Originally Posted by
aztimm
I just went through LAX on Sunday, PVG-LAX-AUS. Our flight was about 15 minutes early, and parked out on the tarmac (or apron, or whatever you call it when there isn't a gate). Surprisingly, I think it was actually faster than dealing with a gate and all the walking. Got on a bus the dropped us off right at immigration. I have Global Entry and was through in a matter of maybe 3 minutes, then back through security in another 2-3 minutes. I'd estimate that it was 30 minutes between getting off of the aircraft and entering the Flagship Lounge.
But that doesn't mean I would book 40 minutes. I had booked about 2 hours, and felt a bit nervous about that.
I suspect OP is a national of India and as such probably wouldn't have GE (might as a dual citizen), so I would expect that he/she would be subject to longer lines and more rigorous inspection at immigration and customs.
I'm still remembering an entry at the ORD international terminal where I breezed through with GE, other USA citizens had waits of several hours while foreign citizens were waiting for as long as six hours to be processed through immigration. People were sitting on the floor (or even sleeping on the floor) and the lines stretched the entire length of the corridor almost to the jetway. I was in business class and I suspect that coach passengers were held on board the aircraft until there was space for them to join the line.
This was a very extreme example, but it does point out quite dramatically that foreign citizens can face much longer wait times when entering the USA.