@ House. Im so happy to inform you all that my visa was granted today 13th July at the Abuja embassy. It was the smoothest interview you can imagine.

I had a very strenous build up to the interview date. This was becos my sevis fee receipt  had issues and i could only access and print it until about 8hours to the interview time.
The relief from printing my sevis receipt was so much that i was very calm on the morning of the interview. My interview was for 10 am and i arrived by 9:15am. Saw a lot of ppl for the 7:30 schedule who were denied visas and heard alot of stories about the guy in cubicle 8 but i was unfazed. at 9:50am we were called in. I was the 10th person in the queue, we were about 40 persons. We had our documents checked and sorted and passed through all the security checks. Still i was searching for panic but the thing no show. I had already decided to avoid the CHINKO woman at all cost that was why i was among the fiirst to queue, thinking that since she normally does biometrics, i will have been through with my interview before she finished her job. To my greatest relief she was not in cubicle 6 neither was she doing the biometrics. I made the following observations while waiting for my turn:

1. THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTE RED FLAGS    AND ONE RED FLAG IS NOT EQUAL TO DENIAL A young lady F1 applicant going for biology who met the brutal guy in cubicle 8, said her sponsor was her aunty who stays in Texas. She began to stutter when pressed for further information on her aunty and even said she hoped to stay with her aunty. Well the good news is that she was given the visa after she gave intelligent responses when asked about DNA, RNA and components of the cell.
2. CONFIDENCE IS KING - I was impressed by an F1 applicant who displayed so much confidence to the admiration of everyone in the hall who cheered after he was given
3. BE CLEAR AND CONCISE AND  GIVE CONCRETE RESPONSES Several ppl were denied by the guy in cubicle 8 becos they gave vague responses
4. JUST LAUGH WHEN ANYTHING FUNNY HAPPENS: this lady cracked our ribs after she was denied. She immediately rained fire and brimstone in yoruba on the guy in cubicle 8 cursing and threatening him and his generation. Men the guy no shake he just said I am doing my job.

Well to the meat of the matter-- my interview

F1: Good morning ma with a smile
V.O How are doing? with a smile too (which melted any residual tension in me).
       Your documents pls
F1: Gave her 1-20, passport, Confirmation page and Sevis receipt
V.O: So which area of Public health are you interested in?
F.1: Cancer biostatistics
V.O: Test scores and transcript pls
F1: Hands her TOEFL , GRE and transcript with evaluation report
V.O: Hands back the evaluation report saying  with a grin 'I understand Nigerian Transcript'
V.O: How long is your program
F1: 2 years
V.O: How much is your monthly income
F1: As stated in the ds-160 form
V.O where do your sponsors live
F1: Lagos and UK
V.O Bank Statement pls
       She takes a cursory look at the first page then hands it back
Gave me the card to go pick the Visa on Friday remembering to carry my 1-20 on the airplane.


Guys I thank God O. I was always imagining the CHINKO lady when i was preparing for the interview but HE did it for me, she did not even show up.

Congrats to those that got them visas.

and success to those going for their interview in the nearest dates.

Pls pray for my persons going for interview on thursday, 13th of july and also on monday 18th of july, 2011!!!!


they must get this VISA in Jesus Name, AMEN OOOOO!!

fris:

Counting down to my exit from Nigeria. Few days more and excited.

@House, It's cheaper to book your flight directly with airlines flying to USA and early too. Mine just totaled Naira 182 000 one way to Louisiana. I booked the local flight from JFK to Alexandria over the phone with my GTB MasterCard and it worked perfectly only i was told to show the card at airport checking. Delta airline.

I beat the cost by first booking emirates to JFK for 151 k Naira and then search all airlines to Louisiana and next available flight with 3 - 24 hours departure from New York to my time of arrival at JFK and also cheap. then got one closest match and worked fine.Got my e-ticket almost immediately and the $ equivalent deducted from my saving account attached to my GTB Naira MasterCard.   All fares came to 182k. Cheaper than booking all at once with any airline from Nigeria.

Wow fris, thats quite totful of you. Since I'm yet to pay for my emirate booking direct to dallas, I think I should look in your direction. Can you shoot me a mail (da.ghost63 at yahoo dot com) or betterstill gimme a ring on 08181649331 as I may need you to ease up the process for me. Thanks

Its just days to go. The excitement is killing me already.

