Miami International Airport (MIA) today unveiled its new free mobile application with integrated passport control, available to Americans and Canadians who arrive in Miami on international flights and want an expedited passage through the terminal.
It is the first time that the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has authorized an airport to integrate its Passport Control app into its application via mobile phones or tablets, according to a MIA press release.
Until now travelers had only the option of downloading separately the application of CBP to carry out the procedure.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Giménez congratulated the Aviation Department for incorporating “cutting-edge technology” to improve the arrival process for visitors to MIA, the nation’s third busiest airport.
“The goal of our mobile app has always been to put as many services as possible into the palm of the traveler’s hand,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Department director Emilio T. Gonzalez.
The director indicated that now, in addition to finding everything they need in the MIA, US citizens and Canadian visitors can go through passport control using the same app.
The new app has been developed by SITA, a provider of air transport technology, and certified by CBP.
Travelers using the MIA app for the first time must create and save an individual or family profile. On each arrival they will have to give information about the airline with which they flew to Miami and answer five questions about the itinerary of their trip.
They will then receive an electronic receipt to be presented at tickets reserved for Passport Control users via CBP mobile phones.
Customs declarations can also be made through the MIA Airport Official 2.0 app.
The service is completely free and does not require prior approval, but it needs the device to have Bluetooth, location services and Wi-Fi in operation.
Randy Pizzi, president of SITA Americas, stated that passenger satisfaction is increased with technological solutions like this.
