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We flew in to MIA tonight.
I thought I’d give the Mobile Passport Control App a try so downloaded it and completed everything I could in the UK
On arrival at MIA, we took the required 2 photos.
I then tried twice to get free access to Airport WiFi and thought the system was going to fail miserably, then it just worked and we submitted the app process.
It immediately told us we could go to the dedicated MPC lane.
When we got there, there were 2 MPC lanes open and only 6 people waiting.
A rough count of the standard entry lanes showed 10 open.
Of course, sods law put a spanner in the works as there were only SIX people waiting in the regular line.
Every time we’ve been to the US via MIA that passport control line has been at least 300 passengers long, taking over an hour.
But at least we know the App works and our visit in May could find those 300+ waiting.
We’re hoping to use MPC at MCO next month. However, out of interest have they still not reinstated the biometric scanners at MIA? We were last there in 2018 and sailed through in a few minutes.
A rough count of the standard entry lanes showed 10 open.
Of course, sods law put a spanner in the works as there were only SIX people waiting in the regular line.
So just use the standard lanes instead. The beauty of MPC is that it doesn’t restrict you in any way, simply increases the options.
@NorthernLass No biometric scanners at MIA when I went through there last month.The only scanners I could see at MIA were for Global Entry I believe.
There were 2 or 3 using them.
I’d have thought paying for Global Entry a bit pointless now.
A few years ago they had numerous e-machines at immigration but apparently they stopped using them during the pandemic and clearly haven’t re-started. It’s a huge shame as it made MIA bearable!
Worth adding that the MPC website states that you must be a returning ESTA visitor. The app says otherwise (any ESTA). I emailed and they confirmed you don’t need to be a returning ESTA customer. Plan to try this out at ATL so I’ll see what success looks like.
Worth adding that the MPC website states that you must be a returning ESTA visitor. The app says otherwise (any ESTA). I emailed and they confirmed you don’t need to be a returning ESTA customer. Plan to try this out at ATL so I’ll see what success looks like.
The phrase “returning ESTA visitor” is so vague it makes no sense.
Is it for someone who is there for a second time on an ESTA, but can’t use it on the first visit. Is it for someone who had an Esta previously, and now has a brand new ESTA and thefore can use it on their first visit on the new ESTA. Typical government prose.
The App is correct, the website isn’t.
And as for anyone commenting on length of queues and availability of lanes, it just it what it is on the day at any port of entry. It’s impossible to predict how many planes, weather conditions, number of border control staff on shift/ill/vacation, and any nuber of other variables.
As I reported on my farcical MPC experience at JFK last year, it’s just the luck of the draw at that time of day.
My MPC anecdata:
First used it in Dublin Airport when realising the regular queue would take about 40 minutes, so my photos were hastily taken in the queue. Thankfully (!) there was a bug with the app that required some finagling to select Dublin Airport that day, so the MPC queue was empty, and thus very quick for us!
The other two times I’ve used it, the regular queue with more booths was shorter than the MPC queue with a single booth, so it didn’t make sense to use the MPC queue anyway.
I believe it’s still worth using it, as you speed up your experience at a regular booth by pre-answering the exam questions before reaching the officer.
Tried this twice in JFK over Christmas, transiting overnight both times. The first time, it was fiddly to connect to the WiFi, and ended up not being able to submit the final form until we were near the front of the normal queue. Luckily, it wasn’t too long a wait in the normal queue. The second time, we arrived pretty late (delayed flight) and so there were practically no queues. However, I managed to get the form submitted, and went to the duly noted queue.
Overall, pleased with the app and would really appreciate the benefit in cases where the normal queues are very long, as they often are.
It works, after a fashion. I always fill it in before or on the flight, then submit before inflight wifi goes off. Failing that I hit send when I have a signal on the other side. Generally I take my photo on the plane before landing, though. In terms of observance, there’s some form of implementation at most airports, but it can be a little hit and miss. Generally it works out ok, even if you do essentially just get directed in to the top of other lines.
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