Can a returning US citizen elect not to use the automated passport kiosks?

2/9/2020 12:50:40 PM

Yes, they are most definitely optional, it’s in the CBP internal site:

APC kiosks are only intended to facilitate processing entering the United States. There is no requirement that you must use them. If you do not wish to use them, you should inform the Airport Official or CBP Officer directing the lines or watching the kiosks and ask where you should go to be manually processed. You can also ask to speak with a Supervisor if you are denied manual processing.

The problem is, many times it’s an “airport official” or in other words, a minimum wage employee that obviously isn’t aware of all the policies.

I refuse to, as I typically pay outrageous fees as part of my airline ticket, and I don’t want to spend $54 to do a federal employees job by using a machine.

7/25/2018 7:20:39 PM

The kiosks are optional, though neither the signs nor employees tell you that. I’ve used the non-US line tho I’m a US citizen. No hassle from the CBP inspector, a couple of times a curious question as to why I used that line, once the standard ” what is the purpose of your trip to the US?” because he hadn’t noticed I had a US PP.
Bottom line, it’s unusual but OK.

7/25/2018 8:16:35 PM

If the Automated Passport Control kiosk rejects you, the reason for the rejection may be displayed on screen and/or printed on your X receipt as a “referral code.” The code tells officers what the specific problem was.

A list of these codes is available in the Automated Passport Control specifications:

Enforcement Referral
ER
Traveler has enforcement type issues

Random Referral
RR
Traveler is selected for random compliance

Declaration Referral
DR
Traveler answers Yes to any general declaration question

APIS Problem
AP
Traveler is not found on a manifest

Entry Authorization
EA
Visa Waiver traveler does not have an approved ESTA status

Biometric Failure
BF
Traveler has no Enrollment Record on file or biometrics cannot be verified (applicable to Visa Waiver travelers).

Check Documentation
CD
Referral based on

  • Foreign national traveler’s passport expiration date is less than 6 months
  • USC or US LPR traveler’s document query results in a mismatch or not “Issued” status

Technical Referral
TR
Referral based on

  • Traveler has attempted use the kiosk during the configurable enforcement lockout
  • Biometric pre-verify check returned a fault response
  • The return code from a vetting query was other than normal completion
  • A cancellation command from the kiosk that the traveler processing has been terminated.

Passage Granted
PG
Traveler receives Passage Granted

You can use the regular lines, but in the interest of saving your own time and possibly sanity, there are a couple of other things you can try:

  • If Mobile Passport Control is available at your destination terminal, do passport control from your smartphone. Unfortunately it’s not yet available at LAX.
  • If APC kiosks continually reject you, the thing to do is to file with the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. This program is designed to resolve issues with repeatedly being delayed entry or referred to secondary. You’ll be assigned a redress control number which you can add to your airline bookings. If you decide to do this, keep your kiosk receipts as you will need to submit them.
9/4/2016 9:29:19 AM

My wife is a US citizen; I’m not. As a matter of solidarity, whenever and wherever we travel, we go through immigration together. So I can say with certainty that as recently as last Christmas, entering at Boston (where they have a lovely set of automated kiosks), US citizens can queue up with the hoi polloi and have their passport looked at by a human. No suggestion has ever been made (in my earshot) that she should not have done this.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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