Congrats EHIS. Thats plus one for the House! Start to book your flight and dey pack your things oh,
Who's NEXT?

Ayanfe22:

If there's anyone who is judgemental here, it is you guys. I am simply trying to say at the end of the day, God favor grants visas. There are many people on this thread who have packed numeroud degrees and have a lot of achievements and financial standing, yet, they are rejected visas. I didn't say what is said on this thread doesn't make sense. If I didn't read this thread, I would have kept trying to use my brothers credit card to pay sevis fee. At one point I had even told my dad that I will explain dat the system refused to accept payment not knwoing the payment can't be made with any nigerian IP address. I do not mean to come off as arrogant, but sorry, I WILL not withdraw my statement on being born again. I only said it to encourage people not to rely on the documents they r taking for their interview. My older brother entered the embasy without his statement of account in 2002 because of my dads forgetfulness,yet, he was granted his student visa and has since returned and works with harllibutton. All I am trying to say is thsat prayer and favor is what grants student visas. Being female doesn't change anything. They will still reject you if it appears your economic stituation is nigeria is not worth returning to.

that wasnt even the problem. Many on here understand what that means and appreciate someone who is bold enough to stand by her faith. Kudos.
You came off as brash, rude and arrogant. That is the point.

One thing I usually say: ''God bless that day I google searched and found my way into this thread. Else, I will still be an ignorant"

@EHI 2019,
Good for you. What a good interview. I pray for this type too. Its God's doing man.

@transcophon,
I'm sorry to hear that . Better luck next time.

@davidylan,
Abeg bros, leave this girl. she has proven it to be a regular user of the thread too.

@Ayanfe22,
No one is disturbed by you being born again or not here. Just the way it sounds before but thanks for clearing it out.


@house,
One thing I gather from previous interviews is that the sweet lady at Abuja that interviewed myforumid read Fluid Mech and she was the one that interview EHI 2019 without asking any academic question. Maybe because she does not like biological stuffs, so she ask something else in place of asking academic question from anyone not going for physics related course. If you come across her, please know that she is very good in physics

at the kinda argument i see on this thread!

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=501229.0

@dizyfrenzy, whats your number so i can add you on whatsapp.

@Ehi2019, congrats.

@trancophon, sorry about the denial. But I think as u suggested, you should have applied for a graduate degree. And success on your next outing.

For those coming to texas most especially dallas its been above a 100 degrees for the past 4-5 weeks so come prepared, congrats on your visa the hussle just began,

@ House
Does anybody have any interview academic question prep tips for undergraduates especially in physics or any other sciences.
Regards

myforumid3:

Wow fris, thats quite totful of you. Since I'm yet to pay for my emirate booking direct to dallas, I think I should look in your direction. Can you shoot me a mail (da.ghost63 at yahoo dot com) or betterstill gimme a ring on 08181649331 as I may need you to ease up the process for me. Thanks

Its just days to go. The excitement is killing me already.

@fris, that's nice but won't it be too stressfull (just thinking)
@myforumid3, I booked emirate to houston (IAH) for $1316.05.It is actually the cheapest I have seen. I have added u to my YIM so accept asap. cheers

I got my visa today at d lagos embassy. It was not an easy interview but 4 d Grace of God. Il post d interview l8r. I nd t rest.

@ehi2019: am really happy for you o, And to all those that have added me on YM and whatsapp, am sorry av not been very available lately. This camp is not easy but i ll keep trying my best. And the fact that ehi2019 just got his visa gives me great joy.

@House, i salute Oooooooo!!!!!

Please everybody i need help!!!!, my interview date is August/2, And Am 23year old going for Human resource management, while i state it on my I-20 that am sponsoring myself for the whole 4years course, And also in my Ds160 that i will be sponsoring myself, i hope i won't have any problem in getting this Visa,

My kindly advice me, if there won't be any problem, Thanks

23yrs sponsoring himself for the whole 4years? hard to believe & you should've used your parent bank statement instead, and they can even ask of toefl from student below 24yrs not minding maybe you're from english speaking country or not. I pray may the good Lord be with us all.

Abats4naija:

I got my visa today at d lagos embassy. It was not an easy interview but 4 d Grace of God. Il post d interview l8r. I nd t rest.

Thank God for you man. It raining Visa out there now. I will grab mine in a few weeks time. So, go and grab your own oooo!

