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Friday, March 29, 2024

Washington-Dulles Resumes Mobile Passport Control After Travelers Complain of Long Lines

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) resumed the Mobile Passport Control option at Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday, September 23.

“Customs and Border Protection listened to concerns voiced by the traveling public and is pleased to welcome the Mobile Passport Control option back to Washington Dulles International Airport,” said Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “CBP is committed to innovation, and technologies such as Mobile Passport Control and facial comparison biometric examinations have the potential to transform the traveler’s international arrivals experience without compromising our critical border security mission.”

Available at 25 airports and three seaports, Mobile Passport Control (MPC) permits U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors the option to initiate their CBP international arrivals inspection on a smartphone or tablet using Airside Mobile’s Mobile Passport application. Much like Automated Passport Control (APC), the MPC option does not require pre-approval.

Travelers submit their passport information and answer CBP inspection-related questions through the app and receive a QR code that they take to a CBP officer to complete their arrivals inspection. Completing the administrative portion of the arrivals inspection through the app helps to streamline the traveler inspection and experience and frees officers to focus on identifying high-risk travelers.

Android and iPhone users can download the Mobile Passport app for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, respectively.

The MPC pilot launched in August 2014 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. CBP initially launched MPC at Dulles airport in July 2016. CBP then initiated biometric entry through facial comparison in August 2018 and decommissioned MPC. Officers detected three impostors during the first 40 days through facial comparison technology. Travelers complained about long processing lines and CBP resumed MPC as an arrivals inspection option.

Read more about MPC at Customs and Border Protection

Washington-Dulles Resumes Mobile Passport Control After Travelers Complain of Long Lines Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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