How to Skip the Line at Customs Without Global Entry {Guest Post}

I don’t know about you, but we are in crazy mode this week! I’ve actually dedicated this week and next to catching up on some family time, so my work hours have been significantly reduced. This has been a necessary break for me and my crew, because this summer has been B U S Y!!! So thankful to YOU for being part of this amazing business!!

Tomorrow we will send our daughter off to her first camp (#AllTheFeels). Naturally, Joe and I are taking advantage of 4 days of childcare and running off to New York City! We are SO excited!!! Of course we are gearing up for heat, humidity, and long lines for the few tourist sights we’ll pop in on. My friend and fellow travel designer, Brianna Glenn, wrote a great article for her blog this week about how to skip the customs lines without Global Entry. Even though we won’t be traveling internationally this week, many of my clients will, so I asked Bri if I could share her good advice with you. And since she’s pretty awesome, she said yes!

 

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HOW TO SKIP THE LINE AT CUSTOMS WITHOUT GLOBAL ENTRY

Is there anything worse than getting off of an international flight tired, cranky, and hangry, only to be met with a ridiculously long custom’s line, that inches forward at the slowest pace known to man?! Of course, the person right ahead of you will have forgotten to sign their paperwork and the agent will probably have about 17 extra questions for them. These are all first world problems, I know. But coming home from international travel and dealing with customs is by far my least favorite part of traveling. Unless you have Global Entry, you’re stuck- until now.

Enter Mobile Passport. Music to my globe-trotting ears.

This incredible new app allows travelers to submit their passport control and customs declaration information via their iPhone or iPad and then breeze right by all of the hangry and tired passengers standing in the regular lines to enter the United States. It’s officially authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and is currently active in 16 U.S. airports, with more being added in the near future. And it’s FREE!!

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Step 1: Download the Mobile Passport app

Grab the app off of the App Store or Google Play. This is also going to require you having your phone charged by the time you arrive at your home airport, so don’t let the battery die listening to music for 10 hours!

Step 2: Set up your profile

Enter your profile information as it appears on your valid, official passport. You can set up profiles for your entire family. Your information will be encrypted and shared only with CBP.there will be the occasional closing (or limited hours) in the off-season, most major sights are still open for business!

Step 3: Answer a few questions

Answer CBP’s four brief questions about your trip, and carefully review all of your information for the trip.

Step 4: Submit to CBP

Once you land, you’ll have to connect to your cellular network or wi-fi and submit your data to CBP. Within a few seconds, you will receive a receipt with an encrypted barcode. Your receipt will be valid for 4 hours.

Step 5: Skip the line and save time

Follow the MOBILE PASSPORT CONTROL signs and skip the lines! Show your passport to the CBP officer and scan the barcode on the CBP receipt. Wave goodbye to all the people giving you the side eye in the normal lines.

What cities are Mobile Passport eligible?

Atlanta . Boston (coming soon) . Chicago . Dallas . Denver . Fort Lauderdale . Miami . Minneapolis . New York JFK . Newark . Orlando . Raleigh Durham . San Francisco . San Jose . Seattle . Tampa . Washington Dulles

That means that if your entry point to the U.S. is one of these cities (and there’s a pretty good chance it is), you can use the super-easy Mobile Passport app!

I’m so thankful that Bri graciously allowed me to share this info with you, and I definitely hope it comes in handy for you sometime soon.

I’ll be posting all about my NYC trip on Facebook this weekend, so be sure and give us a like if you haven’t already. Next week, I’ll be breaking down all my foodie finds on The Jetlag Experience Blog, so check in if you aren’t a blog subscriber!

 

CIAO CHOW,

 

..AUTUMN

P.S….I want to give a BIG shout out to Carrie Britton and her team at The Funky Door who will be celebrating the ground-breaking of their new building today!! I’ve been having so much fun at the Summer Passport Series, and am super-excited about the new place. This is so needed in Lubbock, am I right? Congrats, Carrie!!!