Anyone coming to ETSU trying to get accommodation? Shoot me an email!

A lot of Nigerians in ETSU, kai. I was at the library the other day and I heard, from strategic locations, people speaking pidgin in hush tones. I just dey dere, dey smile, shake head. It felt good though. And quite a number of them haven't been to Nairaland. I always thought Nairaland was the 'gateway' to securing an F1 visa. The ones that have, talked about LagosismyHome. Aunty you bi celeb here o lol. More power to your elbow, you too much. Good day, my people.

OluDare01:

Welcome to America

Thanks, man.

ark4sunshine:


Were u offered hotel at casablanca by air maroc. Am also going tru JFK to Michigan by mid August.
That long layover nah die o o o o if hotel no dey.

Nope. No hotel. But we were taken to a place where they served us food. Layover lasted from 10AM to around 9PM. I think hotel accommodation is for those who pass the night at Casablanca.

DreManuel:


Congrats man.

How much was your flight ticket?

319k. From wakanow dot com.

Port of Entry (POE) Experience

Good day, e-family. Greetings from Indiana. I left Naija on Friday at about 6:30AM, Nigerian time. Arrived Casablanca around 10AM. Layover lasted for 11hours. My connecting flight departed Morocco around 9PM and arrived JFK on Saturday at about 4AM, Nigerian time. I traveled with Royal Air Maroc. My journey was relatively smooth except for minor bouts of turbulence experienced from Casablanca to JFK.

On arrival, I headed to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). We were to verify our visas with one machine like that, but it turned out the machine doesn't recognize F1 visas and a couple other visa types. So my verification had to be done manually by a CBP officer. The
queue for manual verification was longer than Mugabe's term in office. Had absolutely no problem waiting though.

Finally, it got to my turn. The CBP officer was a light-skinned man of South American extraction, presumably in his mid-thirties. I presented my passport (had my boarding passes inserted at the visa page), my I-20, and the declaration form given to me on the flight from Casablanca. He returned my boarding passes, verified my visa, took a brief glimpse at my I-20. I even forgot to sign my declaration form, so he gave me to sign it and collected it afterwards. Then he asked me to put the four fingers of my right hand on a biometric machine. After that, he took a snap shot of me and proceeded to stamp my passport. BAM!

There was no much exchange. He did not ask me any single question and he didn't even say "Welcome to the US". I sha carry my passport examined it and saw the stamp. It read, "ADMITTED". A smile of pure satisfaction spread on my lips. I bounced off happily to Baggage Claim.

The journey begins...

vivyval:
please go to MFM Ibafo. This, I believe is beyond this thread. All the best!

They have visa interview past questions and answers?

Who else is at MMA?

Femmyy90:


Please can someone go with boiled groundnut

Loool. I found this funnier than I probably should.

blacnewton:
I arrived USA yesterday. POE was New York.
Program start date is 23rd of August and my school is in Iowa, and I didn't even purchase a connecting flight because it was darn expensive from Naija, so I was expecting many questions. But to my surprise, I was only asked two questions:

1) What are you here for?
2) Do you have any drugs with you? I said yes, Anti malaria drugs. He asked to see them and that was it.

The guys at the customs just collected my passport and didn't even check my luggage.

Thanks for this, man. Have a pleasant stay at Des Moines.

Of every Nairalander traveling for their studies in the fall, MackyNaija is the only person who has given a clear POE experience. Thanks a lot for the update, pal. #TeamFall2017

ponlear:


Good day bro

How reliable efficient is this ETX?

How fast did you get your evaluation?

Thanks

Not very reliable, to be honest. I had to keep calling them again and again to remind them to check on the transcript office at my alma mater. It took about a month before my transcript got to its final destination.

iekene:


Final
I am leaving laghos today but had to report to the bank as instructed yesterday . After spending about an hour in the very annoying Lagos hold up. I got to the bank at about 8:30.

The girl who asked me to come yesterday seemed surprise and that made me surprised. .. She said you are here for PTA I said yes. She said she told me to come back in 10 days time ... I was like what. That's when I changed my accent and increased my voice ... started blowing grammar.. she told me to be here today and after the hold up am here . You are telling me 10 days time .. For what ? The guy beside her tried to pacify me. I wasn't given in to that. You can set an appointment and change it over night without informing the other party. They then told me I had to wait till 9:30 when the list would be out. I was like fine I would wait. Left angrily to get a seat while admiring how well I acted.

That acting is very important in Nigerian banks.

LagosismyHome:


Thanks for sharing

GTB is not serious ooo. This means its a rate of 360 naira to 1dollar . That almost black market rate ....no?

Then there is no much value on doing PTA . Someone can as well buy from blackmarket. The only value i see here is maybe you are more guaranteed of authentic dollars but who really knows... I was under the impression PTA is more inline with offical rate ? (around 305 range )

I've been wondering why people go to banks when black market sells at the same rate. But yeah, authenticity of the American dollar is a good reason sha.

borie4u:
Anyone here who have requested for his transcript from OAU IFE recently. please I want to know how and how much it cost you.
Please treat as urgent.

