SmartGate...a faster way to clear Customs (on trial)

[JohnK]

What worries me is that my passport number and photo/fingerprint is sitting in some database somewhere, without my consent, waiting for some hacker to get access to it. And I have done nothing wrong.

As you need a visa or APEC card to enter Thailand, they have your passport number and photo anyway.

Partly right there. You don't need a visa to enter Thailand on an Australian passport as you are automatically granted 30 days on arrival. But to work legally in Thailand is a different story.

I got a non-immigrant "B" visa in 2003 when I did some work in Thailand, so they do have my photo and passport number on file. That is OK because I made the application and knew the consequences.

What I don't agree with is the sneaky and underhanded way of collecting information by using web cam's without being informed. I totally agree with oz-mark's comment.

Immigration has always seemed like a law unto itself to me. I doubt that there are too many other places that could get away with what immigration manages to.

 

[serfty]

Flew back from LAX last week and used Smartgate at MEL. Yep still works. Stood there staring at the camera with pp in position; the round light went green, then about 10 seconds later the green arrow light to the right came on and the gate opened and thru I went.

Came down thru to the customs lane and a disinterested looking fellow talking to another looked at my card and directed me to line #1. :shock:

I know what that means... Secondary; they are going to search my bags :evil: .

No choice really.. so off I strolled along the lane until I came to the bit where there is a tape across and a please wait sign.

While waiting I thought back to last October when the same thing had happened; the main part being directed to lane #1 by a person not really concentrating; :idea: maybe there's a link.

After about a minute a Customs guys came up to me and took my PP and immigration form then pleasantly asked me to accompany him to a search table. As we walked I commented "I don't think I'm going to use SmartGate any more; this happened last time". He said "SmartGate?" and looked up at me with surprise and stopped. I was asked to wait and he went over to a 'control' counter and spoke to some people there. Leaving my PP with them he took me over to the counter and xrayed my bags. While this was happening a girl came over with my PP and said to the guy, "Yes, SmartGate". Immediatrly he looked at me and told me I could go through and out, so I did.

Thinking about this, I have come to the conclusion that if you are using SmartGate, you really need to tell this to the officer at the front of the customs queues who's task is to direct you down a particular aisle. I have reasoned that when you first come though immigration before collecting baggage, your immigration form gets marked. These marks are looked at by the aforementioned officer and used to decide where to send you. If there are no marks or very few it implies a 'secondary inspection candidate' has been identified so down lane one you go. With SmartGate there a re none, so the person sends you off to aisle one!

So be Warned!

 

[ioki]

sydney custom agents always query why my custom form isn't marked at all and when i mentioned i had crossed via smart gate, the agent will always flip through the passport looking for the magic marker on the back page, then point to whatever queue they think its appropriate based on my form declaration

 

[serfty]

sydney custom agents always query why my custom form isn't marked at all and when i mentioned i had crossed via smart gate, the agent will always flip through the passport looking for the magic marker on the back page, then point to whatever queue they think its appropriate based on my form declaration

Yep, that's how it's supposed to work. My main point in my previous post being you need to ensure the agaent is aware you used Smartgate and does check for the 'majic marker' stamp before selecting a queue for you.

 

[Mal]

I always hold my passport open at the 'smartgate' stamped page, and show both the stamp and form to the customs agent.

They normally then realise you are a smartgate customer, and don't send you to secondary...

Although, I have had comments before that my stamp is on the wrong page! (apparently, there is a certain page for it, but some agents didn't stamp there when the scheme was started!)

 

[Mal]

While browsing through the Customs site today, I noticed something interesting for those currently on the Smartgate trial.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5555

"I am an enrolled participant in the SmartGate trial - can I continue to use SmartGate?
Yes. Enrolled participants of the SmartGate trial can continue to self-process at Sydney and Melbourne international airports even though the trial has now ended. This is because the trial used standard passports rather than the prototype Australian ePassport. However, to be able to use SmartGate Series 1 after its introduction in 2007 you will need to be the holder of an Australian ePassport or an ICAO compliant ePassport from another country.
"

I assume this means that from sometime in 2007 when they install the technology correctly Smartgate in the present form will stop working, unless you have an E-Passport.

