KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City International Airport (MCI) has made two key upgrades during its recent renovations to meet the needs of passengers and to comply with new guidance.
first airport in the Office of Field
Operations, Chicago Field Office to
install the baggage first design for
arriving passengers.
In 2017 CBP’s Office of Field Operations (OFO) published the Airport Technical Design Standards that would incorporate the new Federal Inspection Station (FIS) design for every new airport being built. Due to the timing of this announcement, MCI, which was going through major renovations, was able to incorporate this in its design plans. This nine-month project recently finished, making MCI the first airport in the OFO Chicago Field Office to use a baggage first concept in its design.
What the new FIS provides to the passenger is the ability to collect their bags first before checking in with a Customs Officer. “It’s a huge benefit for the traveler,” said Steve Ellis, Kansas City International Airport Port Director. “It’s more of an open floor plan for the international traveler. The passenger can get their bags then proceed to either Global Entry, Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks, or directly to a Customs Officer for processing.”
The new open concept allows passengers the ability to process at their pace. Restrooms are available for use and passengers can take their time checking in with Customs Officers. In the past, passengers would wait in long lines to check-in, now passengers, with their baggage in hand, can wait until the lines are shorter instead of standing for long periods of time.
This design also supports CBP's current inspection requirements and is adaptable to future workloads, technologies, and operational needs.
approved to provide Enrollment on
Arrival for passengers who are Global
Entry applicants who are conditionally
approved.
MCI’s other new addition is the Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) program, which was approved August 15. EoA is a program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to allow Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved to complete their interviews upon arrival into the United States. The program eliminates the need for a Global Entry applicant to schedule an interview at an enrollment center to complete the application process.
When passengers land at MCI, they can follow the signage directing them to CBP Officers who can complete their Global Entry interview during their admissibility inspection. Passengers will not need any additional documents other than the requisite documents for international travel (e.g., your passport).
“We know that scheduling an interview can take months after being conditionally approved,” remarked Ellis. “When a passenger is conditionally approved, at their time of entry into the United States on direct international flight into Kansas City, they can do their interview right then and there. This a great program for our passengers.” MCI is joining only 49 other CBP domestic Ports of Entry and CBP Pre-Clearance locations offering this service
CBP's dual mission is to facilitate travel in the United States while securing our borders, our people and our visitors from those that would do us harm. CBP is responsible for securing the border and enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws and regulations.