Florida Guide > Travelling
Automated Passenger Control Booths at MCO
The self service kiosks or automated passenger control booths, APC for short, were introduced at Orlando International Airport in the last two or three years and certainly seem to have speeded up the transit through immigration. In order to use the the APC , travelers must be in possession of an approved ESTA and have visited the United States on at least one occasion since 2008.
Not to be confused with the Global Entry Programme there is no charge for using APC and no necessity to register in advance of travel.
On arrival at MCO follow the signs for immigration but on arrival in the immigration hall do not go directly to APC, instead, join the visitors entry line and travelers who meet the criteria to use the automated booths are filtered out by airport officials and directed to use the APC. If you are traveling in a party who all live at the same address you should use one kiosk, if your party live at different addresses you will need to use individual kiosks and complete the process as a single traveler.
Follow the onscreen instructions and insert your passport into the machine for scanning - be sure to insert it in the correct manner as shown on screen. You will then need to answer a series of questions by pressing the appropriate answers on screen for example - is your trip for business or pleasure? Information required includes your flight details so be sure to have your flight number handy.
It is possible that you have already completed a customs form on board the aircraft but you will need to complete the same information again and your hard copy is no longer required.
Biometric information is gathered by taking your fingerprints, simply place them on screen as directed. This doesn' t always work first time, but be patient and take care to position them carefully in the area shown, it does help if your fingers are slightly greasy, try wiping them across your forehead!
Finally you will have your photograph taken, and it will be unflattering! These booths don' t seem to recognize the first rule of taking a selfie. . . . . . . . always from above!
Should you have any problems with any aspect of using the kiosk, airport officials are on hand to assist you and once all of the above have been successfully completed the machine will issue you with a receipt which needs to be presented to the immigration officer along with your passport. Occasionally the officer may ask supplementary questions but these are usually just pleasantries whilst he is examining your receipt and stamping your passport and the process is very quick. Be sure to hang on to your receipt as, after collecting your luggage, you will need to hand this in to the customs officials.
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