USA Entry - CBP Mobile Passport control app [MPC]

[I love to travel]

I may be misunderstanding but doing this just saves a photo being taken? You still have to line up in the queue?

 

[SYD]

I may be misunderstanding but doing this just saves a photo being taken? You still have to line up in the queue?

No. A different and shorter queue - hopefully.

 

[ausfox]

I have just been renewing my ESTA and they are pushing me to the app it seems. I will pursue this tomorrow when things are clearer.

 

[burmans]

Pure speculation, but the USCBP systems have previously been robust enough to pick up the same traveller with different identity documents (e.g. GE with different passports), so I can't imagine MPC working any differently.
The question I want to know is if first time visitors to the US are able to use MPC despite the language here clearly pointing out "returning users"; I was able to apply for ESTA and fill the MPC form without any issues. Guess I'll see when I land in SEA this month!

Keen to know answer to this myself, presumably it can either find your details or not when you complete on arrival!

 

[serfty]

I have just been renewing my ESTA and they are pushing me to the app it seems. I will pursue this tomorrow when things are clearer.

My ESTA was renewed in early January and saw no such at that time - but that was before the MPC was available to Oz residents.

I have had one use of the MPC and that was 8am at DFW where as far as "Foreign" PAX coming in go there were the proverbial "2 men and a dog".

 

[GUWonder]

Does "returning ESTA users" mean people who have previously been to the US under ESTA or only those who have been to the US with an ESTA on their current passport?

Previous entry with the current or expired ESTA on any old or current passport of the same nationality works for classification of returning ESTA users for those coming in under the US Visa Waiver Program.

 

[GUWonder]

My ESTA was renewed in early January and saw no such at that time - but that was before the MPC was available to Oz residents.

I have had one use of the MPC and that was 8am at DFW where as far as "Foreign" PAX coming in go there were the proverbial "2 men and a dog".

MPC at DFW has repeatedly been a dud for me. Glad to hear it was useful for you at 8am there, but how recent was this MPC entry at DFW? Thanks in advance

 

[serfty]

MPC at DFW has repeatedly been a dud for me. Glad to hear it was useful for you at 8am there, but how recent was this MPC entry at DFW? Thanks in advance

Late January ...

 

[GUWonder]

Said this elsewhere, but also applicable for Australians:

“Returning ESTA users = US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) users who have previously entered the US at least one time with a previous or current ESTA while using the same country’s passport against which an ESTA has been previously approved and used.

“If you’ve been issued an ESTA before which was used and came with being photographed and fingerprinted by CBP on arrival at a US airport of entry or US CBP preclearance facility on a US VWP-eligible trip, then any valid ESTA on the same country passport ordinarily gets the visitor classified as a returning ESTA user for this process when the purpose of the trip is within the boundaries of the US Visa Waiver Program. This works even when you get a new passport issued and a new ESTA for the new passport. [New Swedish passport means a new ESTA is required, but you can still be considered a returning ESTA user if having previously entered the US with an ESTA for a US VWP-eligible trip to the US.]”

I may be misunderstanding but doing this just saves a photo being taken? You still have to line up in the queue?

MPC at various US ports sometimes has its own dedicated lines in use that can be much shorter and even faster than the regular lines even for US citizens.

 

[Townsend]

Currently in a lounge at JFK about to leave after 6 weeks.

1. Have not been able to use MPC in DFW or Montreal.

2. In IAD they were actively approaching people to register for pre check. It was quite annoying to have reject the offer.

Just wondering if it is time to start inundating our politicians with emails asking for them to hurry up with the Global Entry paperwork?

 

[Big John]

Just wondering if it is time to start inundating our politicians with emails asking for them to hurry up with the Global Entry paperwork?

I was just wondering the same thing !

GE would be a real game changer for flying into the US for me.

 

[skylabsea]

Pure speculation, but the USCBP systems have previously been robust enough to pick up the same traveller with different identity documents (e.g. GE with different passports), so I can't imagine MPC working any differently.
The question I want to know is if first time visitors to the US are able to use MPC despite the language here clearly pointing out "returning users"; I was able to apply for ESTA and fill the MPC form without any issues. Guess I'll see when I land in SEA this month!

