Is 2 hours enough time to get through customs in Chicago?
There are many factors that impact how long it may take travelers to complete the immigration and CBP process, but it is rare for it to take more than two hours. Passengers connecting to another location must recheck their luggage.
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Make sure you allow enough time to clear customs and get to your connecting flight. As a general rule, it's best to allow at least two hours for international layovers. Pack smart: Avoid packing any prohibited items in your carry-on or checked baggage.
According to a recent USAToday article, the average o'hare airport security wait times are around 15 minutes. The best Chicago ohare TSA wait times occur on Saturday 10-11pm. The worst Chicago TSA wait times are on Tuesday from 4-5pm, where you could wait up to 33 minutes.
It's really hard to put an exact number on how long you need for your layover. At a minimum, I'd say you should plan for one hour for domestic layovers and two hours for international layovers. But this is not a hard, fast rule! If you have to go through security again on a domestic layover, you might need more time.
Generally, the first three terminals are considered domestic terminals and are easily traversed. All three of these terminals are connected by pedestrian walkways, making them so much easier to cross than having to wait for transportation to take you to them.
If you arrive on an international flight (excluding those who have arrived from a preclearance airport), you must clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checkpoints and claim all checked luggage before being allowed to enter the United States, including travelers with connecting flights.
Allow enough time: Customs can be time-consuming, especially during peak travel periods. Make sure you allow enough time to clear customs and get to your connecting flight. As a general rule, it's best to allow at least two hours for international layovers.
General Departure Delays: Traffic is experiencing gate hold and taxi delays lasting 15 minutes or less. General Arrival Delays: Arrival traffic is experiencing airborne delays of 15 minutes or less.
Generally, the first three terminals are considered domestic terminals and are easily traversed. All three of these terminals are connected by pedestrian walkways, making them so much easier to cross than having to wait for transportation to take you to them.