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Port of entry: Chicago, Illinois

Customs broker for Chicago and O'Hare

CBP port 3901 covers Chicago, including O'Hare International Airport, in the Chicago Field Office. Allied CHB files entries for air cargo, express shipments and in-bond containers at port 3901 in ACE under filer code 9AJ.

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Port facts

What does CBP port 3901 cover?

CBP Schedule D lists port 3901 as "Chicago, Illinois, including O'Hare International Airport". The CBP port office is at 5600 Pearl Street in Rosemont, next to the airport. An ocean container for Chicago usually lands at a coastal U.S. port first and then arrives by rail or truck.
CBP port code
3901
Chicago, Illinois, including O'Hare International Airport
Other Chicago codes
3910
Midway International Airport, a separate port code in CBP Schedule D
Express facility codes
3971, 3972, 3991
FedEx (Rosemont), IBC and the DHL Chicago hub (CBP Schedule D)
CBP field office
Chicago
610 S. Canal Street, Chicago
CBP port office
5600 Pearl Street, Rosemont, IL 60018
Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Central
General order
After 15 calendar days without an entry
Air cargo: 15 calendar days after landing (19 CFR 122.50). In-bond cargo: 15 calendar days after the whole shipment arrives in Chicago (19 CFR 18.1(k)).
FDA
Division of Northern Border Imports
Itasca Resident Post, Itasca, IL
USDA APHIS PPQ
No plant inspection station in Illinois
The APHIS list of 16 stations has none in Illinois.
USFWS designated port
Yes
Chicago, Illinois (50 CFR 14.12)

Which agencies check cargo at port 3901?

CBP releases the cargo at O'Hare and at the in-bond destination. FDA, USDA and the other agencies must also release the goods that they regulate.
Agencies at Chicago (port 3901)
AgencyOffice for port 3901What it means for your cargo
CBPPort 3901, Chicago Field Office, Rosemont, ILThe CBP port page lists a Cargo Analysis Unit, an Entry Unit, a Warehouse Unit, an International Mail unit, a DHL express consignment team and Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures. It also lists contacts for eight Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the CBP teams that review entries by industry.
FDADivision of Northern Border Imports, Itasca Resident PostFood, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. The FDA port list still shows code 3906 for O'Hare, but CBP deactivated 3906 in 2016 (CSMS 16-000862). Use 3901.
USDA APHIS PPQNo plant inspection station in IllinoisPlants for planting under a written permit must enter at a USDA plant inspection station (7 CFR 319.37-8(a)), and none is in Illinois. CBP agriculture specialists inspect other cargo at the port.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDesignated port: Chicago, IllinoisWildlife shipments can clear at Chicago. The importer declares them to the Service on Form 3-177 (50 CFR 14.61).

What arrives in Chicago, and which rules matter most?

Port 3901 receives cargo in three ways: by air at O'Hare, in-bond by rail or truck from another U.S. port, and on vessels on Lake Michigan. The rules differ for each.

  • Air cargo and express at O'Hare

    Air freight, express parcels and consolidations land at O'Hare. For CBP, each house air waybill is a separate shipment. FedEx, IBC and the DHL hub have their own facility codes. See air freight customs.

  • E-commerce and mail

    Since August 29, 2025, parcels from every country are outside the Section 321 de minimis exemption (EO 14324), so each one needs an entry. The CBP port page lists an International Mail unit for port 3901. See our e-commerce page.

  • Ocean containers that arrive by rail

    A container for the Midwest often lands at a coastal seaport and travels inland by rail. It can clear at the seaport, or move in-bond to Chicago and clear here. The ISF is still due 24 hours before loading at the foreign port (19 CFR 149.2). See ISF filing.

  • Lake vessels

    The CBP port page lists vessel entry and clearance for the Port of Chicago. Vessel cargo goes to general order if no entry is filed by the 15th calendar day after landing (19 CFR 4.37).

Should I clear at the seaport or in Chicago?

