© Provided by AFAR
But there is another method of getting out of the airport (or making your tight connection) even faster. Mobile Passport, which launched in 2014, is a free app that lets travelers use a dedicated, and often shorter, line at customs in U.S. airports and cruise ports. Here's how Mobile Passport works and what you need to know before using it.
The Mobile Passport app is available for iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the app store.
Download Now: Mobile Passport, Free, App Store; Google Play
The app is designed to serve as a replacement for completing a traditional customs declaration paper form or using the standard Automated Passport Control kiosk when you arrive. The moment you land in the United States, you can fire up the app (note that you'll need a WiFi or data connection for it to work) and answer the regular questions; you can even make necessary declarations (such as restricted food or large purchases).
When you first use it, before your trip, you must upload a headshot and enter your passport details (it's as simple as scanning your passport page). Before returning from your journey, you can enter your chosen PIN code or use Touch ID if your phone has that capability.
Once you've indicated your arrival airport and airline and submitted the form (the process takes about a minute), the app creates a QR code that you show to an immigration officer inside the airport. The officer may ask a few questions about your trip, but the process is swift because Mobile Passport users have a dedicated lane in 31 participating airports that expedites you through the line to complete the standard immigration and customs process.
While Global Entry users are still completing their form on the kiosk, you might already be scanning your mobile device QR code with an officer. Any declarations would be discussed at that point, but if you have none, you are sent on your way.
For now, Mobile Passport feels like a well-kept secret among international travelers. "There's often no one else in the Mobile Passport line when I land at SFO [in San Francisco]," says AFAR Senior SEO Manager, Jessie Beck, "Thanks to this app, I typically clear customs in five minutes or less-sometimes faster than my friends with Global Entry."
While Global Entry users must schedule an interview appointment, go through a background check, and pay a fee once every five years, Mobile Passport is an instant download and free if you don't mind uploading your passport information each time you travel.
Unlike Global Entry, there is no application process, no lengthy interview appointment that requires a wait time of weeks or months, and no cost. U.S. and Canadian citizens with a B1 or B2 visa status are eligible.
Mobile Passport is not a replacement for a passport and is not a trusted traveler program. This means you have not been "vetted" in the same way that Global Entry users have been. Because not all travelers are eligible for Global Entry (due to prior customs violations, among other reasons), this app can be a great alternative.
If you have Global Entry, you can still use Mobile Passport. This allows you to opt for whichever line is shorter once you reach border control.
Like Global Entry, Mobile Passport can only be used for arriving into the United States.
There are currently 31 airports and 4 cruise ports in the United States that have Mobile Passport lines. Notable airports that are not on the list include Detroit, Las Vegas, and Charlotte, North Carolina. However, the number of airports on the list continues to grow.
Families living within the same household can complete their form on one device as a group submission, provided each person's photo and passport details are added to the app.
The app includes privacy protection barriers in place to keep your document details safe. There is also the option to delete your details (instead of storing them within the app) after each trip. The QR code transmitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you complete the form expires four hours after it is created, too.
This article originally appeared online on April 5, 2019. It was updated on February 7, 2020, to include current information.