Dear All

I am a nigerian which gave birth in the US using Medicaid (was told I qualified and that this would not lead to bad implications on my status) under my tourist visa.
Now I am renewing my visa and have an interview session with the visa officer. My worry is that the officer asks/discovers from their stats thtr I gave birth in the US and deny my application. Should I tell them my kid is US born under medicaid or should I hide this? I have not enrolled the baby as american locally so not sure they would know

Thanks in advance for sharing your views

nowayone:

Dear All

I am a nigerian which gave birth in the US using Medicaid (was told I qualified and that this would not lead to bad implications on my status) under my tourist visa.
Now I am renewing my visa and have an interview session with the visa officer. My worry is that the officer asks/discovers from their stats thtr I gave birth in the US and deny my application. Should I tell them my kid is US born under medicaid or should I hide this? I have not enrolled the baby as american locally so not sure they would know

Thanks in advance for sharing your views

They have records of all US citizens and their parents. Recall you had to submit a government issued ID of both parents during the US passport application for your baby. This is recorded by the department of state which oversees visa application.

Once you are going for a renewal, they will ask ask if you have had a baby before and if your answer yes, they will ask where the child'ren' was/were born. This is a standard and routine question for renewals. If you chose to lie, then you may become permanently ineligible for a tourist visa, although your baby can petition for an immigrant visa for you in the future. If you tell the truth, they will demand for the medical payment receipts. so as you can see, you have worked yourself into a tight situation by dodging this payment.

Good luck in your renewal and we would be happy to read how it worked out in the end

Hi Dancewith

Tks a lot for your clear response. Believe me, if I knew all implications of the medicaid, I would found another way. Actually I know that from the name and birth date of the child they could make a connection with parents; what I wanted to know was if I did not mention the kid or change his name, would the visa officer know I had a kid? It is an unfortunate situation from which I have no idea on how to get out. Regards

I would say dont lie or withold any information from ur interviewer cos they probably know evrything. If ure lucky, u can get ur visa despite the medicaid issue. Good luck.

Good luck with the interview, will you be travelling with the child? There is a question on the form that asks if you will be travelling alone. If you will be travelling alone you might get off getting a renewal. If yes, dots will be connected. Next time, its coming late though, look for a cheaper state or try a birthing center. Lets know how it went.

nowayone:

Hi Dancewith

Tks a lot for your clear response. Believe me, if I knew all implications of the medicaid, I would found another way. Actually I know that from the name and birth date of the child they could make a connection with parents; what I wanted to know was if I did not mention the kid or change his name, would the visa officer know I had a kid? It is an unfortunate situation from which I have no idea on how to get out. Regards

Sorry for the late response. the fact is that once you are going for a renewal, they must ask if you have any children. If you answer yes, the next question would be where they were born. This is routine questions. They are well aware Nigerian with previous visa issuance usually use the visa for medical tourism. Once you state they were born in the US, they must demand to see the bills and payments. If you chose to lie, they can easily find out about the birth by a simple computer enquiry. I will suggest you tell the truth but it is likely they will refuse you on first attempt.

I say first attempt because a family friend used medicaid for a child's birth in 2000, went for renewal in 2001 and was refused. Two subsequent applications were turned down but they finally got a new visa in 2008. I do not know if there is a time ban but eventually you will get the visa if you keep applying.

It is entirely possible the visa officer may not question you about the birth. I have heard stories of people that had kids here but got their visa renewed without the visa officer discovering about the birth. This is rare but you could get lucky

Hi

Tks for your reply. Actually, I am travelling alone, however there is a spot on the application where I am asked if I have children and their names. That is where I wonder if I should put his name or leave blank to avoid having them dig about the child his age, where he is born and making connections with my 3 months stay in the US. Next time, if there is any, I will make sure I pay the bills although, I know someone which was denied the visa despite having paid the bills. She was told she disclosed she would go to the US for tourism not to have a baby. Look like some can get away with it and some not. Thought they got to be things which trigger them search a little deeper.

