... posted too soon.

So, I think that what the CBP person wrote on my card was some code for "this guy screwed up, better check him out".

When we came back from France, I realized as I was standing in the immigration line that I had a large chunk of oozy cheese in my bag, right there in the side mesh pocket, clearly visible from space, let alone the inspector's desk. I had been noshing on the plane (hey, France -- cheese -- what do you expect?). I threw it away in a nearby trash barrel, which I'm sure was full to the brim with drugs, fruit, Cuban cigars, and other contraband. I did get pulled over and my bag searched, but fortunately they didn't find anything and the residue in the mesh of the pocket wasn't enough to send me to prison. I just felt sorry for the guy who has to paw through dirty clothes all day long.

A family member cleared customs in Seattle and said it was a nightmare. We almost always clear in ORD. That said, it can depend on what time of day you arrive at ORD, whether or not it takes time to clear.

I typically return from BKK/NRT around 2:20. Many planes are arriving from int'l destinations at that time. Lines get very long, waiting to walk thru customs. The long lines tend to make the agents just want to get people going on their way. They usually just collect cards and flag you on your way.

A few days ago, I arrived from BKK/NRT on an earlier flight, arriving around 11am. I noticed that the baggage area at ORD at that time was not at all busy. The customs lines were not long, and the agents were stopping people and looking more closely at their forms and asking questions.

Try to arrive at a busier time of day... ?????

The best airport to fly into is the one that has all of the employees on duty at customs but no other international flights arriving at around the same time that yours does.

I arrived into Atlanta once and joked that it will be time for the international arrival people to go back home (their vacation will be over) before they get through immigration and customs.

Miami is usually quick--sometimes too quick.

Avoid JFK like the plague!