Customs Declaration- APC Terminals

U.S. Customs Declaration

APC Process Guide Version 2_4

Customs Declaration- APC Terminals

OMB: 1651-0009

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 1651-0009 can be found here:

2023-10-31 - Revision of a currently approved collection

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Automated Passport Control (APC)
Process Guide

CONFIDENTIAL

This document is the property of Vancouver Airport
Authority and may not be reproduced, duplicated,
distributed or sold in any form or by any means without the
prior written consent of Vancouver Airport Authority.

AUTOMATED PASSPORT CONTROL (APC)
VANCOUVER AIRPORT AUTHORITY
SEPTEMBER 2016

APC Process Guide

Version 2.4 | September 2016

Table of Contents
1

Introduction ................................................................................. 5

Kiosk Components ..................................................................... 7

Completing a Transaction ........................................................ 11

Exception Screens .................................................................... 34

Error Messages ......................................................................... 39

Kiosk Troubleshooting FAQs................................................... 43

1.1
1.2
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3

Purpose of This Guide .................................................................................................. 5
Kiosk Functions............................................................................................................. 5

Kiosk Terminology ........................................................................................................ 7
Kiosk Component Functions ......................................................................................... 9
TracePad (EZ Access Keypad) ................................................................................... 10
Pre-Conditions ............................................................................................................ 11
Normal APC Transaction ............................................................................................ 11
Review by Document Verification Officer .................................................................... 33

List of Figures
Figure 1: Standard Kiosk Components ................................................................................................... 7
Figure 2: Premium Kiosk Components.................................................................................................... 8
Figure 3: APC Kiosk EZ Access Keypad............................................................................................... 10
Figure 4: APC Process Overview .......................................................................................................... 11

List of Tables
Table 1: Kiosk Component Functions ..................................................................................................... 9
Table 2: Keypad Accessibility Features ................................................................................................ 10

CONFIDENTIAL: This document is the property of Vancouver Airport Authority and may not be reproduced, duplicated,
distributed, or sold in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Vancouver Airport Authority.

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Revision History
Date

Version

Description

Revised

1 Jun 2013

1.0

Initial version of manual

YVR

12 Jun 2013

1.1

New APC cover page standard added

YVR

17 Jun 2013

1.2

EZ Access Keypad description added

YVR

24 Jul 2013

1.3

CAN passport holders and age logic

YVR

23 Oct 2013

1.4

CAN Purpose of Travel amendment - Sec 3.3

YVR

10 Apr 2014

1.5

Addition of ESTA functionality

YVR

25 Aug 2014

1.6

Addition of LPR functionality

YVR

27 Nov 2014

1.7

Addition of Hot Button feature and screenshots

YVR

8 Jan 2015

1.8

Change to Purpose of Travel screen for ESTA

YVR

29 Jun 2015

2.0

Phase 4 changes added

YVR

26 Aug 2015

2.3

Changes to order of document type screen,
changes to purpose of travel for U.S. Visa
classes, removal of No to All button, and new O
on receipt for referral to CBP officer

YVR

29 Sept 2016

2.4

New take photo instructions

YVR

Copyright Notice
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, duplicated, distributed, or sold in
any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Vancouver Airport Authority.

Definitions
Term

Definition

APC

Automated Passport Control

BCC

Border Crossing Card

CBP

United States Customs and Border Protection

CSR

Customer service representative, airport employee or contractor assigned to
assisting travelers using the ABC kiosks.

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Term

Definition

Declaration card

Used for entry into the United States. Not needed if using APC kiosks.

DVO

Document Verification Officer. U.S. CBP officer responsible for inspecting travelers
who have used an APC kiosk and obtained a receipt.

ESTA

Electronic System for Travel Authorization. Required for those under the Visa Waiver
Program for stays of 90 days or less for tourism or business. Transiting or traveling
through the United States to Canada or Mexico is generally permitted for VWP
travelers.

Family unit

Members of a family residing in one household.

