NEW PASSPORT APP ALLOWS ELIGIBLE INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS AT LAX TOSAVE TIME AND BREEZE THROUGH CUSTOMS TO REUNITE WITH LOVED ONES AND KICK-OFF VACATIONS
# # # # #(Los Angeles, California – September 21, 2017) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) announce the expansion of the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for use by eligible travelers to breeze through customs in Terminals 2, 4, 7 and Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) and reunite with their loved ones and kick-off their vacations faster.
Mobile Passport is the first authorized app to expedite passenger arrival into the United States. Eligible passengers may voluntarily submit their passport information and answers to inspection-related questions to CBP via a smartphone or tablet app prior to arrival. Android and iPhone users can download the app for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store .
With the addition of LAX, MPC app is now available to U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors arriving at 23 major international airports and has been downloaded one million times over the last two years.
“At Los Angeles World Airports, one of our strategic goals is to innovate for security, efficiency, and effectiveness, and the Mobile Passport Control app is a prime example of how we do this,” said Aura Moore, LAWA Deputy Executive Director and Chief Information Officer. “The introduction of the MPC app at LAX is another milestone in our work to enhance the guest experience and deliver a gold-standard airport, without compromising on safety or security.”
MPC currently offers U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors a more 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 and is free to use. Travelers who successfully use the app will no longer have to complete a paper form or use an APC kiosk. As a result, travelers will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.
“CBP is committed to improving the international travel experience by offering new and innovative technology to streamline the arrival process,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “Through our partnership with Los Angeles World Airports, travelers arriving at LAX will have another processing option to use that has been proven to reduce wait times without compromising our important border security mission.”
The process is efficient and secure, the information and answers to inspection-related questions are submitted directly to CBP via secure encryption protocols. The App streamlines the traveler inspection process and enables CBP officers to focus more on the inspection and less on administrative functions.
HOW DOES MPC WORK?
Eligible travelers can download the Mobile Passport App from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Travelers will be prompted to create a profile via the app with their passport information. The profile includes the traveler’s name, gender, date of birth, and country of citizenship. Upon landing in the United States, passengers will complete the “New Trip” section by selecting their arrival airport and airline, taking a self-photo, and answering a series of CBP inspection-related questions.
Once the passenger submits their transaction through the app, they will receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code. Travelers then bring their passport and mobile device with their digital bar-coded receipt to a CBP officer to finalize their inspection for entry into the United States.
The MPC pilot launched in August 2014 for eligible travelers and has since expanded to 23 airports. This first-of-its-kind app was developed in partnership with CBP by Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) and their technical partners. Information about Mobile Passport Control, including how to download the app, user eligibility and other frequently asked questions, is available on CBP.gov and mobilepassport.us/ . CBP’s website offers rules and tips for clearing CBP inspection during travel to and from the United States.
CBP:
U.S. Customs and BorderProtection is the unifiedborderagency within the Department of HomelandSecurity charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and betweenofficial ports of entry.CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terroristweapons out of the countrywhile enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named Skytrax’ 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports. LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016. LAX offers 737 daily nonstop flights to 100 cities in the U.S. and 1,386 weekly nonstop flights to 88 cities in 44 countries on 73 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion. LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016.
An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX is also the second most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
