www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Just saw at work at ORD that a new app is available to help you get through customs just as quickly as Global Ent rt y, mobile passport. You download it for free to your phone and set up the passport information ahead of time. When you arrive back in the us, you answer questions on the phone as you would with global entry and get in the line for mobile passport and head on your way. This is available for regular android phones and iPhone too.

Is the name of the App ...... mobile passport?

Yes it is, and the reason I'm mentioning this is for those who don't want to pay for the global entry option.

The app has a blue border

Global Re-entry costs $100 for 5 years & you get a TTN (Trusted Traveler Number) with that. $20/year for a 5 min re-entry as opposed to waiting in line for up to an hour in Houston on the way back, esp on a Sun p.m.

Side note...I have only benefited twice from the TTN...no shoe removal, no belt removal in the 2 years i've had it.

The Orlando airport has about 10 or 12 kiosks that do the same thing that this App. does.

You insert your passport, answer a few questions on the touch screen, smile for the camera, then the kiosk prints a ticket (with your ugly face on it) for you to take to the window witch....... who, pretty much waives you through after a quick glance at the ticket.

Real slick ..... real fast ..... and free.

This has just been introduced at San Francisco too. Really neat. If you wear a cap take it off before you take your picture.
Great.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

I do not see them allowing a non-inspected entry through some cell phone application. GE requires a full background check prior to approval, and you still have to wave the receipt to an inspector (who has the right to challenge it with a manual check) before passing through to customs.

My last pass through GE was my best time: 6 minutes from de-planing to the curb at FLL. Fantastic!

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Houston has this also but it is only for GOES (Global Re-entry) participants!

Thsnks guys for mentioning the global entry stuff too. My intention of this message was to let those of us who travel to cr and other places about this method if they don't have goes already, wasn't looking to do a battle of which is better.

Newark also has the kiosks. Made going through immigration real fast and easy.

Thanks to the OP for posting this.

Some airports (e.g. MIA) have a dedicated "Mobile Passport" line for users of this application.

Now that everyone and their mother has signed up for GE, in certain cases using the mobile app can actually be faster than GE.

mh

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mh

Thanks MH, that is what I intended this message to be, a options to use if the global entry line should be longer when you are passing through

I just came thru Houston on the 13th of May. There are about 32 kiosks for general travelers where you scan your passport, the kiosk takes your picture then you answer the questions about things you are bringing back. You do not need to fill out the slip of paper they give you on the form anymore but they still give it to you. I have also arrived thru Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, and Atlanta all are using the Kiosks now and you do not need to fill anything out ahead of time. If you do have Global Entry it is quicker but for me having the KTN to get through security and using the kiosks is sufficient. It took me 15 mins to clear customs at Houston.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the main advantage with GE is that you get to skip the customs interview whereas with the regular kiosk, you still need to talk to a customs officer.