Seattle —U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Port of Seattle) announced the installation of Automated Passport Control (APC), an expedited customs entry process that will allow arriving eligible international passengers to clear customs more efficiently, while still ensuring the same high standard of safety and security. This partnership between CBP and Sea-Tac Airport will help travelers move more quickly through the CBP inspection process by allowing entry of passport information at a self-service kiosk.
Sea-Tac is the latest airport to implement the self-service kiosks, which are currently in use in Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Montreal, Miami, and JFK-New York.
“Automated Passport Control enhances both security and passenger facilitation at our nation’s airports”, said Michele James, CBP Director-Field Operations, Seattle Field Office. “Passengers choosing to utilize the APC self-service kiosks will benefit from an efficient new system of expedited CBP processing.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Sea-Tac Airport worked jointly to implement Automated Passport Control at the international arrivals area in the airport’s South Satellite.
Automated Passport Control does not require pre-registration, is easy to use and maintains the highest levels of protection when it comes to the handling of personal data or information. As a result, international travelers (U.S. and Canadian citizens) will experience shorter wait times, less congestion, and faster processing upon arrival at Sea-Tac.
“This is the latest in our cooperative effort with CBP to provide simple, easy-to-use and customer friendly solutions to make the traveling experience as positive as possible,” said Charles Goedken, Director, International Services for the Port of Seattle. “This is necessary to meet the demands of the rapidly increasing number of international flights we are seeing at Sea-Tac.”
Instead of filling out a declaration card and taking their travel documents to a CBP officer, passengers who are eligible and choose to use Automated Passport Control can proceed directly to a self-service kiosk in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection passport-control area. Travelers will follow the on-screen instructions to scan their U.S. or Canadian passport, answer the customs declaration questions using the touch screen, receive a receipt confirming their information and proceed to the CBP officer to finalize processing. The kiosk allows up to four people residing at the same address to be processed together.
For industry representatives interested in more information on Automated Passport Control, contact your local airport authority or CBP port director for airport technical design standards and business requirements.