2026 US Arrival Card & Customs Entry Guide

What is the US Arrival Card?

The old blue paper form distributed on airplanes—CBP Form 6059B (Customs Declaration)—is obsolete at most major entry points.

Today, the "US arrival card" exists in two distinct digital formats depending on what you are submitting:

1. Customs and Identity Declaration: Handled electronically via automated airport kiosks or through the official, free Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
2. Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record): For non-U.S. citizens, this tracks your legal entry and exit dates. It is entirely automated; border agents generate your digital record when scanning your passport upon arrival.

Do I Need a US Arrival Card?

Because paper forms are gone, your entry requirements depend entirely on your citizenship status and how you cross the border.

Who Should Use the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) App?

The official MPC app acts as your digital arrival card. It is open to:

• U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders).
• Canadian citizens traveling on B1 or B2 visitor visas.
• Returning Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers with an approved and active ESTA.

Who Cannot Use the App (Exemptions)?

If you are an international traveler arriving on a standard non-immigrant visa (such as an F-1 student visa, H-1B work visa, or a standard B1/B2 tourist visa from a country other than Canada), you cannot use the MPC app.

Instead, you are exempt from pre-filling any digital card. You simply walk up directly to a standard CBP officer lane or an automated kiosk at your airport terminal, where your entry data and declarations are recorded verbally and biometrically.

Land Borders vs. Air Entry

The digital app framework applies mostly to air and sea travel. However, if you enter the U.S. via a land border crossing as a foreign visitor, you must obtain a Form I-94. You can apply for a provisional I-94 up to 7 days before crossing using the CBP One mobile app or the official CBP website, which requires a $30 USD (~$41 CAD) processing fee.

Requirements for Entering the United States: Information & Documents

To successfully pass through U.S. border security, make sure you have the required documents ready for both the immigration review and the customs inspection.

1. Mandatory Identity Documents

• Valid Passport: Must be machine-readable and valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay (unless your country belongs to the "6-Month Club" exemption list).
• Visa or Travel Authorization: A valid physical U.S. visa stamp or an active ESTA approval for Visa Waiver countries.
• Supporting Paperwork: Students should carry their signed Form I-20; workers should have copies of their I-129 petitions or employment letters.

2. Information Required for the Customs Declaration Part

The U.S. government monitors all items entering its borders. You are legally required to declare:

• Currency: Any cash, checks, money orders, or traveler's checks totaling $10,000 USD (~$13,600 CAD) or more. There is no penalty for bringing large sums, but failing to declare it can lead to total asset forfeiture and criminal fines up to $500,000 USD (~$680,000 CAD).
• Agriculture and Food Products: All fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, meats, raw dairy products, and soil.
• Duty-Free Allowances: Visitors can bring up to $100 USD (~$136 CAD) worth of gifts duty-free. Regular travelers have personal exemptions for alcohol (1 liter per adult over 21) and tobacco (200 cigarettes).
• Prohibited Items: Absinthe, dangerous weapons, counterfeit merchandise, and cannabis. Bringing cannabis across the federal U.S. border remains strictly illegal, even if you fly into a U.S. state where marijuana use is legalized.

How to Fill Out the US Arrival Card Online

If you meet the criteria to use the free Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app, follow these execution steps upon your arrival.

1.Download and Setup: Cost: $0 USD.

Download the official Mobile Passport Control app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store before your flight. Create a secure password and set up a user profile.

2.Enter Document Details: Up to 12 people per group.

Scan your passport page or type in your passport number, expiration date, and country of citizenship. You can add family members to your device to submit a combined declaration.

3.Complete Customs Questions: Answer honestly.

Once you land or enter a Preclearance location, select your specific arrival airport and terminal. Answer the standard digital customs queries regarding food, merchandise, and currency.

4.Take Photos and Submit: Valid for 4 hours.

Take a clear smartphone selfie for each person in your group within the app. Submit the form to generate an encrypted QR code receipt on your device screen.

Detailed Arrival Process in the United States

Detailed Arrival Process in the United States

When you step off your plane at a U.S. airport, follow this direct operational sequence:

[Exit Airplane] ──> [Follow Signs to Passport Control] ──> [Choose MPC Line or Standard Line] ──> [Officer Interview & Photo] ──> [Baggage Claim] ──> [Exit to Public Terminal]

1. Navigate to CBP Inspection: Walk down the arrivals corridor into the main border security hall.
2. Select Your Lane: Look closely at overhead signs. If you submitted your arrival details via the MPC app, enter the dedicated, shorter Mobile Passport Control queue lane. If you do not have the app, enter the standard visitor or citizen lines.
3. Present Your Data: Show your physical passport and the digital QR code on your phone screen to the CBP officer.
4. Identity Verification: The officer will confirm your biometrics by scanning your fingerprints and capturing a digital facial photograph.
5. Baggage Collection and Exit: Pick up your checked luggage from the carousels. Walk past the final exit checkpoint. Agents may conduct random luggage screenings here using agricultural detector dogs or X-ray machines.

When Should I Fill Out the US Arrival Card?

The timing window depends entirely on your method of entry:

• Via the MPC Mobile App: You can build your passport profiles weeks in advance. However, you must wait to complete the flight declaration questions, take your profile selfie, and submit the data until after you land on U.S. soil (or when you arrive at an official U.S. Preclearance terminal abroad before departing).
• Via Land Border (Provisional I-94): You must apply and pay the $30 USD (~$41 CAD) fee within 7 days prior to your scheduled arrival at the border checkpoint.

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Do Not Fall for App Paywalls: The official Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is completely free ($0 USD). Third-party apps that charge fees for U.S. customs handling are fraudulent.
• Declare Every Single Food Item: Many travelers think packed commercial snacks like trail mix, chips, or airline cookies do not count as "food." They do. Declare all organic materials. If a border officer finds an unlisted apple in your bag, you face instant civil penalties starting at $300 USD (~$408 CAD) up to $1,000 USD (~$1,360 CAD).
• Understand Your Stay Limits: Your visa stamp or ESTA window does not dictate your legal length of stay. Always check your electronic Form I-94 online via i94.cbp.dhs.gov within 24 hours of arrival to check your exact, legally binding "Admit-Until-Date." Overstaying by even one day can void your visa and result in future entry bans.

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