US Customs Mobile Passport Control

[youngdeb12]

One of our travel party mentioned that we should download this app in advance of our trip in October. It seems to allow you to fill out your declaration in the app and bypass the kiosk at US Customs. We are connecting through YYZ and will be clearing customs there. I haven’t noticed it mentioned anywhere here before and I’m wondering if anyone has had any experience with it.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

I was just reading about this today. I downloaded it. I'm flying to Vegas from Pearson on Tuesday I will report back whether it made any difference or not.

 

[kerreyn]

I was just reading about this today. I downloaded it. I'm flying to Vegas from Pearson on Tuesday I will report back whether it made any difference or not.

I downloaded the app, did a quick once over, and it looks like the U.S. version of our ArriveCan app.

I’m interested in hearing about your experience with it. We fly to Hawaii from YYC in November, and Miami in February ‘23.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

I will definitely report back. I almost always fly out of Buffalo when I go to Disney but this is for work so we are going through the dreaded Pearson. I'm not looking forward to it. We plan to arrive at 8:30 for a noon flight so hopefully that is enough time!

 

[youngdeb12]

I will definitely report back. I almost always fly out of Buffalo when I go to Disney but this is for work so we are going through the dreaded Pearson. I'm not looking forward to it. We plan to arrive at 8:30 for a noon flight so hopefully that is enough time!

If it saves time waiting in a line for a kiosk, scanning passports, taking photos of kids who are too short for the machines, etc, I'm in. Looks like it's only available at Pearson and Montreal right now (in Canada). ETA - Vancouver should be available in September.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I will definitely report back. I almost always fly out of Buffalo when I go to Disney but this is for work so we are going through the dreaded Pearson. I'm not looking forward to it. We plan to arrive at 8:30 for a noon flight so hopefully that is enough time!

You will be fine with that timing. I have several friends that work at the airport so I hear all about it regularly. The problem is with the early morning flights. People show up 4-5 hours early and it's prior to security opening and then line up. So by the time they open the line is huge. Anything departing after 9:30am doesn't usually have much in the way of long lines.

 

[BSBNess]

Just read avout it today and coming to post about it. I am leaving Sunday from YUL fpr Disney eill report how it goes.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

You will be fine with that timing. I have several friends that work at the airport so I hear all about it regularly. The problem is with the early morning flights. People show up 4-5 hours early and it's prior to security opening and then line up. So by the time they open the line is huge. Anything departing after 9:30am doesn't usually have much in the way of long lines.

Thank you! This is very reassuring, I like to stress about these things. Now I will start to stress about the one and only time I fly with a carry on and that I will end up having to gate check it due to lack of space lol!!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Thank you! This is very reassuring, I like to stress about these things. Now I will start to stress about the one and only time I fly with a carry on and that I will end up having to gate check it due to lack of space lol!!

A lot of flights now they are announcing free gate check for carry on well before boarding even starts.....not many take advantage of it, if any at all. So be that person that is lingering around the gate so that you are first when they call your boarding group. The stragglers will be the ones that are forced to gate check.

 

[kerreyn]

If it saves time waiting in a line for a kiosk, scanning passports, taking photos of kids who are too short for the machines, etc, I'm in. Looks like it's only available at Pearson and Montreal right now (in Canada). ETA - Vancouver should be available in September.

Well, rats. We won't be able to use it on our Nov. trip to Hawaii in November (YYC), but looks like we'll be able to use it in Feb. 23 for our Panama Canal cruise - we fly YYC to YYZ, then YYZ to MIA.

 

[Sue M]

I’m a bit confused. With this app you don’t have to go through US customs? Even with the ArrivCan app and nexus you still have to go through Canadian customs.

 

[youngdeb12]

I’m a bit confused. With this app you don’t have to go through US customs? Even with the ArrivCan app and nexus you still have to go through Canadian customs.

No, you still have to go through customs. It’s bypassing the kiosks where you scan your passport and complete your declaration and take your picture, and then potentially a faster line (here’s hoping). You complete all that in the app prior to going through customs.

 

[Sue M]

No, you still have to go through customs. It’s bypassing the kiosks where you scan your passport and complete your declaration and take your picture, and then potentially a faster line (here’s hoping).

I always fail with the picture taking lol

 

[youngdeb12]

I always fail with the picture taking lol

I travel with kids who are never tall enough

 

[damo]

Daughter used it this morning and said it was magic. US customs officer didn't ask them a single question. Apparently nobody knows it exists.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

Ok here is my report back. Security was super quick got through in about 10 mins, then came to a pretty big customs line, must have been at least 90 minutes, to the right there was a separate line for MPC we took it, it led us around the whole line and pretty much straight to a customs agent. Total time another 10 mins. It was perfection lol.

 

[tinkerone]

Ok here is my report back. Security was super quick got through in about 10 mins, then came to a pretty big customs line, must have been at least 90 minutes, to the right there was a separate line for MPC we took it, it led us around the whole line and pretty much straight to a customs agent. Total time another 10 mins. It was perfection lol.

Would this be any different than having Nexis? Was there a separate line for that (there usually is) or was it the same line? Curious as to how they work differently.

 

[soccerra]

Also interested in how this functions vs NEXUS.. We are inbound through YYZ on Sept 28th, first time connecting there since COVID.

 

[youngdeb12]

Would this be any different than having Nexis? Was there a separate line for that (there usually is) or was it the same line? Curious as to how they work differently.

Also interested in how this functions vs NEXUS.. We are inbound through YYZ on Sept 28th, first time connecting there since COVID.

You're basically bypassing the kiosks where you have to enter all of your passport info, take your picture, make your declarations, etc. From what I can tell, it's a way to get through customs faster without having to pay the $$ and go through the interviews for trusted traveler programs. You won't get through security any faster (no TSA pre-check) .

 

[bluenosemickey]

You're basically bypassing the kiosks where you have to enter all of your passport info, take your picture, make your declarations, etc. From what I can tell, it's a way to get through customs faster without having to pay the $$ and go through the interviews for trusted traveler programs. You won't get through security any faster (no TSA pre-check) .

Hey just wondering if there's any updates through Pearson using Mobile Passport?