ATLANTA – Getting home from an international trip will become easier and quicker for some travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Thursday as ATL officials and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unveil 74 BorderXpress by YVR Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks in the federal inspection stations in Concourses E and F.
Currently, American, Canadian and international travelers with Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval will be allowed to use the new system.
APC is a self-service kiosk that allows travelers or family groups to submit their Customs Declaration and biographic information electronically and reduce the time they spend with a CBP officer. This has resulted in an average of 20-40% decrease in wait times at airports that employ APC kiosks.
The APC does not require pre-approval to participate and is free to use.
“We are excited to launch the Automated Passport Control system and are confident that travelers will be pleased with the faster processing speed through Customs,” said Miguel Southwell, Aviation General Manager. “This new initiative is a critical element in improving overall customer service at the Airport and I’m thankful for the strong partnership we have with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency."
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection places a significant value on our public-private partnerships and we continue to collaborate on innovations to improve the international arrivals process. The Automated Passport Control kiosks are a prime example of CBP’s private sector partners taking a leadership role in purchasing and deploying a solution that is mutually beneficial for CBP, airline carriers, airport authorities, and international air travelers,” said Stephen Kremer, CBP’s Port Director for the Port of Atlanta.
“These new kiosks will go a long way to improve the overall experience for our international customers coming into Atlanta because they provide a more efficient process for exiting customs,” said John Laughter, Delta's senior vice president – Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance. “We strive to provide our customers with an enjoyable travel experience through all aspects of our operation including Customs and Border Protection checkpoints.”
The APC program was launched in May 2013 at the CBP preclearance facility at Vancouver International Airport. Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) pioneered BorderXpress, an APC system that delivers fully-hosted kiosks to automate the administrative function of the border inspection process, reducing traveler wait times, passenger congestion and airport processing costs.
Since the launch, the program has expanded to Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway, Miami, John F. Kennedy, Dallas Fort Worth, Montreal, Toronto, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, Houston, Seattle and Orlando international airports.
“We’re proud to pioneer innovative solutions that help airports throughout North America enhance the travel experience – including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world,” said Craig Richmond, President & CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority. “With our product now implemented in ten airport terminals across the country, BorderXpress - an Automated Passport Control (APC) System - shows how collaboration with partners like U.S. Customs and Border Protection modernizes travel and reduces passenger wait times.”
The process is easy. Eligible travelers proceed directly to a self-service APC kiosk in the passport control area. Passengers will be prompted to scan their passport, use the kiosk’s camera to take a photograph, answer simple biographic and flight information questions, and complete the standard Customs Declaration questions using the kiosk’s touch-screen. Passengers using APC no longer need to complete a paper Customs Declaration form. The kiosk will provide passengers with a receipt that the traveler will provide, along with their passport, to a CBP officer to finalize their inspection for entry into the U.S.
CBP processed more than 4.6 million international arrivals at ATL during fiscal year 2013.
APCs are part of a comprehensive strategy to optimize CBP’s current resources. CBP continues to explore automation, innovation, sustainable initiatives and trusted traveler programs to streamline the traveler inspection process.
Almost a million times each day, CBP officers welcome international travelers to the U.S.
In screening both foreign visitors and returning U.S. citizens, CBP uses a variety of techniques to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong.
Visit CBP’s Travel pages for more information on what to expect during a CBP admissions inspection, and for general rules governing products that are admissible and prohibited from entering the United States.