LPR

United States lawful permanent resident

Kiosk

An interactive computer terminal available for public use.

MRZ

Machine-readable zone. The two lines of machine-readable information at the bottom
of the main passport page.

Primary inspection

First stage in clearing U.S. Customs where travelers present their passport and
make a declaration. Travelers may be referred for secondary inspection.

Primary traveler

Family member responsible for the travel party.

Secondary inspection

Second stage in clearing U.S. Customs where travelers may be directed to the
secondary processing area for further questioning or baggage search.

Travel party

Passengers traveling together on the same flight belonging to the same family unit.

VWP

Visa Waiver Program. It allows citizens of the 38 participating countries to travel to
the United States without obtaining a visa, for stays of 90 days or less for tourism or
business.

YVR

Vancouver International Airport

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Introduction

The Automated Passport Control (APC) system provides self-service kiosks that allow the following
travelers to complete a portion of the primary inspection process electronically:
•

U.S. and Canadian passport holders

•

Foreign travelers who have been issued a U.S. Entry Visa in their passports with a class of either
B1 (temporary visitor for business) or B2 (temporary visitor for pleasure or in transit)

•

Travelers who have a U.S.-issued Border Crossing Card (BCC)

•

U.S. lawful permanent residents (LPRs), also referred to as green card holders

•

Returning passport holders from one of the 38 countries listed in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
with a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

Other foreign passports, Visa types, or foreign residency cards cannot be processed at the kiosks and
must be handled by a CBP officer in a booth.

1.1

Purpose of This Guide

The purpose of this APC Process Guide is to provide airport customer service representatives (CSRs)
with general instructions for using the APC kiosks. Because CSRs are typically required to assist
travelers in using the kiosks, they must be thoroughly familiar with their use.
For more information on APC, see the following documents:
•

APC Operations and Maintenance Guide

1.2

Kiosk Functions

The primary objective of APC is to increase the productivity of Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
resources by moving many of the necessary data collection duties to passengers while they are
otherwise idle in queue. Because the kiosk lines may be shorter than the lines at the CBP booths,
travelers can be processed and on their way faster. As well, by reducing workload, the use of APC
kiosks may free up CBP officers for other activities.
APC kiosks are easy to use and do not require preregistration or payment of any membership fees.
An added benefit is that no declaration form is required by the user, as all questions are asked and
answered on the touch screen.
To use the kiosk, eligible travelers do the following:
•

Activate the screen

•

Select their travel document type

•

Scan their travel document

•

Select their purpose of travel to the U.S. (if Canadian passport holder or Visa, BCC, or VWP with
ESTA traveler)
CONFIDENTIAL: This document is the property of Vancouver Airport Authority and may not be reproduced, duplicated,
distributed, or sold in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Vancouver Airport Authority.

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•

Have their four fingerprints taken (if U.S. Visa, U.S. BCC, U.S. LPR, or VWP with a valid ESTA reentering the U.S., and are between the ages of 14 and 79)

•

Have their photo taken

•

Answer declaration questions

The data is passed to U.S. CBP for the standard risk assessment. A response from CBP allows for the
printing of a receipt. Once finished at the kiosk, travelers present their printed receipt, travel document,
and boarding pass (if applicable) to a CBP officer for verification and final clearance.

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Kiosk Components

2.1

Kiosk Terminology
Attract light
Camera
Ambient light sensor

Light bars
Touch screen
Fingerprint reader
Travel document
scanner

Receipt dispenser

TracePad

Headphone jack and
volume control

Figure 1: Standard Kiosk Components

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Ambient light sensor
Camera

Light bars

Attract light

Touch screen

Monitor angle
adjustment bar

TracePad
Receipt dispenser

Fingerprint reader
Travel document
scanner

Headphone jack and
volume control

Figure 2: Premium Kiosk Components

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Kiosk Component Functions

Table 1 lists the functions of the APC kiosk components.
Table 1: Kiosk Component Functions
Component

Function

Attract light

Used to indicate when the kiosk is available for use (green light) or not
available for use (light out).

