Bird’s Eye View of Turks & Caicos Islands.
I’ve been on the fence about Global Entry and TSA pre-check, and I’ve considered signing up several times. Yet every time I go to the airport, the TSA pre-check line is closed or the regular security line is short. I think of how irate I would be if I had paid for this service and it wasn’t even available to me! In this Mobile Passport App Review, I am going to tell you what it is, how it works, and how to get started with it today! Oh, and where you can use it, because that will certainly determine if it will be helpful for you or not.
As I walked into Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) today after my return flight from Turks & Caicos, a staff member was trying to convince people to download the Mobile Passport App by CBP. I was skeptical, so I joined the long line of US Citizens but downloaded the app while I waited. First, I scanned my passport, answered my questions, and before I ever reached the new kiosks I was ready to use the new app. I switched over to the empty mobile passport line. I met the CBP officer, I showed him my passport, scanned the barcode produced in the app, and I was on my way to customs where I repeated those simple steps on more time. It was really that easy, and I am traveling on a temporary passport! My flight was due to land at 4pm and I was already in an uberPOOL heading home before 4pm!
How it Works at the Airport
When you land, you use wifi or cell service to access the app. I had to create a new profile on the spot, but it was still quite simple. You can even create your profile today to speed up the process when you are traveling. Then, you enter a few details about your trip and answer four simple questions from CBP. After completing these steps, follow the signs for Mobile Passport Control. You show your passport to the CBP officer, scan the barcode created in the app, and you are finished.
Where the App Works
- ATL, BWI, BOS, ORD, DFW, DEN, FLL, PEV (cruise port), IAH, HOU, MIA, MSP, JFK, EWR, MCO, RDU, SMF, SFO, SJC, TPA, and IAD.
What You Can Do Today
1. Download the app.
2. Create and save your profile for future use. You’ll need your passport so you can scan it into the app. You can also create profile for your family members and save them in the app.
Who Can Use the App
The app is available to US Citizens with a valid US passport. Canadian Citizens with both a valid Canadian passport and B1 or B2 visa status may also use this app.
My next question is…now that I have this app, do I really need Global Entry?
If you found this Mobile Passport App Review helpful, please share it with others!
Wow! I love anything that speeds up the lines. I have global entry and never had to wait in a line for customs, but I’m going to download this app as well. Now they just need to figure out how to get our bags out faster 🙂
I need to dig deeper but I think if you have the app it’s almost the same as global entry…but free? TSA pre-check still seems to offer a perk. Very curious to delve into this a little more tomorrow.
This is such a neat idea for an app! I would love to see it take over the world and we needn’t show our passports everywhere.
Thanks for this thorough review and for the step-by-step guidance! 🙂
You still have to show your passport. This replaces the customs and immigration slips which were once upon a time filled out with a pen, and then done on a kiosk. That is the portion that was switched to mobile.
The mobile passport app sounds great if you live near one of the participating airports and only fly a couple times a year.
I’ve had Global Entry for a while now and got Nexus as soon as I was eligible. I’d certainly recommend them if you’re a frequent traveler. Lots of travel credit cards will reimburse you for the fees and really it’s quite cheap, especially divided up by 5 years.
This is very helpful. Like you, I often go through JFK (which is just the worst except for LaGuardia and Newark). Anything that speeds up this painful process is worth it to me! I’m going to the Caribbean in a couple of weeks so I’ll try it then.
Yeah.. they’re forever trying to get me to get things like this but my husband doesn’t have an American passport so we always end up in some weird middle line where my daughter and I are a breeze but we’ve gotta help get him checked in. I wonder if they’ll ever add things like this for families like mine. He has an ESTA afterall so he’s been vetted. Ugh.. if only it were so easy.
Great information for the lucky people of The USA. Hope it makes airport lines quicker for you all
I need to know of this app. Does it work conveniently? I’m so intrigued about this mobile app.
It’s fabulous. I downloaded it in the airport after deplaning, scanned my passport and whizzed through the lines!
The app it’s great, but in Miami the employees didn’t even knew it existed and they didn’t let me go to the Mobile Passport line. They were screaming for everyone to go to the same line, and once I was able to approach another employee (the 3rd one) is that I was able to use it. CBP, TSA, and State Officers need to know this App exists.
Thanks for your impressive article.