Landed 1hr ago. MPC lane was clearly marked, and empty. It was cordoned off, but I was allowed through after showing the QR code. Pretty much all the stations were the same regardless of the lane you lined up in; so this allowed me to skip the packed ordinary lane.
Officer took my fingerprints and mugshot as I was a first time visitor to the United States, but otherwise the process was quick and easy, out in under 3 minutes! Would totally recommend MPC even if you’re a first time visitor

 

[kyanar]

Currently in a lounge at JFK about to leave after 6 weeks.

1. Have not been able to use MPC in DFW or Montreal.

2. In IAD they were actively approaching people to register for pre check. It was quite annoying to have reject the offer.

Just wondering if it is time to start inundating our politicians with emails asking for them to hurry up with the Global Entry paperwork?

They're still in the design phase of the pilot program. Paperwork isn't the issue. See chain:

US Global Entry Program for Australian citizens

Being cleared before even leaving Australia would be even better than GE IMHO having GE (and therefore most importantly TSA PreCheck) is going to save most Aussie travellers more time than Preclearance would.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[burmans]

Landed 1hr ago. MPC lane was clearly marked, and empty. It was cordoned off, but I was allowed through after showing the QR code. Pretty much all the stations were the same regardless of the lane you lined up in; so this allowed me to skip the packed ordinary lane.
Officer took my fingerprints and mugshot as I was a first time visitor to the United States, but otherwise the process was quick and easy, out in under 3 minutes! Would totally recommend MPC even if you’re a first time visitor

Agree with the recommendation, I flew through immigration!

 

[serfty]

Landed 1hr ago. MPC lane was clearly marked, and empty. It was cordoned off, but I was allowed through after showing the QR code. Pretty much all the stations were the same regardless of the lane you lined up in; so this allowed me to skip the packed ordinary lane.
Officer took my fingerprints and mugshot as I was a first time visitor to the United States, but otherwise the process was quick and easy, out in under 3 minutes! Would totally recommend MPC even if you’re a first time visitor

Presumably this was at LAX.

My last two USA entries have been at DFW, most recently a month ago. They had not been set up for MPC as yet. I did ask.

 

[skylabsea]

Presumably this was at LAX.

My last two USA entries have been at DFW, most recently a month ago. They had not been set up for MPC as yet. I did ask.

Apologies for the confusion, this was at SEA

 

[riley4681402]

Landed 1hr ago. MPC lane was clearly marked, and empty. It was cordoned off, but I was allowed through after showing the QR code. Pretty much all the stations were the same regardless of the lane you lined up in; so this allowed me to skip the packed ordinary lane.
Officer took my fingerprints and mugshot as I was a first time visitor to the United States, but otherwise the process was quick and easy, out in under 3 minutes! Would totally recommend MPC even if you’re a first time visitor

Do you mind if I ask were you entering on an ESTA or B1/2? Seems to be a bit of confusion around first time visitors on ESTA’s. Travelling next week with someone who has never entered the US before. The actual CBP app does not state returning ESTA holders only but some pages seem to state this?

 

[skylabsea]

Do you mind if I ask were you entering on an ESTA or B1/2? Seems to be a bit of confusion around first time visitors on ESTA’s. Travelling next week with someone who has never entered the US before. The actual CBP app does not state returning ESTA holders only but some pages seem to state this?

Was entering SEA on an ESTA as a first time US visitor. At SEA, only the lanes were different; they directed people to the next available counter (same type). Think of MPC as the priority boarding lane
YMMV depending on port of entry; from what the others in this thread have said LAX seems like a mess

 

[burmans]

LAX wasn’t a mess for me, only two people in MPC lane, through in less than 5 mins. Yes, you had to check and follow the signs.

 

[ozflier]

I was not lucky last time at LAX with this app - no lines!
For future info, the app says have "travel docs and MPC receipt ready"
Where do I get the MPC receipt?