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December 12, 2014 | Safety and Security, YEG News Releases

US Automated Passport Control program now operating in Edmonton

US bound travelers can now use the US Customs and Border Protection Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks to expedite their entry process. Travelers simply follow the on-screen instructions at the self-service kiosks.

There are five steps to the automated process: scan your passport, take your photo using the APC kiosk, answer the customs declaration questions using the touchscreen, collect your receipt and proceed to a USCBP officer to complete the process.  APC eliminates the need for a traveler to fill out a paper customs declaration form.

“Automated Passport Control is a key part of CBP’s modernization strategy at ports of entry,” said CBP Edmonton Preclearance Port Director Warren Taylor. “The self-service kiosks allow travelers to input their information electronically, increasing the efficiency of the entry process while enhancing security.”

“Self-service passport kiosks will make processing faster and easier for US-bound passengers.  Over 1.2 million passengers travelled between Edmonton International Airport and the United States last year, and that’s growing at nearly 10 per cent so far in 2014, so this great new service will make a big difference to our passengers,” says Tom Ruth, President and CEO of Edmonton International Airport. 

US and Canadian passport holders are eligible to use APC kiosks. The kiosks can even be used by more than one person at a time, if they live at the same address. The user interface for the kiosks is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Dutch, German, Chinese or Japanese.

APC is a free service, does not require pre-registration or membership, and maintains the highest levels of protection when it comes to the handling of personal data or information.

Edmonton International Airport is Canada’s fastest-growing major airport over the past 10 years, serving over 8 million passengers per year. EIA offers non-stop flights to 13 US destinations, including key hubs in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. These routes are part of EIA’s network of over 60 non-stop destinations across Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.