MPC (possibly JFK specific)

Hi all

I've not been to the US for a while, but I have entered frequently in previous years.

I completed an MPC submission to the point of receiving a message in the app (not saved but similar to): "submission complete, please use the MPC line" with a time limit of 4 hours showing on the app. Upon arrival at JFK T4 I was stopped when walking towards the MPC line, the representative asked if he could see my submission. He said that because the screen did not "show a number" (which it did not, just a message) then there was no point using the MPC line as I would just be refused. That seemed a bit odd, but I thought he must know better than me, and just trying to save me time.

It wasn't an issue as the standard line was only 15 minutes, but wondering if anyone else has experienced similar, especially being turned away for not "showing a number" on their MPC app? I'm travelling to Tampa in a few months, so be good to test it out.

For info. my ESTA was a new application, but I have had 2 or 3 ESTAs in the past.

Not a biggie, but it might help others!

Andy

Yes I had problem in MPC line this May at JFK. Not with the rep but with the officer at the desk.

Showed the app, and gave passports. He shouted at us saying we were in the wrong line etc etc and that’s it’s only for USA citizens.. which is wrong… he wanted us to go to the back of the regular immigration line. By that time it was pretty packed.
We managed to skip in front but still took us over 1 hour…
Seems JFK can be hit and miss.
Reason why I applied for Global Entry when I was there and had it all processed when I was in Washington DC.



We have just flown to Miami on Sunday. I went GE line and partner MPC. Don’t recall his submission having a number…
I was out in less than a minute and partner no longer than 3 minutes…

Flew into MIA in August, I used GE and the family used the MPC, they were at baggage claim before me ! No-one in the MPC line and the GE line was at the end of the arrivals hall. I'll use MPC there next time.

Did the same again at TPA recently. We all got through at the same time. That said there's only a few desks and due to arrival time we were the only flight so was always going to be quick anyway.

Haven't tried JFK yet - when we went earlier in the year MOC wasn't available so the family had to endure the normal long wait. Even GE took me 15 minutes .

I was really worried with MIA on Sunday. We arrived 1 hour early, but couldn’t get to the gate until our real arrival time (15.15pm)… BA, KLM, and Lufthansa all arrived so I expected immigration to extremely busy. But it was very quiet.

I think it all depends on how the day and load of other flights.

MPC should give a QR code and yes it’s open to all visa waiver countries. I was told US/Canada only at SEA last Xmas but they opened it up to all I94W countries about a week later

Thanks all!

I'm pretty sure it didn't have a QR code, just a message saying "use MPC line". So seems like that's what the representative was meaning by not having a "number". Not sure why I didn't get a QR code. I'm a bit reticent to go through the process for all the family when we travel to Tampa (selfies on arrival etc.) if it is going to end up at the same place.

I don't travel to the US enough to justify global entry (I don't think? - couple of times a year, sometimes less). I did see a very long global entry interview line at JFK too, which put me off!

I have just done a dummy one for JFK and again it is JFK airport staff that are not clued up …

When you submit and go into the FAQ section it says:

Where is my QR code on receipt?
QR codes are no longer used with MPC.

What is the number on top of my receipt?
Some locations will give you an assigned lane for you to go to with MPC. The number indicates the lane number .

It seems airport staff especially at JFK are not educated enough about MPC

[mitchja]

JFK is probably the issue. Even GE is often hit and miss at JFK (usually miss TBH) as I've never got through JFK with GE without getting sent to manual processing (which is the crew lane).

Been to both MIA and JFK in the last month, MPC didn’t show a QR code just ‘go to MPC line’ which I did. Through in one minute in both airports.

Flew LHR-JFK in October with wife and kids. Did MPC and got the ‘go to lane x’ message. Joined that line (which was also marked MPC) but we were then pulled out of that line by the queue managers (think they saw the passports) and taken to a different line. Other people were being pulled out and moved as well. Only one agent taking this line and a few in front of us. Waited about 15 mins then called forward. Agent started usual process then when trying to take one of our photos looked at his screen then said ‘you’ve done mobile passport?’. I said yes, and he said ‘next time go to the MPC queue, it’ll be much faster for you’. I tried to explain we’d just don’t as instructed by the queue managers but by this point he was handing us back our passports and saying we were cleared to enter so we just smiled and carried on!
Seems like some education needed for the airport staff who seem to not understand ESTA travellers can use MPC.

Thanks for the useful information all. I shall try again with the family in Tampa in April.

Does anyone know if there is a way to do the selfies beforehand? I noticed that my selfie is now saved from my JFK effort, but I think only because I submitted it. I took that whilst walking to immigration at JFK, but imagine trying to sort for for the kids when landing might negate any timed saved queuing

When you do a submission on your next arrival you will need to take another picture on arrival which will replace the current picture

When I tried it in June it was a battle to be allowed into the line and they just kind of directed me behind some others at a desk eventually, but thankfully at least skipped the big general queue. Today the place was the emptiest I've ever seen it, even though we arrived at noon, so didn't really need to try but did anyway. MPC line has tensa-barrier across, but the agent nearby just sent me straight to desk 9 which was labelled diplomat today. Just one man in front of me so was through in no time. That place is so random. I've waited nearly 2 hours there other times, arriving at a similar time, and always seemed to be behind first time arrivals who needed extensive interrogations. Bags came quickly too. Should have bought extra Euromillions tickets.

Seems very hit & miss at JFK! I shall report back in Tampa!