Aug 2, 2014, 2:28 pm
Last edit by: Mabuk dan gila
APC Locations: ATL AUA AUH AUS BOS CLT MDW ORD DFW DEN DTW DUB YEG FLL IAH LAS LAX MIA MSP YUL NAS JFK EWR MCO PHL PHX PDX RNO SLC SAN SFO SEA TPA YYZ YVR IAD
Eligible persons at all APC airports: U.S. and Canadian passport holders and international visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries are eligible to use APC kiosks. Visa Waiver Program visitors must have Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTA) approval prior to travel and have visited the United States on at least one occasion after 2008.
Eligible persons at some but not all APC airports: US permanent residents might be eligible to use APC kiosks at LAX, SFO, ORD, DTW; probably more by now.
Eligible persons at all APC airports: U.S. and Canadian passport holders and international visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries are eligible to use APC kiosks. Visa Waiver Program visitors must have Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTA) approval prior to travel and have visited the United States on at least one occasion after 2008.
Eligible persons at some but not all APC airports: US permanent residents might be eligible to use APC kiosks at LAX, SFO, ORD, DTW; probably more by now.
US CBP Automated Passport Control
May 22, 2015, 4:08 pm
#361
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When we flew to ORD from Japan recently, not only we filled out the paper custom form airline crew gave us, we were also directed to use the AUTOMATED Passport control ATM like machine after landing and it was same info we had to type in.
Was the paper custom form not required than? We no longer have to accept & fill out the paper custom form the flight attendant gives us?
Was the paper custom form not required than? We no longer have to accept & fill out the paper custom form the flight attendant gives us?
Crew members keep trying to give me forms even when I know I don't need them because I'll be using APC, MPC, or GE and thus not need to use a pencil/pen to fill in a form.
May 24, 2015, 2:51 pm
#362
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6
Still confused
For a flight landing at SFO, we had already made out the blue card. We were directed to the kiosks, which duplicate the same inquiries. Could we have SKIPPED the kiosks, and just gotten in line with the paper card, saving 5 minutes. Does anyone know this for sure/
May 24, 2015, 7:11 pm
#363
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
If you are entitled to use the APC kiosks and use the APC or GE kiosks, then those forms need not be filled in by hand.
Crew members keep trying to give me forms even when I know I don't need them because I'll be using APC, MPC, or GE and thus not need to use a pencil/pen to fill in a form.
Crew members keep trying to give me forms even when I know I don't need them because I'll be using APC, MPC, or GE and thus not need to use a pencil/pen to fill in a form.
May 24, 2015, 7:45 pm
#364
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Just got back from Europe and no U.S. citizens were required to fill out paper customs forms upon arrival (only non-U.S. ones were). I have Global Entry so I just moved past the crowd at the customs line, but it looked like people were filling out an electronic customs form similar to the Global Entry's electronic machines. Is this the new trend?
May 27, 2015, 3:20 pm
#365
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Do the electronic kiosks really ask you all the same questions as the blue form? I know on the blue form I have to write in my address and sometimes write in the names of 10+ countries I've visited on a trip, those questions aren't on the kiosk are they?
May 27, 2015, 6:41 pm
#366
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
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Used the kiosk in AUH yesterday. The machine asks you the customs related questions, but none of the address, countries visited, and other nonsense US citizens never should have had to answer anyway. It was a really fast process.
May 28, 2015, 2:35 am
#367
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Indeed. Glad that AUH got in on the APC kiosk action too.
May 29, 2015, 10:42 am
#368
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Indeed. At IAD a couple of days ago, the customs line was probably 45 minutes long. GE line was at most 3 pax deep at any given time. A few times, the non-GE pax did try to block the GE line as they apparently thought people were trying to skip...
May 30, 2015, 7:57 am
#369
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You'd get delayed I'm sure, but I think they would have to let you in, without you ever saying where you have been.
May 30, 2015, 10:24 am
#370
Join Date: Nov 2009
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So theoretically, a US citizen could use the kiosk, hand in the receipt with passport, and if the officer asks "Where are you coming back from," respond "None of your business."
You'd get delayed I'm sure, but I think they would have to let you in, without you ever saying where you have been.
You'd get delayed I'm sure, but I think they would have to let you in, without you ever saying where you have been.
May 31, 2015, 11:34 am
#371
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So theoretically, a US citizen could use the kiosk, hand in the receipt with passport, and if the officer asks "Where are you coming back from," respond "None of your business."
You'd get delayed I'm sure, but I think they would have to let you in, without you ever saying where you have been.
You'd get delayed I'm sure, but I think they would have to let you in, without you ever saying where you have been.
Theoretically, yes. If you are a US citizen presenting valid, authentic documentation of your identity and citizenship, the officers cannot prevent you from entering the country. As a citizen, you do not have to give any verbal answers. However, if you do not cooperate with questioning, you can be subject to delays and extensive searches to make sure you are not attempting to violate any laws of the United States (customs, agriculture, intellectual property, etc). The CBP officers have to risk-assess every passenger, including US citizens.
Note that when you are at a port of entry, presenting yourself to enter the United States, you do not have the same constitutional protections that you enjoy inside the USA. For example, the officers can detain you for a reasonable amount of time needed to search your belongings and person. They can search you and your belongings without your permission, probable cause, or a warrant. (However, they do need some level of suspicion that you might be attempting to conceal something or violate the law, except in the case of random searches.)
May 31, 2015, 12:49 pm
#372
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I used these on my last two international arrivals (ATL and SEA) which occurred before I got GE. They're great, you don't have to search for a pen on the plane, remember where you put your form, or if you're like me...struggle to make sure your handwriting is legible 
May 31, 2015, 8:37 pm
#373
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They announced 6 weeks ago that Las Vegas had the kiosks, but when I arrived recently on an international flight we used paper forms and no sign of the kiosks.
Last edited by jphripjah; Jun 1, 2015 at 2:29 am
Jun 1, 2015, 5:06 am
#374
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Now if Guam would just get rid of that tree-killing novel one has to fill out upon entry and have a customs APC that would be nice...rant over... LOL
I am so tired of having the fast GE entry at GUM then waiting to deal with the surly Guam Customs Agency.
I am so tired of having the fast GE entry at GUM then waiting to deal with the surly Guam Customs Agency.
Jun 15, 2015, 7:30 am
#375
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 121
Does anyone know when this paperless initiative began? I haven't traveled in months and during my business trip last week, I realized that my blue US customs declaration form was no longer required.
All in all, I like paperless but I felt a little silly having a fully-completed form (I keep a stack of these and pre-fill at home prior to my travels) in my hands when they weren't even using them anymore.
All in all, I like paperless but I felt a little silly having a fully-completed form (I keep a stack of these and pre-fill at home prior to my travels) in my hands when they weren't even using them anymore.