Airport immigration

Question

We are travelling from the UK in 2 weeks flying into San Fran, I have heard some horror stories about immigration taking hours - can anyone advise if this is accurate and is there anything we can do to minimise this?

Answer

Good question. Yes — there are definitely stories of long immigration / CBP (Customs and Border Protection) waits at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), but how long you will wait can vary a lot depending on when you arrive, how busy the airport is, and what type of processing “lane” you use. Here’s a detailed breakdown plus tips to minimize risk.

Is the horror-story stuff accurate?

Some travelers *do* report very long waits. For example, on Reddit one person said: > “I’ve waited 2-3 hours … CBP at SFO takes forever … if it’s busy, it can take several hours.”
Others have much more positive experiences. According to FlightQueue (which tracks real-time immigration / passport control wait times), non-U.S. citizens are seeing average waits around 11 minutes currently.
Official data (via a GAO report) from previous years shows average waits for CBP processing at SFO were in the 30-minute range (for immigration) depending on terminal and traffic.

What Affects Wait Times at SFO?

Time of day / flight arrival times: If several large international flights land around the same time, lines will back up. FlightQueue data also suggests peak arrival windows.
Staffing levels: CBP officer staffing varies, which plays a big role in how many lanes are open. (This is a factor in general for U.S. airports.)
Type of entry “lane” you use: If you're using a regular (non-trusted traveler) lane, you may wait more than someone using Global Entry or a similar expedited route. Many travelers mention Global Entry greatly speeds things up.

Ways to Reduce / Minimize Immigration Wait Times at SFO

Use Mobile Passport Control (MPC): This is a free app (for eligible travelers) that lets you submit your passport info and customs declaration in advance, then access a special (shorter) line on arrival. Many people say it's very effective at SFO.
Consider Global Entry: If you travel internationally fairly often, Global Entry is a big time-saver. It allows near-instant kiosk processing and includes access to faster lanes.
Prepare your documents beforehand: Have your passport, customs declaration, and any required forms ready *before* you deplane — makes things faster.
Aim for less busy arrival times: If you have flexibility, avoid peak arrival windows (many European flights land mid-afternoon, for example, which can be busier).
Use the automated kiosks when available: Some immigration control desks have automated passport control kiosks — these can move more quickly than staffed lines.

How Much Time Should You Plan For?

Given the variability, it’s smart to build in buffer time when planning: for example, allow at least 1–2 hours from deplaning to clearing immigration and customs, especially if you're arriving at a busy time and don’t have a trusted traveler program. There *is* a risk of long waits, but it's not a certainty.

Bottom Line: Yes, long immigration waits *have happened* at SFO — but they aren’t guaranteed. With good preparation (using Mobile Passport, having documents ready, picking a less crowded arrival), you can likely minimize your wait. Use real-time tools (like wait-time trackers) when you arrive, and aim for some cushion in your schedule just in case.

Airport immigration

More San Francisco Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions