I first introduced the Mobile Passport app when I told you all about the 6 best free apps for travel. I gave a quick overview of how it works, but it is seriously so amazing that I wanted to give you more. I was leary about using the app for the first time. There were so many concerns I had: What if it didn’t work? What if security workers did not like people using the app? What about the security of my information?
Using the Mobile Passport app coming into Atlanta this past summer was such a breeze- I was astounded at how easy it made everything. Walking through my own special line, looking back at the long line of suckers people who didn’t have the app, felt like the biggest travel win of all.
So, I’m inviting all you smart phone-weilding US citizens (and Canadians with proper visas) to join this club of travel winners. The Mobile Passport app is going to change your life.
Here’s how the app really works:
Step 1:Download The App
Not any different than downloading any other app. The Mobile Passport app is currently available for iOS and Android.
Step 2: Set Up Your Account
When you open the app, at the bottom, click the “Get Started” button. From here, fill out all the information and create a PIN for yourself. This PIN is what allows you to sign onto the app later on, so don’t forget it. This PIN also helps keep the information secure, so don’t make it an easy one to guess.
Step 3: Create a New Trip
Under the first section, click on the box that says “Select Travelers”. Here, click on each of the travelers that are entering back into the United States. Next, input your arrival airport and airline. From here, the app will ask you 4 yes-or-no questions:
1.) Do you have any commerical merchandise or are you transporting currency or monetary instruments equal to or greater than $10,000 US or foreign equivalent, in any form?
2.) Do you have any articles to delcare that were acquired abroad and are being brought into the United States in excess of the duty free exemption?
3.) Do you have any fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, insects, meat,s or meat products, dairy products, animals, or animal/wildlife products, disease agents, cell cultures, snails, soil; or have you visited a farm/ranch/pasture outside of the US?
4.) Have you been close to (such as touching or handling) livestock outside of the US?
After you’ve answered these questions, the app will ask you to review your answers for accuracy. If everything is correct, go ahead and click “Yes.” Assuming everything is all good (and you’ve honestly answered no to each question) a page with your photo and a QR code will pop up. This “receipt” as they call it, will be valid for 4 hours after it pops up.
Step 4: Go through Customs & Immigration
Follow the signs for Mobile Passport users. They’ll probably be marked with the symbol that looks like the app icon. If you can’t find it, ask someone where you should go. Once you get to the front of the line, simply scan the code and be on your way.
The Mobile Passport app is only available for use by United States citizens with valid US passports, and Canadian passport holders with B1 or B2 visas. Currently, the Mobile Passport app is available for use at the following airports:
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Minneapolis Saint-Paul International Airport (MSP)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
…And they’re are continually adding more. They are currently working on becoming available in Houston.
For more information on the Mobile Passport App, please visit the official website.
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Have you used the Mobile Passport app? What did you think of it?
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27 Comments
[…] free app favorite for last. Ladies and gentlemen of the United States, let me introduce you to Mobile Passport. The process of coming back into the United States after a trip abroad can be exhausting. Long […]
Oops, not a US citizen but my husband is. He’ll be able to use this a lot! Thanks for the tip – we’ll surely download it!
Excellent review of the app. I have Global Entry and my friends tell me this is just as fast….or faster. Sounds like it is time to download the app! Nice job.
I’d love to have Global Entry, but the Mobile Passport app is better for those who don’t want to pay anything, or don’t live near interview locations.
That seems awesome. So I am coming back from India through Switzerland to Washington Dulles on January 19th.
1) How long does it take to get it set up to work? Is there some sort of back ground check or something?
2) How long before you return to the US do you do the “paperwork” and where does the pic come from?
Great questions! It took me about 5 minutes to set it up. No background check or anything. When you put in your passport info, the app makes sure everything is legit. You can set it up anytime before your trip back. The picture comes from a selfie you take with your phone. It’s really quite easy.
Brianna this really is ground breaking haha I had never heard of it! In fact, I want to find out more please?
Security is such a pain and major stressful. Genuinely, I think apps like this will get rid of all that stigma, worry and paranoia – this is awesome so thanks for introducing me to it!
Right?? I was amazed when I first heard about it, but had my doubts. Government security reduced down to an app? But when I first tried it I was hooked!
I’m not a US citizen either and can only envision (rather jealously) how much easier this would make every visit to the States. Oh well. I will say, I was always shocked by the fact that US natives couldn’t breeze through immigration electronically the way we could in Australia and around Europe, so glad to hear that it’s finally changing.
Wow this is quite interesting. I’m an NZ resident and I wish we had something like this between NZ and Australia. This would be so helpful for US citizens, I wonder if something similar will roll out world-wide.
Wow! Never heard of this – and both of my local airports take it – my life is about to change! Thanks for sharing or I don;t know how long it would have been before I learned about this.
I spend way too much time in lines.
Wow, what a useful app, hopefully it will grow and roll out to more countries in the future. Just make sure you don’t use your phone too much on the flight and land with no battery! ?
Haha! That’s true!!
Great post with the step by step guide on how to use the mobile passport app… Hope they’ll add more airports where we can use this mobile app,, In UAE,they have e-gate also which is more faster rather than waiting for long queue for the immigration…
We have something similar now in Australia. I’m a big user of anything technological and anything that will make things easier and quicker. Sounds like everyone is starting to get the message now.
I’m not a US citizen (and I don’t really travel there that often) so I won’t get to use the app, but I’m sure it will come in handy for many travellers! It’s great to see how technologies make travelling a smoother and easier experience.
Yeah that looks like such a useful app for travellers. Will be checkin it out for suuuure!
Another tool to make travel easier. Seems like a great way to beat the horrendous queues at the airports.
My home airport is Seattle so I will have to check this out. How does it work with TSA Precheck?
Whoops… not from US, so I guess we’ll have to wait until they introduce a similar app for Europe. 🙂 Sounds pretty cool though!
This sounds like a really awesome app! Unfortuanlty I am not a US citizen so I will watch in envy. Although we have something similar, Australians have an electronic chip in the passport so when we fly back into Aus we can cruise straight through by just pressing a couple of buttons – it’s great!
Wow! How cool is that?! I hope we’ll have that app too in the future. My bf is from the states, so this will come in handy. Thanks for the detailed info. 😉
This looks like a fantastic app! I just was accepted into Global Entry, so this looks like something else that would be really helpful. Thanks for the info!
This app sounds super useful, hope they get to incorporate other nationalities as well 🙂
Oh can’t wait for this to be available for Austalians!
Look super convenient.
Thanks for sharing!
I had no idea this app existed! I have to get this before I return to the states. Good to see that its in most major airports! Thanks for sharing
This sounds like a great app that I will very likely use the next time my family and I decide to travel somewhere. This seems to be an app that is useful to show proof of our passports