I've used the MPC app a couple of times to skip the US immigration queue: here's how it works

Technology is increasingly pervasive in the world of travel, there are airports where by now you don't pull out your passport or boarding pass, Opening the doors is done by facial recognition.

There are airports where once you associate your ticket with your face you skip queues And you arrive relaxed to the chair. There are stopovers Where you look at the board and the giant screen tells you which gate is your gate, shows you the way you need to go and, if necessary, the lounges you can visit.

But then you get to the U.S. and it feels like the Middle Ages. You have to take off your shoes at the security checkpoint, fast track is a rarity, but mostly the nightmare is when you get, which is when you disembark from an intercontinental flight and have to go through immigration. Things are changing, however.

To make the process faster and easier, the U.S. government has introduced the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app.. This guide will explain how it works, how to use it and why it is a smart solution for travelers, at least until it is used by everyone and then the queues will be virtually endless here as well.

What is the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) App?

MPC is an official app approved by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Allows U.S. citizens and visitors with eligible passports to Carry out part of immigration control directly on your smartphone, before reaching the checkpoint counter. It is an app that has been around for years, which for the past 15 months or so has also been open to passengers without U.S. and Canadian passports.

Who can use the MPC app

When I say that for over a year the use of the app has also been extended to citizens from other nations beyond the U.S. and Canada, I mean that all travelers holding a residence permit can also use the MPC route and those who have an ESTA, which is an electronic visa, but WARNING it does not apply to those entering the U.S. for the first time. The electronic authorization called ESTA is valid for 2 years, this means that once obtained you will be able to enter/exit the U.S. without any more bureaucracy.

To use the MPC route, however, one must have already used ESTA once, in fact is specified in the rules that it applies only to "returning visitors." this means that if you are on your first use of ESTA you will not be able to use it, be careful because it does not mean that it is your first access in an absolute sense, but for all new ESTAs (renewal, new passport...).

How Does the MPC App Work?

The app allows you to digitally complete the customs form (CBP Declaration Form) and submit the information directly to CBP. This allows you to skip manual completion of paper forms and access a dedicated priority lane at major airports and ports of entry. Although the paper declaration has been gone for years upon entering the U.S., these applications were still being made by U.S. immigration.

Not all airports are enabled for the service

The first thing to understand is that not all airports are service-enabled, or perhaps it would be better to say not all terminals, for example in the past few days I arrived in Atlanta and the terminal where I landed with Aeromexico, was not enabled for the service. Knowing which terminal you land in the U.S. is very easy, since the American airlines own the infrastructure and all the others always use the same terminals. This means that if you fly to New York JFK with Delta you will arrive at T4as well as KLM and Emirates, but if you fly ITA, Lufthansa or Air France you will arrive at T1.

Major MPC-enabled US airports: Atlanta (ATL), Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Boston (BOS), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Honolulu (HNL), Houston George Bush (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), New York John F. Kennedy (JFK), Newark Liberty (EWR), Orlando (MCO), Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), Portland (PDX), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), Tampa (TPA), Washington Dulles (IAD). In the app you can see which terminals are enabled at individual airports.

How to Use the MPC App in Two Steps

Use of the app is divided into two phases, one that can be carried out from home and one that must be initiated upon arrival at the destination

• The first thing to do is to download and install the app, which is free and available on the various stores
• Create a personal account, you can create multiple profiles for family members traveling with you
• Filling out the customs form, before landing in the U.S., open the app and answer the questions on the customs form (e.g., regarding declarable goods, food, currency over $10,000).

Once you arrive at your destination you will receive a notification from the app (if you have authorized notifications). You must complete the procedure before proceeding to immigration.

• Confirm that you have arrived at the airport and take the photo
• After submitting the information, the app will provide a unique QR code and directions on which counter to go to.
• Upon reaching immigration, one must head to the lane dedicated to MPC, show the QR code and passport.

In conclusion

The Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is a great solution for those looking to speed through immigration in the United States. Download the app before your next trip and see how easy it can be to enter the U.S. without stress. To date I have never found a queue and it has saved me time, however the moment it is used by everyone the queue will only be moved, but until then it is a nice improvement.