My Ordeal At The Us Embassy In London. Lesson- Dont Ever Give Up

This is my story, funny but true, and somewhat unbelievable, and that is y I am posting it here make my people follow me rejoice abi na follow me surprise.

July 2006 I was refused Uk student visa in Nigeria because of sponsor palava. Applied again August same year, same story.

Chilled for a year, got my sponsors docs right and applied in July 2007, got d visa.

Arrive d Uk Sept 07, started school etc, its an Msc, i'm 22.

November 2007, I get this crazy idea to apply for a US tourist (B2) visa here in d Uk, saying I was going for a two week holiday.

I do that, with just a letter from uni saying i'm studying there, have paid all my tuition, have paid all my accommodation, bla bla bla,

Funny thing is my account balance is just pretty much generic.

Well, I get the US visa 6 months multiple (funkybaby if you're reading this, I know u are aware of that one).

And then, I get so busy wit uni work that I am unable to go to d US for the yuletide hols.

My Nigeria friend at my uni also applies and gets a two years multiple entry, and I'm like wtf?

Now this is d point where my story gets weird and interesting,

Last month, another mate of mine decides to apply for a US tourist visa, considering that two of his friends (myslef and the other guy had been successful late last year).

This might sound stupid, but I also decide to apply with him (note that I had not even used the visa I had been issued in November which was for 6 months and which is to expire in May). We book appointmnets and all that and we had the interview last week.

You know at the US embassy here in London (Grosvenor Square), they first take your documents and give u the BLUE courier company (SMS) delivery forms and u wait for your teller number to be called for interview. While waiting to be called, I saw people who were succesful with their intervies and were lining up to pay the 14 pounds delivery charge for their passports. And then I saw people who were denied who were leaving and cursing very hard under their breaths. I really starting panicking when I started realizing that ALL those who were hurt and leaving had my skin color and quite probably had a green passport with a coat of arms. I thot to myself saying, what have I done? wetin I go talk carry me come here again? In fact I felt I must have been jazzed from Nigeria, but it was late and there was no turning back.


When I was called, it was a male visa officer, and when I got to him, I saw an astonished look on his face because he was staring right at my 6 months visa. I smiled.

VO: what is this about?

Me: Pardon?

VO: why are u here?

Well I told him the truth, that I was unable to travel to the States for d xmas hols because I was busy at Uni, then that my mate had gotten 2 years, and that considering I was planning to return to Nigeria after studies here in September, I wasnt quite sure I was going to be able to get the visa in Nigeria or even have the time to go hassle for it. But that I'd like to probably visit the states this xmas from Nigeria.

The guy told me I was the biggest joker he had ever seen, but that he liked my guts, That not only is he convinced that I'd depart the US after my visit, he was tooooo convinced that I'd even depart the UK after studies (which is ernestly true).

We talked about my studies at uni, and about my current project work, talked about popsi's job and stuff in Nigeria and he made fun of my account balance saying I was almost getting as much as he was monthly as upkeep money from Nigeria then he told me to get out (sic) that my visa had been approved and he didn't want to see me in the embassy again, we laffed (more like smiled) and I departed. He said my passport was to be delivered in about 5 working days.

I came out all smiles and saw my friend, he was refused, because they felt he had no ties to make him come back, FUNNY.

Well y I have taken the time to post this is to let u guys know that all cases are individual, with a high element of luck and prayers I guess. But most importantly, don't forget to try, and just give it a shot no matter how stupid it sounds to you. Just tell the truth, those guys are human. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW UNTILL YOU TRY.

The courier company guy just left like 10 minutes ago, and u guys are not going to believe this, 10 YEARS MULTIPLE.

@Akolawole

thanks.

indeed, they r quite unpredictable. you're right, i even had no invitation letter this time around while my friend who was refused had an IV from d son of a past US congressman

Wow that is a fantastic testimony. Congrats dearie.

