NOTE: This service has been discontinued at RDU.
Eligible Travelers Entering the U.S. Have a Mobile Option for Customs Declaration
RALEIGH, N.C. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) announce the expansion of Mobile Passport Control (MPC) to RDU. RDU becomes the 15th airport to offer the app to expedite a traveler’s arrival into the United States.
Eligible travelers submit their passport information and customs declaration form to CBP via a smartphone or tablet app prior to arrival. Android and iPhone users can download the Mobile Passport app for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
“This is an exciting time for CBP and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. We have worked closely with Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority to offer the Mobile Passport Control app to travelers arriving at our airport from abroad,” said Director Field Operations in Atlanta, Reginald I. Manning. “CBP remains committed to using technological advances and resources to make international arrivals as traveler-friendly as possible.”
“With our new nonstop service to Paris, in addition to our longstanding London and Cancun flights, more people are entering the country at Raleigh-Durham International Airport than ever before,” said Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority President and CEO Michael Landguth. “We are excited to partner with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to offer Mobile Passport Control to speed up the re-entry process and provide the level of world-class service we strive for at RDU.”
MPC currently offers U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors a more secure and efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the traveler upon arrival in the United States. Much like Automated Passport Control (APC), the app does not require pre-approval, is free to use and does not collect any new information from travelers. Travelers opting to use the app will no longer have to complete a paper customs declaration form. As a result, travelers will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.
There are five easy steps to MPC:
- Download the Mobile Passport Control App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store prior to arriving
- Create a profile with your passport information
- Complete the “New Trip” section upon arrival in the United States
- Submit your CBP Declaration form through the app to receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code
- Bring your passport and smartphone or tablet with your digital bar-coded receipt to a CBP officer
The MPC pilot launched in August 2014 for eligible travelers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and is now available to passengers arriving at 15 airports.
In addition to Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham International Airport, MPC is available to travelers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport, Denver International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Miami International Airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Newark International Airport, Orlando International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, San Jose International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
MPC is expected to expand to more airports in 2016 and CBP has committed to expand the program to the 20 airports by the end of the calendar year.
This first-of-its-kind app was developed in partnership with CBP, by Airports Council International- North America (ACI-NA) and their technical partners. Information about Mobile Passport Control, including how to download, user eligibility and other frequently asked questions, is available on CBP.gov.
“Time and time again, Mobile Passport Control has helped airports take advantage of innovative technology to improve the passenger experience and reduce wait times in customs lines for eligible travelers entering the United States,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “We are thrilled by the launch of Mobile Passport at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. We look forward to more airports coming onboard in the months ahead.”
MPC is just one part of CBP’s resource optimization strategy which is transforming the way CBP does business in land, air and sea environments. As part of its commitment to innovation, CBP installed APC kiosks at 42 locations and automated the I-94 form. CBP has also enrolled more than 5 million travelers in trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI. These programs allow CBP officers to process travelers safely and efficiently while enhancing security and reducing operational costs.
CBP’s Travel website offers rules and tips for clearing CBP inspection during travel to and from the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.