Port of Seattle and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Introduce Mobile Passport Control App at Sea-Tac Airport

(Seattle – March 26, 2015) – The Port of Seattle joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection today to introduce Mobile Passport Control (MPC) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. MPC is the first authorized app to expedite a traveler’s arrival into the United States and Sea-Tac is the third U.S. airport to introduce the option.

Eligible travelers submit their passport information and customs declaration form to CBP via the smartphone and tablet app prior to arrival. Android and iPhone users can download Mobile Passport for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

“The Port of Seattle is excited to launch this new opportunity for expedited travel processing in partnership with the CBP,” said Charles Goedken, Manager of International Operations at Sea-Tac Airport. “With the ever increasing number of international passengers coming to our region, we need these types of innovations to keep travelers happy and moving through our facility.”
 
Since 2009, international long-haul traffic at Sea-Tac has increased nearly 80 percent and all international passenger traffic is up over 45 percent. The Port of Seattle is in the conceptual design phase of an expanded International Arrivals Facility (IAF) to replace the existing facility which dates back to the 1970s. Go here for more information on the IAF.
 
MPC currently offers U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors a more secure and efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the traveler upon arrival in the United States. Much like Automated Passport Control (APC), the app does not require pre-approval, is free to use and does not collect any new information from travelers. As a result, travelers will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.
 
There are five easy steps to MPC:

• Download the Mobile Passport Control App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store prior to arriving
• Create a profile with your passport information
• Complete the “New Trip” section upon arrival in the United States
• Submit your customs declaration form through the app to receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code.
• Bring your passport and smartphone or tablet with your digital bar-coded receipt to a CBP officer

 “With the continued expansion of MPC, CBP is following through with our commitment to improving the international arrivals experience for travelers,” said Assistant Commissioner for Office of Field Operations Todd C. Owen. “CBP remains committed to making a traveler’s entry into the United States as secure, paperless, and efficient as possible.”
 
The MPC pilot launched in August 2014 for eligible travelers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and as of last month is available to passengers arriving at Miami International Airport. MPC is expected to expand to more airports later this spring and CBP has committed to expand the program to the 20 airports with the highest volumes of international travelers by the end of 2016.
 
This first-of-its-kind app was developed by Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) and their vendor in partnership with CBP. Information about Mobile Passport, including how to download, user eligibility and other frequently asked questions, is available on CBP.gov and the Airside Mobile website.
 
“We’re very pleased to have Sea-Tac Airport come on board as the third airport to launch Mobile Passport,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Mobile Passport has had a fantastic response at Atlanta and Miami, which has significantly cut the time in the Customs line for thousands of eligible travelers entering the United States. We look forward to additional airports coming online throughout 2015.”