Chicago Midway has upgraded and expanded its self-service border control technology.
It has added more APC and Global Entry kiosks and upgraded all its existing ones to speed up processing times for international passengers.
There are currently 77 international flights a week to Midway from countries including Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
In 2013, Chicago became the first city in the country to use the BorderXpress APC technology at O’Hare International Airport.
Automated Passport Control (APC)
APC helps passengers move more quickly through the CBP clearance process by allowing them to enter information at a self-service kiosk – without pre-registration or a required fee. APC has been shown to reduce wait times by up to 50 percent and significantly improve the international arrival experience.
Four additional APC kiosks have been installed in Midway’s Federal Inspection Service (FIS) area for a total of 10 kiosks now available.
All of the APC kiosks have been upgraded with fingerprint readers, light bars and additional language options.
Passengers who can use the APC self-service kiosks at Midway now include all of the following:
- US Passport Holders
- US Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) cardholders
- Canadian Passport Holders
- Returning ESTA travelers from one of the 38 Visa Waiver Countries
- US Visa holders that have a B1/B2 visa
- Foreign Operating Aircrew with a C1/D visa
Before the upgrades, only U.S. and Canadian passport holders were eligible to use APC at Midway.
How it works
Eligible passengers choosing to use the new kiosks can proceed directly to a self-service kiosk in the border area and complete a two-step process.
- STEP 1:Passengers answer a series of questions at the touch screen self-service kiosk. Once passengers have completed the series of questions, a receipt is issued.
- STEP 2: Passengers then take their passport, travel information and the receipt to a CBP officer who verifies the information. A border officer will always have the final approval to allow a passenger into the country.
Global Entry
A new Global Entry kiosk has also been installed in Midway’s FIS area. Global Entry is a U.S. CBP program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk passengers upon arrival in the United States. Midway now has three Global Entry kiosks.
N.B. Image credit: Chicago Midway