Abats4naija:

I got my visa today at d lagos embassy. It was not an easy interview but 4 d Grace of God. Il post d interview l8r. I nd t rest.

That is great, am happy 4u o!!!!

imperiouxx:

Thank God for you man. It raining Visa out there now. I will grab mine in a few weeks time. So, go and grab your own oooo!

when and where are going to have your interview, mine too is around the corner.

hi guys!
congrats to everyone that has gotten their visa recently.
I actually spent the last 2 weeks going through all the two hundred and kini pages and  gathered such a great wealth of knowledge! thanks to everyone from the days of femilangy up till now who have contributed to this thread. To be honest with you, a[i]nyone that has honest and serious aspirations to do any studies in the S, should take their time to go through all these pages as early as possible and learn from the past experiences of others[/i]
I walked into the US embassy this morning and i walked out with my visa!
I am sooo grateful to GOD for everything
I had promised my self that i will definitely post on NL after i got my visa. that is the honourable thing to do since i learnt so much from here

A whole lot of people were bounced today! like 90% fear come de catch me, there wasnt even a consular officer that i could pray to get!
counter 1 MEAN lady! gave a visa to only one Indian family
counter 2 one black guy that appeared nice initially, but his denial rate was sooo very high! wanted to get him initially, but i changed my mind
counter 3 unfriendly man interviews everyone for like 15 mins and still denies a vast majority
counter 4 very nice lady i was praying to get, but she left after only 3 interviews (all of which she gave visas to )

i no come know who to pray to meet again!

I decided i had prayed and fasted enough, so i let God lead me where ever He willed.
pls take note[b] Proper preparation is key, and earnest Prayer just cannot be done without.[/b]

finally, i was called to counter 3 and the following conversation ensued,

VO: Good morning
ME: Good morning sir (very confidently, cos i was looking really good in a suit. (abeg, make una de try dress well too o, cos some students no de try sef!)
Me: how is work?
Vo: no answer
Vo: pls pass me your documents. I pass them to him.
He finally looks up sees my smile and says Good morning again! lol

VO: so what are you going to do in the US?
Me: I am a doctor, and i am going to further my studies by doing a masters at ,
VO: typing furiously at his computer,  so where do you work?
Me; in a private hospital. I also do some volunteer work at,
Vo: really? where is that again, and what do you do?
Me: i tell him again and explain to him what we do, while he still types at his computer looking interested
Vo: are you married
Me: (apparently, being married with your spouse still in naija is a plus, but them never gree marry me so, i say "Not yet"
Vo: engaged?
me: not yet
Vo; looks at me again! like really? na wa for you o! lol
Vo: so where are your siblings? (he has probably seen that i have a brother schooling in the US)
Me: tell him where all the others are, and finally mention my brother stating the school course year and that he is currently in Nigeria for hols.
VO: is he planning to work in naija?
Me: the guy no go come back o! but i tell him "oh, most certainly, he comes home at every opportunity just to prepare the grounds for his return home"

Vo: passive look on his face
Vo: so who is sponsoring you
Me: (actually it is just my uncle, but i took my fathers papers so i say) my father and my uncle (who by the way has a different surname. infact, i'm not sure how we are related)
VO: pass me those documents (refering to financial docs)
VO: so why is your uncle sponsoring you
me: he has always been interested in my education ( i have no idea if that was the right answer, but he wasnt listening, just looking at the documents)
VO: what does your uncle do? (money plenty for the account o! lol)
me: he is an entrepreneur and has diff biz. told him a few.
VO: hands me back the papers
VO: so it appears you are already involved in a lot of public health work, why do you want to do a masters again
Me: not sure of what d question means, but i tell him, i want to get more involved in a supervisory role to make greater changes in nigeria blah blah blah!
VO; come and pick up ur visa on tuesday at,  my ears stop working! lol
Me: thank you very much sir, God bless you (with a HUGE smile)

walks out looking cool like nothing spectacular happened! lol
Jesus is just Awesome and faithful. I have been denied a visiting visa 3 yrs ago and i have a very new clean passport, but all that didnt matter!

once again, do ur research well (go through  the whole of this thread)
get all your answers ready in your head so you dont start stuttering
be confident
dress well
wear a big smile
Be sure you are right with Jesus

everything will go perfectly well if you follow the above steps.

most of the students that were bounced actually didnt know their onions-
why did u choose this school _ it is the biggest christian school in the world and i want to build my spiritual life come on!
why do u want to do a degree in comunication?_ cos i like to communicate with people
i heard a lot of untrained ridiculous answers today!

be prapared guys!

best of luck to everyone that still has interviews

God bless u all

Abats4naija link=topic=240241.msg8717198#msg87171h98 date=1310660814:

I got my visa today at d lagos embassy. It was not an easy interview but 4 d Grace of God. Il post d interview l8r. I nd t rest.

you were in the embassy as well? see how harsh those people were today! you must really have been impressive!

apparently, my post was waaay too long.
sorry guys.

