Last edit by: TWA884
Where can eligible travelers use MPC?
CBP uses the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) application to streamline the processing of eligible travelers entering the United States. Eligible travelers with a smartphone or tablet may voluntarily download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC)-enabled mobile application (app) from a mobile application store (e.g., Apple App Store or Google Play Store).
The MPC mobile app, is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA.
MPC is currently available at the following 48 sites, including 33 U.S. International Airports, 11 Preclearance locations, and 4 seaports of entry:
CBP uses the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) application to streamline the processing of eligible travelers entering the United States. Eligible travelers with a smartphone or tablet may voluntarily download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC)-enabled mobile application (app) from a mobile application store (e.g., Apple App Store or Google Play Store).
The MPC mobile app, is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA.
MPC is currently available at the following 48 sites, including 33 U.S. International Airports, 11 Preclearance locations, and 4 seaports of entry:
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
- Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
- Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Chicago OHare International Airport (ORD)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
- Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
- Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Houston William P. Hobby International Airport (HOU)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
- Las Vegas Harry Ried International Airport (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Miami Seaport
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Nassau Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
- Palm Beach Seaport
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Port Everglades Seaport
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- San Jose International Airport (SJC)
- San Juan Airport (SJU)
- San Juan Seaport
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Winnipeg James A Richardson International Airport (YWG)
US CBP Mobile Passport Control App (MPC)
#106
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
I'm still in shock over the terrible experience I had using Mobile Passport at EWR on July 15. While the immigration queue for Mobile Passport users was short and fairly easy to find, customs was another story. We headed downstairs and were stunned to find the customs queue snaking entirely around the luggage carousels. There was no signage indicating a separate line for Mobile Passport users.
Worst of all though, the CBP personnel were inexplicably hostile to travelers, shouting in English at several families who clearly did not understand them and had done nothing wrong. When I went to ask one agent where Mobile Passport users should line up, he screamed "The end of the line is OVER THERE!" as several other passengers stood nearby, stunned.
And then to add insult to injury, once we made it through the queue, only one of the CBP agents was set up to accept mobile receipts, forcing several of us to queue up yet again. In total, clearing customs took nearly half an hour -- this after we'd already been admitted by immigration.
It really was like being in a developing country.
Worst of all though, the CBP personnel were inexplicably hostile to travelers, shouting in English at several families who clearly did not understand them and had done nothing wrong. When I went to ask one agent where Mobile Passport users should line up, he screamed "The end of the line is OVER THERE!" as several other passengers stood nearby, stunned.
And then to add insult to injury, once we made it through the queue, only one of the CBP agents was set up to accept mobile receipts, forcing several of us to queue up yet again. In total, clearing customs took nearly half an hour -- this after we'd already been admitted by immigration.
It really was like being in a developing country.
#107
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,498
Sorry to hear you had such a terrible experience. I am curious about the thinking behind your statement quoted above; do you believe customs enforcement is supposed to take less time because the passenger has cleared passport control (immigration)?
Last edited by TWA884; Jul 18, 2016 at 10:22 am Reason: Fix BB Code
#108
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
But if you're asking whether customs enforcement should be quicker for MPC users just as immigration is, then yes. If you'll read through the thread, you'll see that at most if not all other airports where MPC has been adopted, there is a separate MPC line for customs just as there is for immigration. That's not (yet) the case at EWR, though.
#109
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,498
Not sure I follow your question. Everyone waiting at customs has by default already cleared passport control/immigration.
But if you're asking whether customs enforcement should be quicker for MPC users just as immigration is, then yes. If you'll read through the thread, you'll see that at most if not all other airports where MPC has been adopted, there is a separate MPC line for customs just as there is for immigration. That's not (yet) the case at EWR, though.
But if you're asking whether customs enforcement should be quicker for MPC users just as immigration is, then yes. If you'll read through the thread, you'll see that at most if not all other airports where MPC has been adopted, there is a separate MPC line for customs just as there is for immigration. That's not (yet) the case at EWR, though.
But maybe what you meant is that it took 30 minutes in addition to the wait to clear immigration.
#110
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 261
Not sure I follow your question. Everyone waiting at customs has by default already cleared passport control/immigration.
But if you're asking whether customs enforcement should be quicker for MPC users just as immigration is, then yes. If you'll read through the thread, you'll see that at most if not all other airports where MPC has been adopted, there is a separate MPC line for customs just as there is for immigration. That's not (yet) the case at EWR, though.
But if you're asking whether customs enforcement should be quicker for MPC users just as immigration is, then yes. If you'll read through the thread, you'll see that at most if not all other airports where MPC has been adopted, there is a separate MPC line for customs just as there is for immigration. That's not (yet) the case at EWR, though.
#111
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
While those on FT don't appear to agree with me, it would seem that CBP is listening: I got a nice note of apology back after leaving my experience as feedback via the app. Apparently EWR is lagging in terms of adding dedicated queues for MPC users in customs, but the intent is for the experience to mirror other airports soon.
#112
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
Yes there really is a reason why MPC should have a separate line, whether or not someone considers it "preferential".
