Not enough travelers are using this Global Entry alternative, the federal government says

24.06.2024 - 21:42 / thepointsguy.com

Are you waiting for a Global Entry interview — or simply don't want to pay the $100 application fee? There's another option that can help you save nearly as much time at customs. Plus, it's completely free.

"It's not Global Entry. But it's pretty close, " said Marc Calixte, U.S. Customs and Border Protection port director of Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C.

We're talking about Mobile Passport Control, a CBP app that lets you handle most of the international arrivals process right on your smartphone. After submitting some personal information online and snapping a selfie, you can skip the long line at passport control and head to a separate — usually far shorter — lane.

This time-saving option is available to a slew of travelers, from those not yet approved for Global Entry to those who don't travel frequently enough to warrant the program's cost.

Related: Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is more beneficial?

In some cases, travelers who might not be eligible for Global Entry at all may be able to use this shortcut.

For all of this program's benefits, though, it remains something of a well-kept secret in the eyes of the federal government.

"It's been out for a while," Calixte said during a recent conversation with TPG. "But what we lack is adoption."

MPC, as it's known, is available to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and Canadian B1/B2 travelers. It's also an option for travelers from 41 "visa waiver" countries who have been to the U.S. before, from Australia to Belgium, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

You can find Mobile Passport Contol in both Google Play and the Apple App Store, where it's available for free. It's available for use at dozens of airports nationwide, plus numerous international Preclearance facilities, where travelers have to clear customs abroad — from Toronto to Dublin and Abu Dhabi.

Upon landing, pull up the app and follow its prompts. You'll enter your flight's port of entry (aka your arrival airport).

The system will then ask you to scan your passport and enter some personal information.

Finally, you'll take a selfie.

Traveling with a family? Do the same thing for every member of the family — you can even use the same smartphone. Thanks to a new upgrade, the app now allows travelers to add up to a dozen travelers in the same household to one mobile application.

Then, once you're off the plane, follow the signs in the customs hall for the Mobile Passport Control line, like this one I saw at Dulles.

Once you reach an officer, one member of the traveling party will have their photo taken. That will pull up the information for all members of the party. You should be out in a matter of seconds.

It's worth noting that photos taken on your phone