Will be interesting to see what happens. My passport doesn't expire for another 3 years or so, but would love to keep using Smartgate... Way too easy and convenient to want to lose

 

[siri]

Smart Gate Trial and Custom Ques

There was a error on SMH article about this trial, since you do not need e-passport for the trial. My passport was issued on 2001 and I have been using the smart gate for more than 2 yrs and very happy with it. It only failed me once ( I travel 3-4 times a month..Int) but Imm. lady was right next to the machine if it fails.
Australian custom officials are I would say world best, and hope you all carry out your duties as you do now.
Having said that Sydney airport services are going to dogs when we land in the morning since some times I see 300-600 people in the que and very few custom gates open and we all have to go through the x- ray machines. Surely it is common sense to have more clearing gates and machines.
This gives Sydney airport very bad name with visitors and hope some one see this mail and get a fix on things.
Other issue is some times after x-ray, there is no one to bring your bag down to the trolly and I find that very disturbing since there are so many eldery and ladies with kids that cannot lift the big bags from the high counter. If customs ask them to put in the machine they should provide the man power to clear it once it is done.
WHY NO ONE IS MONITORING THIS ? SOME TIME YOU HAVE THEM , SOME TIMES NO ONE THERE...WHY ?

 

[Mal]

New question for those others who have used Smartgate (original trial, not e-passport) recently.

Headed through SYD Intl airport today and walked up to the Smartgate old style machine. The customs officer on duty said that it wouldn't work for me unless I was a crew member who was on their system as arriving today.

Huh?

Has anything changed, or was the officer mistaken?

 

[simongr]

While browsing through the Customs site today, I noticed something interesting for those currently on the Smartgate trial.

SmartGate - Frequently asked questions

"I am an enrolled participant in the SmartGate trial - can I continue to use SmartGate?
Yes. Enrolled participants of the SmartGate trial can continue to self-process at Sydney and Melbourne international airports even though the trial has now ended. This is because the trial used standard passports rather than the prototype Australian ePassport. However, to be able to use SmartGate Series 1 after its introduction in 2007 you will need to be the holder of an Australian ePassport or an ICAO compliant ePassport from another country.
"

I assume this means that from sometime in 2007 when they install the technology correctly Smartgate in the present form will stop working, unless you have an E-Passport.

Does this also mean that smartgate will be working for non-australians some time in the future? Also - any idea of there is a smartgate exit process?

Me and tgtwwm were heading out of SYD on Sunday morning to AKL (both of us are English but based in Oz - I am perm res he is temp res) and we couldnt believe how big the queue was to get out of the country! the queue was out of the door! Is this a normal thing? WE both have a fair few Int'l flights (SIN, BKK,HKG,NRT) coming up and would love to find a way around this!

Cheers

S

 

[serfty]

New question for those others who have used Smartgate (original trial, not e-passport) recently.

Headed through SYD Intl airport today and walked up to the Smartgate old style machine. The customs officer on duty said that it wouldn't work for me unless I was a crew member who was on their system as arriving today.

Huh?

Has anything changed, or was the officer mistaken?

Worked fine for me in MEL two weeks ago.

As always, the agents seemed surprised when it worked.

I have a feeling that as more and more Oz Cits get their new EPassports, Crew may be getting a bit miffed their "exclusive" lane may be becoming less so.

I am actually returning from HKG next month, myself with Trial SmartGate, mrs serfty, mini serfty and niece armed with e-passports. Last week I emailed an enquiry about the availability of Smartgate 1 for them. No response as yet.

 

[serfty]

Does this also mean that smartgate will be working for non-australians some time in the future?

Yes!

Also - any idea of there is a smartgate exit process?

This is envisaged as a future development. ...

For all Australian Customs wants you to know about Smartgate, here a link to their website page: SmartGate

 

[Mal]

Worked fine for me in MEL two weeks ago.

As always, the agents seemed surprised when it worked.

I have a feeling that as more and more Oz Cits get their new EPassports, Crew may be getting a bit miffed their "exclusive" lane may be becoming less so.

Cool. Even the Customs website says it's all still go (until early 2007 anyways).
Bet it was just a misinformed customs agent. Should have suprised them by trying anyway and watching their jaw drop when the gate opened
(actually preferred the human interaction in the end. Seeing I was returning from the LOTFAP, I wanted an Australian entry stamp next to my American entry stamp. Makes it easier if my exit card never makes it back for processing correctly and I'm questioned next time I arrive).

 

[serfty]

I had an interesting experience with Smartgate when I came through MEL from HKG last month. I was with Mrs. serfty, mini serfty and my niece. I had my Smartgate trial endorsed PP and the girls with spanking new microchipped ePassports.

I had done some research after Mal's post; I was wondering if we could all use Smartgate coming back from HKG. I firstly by asked this at the immigration counter while I was passing through as a Domestic PAX and secondly by emailing the Smartgate Website ([email protected]).

The first answer was very positive; a sweep of the hand pointing to the gates and an answer of "No problem, bring them through".

