Mobile Passport Control (MPC)

[YensidCA]

Does the Celebrity cruise terminal in Fort Lauderdale participate in Mobile Passport Control (MPC).

For those that do not know what this is, it allows eligible travelers to submit their passport and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device.

 

You can find out more info here: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

[DaKahuna]

I thought MPC is only applicable at airports? 
 

Edited November 23, 2022 by DaKahuna

[prmssk]

I can't remember the last time we had to do any customs forms coming back from a cruise.  All they generally do is look at your passport (or you step up to a facial recognition screen) and wave you on.  I don't even remember the last time they asked if I had anything to declare.  So I don't see any reason why we would need to use the MPC.

[hrhdhd]

I needed to declare earlier this month and the agent was surprised that I did. And I didn't have a form because the Constellation had just arrived in the U.S., so Guest Services didn't have any.

[alyssamma]

41 minutes ago, prmssk said:

I can't remember the last time we had to do any customs forms coming back from a cruise.  All they generally do is look at your passport (or you step up to a facial recognition screen) and wave you on.  I don't even remember the last time they asked if I had anything to declare.  So I don't see any reason why we would need to use the MPC.

Agreed...not sure why you would even mention something to declare if you had to. Like you said, facial or just a wave through without questions.

[Jim_Iain]

They don't have the physical facilities for it but prior to the shut down and prior to the electronic clearance they had a sign on the lane next to the wall.   When you went up the agent just had you flash your passport and then he waved you through.     They didn't even ask for the Mobil Passport app screen.  

[Arizona Wildcat]

2 hours ago, YensidCA said:

Does the Celebrity cruise terminal in Fort Lauderdale participate in Mobile Passport Control (MPC).

For those that do not know what this is, it allows eligible travelers to submit their passport and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device.

 

You can find out more info here: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

No. But clearance in FLL is pretty much show and go.

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

They used to do Mobile Passport but you needed to look for it. Most terminal workers didn’t know about it.  We used it quite often. 
 

But we haven’t used it in years. Customs has gotten so smooth that everyone is through pretty quickly. 
 

(And it worked for airports and some cruise ports including FLL.)

[hrhdhd]

9 hours ago, alyssamma said:

Agreed...not sure why you would even mention something to declare if you had to. Like you said, facial or just a wave through without questions.

Because it's the law, not to mention the right thing to do. If one is caught, they can fine, confiscate the items in question, and permanently revoke Global Entry. Not a chance I am willing to take.

 

Besides, about 2/3 of the time, I don't get charged the duty I owe because the agent is flabbergasted that I was honest. The other 1/3, I pay up.

[mpdog42]

7 minutes ago, hrhdhd said:

Because it's the law, not to mention the right thing to do. If one is caught, they can fine, confiscate the items in question, and permanently revoke Global Entry. Not a chance I am willing to take.

 

Besides, about 2/3 of the time, I don't get charged the duty I owe because the agent is flabbergasted that I was honest. The other 1/3, I pay up.

As the Saying goes in the Bill Murry Movie "Stripes"..........." that's the fact Jack"

[TeeRick]

I think a few years back I remember (in FLL?) that they had facial recognition and we just walked right through.  Does anybody else remember doing this?

[jwlane]

12 hours ago, YensidCA said:

Does the Celebrity cruise terminal in Fort Lauderdale participate in Mobile Passport Control

No.

 

See FAQ #2.  https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control#:~:text=Mobile Passport Control (MPC) allows eligible travelers to,passport control inspection time and overall wait time.

[Jeremiah1212]

11 minutes ago, jwlane said:

No.

 

See FAQ #2.  https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control#:~:text=Mobile Passport Control (MPC) allows eligible travelers to,passport control inspection time and overall wait time.

 

Where can eligible travelers use MPC? 

• Port Everglades Seaport

 

That being said, I haven't seen it used in several years. Maybe 2018 or so? Half the time they would yell at you for walking to that lane and try to push you to a normal line. 

 

[NutsAboutGolf]

Got global so stopped using this, no idea they’re still doing this but it used to be you had to enter everything into your profile.  Passport #, expiration, all your trip details, answer questions, take a photo and the free version of the app wouldn’t let you save anything unless you paid.  So it would take 5-10mins to populate or you go through the airports facial recognition in far less time and have nothing to populate.

