Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has launched 74 Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks in the federal inspection stations in Concourses E and F.
The self-service kiosks allow passengers to submit their information electronically and reduce the time spent with a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.
Currently, American, Canadian and international travelers with Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval will be allowed to use the new system.
The automated process has resulted in an average 20-40% decrease in wait times at airports that use APC kiosks.
“We are excited to launch the Automated Passport Control system and are confident that travelers will be pleased with the faster processing speed through Customs,” said Miguel Southwell, Hartsfield-Jackson Interim General Manager. “This new initiative is a critical element in improving overall customer service at the Airport and I’m thankful for the strong partnership we have with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency.”
The process is easy. Eligible passengers proceed directly to a self-service APC kiosk in the passport control area. Passengers will be prompted to scan their passports, use the kiosk’s camera to take a photograph, answer simple biographic and flight information questions, and complete the standard Customs Declaration questions using the kiosk’s touch-screen. Passengers using APC no longer need to fill out a paper Customs Declaration form. The kiosk will give passengers a receipt that they will provide, along with their passports, to a CBP officer to finalize their inspection for entry into the U.S.
The APC kiosk allows a passenger to enter his or her biographic information prior to speaking with a CBP officer. The CBP officer is then able to focus on identity verification, admissibility and questioning to determine purpose and intent of travel, thereby reducing processing times.
The APC program was launched in May 2013 at the CBP preclearance facility at Vancouver International Airport. Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) pioneered BorderXpress, an APC system that delivers fully-hosted kiosks to automate the administrative function of the border inspection process, reducing traveler wait times, passenger congestion and airport processing costs. Since the launch, the APC program has been expanded to Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway, Miami, John F. Kennedy, Dallas Fort Worth, Montreal, Toronto, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, Houston, Seattle and Orlando international airports.
The APC does not require pre-approval to participate and is free to use.
CBP processed more than 4.6 million international arrivals at ATL during fiscal year 2013.
Visit CBP’s Travel website at www.cbp.gov/travel, for more information on what to expect during a CBP admissions inspection and general rules for products admissible and prohibited to the United States.
