Eligible Travelers Entering the U.S. Have a Mobile Option for Customs Declaration
NEW YORK, NY. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Newark Liberty International Airport (NLIA) today announced the expansion of Mobile Passport Control (MPC) to JFK and NLIA. MPC is the first authorized app to expedite a traveler’s arrival into the United States. Eligible travelers submit their passport information and customs declaration form to CBP via a smartphone or tablet app prior to arrival. Android and iPhone users can download the Mobile Passport app for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
“CBP is proud to work with local stakeholders to offer Mobile Passport Control as an option to expedite traveler’s arrival to the United States,” said Director Field Operations in New York, Robert E. Perez. “CBP remains committed to making the international arrivals experience as traveler-friendly as possible through innovation and collaboration with stakeholders while maintaining the highest security standards.”
“With a record number of passengers traveling through our airports, the Port Authority is committed to enhancing their overall customer experience and investing in creative solutions to address the growing volumes of trade and travel,” said Thomas Bosco, Port Authority Aviation Director. “We are pleased that Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy international airports now offer Mobile Passport Control -- an innovative program that helps expedite the entry process for international travelers -- and we thank U.S. Customs and Border Protection for working with us on this enhancement."
“We are pleased that Mobile Passport is expanding to John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport as a valuable tool to help expedite eligible travelers entering the United States," said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. "Last year, five U.S. airports had adopted Mobile Passport. Now with 13 participating airports, Mobile Passport is helping airports enhance the travel experience as the busy summer travel season continues.”
"We are delighted to welcome Mobile Passport Control to JFK Airport’s Terminal 4, the premiere gateway to New York City, said Gert-Jan de Graaff, President and CEO of JFKIAT – the company which operates Terminal 4. “Our terminal welcomes more than 70,000 passengers each day. Giving these passengers the ability to submit their passport information and customs declaration prior to arrival will surely increase the efficiency of the arrival process and assist us in our mission to provide an enjoyable passenger experience for all travelers coming through Terminal 4.”
MPC currently offers U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors a more secure and efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the traveler upon arrival in the United States. Much like Automated Passport Control (APC), the app does not require pre-approval, is free to use and does not collect any new information from travelers. Travelers opting to use the app will no longer have to complete a paper customs declaration form. As a result, travelers will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.
There are five easy steps to MPC:
- Download the Mobile Passport Control App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store prior to arriving
- Create a profile with your passport information
- Complete the “New Trip” section upon arrival in the United States
- Submit your CBP Declaration form through the app to receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code
- Bring your passport and smartphone or tablet with your digital bar-coded receipt to a CBP officer
The MPC pilot launched in August 2014 for eligible travelers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and is now available to passengers arriving at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Miami International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport. MPC is expected to expand to more airports in 2016 and CBP has committed to expand the program to the 20 airports with the highest volumes of international travelers by the end of the calendar year.This first-of-its-kind app was developed in partnership with CBP, by Airports Council International- North America (ACI-NA) and their technical partners. Information about Mobile Passport Control, including how to download, user eligibility and other frequently asked questions, is available on CBP.gov.
MPC is just one part of CBP’s resource optimization strategy which is transforming the way CBP does business in land, air and sea environments. As part of its commitment to innovation, CBP installed APC kiosks at 36 locations and automated the I-94 form. CBP has also enrolled more than 3.5 million travelers in trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI. These programs allow CBP officers to process travelers safely and efficiently while enhancing security and reducing operational costs.