WASHINGTON — International passengers arriving at Washington Dulles
International Airport can now have
a speedier trip through customs inspection, thanks to new
self-service passport control kiosks.
“Passengers will no longer need to complete paper customs forms. Instead,
they’ll walk up to a kiosk, scan their passport, answer a series
of questions by using the touch screen on the kiosk, and then have their
photograph taken,” says Kimberly Gibbs, a spokeswoman for Dulles Airport.
The kiosk will dispense a receipt, which the passenger will take to a
face-to-face meeting with a customs officer.
Dulles calls its 40 new kiosks “Dulles Passport Express.” All returning U.S.
and Canadian citizens and non-U.S citizens from visa-waiver countries are
eligible to use the self-service kiosks.
The goal is to provide a simpler more efficient arrival for international
travelers.
“For passengers that are arriving after a long flight, instead of waiting in
line, they can step up to these kiosks, answer a few questions and be on their
way to a customs officer,” Gibbs says.
At Vancouver International Airport, where passport control kiosks are in use,
officials say wait times have been cut nearly 90 percent.
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