Ambient light sensor

Used to adjust brightness of photo flash.

Camera

Used to take a photo of each traveler, which is printed on the receipt.

Fingerprint reader

Used to capture the fingerprints of each traveler.

Headphone jack and
volume control

Used by travelers who are visually impaired, together with the TracePad.

Light bars

Used to illuminate user’s face capture ICAO-quality photos.

Monitor angle adjustment
bar (on Premium Kiosks
only)

Used to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor.

Receipt dispenser

Used to dispense declaration card receipts.

Speaker

Used to deliver an audible beep if a receipt is not taken.

Touch screen

Used to input information that is not machine readable.

TracePad
(EZ Access Keypad)

Provides software navigation for people with mobility or sensory impairments.

Travel document scanner

Used to scan travel documents.

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2.3 TracePad (EZ Access Keypad)
The kiosk is also equipped with an 8-button EZ Access Keypad (Figure 2) that provides software
navigation for people with mobility or sensory impairments.

Figure 3: APC Kiosk EZ Access Keypad

The 8 common buttons on the keypad support the accessibility features listed in Table 2.
Table 2: Keypad Accessibility Features
Button

Features

HELP button

This button is a blue diamond shape and is located in the middle of the keypad. Use the
blue button to repeat instructions or text.

Up button

This yellow triangle-shaped button is in the middle of the keypad. It activates the highlight
cursor and moves the cursor up the screen.

Down button

This yellow triangle-shaped button is in the middle of the keypad. It activates the highlight
cursor and moves the cursor down the screen.

Action button

This round green button is in the bottom right corner of the keypad. Use the green button
to enter, confirm, accept, and submit.

BACK button

This white button has a pointed tip pointing left, and is in the upper left of the keypad.

NEXT button

This white button has a pointed tip pointing right, and is in the upper right of the keypad.

HOME button

This button is a black rectangle with a double chevron symbol pointing to the left, and is
in the upper left corner.

END button

This button is a small red rectangle with a double chevron symbol pointing to the right,
and is in the upper right corner of the keypad.

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Completing a Transaction

3.1

Pre-Conditions

The following pre-conditions must be met before completing a transaction at an APC kiosk:
•

The green attract light must be on and the kiosk welcome screen must be displayed.

•

Travelers must have a valid and machine-readable U.S., Canadian, or VWP with ESTA passport,
U.S. Visa, U.S. Border Crossing Card (U.S. BCC), or U.S. LPR card.

•

Canadian passports must not expire in the next 180 days from the date of entry, and VWP
passports must not expire in the next 90 days.

A written declaration card is not required.

3.2

Normal APC Transaction

U.S. and Canadian Passport Holders

The steps in this section for completing the APC process apply to U.S. and Canadian passport holders.
The process for U.S. Visa, U.S. Border Crossing Card, U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident Card, and Visa
Waiver Program Travelers is slightly different and is provided later in this guide.
The primary traveler can complete the transaction for a family traveling together who live at the same
address. There is no limit to the size of the family group. The person using the kiosk should be
communicating with others in the group about the declaration content.
A family consisting of U.S. and Canadian passport holders can be processed in the same kiosk
transaction as long as they are traveling together and live at the same address. There is no limit on the
number of U.S. or Canadian travelers within the same kiosk transaction.
Note: Canadian travelers may only stay in the U.S. for 180 days or less.

Figure 4: APC Process Overview

The steps for completing the APC process are described on the following pages, complete with screen
examples.

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The travel party approachs an available kiosk. The Welcome to the United States of America
screen displays in the available language choices (for example, English, French, Chinese—up to 33
languages).

The primary traveler selects a language.
If the wrong language is selected, the traveler can press either Quit to cancel the transaction, or Go
Back to return to the language selection screen.

