Fort Lauderdale introduces Mobile Passport Control

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is now available at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

Eligible passengers submit their passport information and customs declaration form to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) via a smartphone or tablet app before arrival.

MPC currently offers U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors a more secure and efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the passenger on arrival in the United States.

The app does not require pre-approval, is free to use and does not collect any new information from passengers.

Passengers opting to use the app will no longer have to complete a paper customs declaration form. As a result, they will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.

The MPC pilot launched in August 2014 for eligible passengers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) and as of December 2015 was available to passengers arriving at Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Miami (MIA), San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle-Tacoma (SEA).

Mineta San Jose (SJC) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) are expected to introduce MPC next.

How it works

Passengers follow these five steps to use MPC:

Download the Mobile Passport Control App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store before arrival
Create a profile with their passport information
Complete the “New Trip” section upon arrival in the United States
Submit the customs declaration form through the app to receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code
Bring their passport and smartphone or tablet with the digital bar-coded receipt to a CBP officer

Kent George, Broward County Director of Aviation, said:

“Using technology to improve the passenger experience is extremely important. Our partnership with CBP, Airports Council International-NA, and Airside Mobile has been instrumental in launching this important initiative.”

CBP Port Director Jorge L. Roig, said:

“We’re very pleased to have Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport come on board as the sixth airport to launch Mobile Passport Control. Mobile Passport Control has had a fantastic response in the other locations by cutting the time in the arrivals line for thousands of eligible travelers entering the United States.”

Android and iPhone users can download the Mobile Passport app for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

N.B. Image credit: mobilepassport.us