My Japanese girlfriend is going to visit me in the US in May. She will fly from ICN to SFO first and then onto ORD and CMH. According to Flyer Wiki, the MCT for SFO (Intl to Domestic) is 80 minutes. For someone without status and being a non-US national, is that MCT even achievable? Can anyone share their experience transferring from Int'l to Domestic at SFO as I have not made such transfer since 2004?

The last time I was at SFO (last October), it took me more than 40 minutes to get through just domestic security, and I was using the 1K line! I can't imagine how long it will take for a GM to go through security. In case she has to take a connecting flight slightly over the MCT, assuming it takes about 40~60 minutes to get through security, that leaves her 20 min to get through US immigration and pick up her luggage! Should I recommend her to look into at least a 2 hrs of connecting time at SFO?

Btw, how come SFO can't design something similar to IAD, where international pax with domestic transfer goes through a separate route and doesn't have to fight for security wait with other domestic passengers?