enter your flight’s port of entry (also known as your arrival airport).
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U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
You will then be asked to scan your passport and enter some personal information.
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Finally, you take a selfie.
Traveling with the family? Do the same thing for every member of your family – you can even use the same smartphone. Thanks to a new upgrade, the app now allows travelers to add up to a dozen people from the same household into a single mobile app.
Then, once off the plane, follow the signs from the customs hall to the mobile passport control line, like the one I saw at IAD.
Once you reach an officer, a member of the tour group will be photographed. This will provide information to all members of the party. You should be out in a few seconds.
It’s worth noting that photos taken with your phone will be saved in the phone’s app and not on CBP servers. Photos taken at passport control will also be deleted within a few days, usually within 48 hours, the agency said.
CBP wants to expand use of MPC
Although MPC sounds novel, it has actually been around for about ten years.
Calixte pointed out that during peak periods, there are usually long queues at the standard passport control lanes, while only a few passengers will pass through the MPC “shortcut” lanes.
“I watch it every day,” Calixte said thoughtfully. “It’s fun to see people waiting in the afternoon… when there’s a free app available, they definitely cut back on their time.”
CBP is working with airlines to promote MPC more broadly. It also hopes to open up new ways for travelers to download the app while flying.
Is MPC better than global entry?
To be clear, Global Entry remains the ultimate time-saving tool for customs, providing passengers with seamless travel through its contactless kiosks.
But for a five-year Global Entry membership (which also includes TSA PreCheck access), you’ll pay $120.
A CBP spokesperson told TPG that while Global Entry is free for applicants or children of current members, families may still be among the best candidates for MPC, especially those who do not travel internationally frequently.
“We’re trying to target these family groups that take a vacation once a year,” Daboyn said. “Also, I think younger kids — maybe college students … they’ll take random trips here and there, and they can do the MPC … and when they get to the airport, download it, complete it, and then submit it.”
bottom line
Mobile passport control is a simple, cost-effective way to save time at customs, especially if your international travel is not sufficient to warrant a Global Entry application.
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