@ Busta

Ten years is a very long time oh. I don't see myself not visiting before then, even if I have to beg for flight ticket, lol

@Funkybaby,
yes oh to d washing and amen to the tapping in on blessings. By d way, did u still make that movement u talked about? I no hear anything again.

@Paribus

You no serious at all.

United States are the most arrogant people on earth.

They hate such thing with a passion.

Why can't you just go even if its 3 JUST days.

### Having 10 years do not gurantee entry to US for those years, they are crazy people##

Unlike UK, they will re-issue the number of days they want you to stay  EACH TIME YOU APPEAR AT their POINT OF ENTRY.

@Paribus,

While the paid training thing at the end of your programme is not entirely a bad idea, in my opinion, u might want to conisder the ties outside the US clause.

If u applied while still at uni, your studies should prove sufficient enough ties to make u depart the US after your visit (tho surprisingly it didnt in my friends case, but did in mine). But if u applied at the END of your programme, don't know really.

But considering your peculiar circumstances, u might want to get an IV to one of them conferences or especially for those professional bodies in Yankee of which u might be a student member which usually hold conferences around now, that u are still a student. Get a hotel booked and if possible get a paper to present or at least publish in the journal.

Make the application and approach the interview from the perspective of the conference being invaluable to your academic work. Present your case from d angle of ''u definitely wouldnt miss this one based on d fact that it is part of your school work here, so there obviously wouldnt be the case of u were too busy'

With regards to d previous visas, tell the truth, about having been busy. But in this case, it is part of your educational pursuit, and should make a whole lot of sense.

It might seem a bit dicey, but u just need to give it a shot if u really want to. Remember that the orientation of the Visa officer here is different, believe it or not, he knows at the back of his mind, that u were able to scale d hurdles in Nigeria, to be here legitimately and if u do not get d visa,, u still get to be here legitimately, if u wish.

Also consider writing a letter with the application, stating your circumstances with the visas. In my experience, the decision whether or not to issue the visa is made in the intervening period between when u submit the documents at windows 1-10 and when u are called for the approximately 7 minute interview at windows 11-25. the interview is just to confirm and reassure the officer on his thoughts already from your docs. So a letter might help. I didnt write one tho, but I'm thinking that if my friend did, he might be all smiles today, don't know really.

Finally Paribus, a big thank u for all the clothing advise u gave just as I was about leaving Nigeria for the Uk back in 2007. You have no idea how much those meant to me. I still remember d long lines u wrote and I thank u for d effort, hence, I'd give any advice or help I can to u at anytime, one good turn does deserve another.

@D10 - thanks for the timely insight as well. I was thinking along this line too but I'm not sure if my finances (bank statement) would be buoyant enough while still a student. That's the reason why I'd wanted to wait till I'm through with studies and possibly working on an IGS visa. And you're quite right on your observations about decisions most possibly being made even before appearing at the interview window.

The cover letter you suggested is a good idea and I think it would make a big difference as one would be able to explain one's situation more comprehensively than you might have time to do at an interview window. However I'm presuming that they allow you to submit a cover letter with your document in a bundle (and would have perused same) before being called up to the interview window - from my recollection, this was not the case at the naija embassy, they only collect your form and payment prior to calling you up to the interview window. Like you said, it's good the guys here have a different perspective than their counterparts in lagos. Anyhow, I believe it will be well.

Good you got through the rough part of the british weather unscathed.

I'll holla you back on any more hints needed on the amex interview. Regards

I hope to apply in late October as I would have finished and gotten my final results by then. Regards

Attention: D10, Akolawole, funkybaby, paribus and any other house member with experience

i am very new on nairaland, infact this is my first post
a friend introduced me yesterday and i registered this morning.

please can you give me advise on this us visa thing
i am a student here and i have a visa till 2010
i have been around since January 2007
and i am regular in school.

please what documents will i need to present to them
as a friend of mine in America will like to invite me.

any contribution will be appreciated.
thanks

He will renew the passport and they transfer the VISA on it. Simple