Anyone who has stood in a painfully slow line has surely wished there was a better way. This is especially true at many airports across Canada, where passengers must wait in endless lines to enter the United States.
While getting a NEXUS card is always a safe bet, US Customs and Border Protection has recently introduced Mobile Passport Control to some Canadian pre-clearance locations. Using this app is entirely optional, but it may be a free way to speed up your entry into the US.
Let’s take a look at Mobile Passport Control and why you might want to consider using it on your next trip to the United States.
What Is Mobile Passport Control?
Mobile Passport Control is a free app from United States Customs and Border Protection. The app lets users upload information in advance, which ultimately speeds up their processing time when crossing into the United States.
Currently, using Mobile Passport Control in Canada is only possible at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The technology is slated to roll out at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at the end of September.
Using the application, travellers can upload their passport information, answer a few questions about their trip, and take a selfie.
Once the information is sent, a QR code is generated that is valid for four hours. At the airport, you simply present your passport(s) and the QR code to the border officer, who then processes your entry as per usual.
A single submission can be made for all members of a family travelling together, which makes the process less cumbersome and more convenient.
Using the app is meant to save time. Keep an eye out for a separate Mobile Passport Control lineup at the airport, as you may be able to bypass one of the endlessly long lines that everyone else is standing in.
Some early data points from community members suggest that the Mobile Passport Control line is much shorter than the regular lines. If you’re waiting on a pending NEXUS application, or if you can’t be bothered, then this is a free option that saves you time at the airport.
Note that only U.S. citizens or Canadians entering the United States on a B1 or B2 visa can use Mobile Passport Control. This includes temporary entry for tourism and business, so it should be applicable to most travellers heading to the United States.
Where Can You Use Mobile…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Prince of Travel…