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At any point in the transaction, kiosk support staff may press the Language Hot Button at the top
left corner of the screen to switch from the selected language to English, or vice versa. This allows
airport staff to help travelers through the process no matter which language is initially selected.
2

The traveler presses their travel document type (US / Canada/ ESTA Passport).

The kiosk plays a short animation showing how to scan the specific travel document selected. The
traveler places the travel document on the scanner. If the traveler presses Go Back, they are
returned to the document type selection screen.
The machine-readable zone (MRZ) on the travel document must be inserted first and the document
held flat. Aligning the document to the left corner is best but is not mandatory. The kiosk will indicate
if there’s a problem. If so, the traveler may try scanning it again. The scanner validates the
following:
•

It is a U.S. Visa, U.S. Border Crossing Card, U.S. LPR card, or U.S., Canadian, or VWP
passport (meeting criteria of ESTA and re-entering the U.S.) passport.

•

It has not expired, or is soon to expire (90 days for VWP and 180 days for Canadian).

•

The MRZ data is in the proper format.

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The screen displays the traveler’s travel document information. If correct, the traveler presses
Accept. If the information is not correct, the traveler can retry by inserting their document in the
scanner again or by pressing Go Back, and attempt to rescan the travel document on the document
scan screen.

If the traveler accepts the travel document information, the kiosk plays a short animation showing
how to remove the travel document from the scanner. The traveler removes the document. If the
traveler does not remove the travel document within a specified period of time, the kiosk will
automatically proceed to the next screen.
CONFIDENTIAL: This document is the property of Vancouver Airport Authority and may not be reproduced, duplicated,
distributed, or sold in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Vancouver Airport Authority.

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Each traveler must select one of the following choices for their purpose of travel to the U.S., and
then press Continue. This screen will not appear for U.S. passport holders.
•

(B1) Temporary visitor for business

•

(B2) Temporary visitor for pleasure or in transit

•

U.S. LPR “Green Card”

•

TN, H-1B, L1 or Other

Canadian passport holders who are in-transit, meaning connecting same-day to an onward airport,
must select (B2) Temporary visitor for pleasure or in transit.

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If the traveler selects LPR, the traveler is returned to the document scan screen to scan their LPR
card.

If the traveler selects TN, H-1B, L1 or Other, the traveler is returned to the document type selection
screen to select another type of travel document. If the traveler selects TN, H-1B, L1 or Other for a
second time, the screen below is displayed and the travel party must be referred to a CBP officer for
full clearance.

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The traveler presses the Green Camera to have a photo taken.

The traveler can press the up and down arrows to adjust the camera so their face appears squarely
in the view box. (Premium Kiosks shows a “Tilt” diagram instructing user how to adjust camera).
10 As soon as the Green Camera button is pressed a 3 second countdown will appear within an yellow
arrow that moves to the top of the screen so the traveler’s eyes are drawn to the camera.

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11 The photo will now be automatically accepted if a face is detected in the frame. If no face is
detected than the following screen will be presented instructing the user to make some corrections
before attempting another photo. A maximum of 2 photo attempts are currently configured. After a
second failed photo the final photo taken will be automatically used if the photo process is nonbiometric (US Passports, CAN Passports, Minor/Senior ESTA, LPR, VISA).

12 The primary traveler presses Yes or No to each of the questions below. The declaration is made on
behalf of all travelers in the family group.

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13 The traveler presses Submit to send the information to CBP or presses Go Back to change the
information.

14 The following message displays while the information is processed.

15 The traveler presses Add family member if traveling with family members residing at the same
address or No other family members if traveling alone or once all family members have been
added to the transaction.

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16 If there are other family members, steps 2 to 10 will repeat until No other family members is
pressed on the screen below.

17 The primary traveler confirms the flight information by pressing either Yes or No.

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18 The following message displays while the receipts are printing.

19 The primary traveler takes the receipt(s) and the family group walks to the Document Verification
Officer (DVO) stationed nearby and presents their travel documents and receipts. If a large X or O is
printed on the receipt, the travel party is required to report to a CBP officer in a booth.

