Man crosses US border using iPad scan of passport

A man who forgot his passport was able to cross the US border using only his iPad.

Canadian Martin Reisch presented the US border office with his iPad after realising he did not have his passport. The 33-year-old was on his way to Vermont for Christmas and thinks that the border officials made an exception for him due to his circumstances.

Reisch told US Customs and Border Protection he was heading to the States to drop off Christmas presents for his friend's children. He then showed them a scanned passport and driver's licence on his Apple device.

"I thought I'd at least give it a try," Reisch said, according to the Associated Press.

"He took the iPad into the little border hut. He was in there a good five, six minutes. It seemed like an eternity. When he came back, he took a good long pause before wishing me a Merry Christmas."

Reisch managed to re-enter Canada, again using his iPad, later on the same day.

"I see the future as 100% being able to cross with your identity on a digital device - it's just a matter of time," he said.

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