Regards

nowayone:

Hi

Tks for your reply. Actually, I am travelling alone, however there is a spot on the application where I am asked if I have children and their names. That is where I wonder if I should put his name or leave blank to avoid having them dig about the child his age, where he is born and making connections with my 3 months stay in the US. Next time, if there is any, I will make sure I pay the bills although, I know someone which was denied the visa despite having paid the bills. She was told she disclosed she would go to the US for tourism not to have a baby. Look like some can get away with it and some not. Thought they got to be things which trigger them search a little deeper.

Regards

You are right. It is entirely at the discretion of the visa officer to issue the visa to someone that had an anchor baby with a visitor's visa. Although having a baby in the US is not a crime under the US immigration laws, the VO can consider that the applicant didn't mention she was using the visa for medical purposes during the interview. Usually they consider the time lag from visa issuance to when the child was delivered. if you got the visa in January and had the baby next year July, this can be seen to mean you were not pregnant at the time the visa was issued so the intent was not deceptional. But if they issue you with a visa in January and you had a baby with it the same year, say July, then they can use the deception rule against you.

Often those that have problem are those with conditional visa (annotation). Holders of full validity visa of 2years backed with payment receipts often get their visa re issued.

nowayone:

Dear All

I am a nigerian which gave birth in the US using Medicaid (was told I qualified and that this would not lead to bad implications on my status) under my tourist visa.
Now I am renewing my visa and have an interview session with the visa officer. My worry is that the officer asks/discovers from their stats thtr I gave birth in the US and deny my application. Should I tell them my kid is US born under medicaid or should I hide this? I have not enrolled the baby as american locally so not sure they would know

Thanks in advance for sharing your views

What year did you have your child and when did you return to Nigeria?
Did you have your child endorsed on your passport or a Nigerian visa for the child?

a family friend used medicaid for a child's birth in 2000, went for renewal in 2001 and was refused. Two subsequent applications were turned down but they finally got a new visa in 2008. I do not know if there is a time ban but eventually you will get the visa if you keep applying.

yes, just keep applying.

Hey

I had the kid last year and took a nigerian visa on his new US passport. I return a month after he was born. SO not sure If they can track him down if I do not mention him/name in the application.

Tks Tpia for conforting me. I have some plans of going for studies there next year, but look like i should not set high expectations

Tks all the guys/gals for taking time to share

nowayone:

Hey

I had the kid last year and took a nigerian visa on his new US passport. I return a month after he was born. SO not sure If they can track him down if I do not mention him/name in the application.

Tks Tpia for conforting me. I have some plans of going for studies there next year, but look like i should not set high expectations

Tks all the guys/gals for taking time to share

A simple search will show everything. Apply, and be sincere in your answers, if you try to be deceptive it becomes more difficult. I believe your chances are still good.

Just tell the truth. Das all.

HI PEEPS!I NEED GOOD ADVICE ON THIS IN MY CASE I HAD THE BABY IN 2004,USED MEDICAID AND WAS REFUSED TWICE IN 2005 BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I LIED ABOUT HAVING A BABY IN THE US AND WAS DENIED.THE 2ND TIME THE VO DIDNT ASK ANY QUESTIONSHE JUST LOOKED AT THE SYSTEM AND SAID 'SORRY YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED'.SINCE THEN I HAVENT TRIED AGAIN.MY PROBLEM NOW IS THAT I WISH TO APPLY AGAIN BUT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT PPLE PAYING BACK MEDICAIDI WISH TO PAY BACK BUT DO NO KNOW HOW.DOES SOMEONE KNOW HOW I CAN POSSIBLY SORT THIS OUT?OR IF I SHOULD TRY TO RE-APPLY[left][/left]?

nowayone please tell how the interview went i am going through the same situation and your guidance will be helpfull

woah, i thou i was alone, so happy to see this post.

am going through the same problem, i had my baby last year and told them in the hospital i was self paying. i keep calling for my bills after delivery and when i received it, i went to the billing office to make payment and negociate. it was there i was told insurance has taken care of it. i said i was not entitled to it and was only advised by the social worker that my child is entitled to it......guess i signed something i was not aware of.

