*** There have been some major updates to this program. See that info below in red.

Many of you already use TSA Precheck when traveling domestically to speed the process of boarding aircraft. You can often use at foreign international airports too.

Some of you use Global Entry for international travel to speed up the process of getting through Customs when you return to the U.S.

Did you know that there is another option to speed up the process of going through passport control when you return to the United States if you don’t have Global Entry?

It is called CPB Mobil Passport Control. No, it does not replace your passport or Global Entry, but it does replace filling out the paper form upon your return to the U.S. so that you can move more quickly through the Customs and Border Control process. Best of all, is that it’s FREE.

You can have both Global Entry and CPB Mobil Passport Control but you must decide which one you will use to enter the US.  Keep in mind that if you have completed and activated your CPB Mobil Passport Control, then you have already started the passport control process and you will have to go to the CPB Mobil Passport Control line. You cannot go to the Global Entry line as they will end up sending you to a supervisor to deal with you trying to enter the country twice. That could mean quite a delay in getting through the process.

You could fill out all of the info in CPB Mobil Passport Control while on the airplane and wait until you enter the passport control room to decide to go to Global Entry or complete the process with CPB Mobil Passport Control based upon the shortest line. You will still need to wait to receive the response on your phone before getting in the line.  Either way, the line will be much shorter than the very long line for those who didn’t get set up with Global Entry or CPB Mobil Passport Control before their trip.

Now, back to CPB Mobil Passport Control.

It is pretty simple. Just go to Google Play or the Apple Store to download the app, scan your passport into the app and fill out some info. You can put your whole household on one phone.  I would suggest that you do it on your phone as well as your partner’s phone, just in case one of the phones is lost or damaged on your trip. The info will be held on your phone and it is password protected.

When you return to the U.S., turn on your phone and use the app to answer the questions that you would have answered on the paper form that the flight attendant may have given you. You will receive a QR code to be scanned by the Customs and Border Protection system.

It is pretty straight-forward. In fact, after you have landed and are headed to the terminal on the taxi way, just turn on your phone, open the app and answer the questions. You will probably have your QR code before you get off the plane and you will be ready to go. The info is good for 4 hours. Make sure you do this before you start responding to your emails or you may not get the QR code response before you get to Passport Control.  Remember, you cannot go to the Global Entry line after you have sent your info to Customs and Border Control with your CPB Mobile Passport Control as they will end up sending you to a supervisor to deal with you trying to enter the country twice. That could mean quite a delay in getting through the process.

For more info here is link to the old app.

It was only available originally 24 airports and one cruise terminal.

Updated Info:

The Mobile Passport was changed to Airside Mobile Passport but it has changed again in February 2022 to CBP MPC which is short for Customs & Border Protection Mobile Passport Control. You often have a line as short or shorter than what you will see for Global Entry, but like I noted, it is not available at every airport or port of entry. Currently only 31 airports and 4 shipping ports.

The MPC mobile app, is available to U.S. citizens and Canadian B1/B2 citizens visitors.

MPC is currently available at the following 48 sites, including 33 U.S. International Airports, 11 Preclearance locations, and 4 seaports of entry:

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
• Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
• Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA)
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Calgary International Airport (YYC)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
• Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
• Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
• Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• Houston William P. Hobby International Airport (HOU)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
• Las Vegas Harry Ried International Airport (LAS)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)
• Miami Seaport
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
• Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• Nassau Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Oakland International Airport (OAK)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
• Palm Beach Seaport
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
• Port Everglades Seaport
• Portland International Airport (PDX)
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
• San Diego International Airport (SAN)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• San Jose International Airport (SJC)
• San Juan Airport (SJU)
• San Juan Seaport 
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Winnipeg James A Richardson International Airport (YWG) 

Keep this limitation in mind when booking your flights if you plan to use this App. For example, don’t return to the US from Cabo via John Wayne International (SNA) in Santa Ana. You cannot use this program there yet. Better to enter the US at PHX or SAN or SFO.

Better yet, just get your Global Entry Known Traveler Number. Check out changes in that program here.