BALTIMORE – Summer is quickly approaching, which means the return of the busy summer travel season and a higher density of travelers at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) federal inspection stations in Mid-Atlantic airports. CBP encourages travelers to consider two options now that could help you get home quicker – Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control.
CBP’s critically acclaimed Global Entry trusted traveler program continues to swell in membership and Global Entry members have reported that not having to wait in inspection lines upon returning to the United States is an attractive benefit to them.
CBP’s Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a free smartphone and tablet app that allows travelers to process their international arrivals before walking up to a CBP officer in the inspection station.
“Global Entry continues to be one of Customs and Border Protection’s most successful and popular programs, and Mobile Passport Control allows CBP to leverage today’s innovative technology to streamline the international air traveler’s experience through the United States arrivals process,” said Casey Owen Durst, CBP Director of Field Operations in Baltimore.
Global Entry
Global Entry is a voluntary program for pre-approved, low-risk international travelers. Global Entry members process their United States arrivals using a designated self-help kiosk.
Interested travelers apply online at CBP’s Trusted Traveler application portal, pay a $100 application fee, which is good for five years of membership benefits, and complete a background investigation. When conditionally approved, the applicant completes an in-person interview with a CBP officer at an enrollment center or through CBP’s Enrollment on Arrival initiative.
Global Entry Enrollment Centers are located at Baltimore Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington Dulles International Airports, and at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. Visit the Global Entry Enrollment Center webpage for an address, hours, and a phone number to the enrollment center near you.
Since its inception in June 2008, Global Entry added more than 5 million trusted travelers. An additional 2.2 million trusted travelers enjoy Global Entry benefits through CBP’s NEXUS and SENTRI trusted traveler programs.
Global Entry kiosks are available at 60 airports, including 13 CBP preclearance stations overseas.
Global Entry members enjoy access to expedited entry benefits in as many as 14 other countries.
Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival
Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival allows conditionally approved applicants to complete their interviews during their arrivals inspection at a participating airport instead of scheduling an appointment.
CBP enrollment centers at Baltimore Washington and Philadelphia International Airports offer Enrollment on Arrival. Visit CBP’s Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival locations to view locations and hours.
“Customs and Border Protection has made it a priority to improve the enrollment process for applicants looking to participate in Global Entry, and the Enrollment on Arrival initiative adds convenient flexibility for conditionally approved travelers who desire to complete the enrollment process,” Durst said.
Since the program’s launch in July, more than 17,400 conditionally-approved Global Entry applicants have completed the final step of the enrollment process at an Enrollment on Arrival location.
Global Entry Members Enjoy TSA Pre✓™ Benefits
As an added benefit, Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA Pre✓™ expedited screening program. The TSA Pre✓™ initiative offers expedited screening through domestic airport security checkpoints. Benefits of TSA Pre✓™ include being able to leave shoes, light outerwear and belts on, and not having to remove laptops from carrying cases.
Mobile Passport Control
CBP’s Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is the first authorized smartphone or tablet app to expedite a traveler’s arrival into the United States. Eligible travelers create a profile with their passport information. When they travel back to the United States, they complete the “New Trip” section, and answer a series of CBP inspection-related questions on the app prior to arrival. Travelers receive an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code that they show to a CBP officer upon arrival.
on CBP's Mobile Passport Control app.
Users can create up to 12 additional profiles for family members so that a single household can submit one MPC transaction, including answers to CBP inspection-related questions.
Android and iPhone users can download the free Mobile Passport app from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. MPC is available to U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors arriving at 25 major U.S. international airports and at one seaport.
Much like Automated Passport Control (APC), which allows travelers to process their arrivals on self-help kiosks at 50 participating airports around the world, the MPC app does not require pre-approval and is free to use.
MPC is available at Baltimore Washington and Washington Dulles International Airports. APC is available at Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington Dulles International Airports.
“Mobile Passport Control is just one piece of Customs and Border Protection’s resource optimization strategy, which is transforming the way CBP does business in land, air and sea environments,” Durst said. “The MPC option offers travelers a better experience, quicker processing, and shorter wait times, while it also allows CBP to direct our finite staffing resources to conduct our vital border enforcement and homeland security missions.”
Users have downloaded the Mobile Passport app more than 1 million times since its launch two years ago.