I would strongly recommend not using LAX as first point of entry as the immigration is getting worse.

They made everyone to go through the electronic kiosks and then onward to the standard immigration counters. Lots of queue cutting, if you are faster on the machine, you get to go to the counter earlier.

I made at least about 3 to 6 US trips a year since 1980 and yet, the electronics kiosk failed to recognise me.

You see lots of people queuing and pleading to the officers to help them but all they do is to tell them that they will missed their connecting flights and they just need to speak to the airlines AFTER they clear immigration. No taking them out of the queue to clear immigration....unless you got kids. My last trip there was Aug and it took 1.5 hours during a non peak period. CX880 arrived to an almost empty hall but it still took so long, I didn't get out till well after midnight.

LAX remains, in my humble opinion, the worst airport in the world for immigration clearance.

Yes, your bags need to be claimed at baggage claim no matter you are arriving LAX or transiting to other US cities, Good luck!

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