Nothing says ‘welcome to the USA’ like the long, snaking queues at Los Angeles International Airport. And while we’re all hoping that Global Entry will eventually make its way down under, there’s now a new way to potentially trim the time you have to wait in line on arrival.
Enter the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mobile Passport Control app. To be clear, this isn’t a new app. It’s been around for a while. But what is new is that the app now supports applications from Visa Waiver Program passport holders, including Australia.
By filling out your details in advance, you can save on processing time at the counter. Plus, CBP notes that some airports may provide a dedicated queue for app users, cutting down on wait times.
How do I use the Mobile Passport Control app?
First up, download the app from the relevant app store:
Then simply follow the steps on the app to complete the process. Start by choosing whether you’re arriving by aeroplane or cruise ship. Then select your port of entry and terminal, add the required passengers (each requires a photo) and answer all the questions.
If you’re travelling with up to 12 family members (within a household), you can add them to the same application. Other friends and relatives will need to do their own application.
You can download the app to see which terminals are supported. For example, you can use the Mobile Passport Control app at these popular gateways for trans-Pacific flights:
- Dallas Fort Worth (DFW): Terminal D
- Honolulu (HNL): Terminal O (Overseas)
- Houston (IAH): Terminal E
- Los Angeles (LAX): Terminals 2, 4, 7 and TBIT
- New York (JFK): Terminals 1, 4, 5, 6 and 8
- Newark (EWR): Terminals B and C
- San Francisco (SFO): Terminals A and G
Check out the full list of participating destinations on the app or on the FAQs page. Once you submit your application, you’ll get a QR code which you can show to the CBP agent, along with your passport.
One more thing…
Although you can pre-fill information in advance, the application is meant to be submitted when you’re at the arrival terminal. Be prepared to use international roaming or the airport Wi-Fi to submit the form and get the QR code. The CBP website also mentions this is for ‘returning’ Visa Waiver program travellers. Presumably, this means you need to have entered the US at least once before on a Visa Waiver to be eligible to use the app.
At the time of writing, Mobile Passport Control is accepted at 33 US international airports, 11 Preclearance locations (mainly within Canada) and four seaports. If all goes well, you’ll be out with your bags in less time than before.
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Tried using this on our last trip into LAX in late Sept 2024 but when we arrived into LAX and finally found the area for MPC line up we were advised that MPC only used in the mornings (it was 9pm). Had to retrace our steps back to the standard line up and ended up waiting way longer as another flight had landed and passengers then ahead of us. Very disappointing and still haven’t found any info saying only open in mornings in LAX. Returning to USA mid December 2024 arriving 12:30 pm so not sure if we bother to try this again. Stopping to upload photos and process info as we walked off plane to collect luggage was also an additional bit of stress.
Thanks for the info, that’s really helpful. Anyone know if this is applicable to those who have an existing ESTA (issued May 2023) travelled to USA in August 2023 (third time in total) & will be travelling in March 2025 (so ESTA still valid) but will be on a new passport as old one expired?
Hi Carly, you would need a new ESTA as each ESTA is tied exclusively to one specific passport number. Your passport number and details would change, thus, a new ESTA is required for the new passport. This is different to a formal US visa – a sticker in the passport – under which you can enter the US by presenting a visa in one passport while ‘travelling on’ a second passport, as long as the visa itself hasn’t expired and the other details are the same. For ESTA users, though, this doesn’t apply and a new ESTA is required for each passport.
Pre CV, regular travelers or “Esta returning” as they called it, could use the auto machines at most airports, on arrival, scan your passport, get a little ticket, get in the fast lane and normally not take more than 10 minutes. This seems to be to be a similar system they are bringing in. Thanks for bringing to our attention, I was personally unaware of it. Hopefully it speeds things up, because for the past few years it’s quicker to cross illegally via Mexico than do it legally through an airport. 2024 can’t come soon enough.
Can you use it if you’re a returning traveler on a visa rather than a visa waiver?
Unfortunately, it seems actual visa holders aren’t supported on this app yet.
As I see from the CBP announcement, you cannot use MPC if you entering USA for the first time, that’s for returning VWP travellers. Maybe worth mentioning.