I know that some might want to do some out of country traveling.  I came across this article in "The Navigator." newsletter I receive about a new phone app called "Mobile Passport".  FYI the blue text are URL links.   Joe Dill

 

Travel Tip of the Week

 

Nothing is worse than getting off the plane after a long-haul flight only to realize that you still have to brave a long and tedious customs line. All the excitement you have can quickly evaporate when you’re asked who is paying for your trip. (I also sometimes have the same question when I get my credit card bill.)

 

Luckily, there may be a new way to avoid lengthy customs lines thanks to mobile passports. 

 

 

Traditionally, if you want to get through US immigration quickly, the best way to do it is to get approved for Global Entry. However, that involves doing an in-person interview, which is often difficult to schedule due to backlog, and it costs $100 every five years. 

 

 

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a free app that lets travelers coming back from international trips go through customs efficiently. The app is meant to replace the traditional paper customs forms and the kiosks that you see upon arrival. Instead, you can fill out your info in the app as soon as you land. 

 

 

When you download the app, all you need to do is:

 

• Upload a picture or take a selfie.

• Enter your passport details (you can simply scan your passport page).

• When you are ready to use the app, you enter your chosen PIN code or use the Touch ID on your phone to log on.

• When you enter your arrival airport and airline and submit the form, the app will create a QR code that an immigration officer will scan. They may have a few additional questions for you but you’ll be in a dedicated lane for MPC users, which can sometimes be shorter than even the Global Entry kiosk line. 

Right now, 33 airports and four cruise ports in the US have dedicated Mobile Passport lanes. The app also allows family members in one household to complete the form as a group submission. So, speed up your next international trip with the Mobile Passport app.

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