Last edited by TWA884; Aug 6, 2019 at 2:30 pm
#114
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At BOS, ORD and JFK this month for my travel parties, MPC has been nearly as fast, as fast as, or faster than GE. But I still find GE has an edge over MPC overall.
Last edited by TWA884; Aug 6, 2019 at 2:30 pm
#115
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: LHR
Programs: BA
Posts: 19
Aside from that, it was a time saver and you do get to use the GE line at customs.
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
I was going to get Global Entry, but keep putting it off. Often I am traveling with others, so that kind of defeats the purpose. My last trip was kind of last minute, so I didn't have time. I signed up for Mobile Passport, and I was in for a pleasant surprise. I thought it just helped you through Immigration, but it got me front of the line for Customs to.
This was in Orlando. The Mobile Passport sign for Immigration seemed to be hidden. Apparently it was a the front of the line, same line for GE, I think. I was directed to that line by another person working the lines. When I got there, I went behind the people already waiting for the immigration counter. However, apparently the couple were "normal" status, and the officer told me to go ahead of them because I had mobile passport. So, I was first at the baggage carousel. (BA flight from LGW-MCO). Of course, the BA agent in LCA (Cyprus) did not put a priority tag on my bag, so it was quite a wait. However, after getting my bag, I spotted a Mobile Passport sign (also next to a GE sign) and NOBODY was there. This was, by far, my best experience ever entering the US.
This was in Orlando. The Mobile Passport sign for Immigration seemed to be hidden. Apparently it was a the front of the line, same line for GE, I think. I was directed to that line by another person working the lines. When I got there, I went behind the people already waiting for the immigration counter. However, apparently the couple were "normal" status, and the officer told me to go ahead of them because I had mobile passport. So, I was first at the baggage carousel. (BA flight from LGW-MCO). Of course, the BA agent in LCA (Cyprus) did not put a priority tag on my bag, so it was quite a wait. However, after getting my bag, I spotted a Mobile Passport sign (also next to a GE sign) and NOBODY was there. This was, by far, my best experience ever entering the US.
#117
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Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
I was going to get Global Entry, but keep putting it off. Often I am traveling with others, so that kind of defeats the purpose. My last trip was kind of last minute, so I didn't have time. I signed up for Mobile Passport, and I was in for a pleasant surprise. I thought it just helped you through Immigration, but it got me front of the line for Customs to.
This was in Orlando. The Mobile Passport sign for Immigration seemed to be hidden. Apparently it was a the front of the line, same line for GE, I think. I was directed to that line by another person working the lines. When I got there, I went behind the people already waiting for the immigration counter. However, apparently the couple were "normal" status, and the officer told me to go ahead of them because I had mobile passport. So, I was first at the baggage carousel. (BA flight from LGW-MCO). Of course, the BA agent in LCA (Cyprus) did not put a priority tag on my bag, so it was quite a wait. However, after getting my bag, I spotted a Mobile Passport sign (also next to a GE sign) and NOBODY was there. This was, by far, my best experience ever entering the US.
This was in Orlando. The Mobile Passport sign for Immigration seemed to be hidden. Apparently it was a the front of the line, same line for GE, I think. I was directed to that line by another person working the lines. When I got there, I went behind the people already waiting for the immigration counter. However, apparently the couple were "normal" status, and the officer told me to go ahead of them because I had mobile passport. So, I was first at the baggage carousel. (BA flight from LGW-MCO). Of course, the BA agent in LCA (Cyprus) did not put a priority tag on my bag, so it was quite a wait. However, after getting my bag, I spotted a Mobile Passport sign (also next to a GE sign) and NOBODY was there. This was, by far, my best experience ever entering the US.
Last edited by TWA884; Aug 6, 2019 at 2:31 pm
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,320
MPC and families
It looks like our next entry into the US will be through a MPC airport--how does it handle family groups?
And will it actually do us any good as there's a 100% chance that I will be answering yes to the food question?
And will it actually do us any good as there's a 100% chance that I will be answering yes to the food question?
#119
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Posts: 100,342
What is MPC?
It might help to say what passports you'll be using. Also, what does family include? Just spouse and kids under some young age or adult children, extended family? USA permanent residents?
It might help to say what passports you'll be using. Also, what does family include? Just spouse and kids under some young age or adult children, extended family? USA permanent residents?
#120
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Mobile Passport Control.
As to "food" it all depends what you mean. If it is "food" which you are 100% certain will not kick up a fuss, go ahead and use it as you may not be diverted to Ag at some FIS (you haven't told us your POE) if your initial answer is something simple such as a pack of crackers. Also depending on specific layout, cutting off the line through the immigration aspect may well speed your processing time even if you are send to an Ag secondary.
As to "food" it all depends what you mean. If it is "food" which you are 100% certain will not kick up a fuss, go ahead and use it as you may not be diverted to Ag at some FIS (you haven't told us your POE) if your initial answer is something simple such as a pack of crackers. Also depending on specific layout, cutting off the line through the immigration aspect may well speed your processing time even if you are send to an Ag secondary.