I used ETX dot ng. Cost me 20k.

HisSon24:
My transcripts (Delayed the GOD APPROVED my Visa Yesterday) Still that ProfOjah’s friend
Delayed 29th June 6:30 am Lagos
Me: good morning ma,
VO: pass me your documents (I obliged)
Vo: why are you going to the US
Me: I am going to the US for my masters degree in chemistry
Vo: (looks at me) why this school?
Me: MTSU has a new science building worth $147 million opened in 2014, this will enable me to conduct my research with state of the art facilities.
Vo: why chemistry and not physics or other sciences
Me: I loved chemistry since high school, studied chemistry as an undergraduate and would like to continue studying chemistry
Vo: (looks at me like this one is not serious) then said your visa can not be granted this time (then passed my documents and the coloured paper)
Me: smiled and walked out immediately (was even smiling on my way to the car park and police officers were saying “congratulation how far come wash am for us”). But when i got home I couldn’t eat nor sleep was just replaying the event on my head.
I paid another payment the same day and got 18th July as new appointment the following day

God Approved it Yesterday 6:30 am Lagos

To God be all the glory. His mercy, grace and favour was sufficient for us all. And a big thanks to ProfOjah my padi. He really took my matter personal giving me 90% assurance of success after introducing me to the awesome forum and evaluating my new response to questions.
Fast forward to today 18th July
Vo: good morning sir how re you?
Me: good morning sir am fine thank you.
Vo: why are you going to US
Me: am going for my masters degree in chemistry with a concentration in nanotechnology at the Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro
Vo: why this course
Me: its in-line with my career goal which is to become a university professor, and a masters degree in chemistry and a research knowledge of nanotechnology is a requirement for me to pick up a lecturing job at my alma mata and according to national agency for science and engineering infrastructure there (cuts in)
Vo: what is this nanotechnology?
Me : nanotechnology is the creation and utilization of materials, systems and device through the control of matter on nanometer length (cuts in)
Vo: give me details about this research what will you be doing?
Me: (i come happy) i gave him details about how we going to be manipulating carbon surfaces to make chemical sensors which can be used to detect young set of food spoilage and detection of cancer cells in human body. How carbon nanotube can destroy cancer cells and the procedure has been suggested for cancer treatment and more research is needed to be sure the carbon nanotubes don’t destroy normal health cells while fighting the cancer cells. (i was talking fast that i noticed i mixed some terms up but he was enjoying me)
Vo: you had your undergraduate from University of Benin?
Me: I had my undergraduate from the University of Lagos (I attacked him like what are you saying)
Vo: who is sponsoring you?
Me: I got full graduate assistantship which comes with full tuition waiver and monthly stipends and the remaining personal expenses will be covered by my brother
Vo: (nodding head and went through my i20 to confirm) is your brother in the US
Me: yes
Vo: what state?
Me: mentioned it
Vo: do you apply to other schools and how many gave admission?
Me: mention the schools and said i choose MTSU because i got assistantship
Vo: Yes of-course (smiling and nodding head)
Vo: are you married, do you have kids?
Me: NO, NO
Vo: (when through my passport) have you travelled out of the country before?
Me: no, i have got no reason until now
Vo: (typed for like almost one straight minutes)
Me: repeating in my mind “Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit”
Vo: your visa will be ready in four days, you will get a text or email bla blab la.........
Me: collected the white paper (golden sceptre), my i20 n sevis. Thank you sir. Didn’t know when I added God bless you.

You guys are doing a great job here. I read through the 40 pages of complied delayed transcripts and over 100 pages of complied Approved transcripts. It really helped me. And my dear ProfOjah brushed up my responses during the mock interview we held.
Advice: You don’t need any agent to help you go through the process from beginning to finish. Did everything myself until I got stock during the interview part, but thanks to God, ProfOjah, the gurus here and everyone that shared their transcripts.

And some will say, "approval has nothing to do with preparations, it's all grace and favour". Lol.

Congrats, man. Enjoy a smooth trip to Trumpland.

ukrsc:
VO; you don't have your sons I20 form here. Well I'll give you this paper. (white paper thou) Don't need to come back for an interview call the school to send your sons i20 form and submit it at the DHL office.
Chai..

Congratulations!

Loso351:
i think is better i say what my School told me which is i choose the school because i want to study theology and receive training for higher ministerial skills..if he ask me on what I will say creative media and Evangelism

Alright, man. Flesh it out and avoid mentioning anything supernatural. Good luck.