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U.S. Visa, U.S. Border Crossing Card, U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident Card, and
Visa Waiver Program Travelers

The following travelers may use APC and will go through a similar APC kiosk transaction as detailed
above, but must go through a slightly different photo capture procedure as well as a fingerprinting
process:
•

U.S. Visa travelers

•

U.S. lawful permanent resident (LPR) card holders

•

U.S. Border Crossing Card (BCC) travelers

•
•

Visa Waiver Program (VWP) or ESTA passport holders who have previously entered the U.S. with
an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) (i.e., second, third entry)

Note: Under the terms of the VWP ESTA program, visitors may only stay in the U.S. for 90 days or less.
The following steps apply to the travelers listed above. The process for U.S. and Canadian Passport
Holders is provided earlier in this guide.
1

The group of travelers approaches an available kiosk. The Welcome to the United States of
America screen displays the available language choices.

The primary traveler selects a language.
If the wrong language is selected, the traveler can press Quit to cancel the transaction.

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The traveler presses their travel document type: US / Canda / ESTA Passport (VWP with ESTA
passport holders only), U.S. Border Crossing Card, U.S. VISA, or U.S. LPR “Green Card”.

The kiosk plays one of the following short animations showing how to scan the specific travel
document type selected. The traveler places the travel document on the scanner. If the traveler
presses Go Back, they are returned to the document type selection screen.
The machine-readable zone (MRZ) on the travel document must be inserted first and the document
held flat. Aligning the document to the left corner is best but is not mandatory. The kiosk will indicate
if there’s a problem. If so, the traveler may try scanning it again.

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The following animation plays if the traveler selected Passport as their travel document type.

The following animation plays if the traveler selected U.S. Border Crossing Card as their travel
document type.

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The following animation plays if the traveler selected U.S. VISA as their travel document type.

The following animation plays if the traveler selected U.S. LPR “Green Card” as their travel
document type.

The screen displays the traveler’s travel document information. If correct, the traveler presses
Accept. If the information is not correct, the traveler can press Go Back and attempt to rescan the
document on the document scan screen.

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For U.S. Visa travelers with a B3, B5, or C4 Visa class, U.S. BCC travelers, and returning VWP with
ESTA passport holders, after the document confirmation, the traveler must select one of the
following choices for their purpose of travel to the U.S., then press Accept. This screen will not
appear for U.S. lawful permanent residents or travelers with a Visa class of B1, B2, or D1.
Travelers with a B3 or B5 Visa class or Border Crossing Card must select one of the following
choices for their purpose of travel:
•

(B1) Temporary visitor for business

•

(B2) Temporary visitor for pleasure or in transit

Travelers with a C4 Visa class must select one of the following choices for their purpose of travel:
•

(D1) For crewmen serving aboard an aircraft in any capacity that will land in the U.S.

•

TN, H-1B, L1 or Other

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VWP with ESTA passport holders must select one of the following choices for their purpose of
travel:
•

(WB) Temporary visitor for business

•

(WT) Temporary visitor for pleasure or transit

•

LPR “Green Card”

•

TN, H-1B, L1 or Other

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If the traveler selects LPR, the traveler is returned to the document scan screen to scan their LPR
card.
If the traveler selects TN, H-1B, L1 or Other, the screen below is displayed and the travel party
must be referred to a CBP officer for full clearance.

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The kiosk plays a short animation showing how to scan fingerprints. The traveler (if aged 14–79
years) places their right hand with the four fingers flat against the glass surface of the fingerprint
reader, and presses firmly until the screen guides turn green. The traveler waits to be prompted for
the next step.

The traveler cannot start with their left hand. However, if there is an issue with fingerprinting their
right hand, the traveler has the option to switch to their left hand by clicking the left hand button.

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The kiosk provides white, yellow, and green indicators for each finger to provide the traveler with
feedback on how well the fingerprints are being read:
•

White indicates no reading for that finger.

