Whenever someone asks me about my favorite travel related app I always tell them the same thing; Mobile Passport.
What Is Mobile Passport?
For those of you who don’t already know, Mobile Passport is a free app which helps to expedite re-entry into the United States. The app is incredibly easy to use and most importantly doesn’t require any form of application or acceptance to use.
To use Mobile Passport all you have to do is download the app. After you download the app there are extremely easy to follow instructions. Essentially, all you have to do is scan your passport, enter a pin, and snap a selfie. After completing these steps, you are ready to use Mobile Passport.
When using Mobile Passport to re-enter the United States you simply tell the app who is traveling, where they are arriving to, and which airline they are traveling with. From there you answer the standard border patrol questions and confirm that you answered correctly. After that you receive a QR code which is valid for up to 4 hours.
How Mobile Passport Works At The Airport
Usually right when we land at my arrival airport I launch the app. I quickly fill out the required information and answer the security questions. I usually wait for the aircraft door to open before submitting my application. Once submitted I disembark the aircraft and walk to the customs hall.
When I make it to the customs hall I look for signs for Mobile Passport Control (often simply MPC). If I can’t find signs I ask someone to direct me to the Mobile Passport line. Generally there is a separate line just for Mobile Passport users which is almost always empty.
I then proceeded to the counter and present my QR code and physical passport. The customs agent then scans my QR code, verifies my picture within the app, and asks me a few general questions. Before I know it I’m through customs and on my way to the arrivals hall.
My Recent Mobile Passport Failure
As I’ve said I absolutely love Mobile Passport and in the past I’ve made it through customs in about 2 or less minutes each time. Since I’m such a fan of Mobile Passport I try to always tell my seat-mate about it when traveling back to the United States.
On my recent flight home from London I sat next to a very nice man who politely asked me for a pen when the blue CBP forms were passed out. I took that request as an opportunity to inform my seat-mate about Mobile Passport. When we landed he downloaded the app and I helped him get is Mobile Passport setup. We then parted ways as we exited the aircraft.
After reaching the Chicago O’Hare customs hall I quickly found the MPC line. There was someone at the counter and one small family in front of me in line. From previous experience I figured I’d be through customs in just a few moments. However, the family in front of me was not using Mobile Passport and the father had issues with his visa!
In total I stood in line for about 10 minutes. During that 10 minutes the man who I sat next to and a few of his travel companions (who he told about the app) joined me in line. As we stood there waiting we couldn’t help but notice the standard customs lines were moving quicker than ours. Needless to say I was a bit embarrassed about my “pro tip” to use Mobile Passport which turned out to be a complete failure.
Final Thoughts
I’ve used Mobile Passport roughly a dozen times and have never had this issue before. The last two times I used Mobile Passport at Chicago O’Hare I was the only passenger in the line and made it through customs in less than a minute (honestly). Because I’ve had such incredible experiences in the past I often recommend the app to anyone that will listen and I stand by that recommendation. Although this experience wasn’t fantastic I will continue to use Mobile Passport going forward and recommending it to others.
To the man and his travel companions who recently tried to use the app for the first time. I’m sorry! I’m sorry the MPC line took longer than the standard customs lines. I promise Mobile Passport is great and please, please give it another try!
