John F. Kennedy International Airport

Terminals

Customs notes

CBP primary inspection via Global Entry kiosks (T1, T4, T5, T7, T8) or paper CBP Declaration Form 6059B in non-APC lines. Mobile Passport Control app accepted at T4/T5/T8. Mandatory declaration of currency over $10,000 USD, agricultural items, and goods exceeding the $800 personal exemption.

Transit

JFK has no sterile international-to-international transit — all arriving passengers clear CBP and recheck bags regardless of onward flight. Minimum connection time is 2 hours international-to-international and 90 minutes international-to-domestic.

Pre-arrival apps / forms

• Mobile Passport Control (MPC)
• Global Entry

Known quirks

• No sterile transit — every arrival clears US customs, even for 20-minute layovers
• Terminal-to-terminal transfers require AirTrain (free, runs 24/7) — allow 15-30 minutes
• FDA agents inspect inbound food parcels more aggressively than most US airports

Sources

• jfkairport.com
• cbp.gov

Other airports in United States

• LAX · Los Angeles
• ORD · Chicago
• MIA · Miami
• ATL · Atlanta
• SFO · San Francisco
• DFW · Dallas-Fort Worth