Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information.
I'm a big fan of Mobile Passport and have been a loyal user for many years. It's my entry expediting program of choice when I arrive back in the U.S. from overseas and want to avoid long lines at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
By late September, eligible U.S. citizens and Canadian citizen visitors will be able to use Mobile Passport at 38 airport and seaport locations. CBP is expanding Mobile Passport for travelers to use at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), followed by Vancouver International Airport (YVR) next month, according to a press release issued by CBP on Aug. 23.
It's also available at two of the three New York City airports near my home - John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), the latter of which I frequent most.
At both JFK and EWR, Mobile Passport funnels me into the Diplomats line, providing the equivalent of VIP service, for free. I was concerned and disappointed when it seemed the service was being phased out in the past few months. However, it turns out it's just the app to use Mobile Passport that changed.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for TPG daily newsletter.
When I arrived at EWR from Heathrow Airport (LHR) in late April, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could still use Mobile Passport despite one big difference: The app name and appearance changed.
Although not all details about the program are clear right now, CBP confirmed that the CBP MPC app has replaced the Mobile Passport app.
According to a representative from Airside, the developer of the original Mobile Passport app, the blue and white airport pilot icon in both the Apple and Google Play app stores is now just a placeholder. When you click it, you'll be directed to the CBP MPC app, which stands for Customs Border Protection Mobile Passport Control.
Long acronym short, this is still Mobile Passport, but now operated directly by CBP instead of Airside, a change effective Feb. 1, 2022.
If you're unfamiliar with the concept of Mobile Passport, it's a free service that speeds up entry at selected ports and airports around the country. At its most basic level, it generates a digital version of the required customs form to complete on your phone.
Related: Travelers are reporting issues with using Mobile Passport at certain airports
The new app will work the same as the previous version, according to CBP.
First, travelers download the CBP MPC app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store (do this when you have Wi-Fi).
Then, once they land in the US, "travelers will select their arrival airport or seaport and terminal, take a self-photo, and answer a series of CBP inspection-related questions," per CBP. "Once the traveler submits their transaction through the app, the traveler will receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code. Travelers then bring their physical passport and mobile device with their digital QR-coded receipt to a CBP officer to finalize their inspection for entry into the United States."
Unlike Global Entry, which costs $100 for a five-year membership, Mobile Passport is free and does not require travelers to apply or get approved (a process that can take up to 730 days, according to the CBP).
One noticeable difference between the new CBP version and the original Mobile Passport is that there is no paid, upgraded version. Previously, the Airside model had offered a paid version that stored your information so you didn't have to reload it each time (as you did with the unpaid basic offering).
My current experience with the CBP MPC is that it indicates that my information (and that of my husband and son, whom I also added to my app) is stored for future use.
Additional reporting by Caroline Tanner.
Featured photo by Melissa Klurman/The Points Guy.
SPONSORED: With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.
And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free.
These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.
--
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.