[mahdnc]

12 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

Where can eligible travelers use MPC? 

• Port Everglades Seaport

 

That being said, I haven't seen it used in several years. Maybe 2018 or so? Half the time they would yell at you for walking to that lane and try to push you to a normal line. 

 

 

.....except Terminal 18 & 25 which use facial recognition, according to the Port Everglades website.

 

[Jeremiah1212]

5 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

.....except Terminal 18 & 25 which use facial recognition, according to the Port Everglades website.

 

 

T29 is used too - mostly by Reflection this season. 

[alyssamma]

3 hours ago, hrhdhd said:

Because it's the law, not to mention the right thing to do. If one is caught, they can fine, confiscate the items in question, and permanently revoke Global Entry. Not a chance I am willing to take.

 

Besides, about 2/3 of the time, I don't get charged the duty I owe because the agent is flabbergasted that I was honest. The other 1/3, I pay up.

I think you misunderstood me. How would you possibly be caught if no one even asks you the question?

 

They just wave you through...

 

Or maybe you understood perfectly 🙂 We can just agree to disagree on this one 🙂

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by alyssamma

[prmssk]

2 hours ago, TeeRick said:

I think a few years back I remember (in FLL?) that they had facial recognition and we just walked right through.  Does anybody else remember doing this?

Yes, many of the Port Everglades terminals have facial recognition and this is expanding to more and more ports.  I was surprised to even find it at the Mobile, AL port for a quick Carnival cruise I took this year.  It was not in Tampa though earlier this month.

[prmssk]

3 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

I think you misunderstood me. How would you possibly be caught if no one even asks you the question?

 

They just wave you through...

 

Or maybe you understood perfectly 🙂 We can just agree to disagree on this one 🙂

 

Sometimes reports of large purchases made in the cruise line shops get reported to customs.  So it is possible to get caught.  

 

Sometimes it is also just a matter of one's own conscious and wanting to do the right thing.

[mtempelaar]

We just disembarked in FLL on Sunday. Terminal 25.  No forms, no passport control, no customs/declarations.   Just get your bags, have your pic taken via facial recognition and done.   Disembarking has always been inconsistent since the 90s, when they were a bit more diehard about declarations (particularly looking for cuban cigars and expensive jewelry).  They used to actually come on the ship and have everyone with something to declare go to a conference room on the ship.  

 

This was bizarre to me, and so easy.  But had I known I might have bought more cigs and jewelry through.  I was very careful on how much I spent to stay under allowance.

Edited November 23, 2022 by mtempelaar

[alyssamma]

19 minutes ago, prmssk said:

Sometimes reports of large purchases made in the cruise line shops get reported to customs.  So it is possible to get caught.  

 

Sometimes it is also just a matter of one's own conscious and wanting to do the right thing.

If you win $10 in the casino do you declare that on your taxes? So that you have a clear conscious... 

[rjrpar]

14 hours ago, YensidCA said:

Does the Celebrity cruise terminal in Fort Lauderdale participate in Mobile Passport Control (MPC).

For those that do not know what this is, it allows eligible travelers to submit their passport and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device.

 

You can find out more info here: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

You’re overthinking the process. 

[mtempelaar]

1 minute ago, alyssamma said:

If you win $10 in the casino do you declare that on your taxes? So that you have a clear conscious... 

I believe that falls under your federal tax return and you only have to report winnings if it's over $600.  And then you declare losses in itemized deductions.   I have had to declare winnings a couple of times on income tax but it was forced as big payouts from slots get reported by casino (at least on land).  Cruise winnings - not sure they report.

[alyssamma]

3 minutes ago, mtempelaar said:

I believe that falls under your federal tax return and you only have to report winnings if it's over $600.  And then you declare losses in itemized deductions.   I have had to declare winnings a couple of times on income tax but it was forced as big payouts from slots get reported by casino (at least on land).  Cruise winnings - not sure they report.

Not so. The *casino* needs to report winnings over $600. You have to report *everything*. Per the IRS...

 

You must report all gambling winnings on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR (use Schedule 1 (Form 1040)PDF), 

[mtempelaar]

Just now, alyssamma said:

Not so. The *casino* needs to report winnings over $600. You have to report *everything*. Per the IRS...

 

You must report all gambling winnings on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR (use Schedule 1 (Form 1040)PDF), 

Good to know, although I typically lose anyway 😛