Traveler Profiles and Document Scanning
Traveler profiles turn repeated arrival preparation into a reusable setup. Users can create a primary profile, enter document and biographic details, or scan a supported document to reduce manual typing. The saved primary traveler is automatically included when a new submission begins, which is useful for people who return to the United States more than once.
The People area also separates the primary profile from additional travelers, so users can review who is available before starting a trip. Profile data is protected with a four-digit PIN, and the app offers controls for deleting saved information. This gives travelers a clearer way to prepare identity details before they reach an airport, seaport, or preclearance location.
Port Selection, Declarations, and Submission
A new submission follows a clear arrival sequence: select a supported CBP port and terminal, choose the people traveling together, answer declaration questions, and submit at the proper time. The workflow keeps location, traveler, and declaration details in one place so users can prepare most of the form on their phone before speaking with an officer.
When the traveler reaches the selected location, the app requests a current photo for each person and sends the completed information to CBP. A successful submission returns a virtual receipt with instructions for the inspection. Travelers still need their physical passports and relevant travel documents, but the digital process can reduce repeated form filling and help keep the arrival steps organized.
Group Travel and Reusable Trip Planning
Mobile Passport Control supports group submissions from a single device, which is useful for families and friends entering together. Users can add additional people, organize saved profiles, and select up to 11 other eligible travelers for the same submission. The People tab keeps individuals visible separately, while custom groups and saved traveler details make it easier to reuse the right combination on later trips.
Favorite-trip tools also help with recurring routes. A completed set of submission details can be saved as a favorite, managed from the Trips tab, and scheduled when the same travel information is used again. Fresh photos and declaration confirmation are still required, so favorites shorten preparation without replacing the final arrival checks.
Receipts, Guidance, and Arrival Preparation
Arrival support continues beyond the form itself. The Settings area links to User Guides, FAQs, privacy information, baggage guidance, FinCEN forms, customer support, sharing, and language choices. These resources help travelers check eligibility, understand document requirements, and resolve common questions before starting a submission.
Optional notifications can remind users about expiring documents and provide service or device-status information. The home area can surface suggestions, while favorite trips remain available for quick access. After a submission is processed, the virtual receipt explains the next step and travelers present it with their passports to a CBP officer. The app is most useful when travelers confirm that their destination is a supported MPC location before relying on the workflow.