•

Yellow indicates that a finger has been detected, but the print is not good enough.

•

Green indicates the print is good enough to be read.

At least 3 fingers must have a good reading to proceed.

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10 The traveler presses Green Camera button to have a photo taken.

The traveler can press the up and down arrows to adjust the camera so their face appears squarely
in the view box. (Premium Kiosks shows a “Tilt” diagram instructing user how to adjust camera).
11 As soon as the Green Camera button is pressed a 3 second countdown will appear within an yellow
arrow that moves to the top of the screen so the traveler’s eyes are drawn to the camera.

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12 The photo will now be automatically accepted if a face is detected in the frame. If there are issues
with the photo, the traveler will be provided with instructions to correct their positioning and to retake
the photo. Travelers are to remove eyewear, toques, hats, scarves, and any other coverings around
the neck, face, and head to allow successful photo capture. The traveler has a maximum of two
attempts at taking their photo.
If there is no face detected in the picture, and there is only one traveler in the group, the kiosk will
return to the welcome screen. If there are multiple travelers in the group when this occurs, the kiosk
will return to the page that lists the number of travelers..

The rest of the steps for a U.S. Visa, U.S. BCC, U.S. LPR, or VWP traveler are identical to steps
12–19 for U.S. and Canadian Passport Holders.

3.3

Review by Document Verification Officer

Document Verification Officers (DVO), typically positioned near the exit to the APC kiosks area, perform
several functions when reviewing travelers who have been processed at the kiosks, including:
Confirming the identities of the travelers by checking that travel document photos visually match the
travelers.
• Checking that the names on the travel documents and the names on the receipts match.
• Asking questions of the travelers.
The DVO then either:
•

•
•
•

Clears the travelers.
Refers the travelers for primary inspection by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer located
in a booth.
Refers the travelers for secondary inspection.
CONFIDENTIAL: This document is the property of Vancouver Airport Authority and may not be reproduced, duplicated,
distributed, or sold in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Vancouver Airport Authority.

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Exception Screens

The following exception screens may display during a transaction.

If another language is selected, the page changes to that language. The traveler then presses Continue
to move to the next page.

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The above screen is displayed for additional traveler(s) in the family group.

The above screen is displayed after the declaration questions screen to permit additional travelers to be
added.

The above screen displays if the traveler scans a document type different then the one selected on the
document type screen. The traveler can try to rescan the travel document or continue.
CONFIDENTIAL: This document is the property of Vancouver Airport Authority and may not be reproduced, duplicated,
distributed, or sold in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Vancouver Airport Authority.

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The above screen displays if the travel document cannot be read. The traveler can remove and try to
rescan. If unsuccessful, the traveler can either try another kiosk or go to a CBP booth.

The above screen displays if the travel document has expired. The traveler must go to a CBP booth.

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The above screen displays if the travel document has already been scanned.

The above screen displays if the traveler’s photo is invalid during the photo capture process.

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The above screen displays if the photo capture session for a U.S. LPR or ESTA traveler is unsuccessful
after two attempts.

The above screen displays if the fingerprinting session for a U.S. LPR or ESTA traveler is unsuccessful
after four attempts.

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Error Messages

The above message displays if the travel document cannot be successfully read.

The above message displays if the travel document has expired. Refer the traveler to a CBP officer.

The above message displays if the kiosk has remained inactive for a set period of time.

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The above message displays if the accessibility keypad has a problem.

The above message displays if the camera has a problem.

The above message displays if the kiosk is unable to communicate with host systems. A host system
provides services to kiosks, such as configuration, communication, and database access.

The above message displays if there’s a problem with the passport scanner.

The above message displays if there’s a problem with the fingerprint scanner.

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The above message displays if the kiosk is low on paper.

The above message displays if the kiosk is out of paper.

The above message displays if there’s a problem with the printer.

The above message displays if there’s a paper jam.

The above message displays if the printer door is open.

