ORD Immigration waits - late afternoon
Jun 15, 2012, 1:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
ORD Immigration waits - late afternoon
On my last flight to ORD in April I arrived about 3:30 pm or so and stood in the immigration line (US/residents) for about an hour. I've never waited that long before and leery before scheduling my next trip. Is that the new norm for that time of day at ORD, or was it bad luck?
Jun 15, 2012, 6:29 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 852
It would depend on the day you're arriving. For instance, today we have 13 flights scheduled to arrive between 3-4pm.
We have 4 arriving banks per day coming into T5. The first is between 10-11am (7 arrivals), the 2nd is between 1230-1330 (11 arrivals), the third 1500-1600 (13 arrivals) and the 4th 1800-1900 (12-13 arrivals).
The longest wait times I've noticed are between 10-11 because of the lower staffing by immigration and to answer your question, yes it's the new norm.
We have 4 arriving banks per day coming into T5. The first is between 10-11am (7 arrivals), the 2nd is between 1230-1330 (11 arrivals), the third 1500-1600 (13 arrivals) and the 4th 1800-1900 (12-13 arrivals).
The longest wait times I've noticed are between 10-11 because of the lower staffing by immigration and to answer your question, yes it's the new norm.
Jun 15, 2012, 6:39 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
It would depend on the day you're arriving. For instance, today we have 13 flights scheduled to arrive between 3-4pm.
We have 4 arriving banks per day coming into T5. The first is between 10-11am (7 arrivals), the 2nd is between 1230-1330 (11 arrivals), the third 1500-1600 (13 arrivals) and the 4th 1800-1900 (12-13 arrivals).
The longest wait times I've noticed are between 10-11 because of the lower staffing by immigration and to answer your question, yes it's the new norm.
We have 4 arriving banks per day coming into T5. The first is between 10-11am (7 arrivals), the 2nd is between 1230-1330 (11 arrivals), the third 1500-1600 (13 arrivals) and the 4th 1800-1900 (12-13 arrivals).
The longest wait times I've noticed are between 10-11 because of the lower staffing by immigration and to answer your question, yes it's the new norm.
Jun 15, 2012, 8:52 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 852
Jun 15, 2012, 12:32 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
Funny you should mention that, but I just submitted an online application today. Not that it's going to help me in September though, and it looks like I'm going to have to make another trip to the states or to Doha for an in person interview when the time comes.
Jun 16, 2012, 12:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 852
I agree, and just so I'd throw this out there for today (6/16). Between 1500-1600 we have 22 arrivals with 5100 arriving passengers.
Max through put using all 60 immigration booths is 4000 per hour and I know for a fact there's only about 40 officers working this afternoon.
Max through put using all 60 immigration booths is 4000 per hour and I know for a fact there's only about 40 officers working this afternoon.
Last edited by ords; Jun 16, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Jun 16, 2012, 4:00 pm
#8
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I agree, and just so I'd throw this out there for today (6/16). Between 1500-1600 we have 22 arrivals with 5100 arriving passengers.
Max through put using all 60 immigration booths is 4000 per hour and I know for a fact there's only about 40 officers working this afternoon.
Max through put using all 60 immigration booths is 4000 per hour and I know for a fact there's only about 40 officers working this afternoon.
Jun 16, 2012, 9:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM, AA PPro
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Historical data is available here: http://apps.cbp.gov/awt/
FWIW, my family arrived today (6/16) just past 3 pm. First passengers with same flight luggage tags came out of Exit A around 3:30. Not too bad, though I imagine they were seated upfront. We were out of T5 by 3:50pm.
I agree, and just so I'd throw this out there for today (6/16). Between 1500-1600 we have 22 arrivals with 5100 arriving passengers.
Max through put using all 60 immigration booths is 4000 per hour and I know for a fact there's only about 40 officers working this afternoon.
Max through put using all 60 immigration booths is 4000 per hour and I know for a fact there's only about 40 officers working this afternoon.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jun 25, 2012 at 3:18 am Reason: merge
Jun 18, 2012, 5:57 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 852
I wish, but the pax number we receive daily come from the airlines directly once the flight in airborne. We have tons of data but the powers that be see no need for it outside of a "call customs at 10am to let them know what peak times are".
They were some of the lucky ones. CX took a 40 minute departure delay and UA took longer than normal to pull some of their aircraft which ended up causing 7 inbound arrivals to hold out for gates during that time.
They were some of the lucky ones. CX took a 40 minute departure delay and UA took longer than normal to pull some of their aircraft which ended up causing 7 inbound arrivals to hold out for gates during that time.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jun 25, 2012 at 3:19 am Reason: merge
Jun 18, 2012, 9:45 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
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http://www.globalentry.gov/enrollmentcenters.html
The interview location is in the lower level of T5 (near where you exit form customs/immigration).
Jun 18, 2012, 12:19 pm
#12
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
When you come back in in September, you may be able to schedule your interview as you return. The published hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM 7 days a week:
http://www.globalentry.gov/enrollmentcenters.html
The interview location is in the lower level of T5 (near where you exit form customs/immigration).
http://www.globalentry.gov/enrollmentcenters.html
The interview location is in the lower level of T5 (near where you exit form customs/immigration).
Aug 14, 2012, 1:35 pm
#13
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On my last flight to ORD in April I arrived about 3:30 pm or so and stood in the immigration line (US/residents) for about an hour. I've never waited that long before and leery before scheduling my next trip. Is that the new norm for that time of day at ORD, or was it bad luck?
I used ORD T5 as point of entry into the US twice during the last 10 months (FYI - I am a German citizen, hence I don't qualify for Global Entry and I am travelling on the VWP/ESTA for business reasons).
Sep 2011 (Mon) arriving ORD around 10 a.m. Waittime @immigration 1,5 hrs
Aug 2012 (Sun) arriving ORD around 2:30 p.m. Waittime @immigration 2,5 hrs (!!!)
If you look up the wait times online at http://apps.cbp.gov/awt/ you can see the following if you select Sundays:
Time of Day Min Avg Max # of Pax Booths open
2 to 3 PM 6 23 46 11032 50
3 to 4 PM 8 28 68 8020 48
4 to 5 PM 12 39 101 7617 45
Bottom line is that they seem to know how many people arrive on average and how long you have to wait. If you know that there are long wait times - why don't they do anything about it?
Aug 14, 2012, 2:44 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM, AA PPro
Posts: 1,480
If you look up the wait times online at http://apps.cbp.gov/awt/ you can see the following if you select Sundays:
Time of Day Min Avg Max # of Pax Booths open
2 to 3 PM 6 23 46 11032 50
3 to 4 PM 8 28 68 8020 48
4 to 5 PM 12 39 101 7617 45
Bottom line is that they seem to know how many people arrive on average and how long you have to wait. If you know that there are long wait times - why don't they do anything about it?
Time of Day Min Avg Max # of Pax Booths open
2 to 3 PM 6 23 46 11032 50
3 to 4 PM 8 28 68 8020 48
4 to 5 PM 12 39 101 7617 45
Bottom line is that they seem to know how many people arrive on average and how long you have to wait. If you know that there are long wait times - why don't they do anything about it?
Aug 14, 2012, 3:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between DM464 and DM463 on the NAPSA26 RNAV TRANS in EDDM
Programs: this and that
Posts: 1,731
But then, there were booths that were not staffed.