Now i've been calling and trying to pay my bill......the bills that came in bits to me first before the insurance company paid, i've been able to pay those.

i've even called the Department of Health office in the state and they refer me to the case worker in the hospital.

since am back in Nigeria, it has been difficult following up with phone calls, i intend returning to the states alone and sorting this out.

from my research so far, it looks like i would be needing a lawyer.

Anyone in this situation, on how to pay back medicaid, should plese help.

^^^
Just keep your receipts, u should be ok.

I am in the same situation oooo
Please send us advice..
thank you

woah, i thou i was alone, so happy to see this post.

am going through the same problem, i had my baby last year and told them in the hospital i was self paying. i keep calling for my bills after delivery and when i received it, i went to the billing office to make payment and negociate. it was there i was told insurance has taken care of it. i said i was not entitled to it and was only advised by the social worker that my child is entitled to it......guess i signed something i was not aware of.

Now i've been calling and trying to pay my bill......the bills that came in bits to me first before the insurance company paid, i've been able to pay those.

i've even called the Department of Health office in the state and they refer me to the case worker in the hospital.

since am back in Nigeria, it has been difficult following up with phone calls, i intend returning to the states alone and sorting this out.

from my research so far, it looks like i would be needing a lawyer.

Anyone in this situation, on how to pay back medicaid, should plese help.[/quote]

I am in the same situation oooo
Please send us advice..
thank you

woah, i thou i was alone, so happy to see this post.

am going through the same problem, i had my baby last year and told them in the hospital i was self paying. i keep calling for my bills after delivery and when i received it, i went to the billing office to make payment and negociate. it was there i was told insurance has taken care of it. i said i was not entitled to it and was only advised by the social worker that my child is entitled to it......guess i signed something i was not aware of.

Now i've been calling and trying to pay my bill......the bills that came in bits to me first before the insurance company paid, i've been able to pay those.

i've even called the Department of Health office in the state and they refer me to the case worker in the hospital.

since am back in Nigeria, it has been difficult following up with phone calls, i intend returning to the states alone and sorting this out.

from my research so far, it looks like i would be needing a lawyer.

Anyone in this situation, on how to pay back medicaid, should plese help.[/quote]

This is really simple - apart from nonoma, you women abused the system and swindled the US government. I can bet you go to church and claim 'bornagain' yet you have no conscience. Typical Nigerian attitude! Y'all only worried now that you need to renew your visas. I hope valuable lessons have been learnt - there is nothing hidden under the sun and I truly hope your visas are not renewed!

The humane part of me will also tell you that if the form asks for child details then you better put it. If it doesn't, don't mention anything about travelling with the child even if you are. At this point, I would have added take ALL your receipts but you have none. My friend was refused for not bringing receipts and she actually paid in FULL.

somebody: This is really simple - apart from nonoma, you women abused the system and swindled the US government. I can bet you go to church and claim 'bornagain' yet you have no conscience. Typical Nigerian attitude! Y'all only worried now that you need to renew your visas. I hope valuable lessons have been learnt - there is nothing hidden under the sun and I truly hope your visas are not renewed!

The humane part of me will also tell you that if the form asks for child details then you better put it. If it doesn't, don't mention anything about travelling with the child even if you are. At this point, I would have added take ALL your receipts but you have none. My friend was refused for not bringing receipts and she actually paid in FULL.

100 likes!

somebody: This is really simple - apart from nonoma, you women abused the system and swindled the US government. I can bet you go to church and claim 'bornagain' yet you have no conscience. Typical Nigerian attitude! Y'all only worried now that you need to renew your visas. I hope valuable lessons have been learnt - there is nothing hidden under the sun and I truly hope your visas are not renewed!

The humane part of me will also tell you that if the form asks for child details then you better put it. If it doesn't, don't mention anything about travelling with the child even if you are. At this point, I would have added take ALL your receipts but you have none. My friend was refused for not bringing receipts and she actually paid in FULL.