Loso351:
My interview on the 14th of July.. Visa denied .. VO why do i want to go to this school, i told him students are being given great opportunities to identify their God's giving gifts at their ist year of the program through the youth for the nation practical internship program, vo asked me how do dey do that i told him by teaching the students how to pray, counseling, giving hospitality and public relations, and they will also give them great opportunity to minister with pastor joel osteen. ..vo how did you know the school? Me through testimonies of alumni students a woman was healed from cancer and the other students life was transformed from being drug addict to normal life, vo asked me again how did you hear about the school dat dey know about the alumni bla bla me ok through Facebook vo what course will you be taking i told him Christian doctrine, chapel, student ministries... The next thing i see nah blue paper....
I have Bsc in Computer science, i just graduated last year September waiting for my Nysc buh i postponed it to 2020 because of the program...buh now i want to become a minister of God that's why i choose program which is Bachelors of practical ministry...
My School told me initially that if they ask me why the school i should say i choose christ for the nation Institute because i want to study theology and receive training for higher ministerial skills...pls i want to reapply and i need to correct my mistakes from any corrections i will get from the house thanks

Focus on more academic reasons like how courses in the program would equip you with a very particular skill set to function in evangelical ministerial capacities.

Those stories (emboldened) won't get you an approval.

teepee4Him:
Greetings and Congratulations to all Fall 2017 Students. Just thinking I should drop few words in a bid to assist those travelling in here. I will tag it - THINGS I WISH I DID/KNEW BEFORE TRAVELLING TO THE U.S.

Wish everyone a glorious stay!

Thanks a lot for this.

kallowdean:
This was my first post on the 7th when the Visa was actually approved:
Why Why Why Why una close the thread by this morning...
All the same noni, glory be to Almighty God.
MY VISA WAS APPROVED THIS MORNING... 6:30 Lagos

Transcript loading 80%....

Now my Post for Today
I can now relax and Post my Transcripts...
I apologise it is coming this late, I had to wait for the main PALI GANGAN to land on my hands before i believe it wasn't actually a dream.

I remember you lol. When I initially saw you with your work ID hung around your neck at the interview hall, for some reason, I thought you were a CGI staff, until an actual CGI staff called out to you, "Mr XYZ, Mr XYZ!", referring to your work ID.
Congrats, man. You were strangely very confident and excited in an atmosphere that was pregnant with tension and over seriousness. The VO didn't have a choice lol. Congrats again, buddie.

Bibiakonure:
Visa approved this morning at the lagos state embassy. Transcript would be posted soon.

Oh wow. Congrats, Bibi!

chinemomah2020:
Visa Approved Today at Lagos Embassy.. 6:30am

VO: I will be approving your visa, pick it up in 3 days time, she pick up the white paper and circle a place there, gave it to me with my i20 and said i should keep my i20 safe as will be required at the Port entry. Na so i collect my visa ooo No singles document was asked.


My transcript seems long here but it"s actually less than 4 mins with Vo because she speaks very fast and i also respond very fast as well.

Congrats, man.

LagosismyHome:


World people....

Just noticed this my 2,000th post in 1 year... i talk abi na type too much...digressing again

LagosismyHome:


When it comes to MBA , you really need to get the school right because MBA just 2 years but the job prospect stays a long time. Pick the right school or else its a big struggle to get a job (both home and away) after the program ..... Especially with MBA , its all about the school and the networks . Before you start an MBA in the USA what I am saying with make little sense but after the program you look back and say hummmmmm..... anyway I almost digressed from a good news (which is visa approved)

Congrats and good you kept at it ...... May God bless your new journey .

Lol the way you seem to almost digress in your replies, these past couple days ehn. I just dey observe sha

Classic90:

VO: I have been in Nigeria for a while and I have not seen one single Dog
Me: There are Dogs in my area, people keep them for pet and security purposes
VO: Which case do you see often
Me: pardon?, she repeats herself while I compose myself. Endo and ecto parasites mainly, then towards the end of the year, parvo virus cases.
VO: who will be paying?
Me: My mum
VO: What does she do?
Me : My mum professor Bolanle....
VO: cuts... Oh she is a prof?
Me : yes
VO : which dept
Me : psychology
VO: I will be issuing your visa

Come to think of it, it's been a while I saw dogs myself
Congrats, Buddie.

chinemomah2020:


towbaynah, Thank you so much for the explanation on how to quote replies, that's why we keep learning everyday becos No one is an highland. before now if i want to quote someone, immediately i click on Quote, i normally erase quote author and those digit, [b]

You welcome, pal.

chinemomah2020 send me a PM. Let's talk about quoting replies.

Time2Smile:
She picked a white paper, returned my I 20 and sevis, and said Your visa has been approved pick up your passport in few days. She no circle location of.
Time2smile; Thank you and have a nice day.

I would like to appreciate everyone's who has contributed positively to this thread in one way or the other. I have really gained immensely. The resident gurus continue the good works, (I hope I would also become a guru here in good time). My e family from the GRE thread, I am grateful for all your support and advice.

NB ; I am sorry for any error, I am typing on a spoilt phone in Lagos traffic. I would edit later and other gists day ooo.

Yaay! Congrats, man!

For those trying to book

QATAR AIRWAYS
LAG-JFK (1way)
26TH, JULY 2017
N264,600 on Travelbeta

Good evening, my people.

I need a goodhearted (or whateverhearted) person to help with getting an accommodation in Johnson City, Tennessee. Kindly slide in my PM.

Thanks a bunch.