Is it ok to go out on a stopover in OHare airport? Have 4-5hrs before Seattle

[Mrs.Proud2010 2]

Hello everyone!

So I already took the plunge in good faith and filed for my IR1/CR1 green card and its been over 2 months with nothing.

But who cares? Not us coz I got my tourist visa before the green card application so we will still be able to visit our family in the US this Christmas and new year it is the best present ever to be celebrating the occasion with them.

1. Now, upon entering the US our tickets have a stopover in Chicago for a few hours before SEATAC.

I want to know if it is ok to go outside the airport and take a peek at the Windy City ?

Will immigration let me? I mean, they should right?

2. How long does it usually take to go through immigration and customs out and then in? We arrive there at 15:30 and our flight to Seattle is not until 20:40. So we have 4-5hours.

I want to make sure we can explore the city without being left behind by our next flight

Let me know what you guys think so excited !

[Ebun12 2]

The answer to your first question is Chicago is your point of entry so this is where you clear customs. Immigration at Chicago can be crazy. The arrival time at 3 o'clock is considered rush hour for immigration so it could take an hour or more.

There is a train that can take you to downtown Chicago in approximately 45 minutes. Getting back to the airport another 45 minutes. Really doesn't to give you enough time to explore Chicago. Once you get from Chicago you have to go through TSA screening (which is ridiculous)

To get to the gate for departure. So isn't long enough to see downtown Chicago. If you want to leave the airport there is a nice casino nearby

[Ning 619]

Hello everyone!

So I already took the plunge in good faith and filed for my IR1/CR1 green card and its been over 2 months with nothing.

But who cares? Not us coz I got my tourist visa before the green card application so we will still be able to visit our family in the US this Christmas and new year it is the best present ever to be celebrating the occasion with them.

1. Now, upon entering the US our tickets have a stopover in Chicago for a few hours before SEATAC.

I want to know if it is ok to go outside the airport and take a peek at the Windy City ?

Will immigration let me? I mean, they should right?

2. How long does it usually take to go through immigration and customs out and then in? We arrive there at 15:30 and our flight to Seattle is not until 20:40. So we have 4-5hours.

I want to make sure we can explore the city without being left behind by our next flight

Let me know what you guys think so excited !

I hope all goes well of course but you should at least prepare for some questions at the POE. The officer will see that there is a pending immigration petition and may question what is going on. If they feel there is some attempt to circumvent the process they will ask questions. The answers to those questions are key to success.

[Krikit 1,165]

Chicago O'Hare or Chicago Midway? Both busy airports. Give yourself a minimum of 1 hour to get through Customs & Immigration. That leaves 4 hours. I believe that you will need to pick up your bags and recheck them. Give yourself another hour for that. That leaves 3 hours. Travel time to the city proper is a minimum 40 minutes by car. Public transportation is longer. Take one hour each way from your available time. That leaves 1 hour. You will need that hour to get back through security and to your gate. Ergo, you have no time to see Chicago except through the window of your plane. Sorry.

[Mrs.Proud2010 2]

Yes! Some of the forum talked about that issue as well. So long as you can prove that you have ties outside the US - we are going to present our apartment contract and my husbands work contract that all ends in February 2013. We really don't want any trouble with immigration, we just want to visit for Christmas and new year. My husband has not seen his parents eversince we got married and its been 3 years. He refuses to travel without me. But at the same time we should prove that to them as we'll if the question comes up...

Going outside Chicago, we decided to just find a nearest restaurant and meet our old friends and have a quick early dinner. I guess a half day tour is out of the question. Will it be enough time then if that is the case? To go out the airport and hang out with our friends until check in time?

[Mrs.Proud2010 2]

Chicago O'Hare or Chicago Midway? Both busy airports. Give yourself a minimum of 1 hour to get through Customs & Immigration. That leaves 4 hours. I believe that you will need to pick up your bags and recheck them. Give yourself another hour for that. That leaves 3 hours. Travel time to the city proper is a minimum 40 minutes by car. Public transportation is longer. Take one hour each way from your available time. That leaves 1 hour. You will need that hour to get back through security and to your gate. Ergo, you have no time to see Chicago except through the window of your plane. Sorry.

that is how it looks like! Maybe just to to the nearest restaurant outside the OHARE airport? We want to meet our old friends that live there and grab a dinner with them, take a few pictures on the streets etc...

So we need to recheck?!! we are taking along with us our baby daughter beagle mix dog . So I take it that's an extra hour to recheck her? Gosh. And here I am thinking all that time should be enough for a tour around the city! BOOO!!!