How To Reap the Benefits of Mobile Passport

In the past, U.S. citizens who return to the States from abroad had to face long lines at passport control and customs checkpoints just to get back into the country. But a relatively new, free mobile app called Mobile Passport made this process easier and faster. Here is how to take advantage of this time-saving, headache-preventing technology.

Available in 26 airports in the United States and Canada, smartphone users can download Mobile Passport and, without any lengthy interviews or insane fees, can create a profile using the information from their passports. Users need to update their profile with each trip, so while everyone else stands up the minute the seatbelt light turns off at the arrival gate, hop on your phone and add your details about your trip that just ended, such as your airline, flight number and airport of arrival.

Click submit in order to send this information directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and, shortly after, you’ll receive a receipt with a barcode valid for the next four hours.

Once you enter the terminal, follow the signs for the Mobile Passport Control line where you’ll show your barcode to the CBP officer and breeze through.

Although your profile contains the same information as your passport, it is not a replacement for your passport, so remember to bring the actual document with you. If you’re concerned about the privacy of your information, you can simply delete your profile (without deleting the app) after each trip. Global Entry members can use Mobile Passport as well, and can take advantage of whichever line is shorter at the arrival airport.