With the Email I had a bit of a canned answer:

The goods news is there is now a Smartgate kiosk available for use by
Australian ePassport holders.  It is called the ePassport kiosk and it is
located beside the trial version SmartGate. You do not need to enroll to use
the system - you are already eligible.  Next time you arrive at either
Sydney or Melbourne international airports there will be a dedicated Customs
marshall who will show you how to use the updated kiosk.

After pressing for further detail I received the following:

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Monday, 18 September 2006 11:21 AM
To: <serfy@email-address>
Subject: RE: Smartgate ePassport Usage


<Serfty>

There are two kiosks located side by side in Melbourne. One is the trial
version, which you can use with your current passport, and the other is the
epassport version, which your wife can use with her epassport. 

Hope this helps.

Regards
SmartGate

So armed with this information off we went on our journey.

When arriving back in MEL we came in just after a Emirates A345 had arrived; more to the point we had been in rows 58 & 59 of a nearly full 744. Of course a couple of my party required a pit stop immediately on exiting the aircraft so there would be further delays ensuring nearly two aircraft loads would be in front of us.

Ten minutes later we got down to immigration, the hall was like the oft mentioned "Zoo"; crowded with 400 to 500 passengers queued up as well as 20 or more EK aircrew in their special lane on the left.

I ushered my family down between these queues to the Smartgate Kiosks. There appeared to be no "dedicated Customs marshall" to "show ... how to use the updated kiosk". So I showed Jenny how to stand on the spot and look at the camera nearest her eye level. It did not work, merely flashing some red lights at her, so we started to try with mini serfty. As we were doing this an agent came over to see what was happening. After we showed the passports and explained she apologised that the SmartGate 1 kiosk was not active at that time and she would process them manually. So the girls went with her to a processing desk while I used the Smartgate trial kiosk. Looking back I noted the queue for Aircrew had got longer as the QF mob had arrived.

This whole process took about 2 minutes. We then proceeded down to the baggage carousel where our bags with the Yellow F tags were already circulating.

So all in all an interesting experience. I'm not sure why the Smartgate 1 kiosk was inactive but as the immigration agent was quite apologetic, I certainly felt we had a right to use it.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

will the new kiosks work with NZ epassports (not that I have one yet but won't be long)

 

[serfty]

will the new kiosks work with NZ epassports (not that I have one yet but won't be long)

Seemingly Yes.

See here: SmartGate - Frequently asked questions

Eligible travellers with an ICAO compliant ePassport, including the Australian ePassport, will be able to use SmartGate. Eligibility rules have not yet been determined but are likely to include height and age restrictions.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

So finally a positive from filling the 48 pages in a bit over 3 years!

 

[serfty]

... Next time you arrive at either Sydney or Melbourne international airports there will be a dedicated Customs marshall who will show you how to use the updated kiosk. ...

Came through MEL Sunday night and there was a new lane set up for PAX using microchipped PP's. This was to the right of the Aircrew and the APEC lanes. A 'marshall' was assisting and was about to turn me away as my PP did not have the symbol. I showed him the trial stamp and he referred this to another (supervisor?) who told him what it was. Then I was then allowed though to use it.

So in MEL at least, they are starting to promote Smartgate more.

Here is an image of a ePassport; you can see the Smartgate /ePassport symbol near the bottom centre:

 

[simongr]

Hmm - just reading up on the epassport for the UK I am tas concerned about this comment:

Do I need a Biometric Passport to enter the US?
The US Senate announced on 15 June 2005 a one-year extension (to 26 October 2006) to their requirement for biometric passports. This means that the digital passports that we currently issue (machine-readable, with a digital image) will continue to meet the criteria of the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) and most British Citizens will not require a US visa. Please visit Embassy of the U.S. London or Home Foreign & Commonwealth Office for more detailed information about US visa and immigration rules.

This cant mean that I now need a biometric passport to enter the US surely? I travelled on my existing passport there recently. Not an epassport. Not sure if I want to go through the rigmarole of getting a new epassport at the moment. It might be something do after my NRT trip and before I go back to the US next year - just not sure if there will be much benefit.

 

[NM]

This cant mean that I now need a biometric passport to enter the US surely? I travelled on my existing passport there recently. Not an epassport. Not sure if I want to go through the rigmarole of getting a new epassport at the moment. It might be something do after my NRT trip and before I go back to the US next year - just not sure if there will be much benefit.

I understood the requirement to be that to enter the USA under the VWP, any passport issued after a certain date (I assume June 2006 following the 1 year extension) must meet the USA biometric requirements. Passports issued prior to that date can be used until the passport is expired. But if in doubt it is best to check with the USA embassy.

 

[simongr]

Ahh that makes more sense now. I have another 8ish year left on my passport - not sure though if the pages will last that long at this rate