Automated Passport Control Goes Live in Bahamas

An automated passport control (APC) system at Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport in The Bahamas officially went live on Monday, allowing US-bound travelers to be processed up to four times faster.

Officials expect the new technology – available in only one other airport in the Caribbean – to go a long way in slashing wait times, improving the airport's efficiency and ultimately providing a more enjoyable experience for millions of visitors passing through the US pre-clearance facility at LPIA.

Provided by Vancouver Airport Authority, BorderXpress Automated Passport Control is a self-service kiosk technology, which enables US and Canadian passport holders and other eligible travelers to complete a portion of the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) inspection process electronically, expediting the border clearance process.

"APC will greatly improve our ability to process passengers through the airport. The demand for the destination continues to grow and with more than 3.2 million passengers traveling through LPIA on an annual basis, we want to ensure that their experience at our airport is a positive one," explained Vernice Walkine, president and CEO at Nassau Airport Development Company. "Making the investment in 20 APC kiosks just makes sense from a passenger management perspective as the move will drastically reduce wait times in an area impacting more than 80% of our total airport traffic. The technology will benefit the destination for years to come."

Aside from US and Canadian passport holders, passengers eligible to use the new technology include all US Lawful Permanent Residents and Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approved passport holders – international travelers from 38 countries not requiring US entry visas for stays of 90 days or less.

The new system does not require travelers to complete a paper US customs declaration form, as all questions are answered on the computer's touch screen.

Travelers simply follow the on-screen instructions to scan their passport, answer the customs declaration questions, have their photo taken and receive a confirmation receipt, which they then show to a CBP officer to finalize processing.

Source: Caribbean News Now