For an ocean container, you choose where the entry is filed. Your carrier or forwarder must know the choice before the vessel arrives.
Two ways to clear an ocean container for Chicago
Clear at the seaportMove in-bond and clear in Chicago
Where CBP releases the cargoAt the port of unlading, for example Los Angeles/Long BeachAt port 3901, after the in-bond move
Where an exam happensAt an exam station near the seaport, before the train leavesAt an exam station in the Chicago area. CBP can also hold it at the seaport before the move.
PaperworkOne entry. The container then moves as domestic cargo.An in-bond record (IT), then the entry in Chicago
DeadlineEntry by the 15th calendar day after landing (19 CFR 4.37)Delivery in Chicago within 30 days (19 CFR 18.1(i)), then entry within 15 calendar days (19 CFR 18.1(k))

Duty and the entry data are the same in both cases. The choice changes where the cargo can be stopped. See in-bond moves.

What goes wrong at port 3901, and what should I do?

  • The in-bond container does not show as arrived

    The carrier must report arrival within two business days, with the FIRMS code of the place where the cargo is (19 CFR 18.1(j)). Until the arrival is reported, CBP does not release the cargo in Chicago. Ask the rail carrier or trucker to report the arrival.

  • The in-bond clock runs out

    The cargo must reach Chicago within 30 days (19 CFR 18.1(i)). A diversion to another port does not extend this time. A late delivery is an irregular delivery, and CBP can claim liquidated damages against the carrier's bond.

  • Storage at the rail ramp

    The rail ramp charges storage after its free time, and a hold stops the pickup. Send the entry documents before the train arrives, so the entry is ready on the arrival day.

  • FDA holds the shipment

    FDA import staff for Chicago work from the Itasca Resident Post. If FDA asks for records or a sample, answer the same day. See FDA holds and detentions.

How does Allied CHB file an entry at port 3901?

Allied CHB files entries remotely in ACE under filer code 9AJ at every U.S. port of entry. For Chicago, we can file at the coastal seaport or at port 3901 after the in-bond move. We tell you what CBP and the other agencies need, and when the cargo is released.

For an in-bond container, send the documents when the vessel sails. We file the entry before the train reaches Chicago. For the first entry, sign the power of attorney online.

  • Air waybill or bill of lading numbers

    For an in-bond container, also the in-bond number if the carrier has one.

  • Commercial invoice and packing list

  • Importer of record number and a customs bond

    A formal entry needs a bond. See customs bonds.

  • Agency data

    For FDA, USDA or USFWS goods: manufacturer, FDA registration numbers, permits and certificates.

  • A signed power of attorney

    One time, before the first entry.

Quote on request

How do I get a quote?

Tell us about the shipment. We reply with a quote and the list of documents that we need.

Request: Customs entry at Chicago

Quote on request

Do not send an EIN, a Social Security number or a password in this form. We ask for them securely later.

Or call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com.

Questions

Questions about customs in Chicago

What is the CBP port code for Chicago O'Hare?

3901. CBP Schedule D lists port 3901 as Chicago, Illinois, including O'Hare International Airport. Midway International Airport has its own code, 3910. Some older lists show 3906 for O'Hare, but CBP deactivated that code in 2016.

My container lands in Los Angeles but goes to Chicago. Where is the entry filed?

You choose. The entry can be filed at the seaport, or the carrier can move the container in-bond to Chicago, where the entry is filed at port 3901. Tell your carrier the choice early. See in-bond moves.

How long do I have to file the entry after an in-bond container arrives in Chicago?

15 calendar days from the arrival of the whole in-bond shipment at the port of destination (19 CFR 18.1(k)). From day 16, the cargo is subject to general order. Storage charges at the rail ramp usually start sooner.

Do I need a customs broker with an office in Chicago?

No. Allied CHB works from Rahway, New Jersey under a national permit, which lets a licensed broker file at every U.S. port (19 CFR 111.19). The in-bond container, the exam and the pickup stay in Chicago. The filing happens in ACE.

Can I fly a rescue dog into O'Hare?

Not always. A foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country for dog rabies must arrive at an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility, and CDC lists none at O'Hare. Other dogs can arrive at O'Hare if they meet the CDC rules. See our pet import page.

Can live plants for planting clear at O'Hare?

Plants for planting that need a written USDA permit must enter at a USDA plant inspection station (7 CFR 319.37-8(a)). The APHIS list of stations has none in Illinois. Route the shipment through a port with a station, as the permit says.

Cargo for Chicago?

Send the air waybill or the bill of lading and the invoice. We file the entry in ACE at the port that you choose.

Call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com

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Last reviewed September 28, 2026. This page explains customs rules in general terms. It is not legal advice. Duty rates and CBP procedures change often, and we confirm the figures for your shipment in writing before you commit.

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