Debbie(m):

@fris, that's nice but won't it be too stressfull (just thinking)
@myforumid3, I booked emirate to houston (IAH) for $1316.05.It is actually the cheapest I have seen. I have added u to my YIM so accept asap. cheers

@Debbie, I ve booked and paid for my emirates flight too. It seems its the cheapest, yet best quality for now. Lemme accept you now so we can plan our Tx waka together.
@jasper and Abats4niaja, Congrats oh,

@jasper1

Congrate on ur Visa, wit d way it went, it is Gods help wit ur determination and confident. Where did u do ur interview, lag or Abj?

forgot to mention, it was in lag,

I thank God cos He has been my strength and my Guide all through. I also want to thank nairalanders and this forum which has been very helpful in more ways than one. I was issued a student visa today at Lagos. i was at the embassy b4 7am today and the officials at the US embassy started cross checking all the applicant's document as early as 6.30am. they had started bouncing persons whose document wasn't in order right from d security post. nyways i finally got screened and was escorted into the embassy where i did my biometrics nd was waiting patiently for the V.O to call my number. (by the way i almost missed my bio-metrics cos i was carried away by the student sitting near me who was also going for masters in public health at harvard. the guy had funding from harvard. i just dey yarn to myself say Nigerians get levels OOO!!!) I also saw General Diya sitting with d masses waiting patiently to be interviewed for his visa, which the lady at counter 4 issued him. the V.O.s where positioned as mentioned by Jasper1 in the earlier post. I was called to counter 1 and the interview went

Me: Good morning with a smile
V.O: didn't respond immediately (probably didn't hear me) but later replied without a smile which i was hoping for cause i was kinda tensed.

V.O: why are you here?
Me: told her i was here for a student visa for my graduate studies

V.O: where are your papers
Me: passed her my passport with all my docs

V.O: so you want to go for post graduate studies at, she looks up at me probably expecting me to give her the name of my school
Me: the University of Bleep at Bleep in Bleep state

V.O: going through the I20 she then said "so you are going for masters in geochemistry"
Me: I immediately jumped in and told her that i was seeking a master degree in Geoscience and i was majoring in geochemistry

V.O: nodding her head and going through the I20 more thoroughly she said "ahhh!!! yes i can see that now"
Me: just looking at V.O.

V.O: How did you learn about this school?
Me: through the internet ma, i googled schools that had ongoing research in petroleum geochemistry because i want to participate in their ongoing research; And I also sought advise from people in the petroleum industry (then i started to stutter then i noticed she was writing stuff down on a piece of paper)

V.O: did u do geology in undergrad studies
me: me yes i did and my thesis was also on geochemistry

V.O: She just nodded and said that there are other schools doing this course in the USA, did you apply to any other schools
Me: Yes, I applied to 4 other schools apart from the Uni of my choice

V.O: nodding and writing on the piece of paper. "which other schools did u apply? "
Me: Listed the schools and the location and states, but the V.O cut me off before i listed all the schools

V.O: why did you pick this school?
Me: because they had great facilities and good faculty and most importantly coos they are willing to let me participate in their ongoing research

V.O: can i have your results, GRE and Toefl
me: Gave her (was waiting for her to as for my university degree but she didn't)

V.O: nodding her head, still writing on a piece of paper, then she looks at her screen "so you have a relative in the USA, living in texas?"
Me: Yes, my cousin lives in Texas. he is a citizen of the USA (she wrote on paper again,at this point i saw she had tabulated my response and my cousin living in Tx was on the negative side of the table)

V.O: who is sponsoring your education?
Me: My cousin (same one living in the USA) and my mother

V.O: now typing on her computer "why did they decide to sponsor you?"
me: i said something about them being impressed with my admission, i can't remember what i told her

V.O: what does your cousin do for a living?
me: told her

V.O: what does your mother do for a living?
me: told her

V.O: what does your father do for a living?
me: at this point i was surprised because i had not mentioned my father at all, nyways, i told her.

