San Francisco, California - U.S. Customs and Border Protection and San Francisco International Airport today announced the expansion of Mobile Passport Control (MPC) to SFO. 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 and 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 pleased to offer Mobile Passport Control as an option to expedite travelers’ entry into the United States at five of the country’s busiest international airports,” said Assistant Commissioner for Office of Field Operations Todd C. Owen. “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.”
“As international traffic grows at SFO, we continue to seek innovative ways to expedite the arrival process for our international travelers,” said Airport Director John L. Martin. “With the expansion of Mobile Passport Control to SFO, our customers now have an efficient new option that allows them to bypass a traditional queue.”
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.
"We're very pleased to have San Francisco International Airport come on board as the fifth airport to launch Mobile Passport," said Airports Council International-North America President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. "Mobile Passport has had a fantastic response at Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, and Chicago, which has significantly cut the time in the customs line for thousands of eligible travelers entering the United States. We look forward to additional airports coming online throughout 2015."
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 customs 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 as of last month is available to passengers arriving at Miami International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. CBP has committed to expand the program to the 20 airports with the highest volumes of international travelers by the end of 2016.
This first-of-its-kind app was developed by Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) and their technical partner in partnership with CBP. Information about Mobile Passport, 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 34 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.