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In Admin isAllowedToRestart=True

In Admin IsAllowedToRestart=False

The above message displays if the application crashes.

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Kiosk Troubleshooting FAQs

Do travelers still need to fill out a declaration card?
No, the declaration is made using the kiosk via the touch screen. If the traveler has already completed a
card, it can be given to a customer service representative or the Document Verification Officer (U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officer) for shredding.
Is APC safe and secure technology?
Yes, the APC technology does not store any personal information. Travelers’ travel document
information and answers to the declaration questions are submitted directly to U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) via secure encryption protocols similar to how it’s done by a CBP officer at a booth.
Why is a photo taken?
The traveler’s photo is taken to allow the Document Verification Officer to verify that the declaration
receipt is for the person who used the kiosk, and the photo on the receipt matches the travel document
photo. For VWP travelers with a valid ESTA and are re-entering the U.S., the photo is required to
update the U.S. Visit program system monitored exclusively by U.S. CBP.
Can kiosks process passports with a temporary extension to the expiry date?
No, travelers with this temporary extension must be processed by a U.S. Customs and Border
Protection officer at a booth.
Does an expired and/or extension to an expired LPR card still work at an APC kiosk?
No, as the machine-readable zone (MRZ) of the card is scanned, the content within the string does not
contain extended expiry date information. For this case as well as those cards that are expired, the
kiosk will advise the user to see a CBP officer for admissibility.
Can kiosks process travel documents that are damaged?
Damaged travel documents can generally be processed as long as the two lines of code at the bottom
of the main page (the machine-readable zone or MRZ) can be read.
What if the travel document is not scanning properly?
Have the traveler try scanning it again, or try another kiosk. If the problem persists:
1

Insert the document face down with the MRZ inserted first.

Push the document to the back of the scanner and hold it flat.

Push the document to the left corner (best but not mandatory).

If the travel document is still not scanning:
4

Verify that it’s one of the following:
•
•
•
•

U.S., Canadian, or VWP passport—other foreign passports cannot be processed
U.S. Visa
U.S. Border Crossing Card
U.S. LPR card
CONFIDENTIAL: This document is the property of Vancouver Airport Authority and may not be reproduced, duplicated,
distributed, or sold in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Vancouver Airport Authority.

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APC Process Guide

Version 2.4 | September 2016

Verify that the document has not expired or is soon to expire (within 90 days for VWP passport
holders and 180 days for Canadian passport holders).

Remove the document from any protective covers.

If the problem persists, the traveler must be processed by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer
at a booth.
What happens if the kiosk runs out of paper?
The kiosk will display an “Out of Service” message. The IT help desk or other appropriate party needs to
be notified to re-stock the paper.
What happens if there’s a paper jam?
Tug gently on the receipt to see if it can be removed. Otherwise, maintenance or other appropriate party
needs to be called to fix the paper jam. Typically, a small piece of paper is caught inside the printer eject
area. A pair of tweezers can be used to remove any pieces of paper or debris, allowing the kiosk to be
back in service.
Who is applicable for ESTA?
Citizens of countries (currently 38 countries) covered by the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) may apply for
ESTA. The list of eligible countries may be found at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Why are fingerprints required for VWP ESTA travelers?
A traveler’s fingerprints are captured at the kiosk and compared against the fingerprints collected by
CBP during the initial U.S. entry by the traveler at which time all 10 fingerprints were taken. A valid
match between the fingerprints captured at the kiosk and those collected during the initial enrolment is
required for entry into the U.S. Fingerprints are not required for those under 14 or 80 years of age or
older.
How do I get more information on ESTA?
The US government maintains a comprehensive website on ESTA. It can be found at
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

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File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Automated Passport Control (APC) Process Guide
Subject	Offsite check-in SOPs
Author	AUTOMATED PASSPORT CONTROL (APC) VANCOUVER AIRPORT AUTHORITY
File Modified	2017-08-21
File Created	2017-08-21