Hello Somebody, i think you were referring to me not nonoma as she quoted my write-up. Like i stated earlier i do have some receipts as i paid for some bills before insurance paid. I also do have some forms i signed at the hospital saying am self-payer and mail exchange between the hospital and social worker of what would have gone wrong that the insurance paid. Lastly i will still make a trip to the states and visit the department that treated this to give me all documents i can get my hands on. until then am just going to take my mind off this as it has stressed me out so much.

I just had my baby in Chicago and need to get her visa to enter Nigeria, ps advise. How also do I apply for her social security number

nonoma:

woah, i thou i was alone, so happy to see this post.

am going through the same problem, i had my baby last year and told them in the hospital i was self paying. i keep calling for my bills after delivery and when i received it, i went to the billing office to make payment and negociate. it was there i was told insurance has taken care of it. i said i was not entitled to it and was only advised by the social worker that my child is entitled to it......guess i signed something i was not aware of.

Now i've been calling and trying to pay my bill......the bills that came in bits to me first before the insurance company paid, i've been able to pay those.

i've even called the Department of Health office in the state and they refer me to the case worker in the hospital.

since am back in Nigeria, it has been difficult following up with phone calls, i intend returning to the states alone and sorting this out.

from my research so far, it looks like i would be needing a lawyer.

Anyone in this situation, on how to pay back medicaid, should plese help.

Send someone to the billing department at the hospital where you had your baby. The billing department can reverse all the medicaid payments on your patient account, enabling you to make the full payments as a private patient. Get them to write you a cover letter in addition to the receipts, stating that you made full private payment for your baby delivery.

Hello Hbid,

Your advise is so correct as i found out.

I was waiting for an appointment to meet a lawyer when i got into a conversation with the receptionist and she told me i did not need a lawyer as i just had to go to the billing office.

I've gone to the billing office and they did reimburse medicaid and i also got a letter from the hospital too saying i made payment and i have no outstanding on my patient account.

But the doctor's bill and the epidural bill is still outstanding as they said they can't reimburse medicaid.

When i intend renewing my visa, i will just take all i have which is almost USD9K in paid bills.

Got my visa renewed and was not asked about my baby

Love300: Got my visa renewed and was not asked about my baby

Congratulations! That was pure luck.

Love300: Got my visa renewed and was not asked about my baby

Please i"d like to know if you paid for both urself and ur baby or u paid only for urself, cos i'm about to have a baby in NY and the financial counselor actually said i was to settle just my bill and not my baby's, she also said i would not be turned back for applying for medic aid for a US citizen, i need to be extra sure, i dont mind picking up my baby;s bills ,

tobiojo2002:
Please i"d like to know if you paid for both urself and ur baby or u paid only for urself, cos i'm about to have a baby in NY and the financial counselor actually said i was to settle just my bill and not my baby's, she also said i would not be turned back for applying for medic aid for a US citizen, i need to be extra sure, i dont mind picking up my baby;s bills ,

Please pay BOTH bills. Don't apply for medic aid for your baby.

Pay for both bills. That's just the sensible thing to do.

The baby bill is very little like less than 10% of you own bill if there is no complications.

Hello i also would like help in this situation someone mentioned that i can eimburse medicaid is that possible..? I have not traveled back to the usa since giving birth this year.. I still Have our more years on my visa and would like to clear This situation up as fast as i could.. plz can Someone offer me advice As To payying my own bill.

tobiojo2002:

Please i"d like to know if you paid for both urself and ur baby or u paid only for urself, cos i'm about to have a baby in NY and the financial counselor actually said i was to settle just my bill and not my baby's, she also said i would not be turned back for applying for medic aid for a US citizen, i need to be extra sure, i dont mind picking up my baby;s bills ,

My child has medicaid and his bill and mines has lready been paid however i would like to ay my own Bill..

zahre: Hello i also would like help in this situation someone mentioned that i can eimburse medicaid is that possible..? I have not traveled back to the usa since giving birth this year.. I still Have our more years on my visa and would like to clear This situation up as fast as i could.. plz can Someone offer me advice As To payying my own bill.