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I last renewed my PortPass (definitely called that - I'm looking at the card now) about 18 months ago. So it is definitely still working post 9/11, and I last used it in June 05, so is current (although the scanner was broken at JFK on this occasion... so I just went up to any US citizen lane counter and presented my card with passport. The Officer was happy to process me.
The card is labelled a PortPass, but the system (including the scanners etc) is called INSpass, because the INS issues the Port Pass.
Someone told me awhile ago that when the terror alert is high in the US, the pass is not valid. But I have never yet been turned away from the US citizen entry lane. (although last year in Dallas, the embarrassed Officer admitted to having never heard of the system... they don't have the system there. But he happily let me through... and I avoided about 500 latin americans in the alien queue)
To get one? Go to the Portpass office in Tom Bradley terminal at LAX (also at JFK, Miami, Newark, SFO, Toronto Pearson IA, Vancouver IA, Washington Dulles). Unfortunately if you have to be on the US side of customs to get a card. It takes about 20 minutes to get a photo ID card prepared on the spot. I vaguely recall when I got my first pass long ago, they did affirm I was visiting the US at least 3 times a year.
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