JFK

Some rules in life should not be broken, and flying through JFK is one of them.

Only break the rule i) if you are willing to stand one and half hours in a check-in queue only to be told that you are in the wrong line because Dakar flights have a special check-in counter across the street, and ii) if you want to wait for 2 hours and 45 minutes in the immigration line.

In the last two years, I've spent on average two hours in immigration every time I enter the US. That's because I need to go through secondary screening due to the current stage of my green card process. Its frustrating especially since I've lived here for more than twelve years. That's a long time, almost half my life, but not long enough to legitimize my stay.

Most other passengers who were waiting with me were entering the US for the first time. They were consoled by the immigration officers that next time things would be faster. Unfortunately, they couldn't say the same for me.