What you need to know about the CBP One™ Mobile Application

What you need to know about the CBP One™ Mobile Application

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CBP One™ is a mobile application that serves as a single portal for various CBP (Customs and Border Protection) services. The app has been designed to cater to the needs of different types of users by directing them to the appropriate services based on their requirements. This is achieved through a series of guided questions that help the app understand each user’s specific needs.

The US Customs and Border Protection is the nation’s largest federal law enforcement agency charged with securing the nation’s borders. They take a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, and border security functions. 

Some of the services provided by CBP include managing border wait times, providing port information, and offering trusted traveler programs. CBP One™ is a mobile application that serves as a single portal to various CBP services, designed to ensure the security and efficiency of international trade and travel.

By providing a personalized approach, CBP One™ ensures users can access the services they need quickly and easily. Whether it’s for travelers, importers, or businesses, the app is capable of directing each type of user to the appropriate services.

Why do migrants need to download the CBP app?

This app was launched on October 28, 2020, and it’s available for free on the Apple App and Google Play stores. People looking to immigrate to the United States are asked to download it to streamline their entry into the United States, particularly if they are frequent international travelers.

After downloading the app, users create an account at Login.gov, a website that allows users access to participating government agencies. The app can help expedite the customs and border control process by allowing users to submit their passport and declaration information electronically before arriving at the port of entry. This can save time and reduce wait times at the border. 

Additionally, the app can provide real-time information on wait times at various ports of entry, which can be helpful for migrants planning their travel. Migrants may find the CBP app useful because it can help streamline the customs and border control process and save time at the port of entry.

Currently, CBP One™ is available to various user types, providing a range of services to make the travel process more efficient and streamlined. Land travelers can use the app to submit their traveler information in advance, which can help speed up their border crossing into the United States. Air travelers can use the app to request an inspection of biological and agricultural products upon their arrival in the US. Brokers, carriers, and forwarders can make appointments to inspect perishable cargo, while travelers can apply for and view their I-94s. 

The app also provides permission-based use for International Organizations (IOs) to verify the status of individuals in CBP Programs. It’s worth noting that additional services will be rolled out over the next year, with aircraft operators, bus operators, seaplane pilots, commercial truck drivers, and commercial vessel operators eventually able to use CBP One™.

CBP One™ features

Among the app’s features, you can find an Inspection Appointment Request feature for brokers, carriers, and forwarders and I-94 Entry for travelers. But, also, there is an International Organization feature restricted to organizations identified by the State Department as authorized users of this app to verify the individuals’ status who are currently in the MPP, Migrant Protection Protocols.

The Migrant Protection Protocol is a policy that was implemented during the Trump administration, aimed at managing the flow of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border of the United States. The policy is distinct from another process known as “metering,” which involves US Customs and Border Protection officials turning away asylum seekers and people without proper documentation. Under the MPP, asylum seekers were required to remain in Mexico while their cases were being processed. 

This policy was controversial and faced legal challenges, with critics arguing that it put the safety of asylum seekers at risk by forcing them to remain in potentially dangerous conditions in Mexico. In December 2021, the Biden administration announced that it would be formally ending the MPP program, citing concerns about its legality and effectiveness. Nevertheless, the legacy of the MPP continues to influence US immigration policy and the ongoing debate over how to manage the flow of migrants at the US-Mexico border.

To ensure safety and operational success, the US Government partnered with certain international organizations to assist in verifying MPP enrollment via the CBP One™ app before arriving at the US Port of Entry.

For any specific questions related to this app, you can write CBPOne@cbp.dhs.gov and receive a response as soon as possible.

What do migrants think about the CBP One™ app?

According to an article written by CBS News, the CBP One™ app opens appointments for the day at exactly 9:00 am, but by 9:05 am, all the appointments, along with migrants’ hope, are gone.

“It’s [a] lottery with people’s lives, with– with people’s families, with people’s livelihoods, with people’s wellbeing,” Karina Breceda, who runs a shelter in Ciudad Juárez, told 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, cited by CBS News.

One of the goals of the Biden administration with the app is that it would dissuade immigrants from entering the US illegally. 

“According to Border Patrol figures, an average of 1,800 migrants a day crossed the Rio Grande into El Paso in December, ” the article indicates. The app “was also expanded in January to allow migrants to apply for a humanitarian exemption to Title 42. Administration officials say the process is more humane than what was going on before”, the article continues.

However, migrants think differently. To them, it is not “the most humane process” because the most vulnerable aren’t getting access to it. With just five minutes per day as a window to get an appointment at the border, it is not enough for them, Breceda said.

On the other hand, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told CBS News that the app and process are not flawless but that the US Government is continuing to improve the system.

However, if you want to immigrate to the United States, the ideal is to do it hand-by-hand with an immigration lawyer in San Diego, California. Leave it to the experts at Kannan Law; we are ready to help.