V.O: Can I have the bank statements please
me: gave her the 2 statements along with a form I-134 for those having international sponsors

V.O: going through the statements
me: tried to point out which statement was which
V.O: i know what i am doing
me: i said "Ok ma" and kept my mouth shut, lol

V.O: so have you heard about state Bleep before, why did you decide to go to school there?
me: i told her it was because they were willing to let me participate in the ongoing research at the uni

V.O: will you write a thesis
me: yes

V.O : what is the thesis you hope to write
me: told her

V.O: what do you plan to do after you graduate
me: told her i would like to be a geoscientist for one of the many petroleum companies in Nigeria

V.O: what are the names of the companies you would like to work for?
me: mobil or shell because they are into exploration activities which makes my proposed area of studies relevant to them

V.O: nodding her head "how do you know petroleum companies have ongoing exploration projects?"
me: surprised but told her i had worked in one of the petroleum companies during my NYSC and my position there exposed me to their dealings

V.O: have you ever traveled outside Nigeria before
Me: almost lied but I told her the truth that I had never traveled before cos I have never had a reason to travel until now.

V.O: now picking up a white piece of paper
me: my heart wanted to cut cos iv heard NL's saying they always gave a white piece of paper to rejected applicants

V.O: im going to issue you a visa, handing me a green ticket, but you'll have to go pick it up at ,
me: at this point i was seething with Joy and i couldn't comprehend what she was saying but i kept my cool

V.O: gave me the ticket and a white paper
me: Thank you ma, do have a nice day, and i left the building


Nairalanders help me thank God. from my interview you can see that it was by Gods grace i got my visa. Please anyone going to the embassy should be prepared to defend their motives for wanting to travel and above all be prayerful and ask God for Wisdom to reply the questions properly else,
I was resolute and truthful about my purpose and God gave me victory. I wish all future applicants good success.


@jasper1 congrats on your success at the consul; but i noticed the V.Os were just doing their jobs the best way they know and i am just happy we were successful.

@imperiouxx thanks man.
@fun2sho thanks

i hope n pray d house members going 4 interviews scale tru.

@myforumid3 Thanks

great guys, what questions can be asked from sm1 going 4 an undergrad in biomedical eng.

Abats4naija:

@jasper1 congrats on your success at the consul; but i noticed the V.Os were just doing their jobs the best way they know and i am just happy we were successful.

they were most def doing their jobs. everyone does their job, but there is nothing wrong with being nice about it.

anyway, my attention is not the VO's, its the students, cos most of us are actually not redy, and seriously dont deserve the visa. Just prepare yourself properly, cos its like going for an exam. you never know what will be asked so you have to read properly and widely, then depend on the favour of God.
selah.

Pls, does anyone know how to track their passports online, cos i need to leave lagos asap. plus the guy also kept my I-20 and sevis reciept. hope that is normal

@jasper1 the lady returned my I20 and service receipt

jasper1:

they were most def doing their jobs. everyone does their job, but there is nothing wrong with being nice about it.

anyway, my attention is not the VO's, its the students, cos most of us are actually not redy, and seriously dont deserve the visa. Just prepare yourself properly, cos its like going for an exam. you never know what will be asked so you have to read properly and widely, then depend on the favour of God.
selah.

Pls, does anyone know how to track their passports online, cos i need to leave lagos asap. plus the guy also kept my I-20 and sevis reciept. hope that is normal

I dont think the trackingMYPassport link doesnt works anymore, You should just go to the Pick Up/collection centre the next evening say 2-3pm and you'd surely get it. At that time, (3pm and beyond) you shud ve received an email asking you to come pick up your VISA but dont wait to receive the email cos if you do and end up goin there late (4pm), they would be closed. Congrats again.
Same goes for my friend Abats4niaja, I'm sure you ve already started booking your ticket and packing your luggage.

I propose that we successful VISA Fall students connect and share our contacts as we plan and yankee together, Life in yankee would be better for us all of we network like our predecessors femilangy, nethacker and co did. Shoot me a mail (da.ghost63 at yahoo dot com) and when we are over there and ve changed our email ad and fone contact, we can then connect again and update our contacts. This is just a proposal sha, and not mandatory