Government Seeks Input on That Airport Form Nobody Reads
Published Date: 11/26/2025
Notice
Summary
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is updating the Customs Declaration form (CBP Form 6059B) that travelers fill out when entering the U.S. They’re asking for public feedback by January 26, 2026, to make sure the form works well and isn’t too much hassle. This update helps keep travel smooth and efficient without adding extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Mobile Passport Control Expansion
CBP is expanding Mobile Passport Control (MPC) to visa-exempt non-immigrants and non-immigrant visa-bearing travelers. Previously, U.S. lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and visa waiver program (VWP) visitors on their second visit were added to MPC; MPC lets travelers answer CBP Form 6059B questions electronically and in most cases eliminates the need to fill out a paper declaration.
Commercial Bus Carrier MPC Shells
In the commercial bus environment, carriers can create an MPC shell for travelers to input their information or carriers can input information for travelers who did not submit. Travelers will be linked to the arriving conveyance (bus license plate) so CBP can connect submissions to group manifests, improving processing for high-volume passenger arrivals.
CBP Link App: Pre‑Submission and I-94 Integration
The CBP LinkTM application requires travelers to identify the Port of Entry and time/date of arrival and to submit biographic answers and a self-photo; it must be submitted in advance and is available to all travelers with authorized travel documents. MPC/CBP Link will integrate with the public I-94 website in stages: initially providing a link and prepopulating biographical fields, and eventually allowing travelers to apply for and pay for their I-94 without leaving the MPC app.
Linking Vehicles to Traveler Submissions
Travelers arriving by personal vehicle will self-submit their vehicle license plate number via the MPC app so CBP can associate travelers with their conveyance. CBP says this association improves pre-arrival processing, situational awareness, and inspection efficiency at primary inspection.
Device Location Privacy for POE Selection
To select the correct Port of Entry (POE), MPC uses a single latitude/longitude coordinate calculated by the device; that coordinate is collected locally and immediately discarded after a distance calculation, and CBP states it does not receive or retain specific device location data. Only the closest POE is selected for submission.
Estimated Time and Burden for Declarations
CBP provides estimated respondent and time burdens: Form 6059B — 5,421,252 respondents, 4 minutes per response, 363,242 total annual burden hours; Verbal declarations — 420,525,380 respondents, 10 seconds per response, 1,261,576 total hours; MPC app — 42,594,663 respondents, 2 minutes per response, 1,405,623 total hours; CBP Link app — 500,000 respondents, 2 minutes per response, 16,500 total hours.
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