₦airaland Forum

Mehn… this Doha Airport makes our MMIA look like temporary site.

TWoods:
Let's face it, there is nothing special about a public administration degree in the US. You can get the same degree in Nigeria for far less. No wife, no kids, no real reason to return after school. Pretty straightforward denial.

People have been granted visa for less 'stellar' courses/responses. The dude just met a hardnut and should study more so as to make a stronger case and try again.

Last night in Naija. Feeling... stressed out jare. Need to sleep. Tomorrow I continue my airport, POE and arrival experience sharing.

stacyadams:
abeg any reputable TOEFL center in enugu..how soon can one write the exam and expect result...any one studying in minot state uni?

When you log onto the ETS TOEFL website and you are about to select a date, you will be prompted to choose a city of your choice, which is where you see available dates in different centers for that city. There you will see whether Enugu has a centre or not. And like someone already affirmed, all ETS accredited centers are "reputable".

aamstih:
@Ability247, quote me when you see this, it is as regards workshop3, pollution lab, Sunic and EIA. I hope you understand when you bsee this. Cheers

Lol. Yea I do. What's up?

Mayflowa:
No train to Chicago except you using bus, greyhound. You will need to book online on time to make it cheaper. You also have to consider taxi fare in JFK to greyhound station too. It all depends on how much difference is the flight fare.

Hmmm. Thanks for this. I'll let the person know.

MrChillz:
387k for maroc? Why? That na daylight robbery o

Lol. So maroc is that bad? It is the only airline in that range for that date. The next is Turkish and its over 500k. But then @ Olarich30 air maroc for 7th Aug is about 360, 500 on travelstart and would be about 358k on wakanow. Wherever you paid 387k, you should really avoid there in future.

Tundephish:
na blue house I dey o

Post your transcript and get tips. Don't keep it to yourself. Even if the advise you would be given doesn't help you, it would help someone else, which is why you would come here tomorrow and not see this thread dried up. Post your transcript bro. It's well.

ecoleco:
wakanow.com is often cheaper than travelstart.

You are right bro. As a matter of fact, I did a rigorous search on other online travel agencies and wakanow had the best deal. I settled for Qatar to Chicago for a little over 478k for 10th. I was wondering whether its possible to go to New York, then take a train to Chicago...? Would that be cheaper? I have a friend that is yet to purchase her ticket and the info would help her decide

Shigoboy:
Please help me with the procesedure on how to fill DS160 form, please for God sake

Procedure kwa. DS-160 form is what igbos call aghota-azaa. If you find yourself confused with any section or question, then bring it here. There is no secret or elite procedure on how to fill the form.

Abeg where can one find cheaper flights? My destination is Chicago Airport and the prices I'm seeing on travelstart.ng are mind-boggling Like half a million and above

Also, can anyone comment on the services of Turkish Airways? From flight experience to layover experience to food

Fenix:
Hello all,

Please would it be possible to upload a photo again after completing the DS160 form? It kept refusing the photo I uploaded. When I submitted the form, I was prompted that I could bring a 5cm by 5cm photograph to the embassy but someone just told me that I would not be permitted to enter if I did not upload on the website.

If you are using a modem or hotspot, go to a cyber cafe and use their network cable. That was what worked for me. I think it is a variable IP/fixed IP issue. If you are already using a network cable, then try different browsers. That was what worked for some others.

DeeTus:
LOL! When you applied to study in America did the VO talked about Germany, Covenant University and so on? Please let's not add pressure on this guy.

I gave him some points, meanwhile other people are here quoting each other without giving some cogent points to him. This is not good at all.

The last paragraph of my post on this contained points I believe would generate more cogent reasons if he works in that direction. Using "strike" as a reason, to me, isn't good at all. Everyone here is trying to help the guy make it next time, else i would just mind my business.

@bolded, it doesn't apply to me, but you should already know that. I didn't tell the VO my school has been on strike so my obvious next course of action should be to apply to a university in the US. It doesn't sound logical and most VOs would probe that reasoning. However, if the guy in question wants to go ahead with the strike story, then I wish him the best of luck. Interviews are quite subjective and maybe - just maybe - the person he would meet wouldn't mind.

femi312:
You dont say! Transcript cant tell the whole story of what happened, this has be said times without number. You cant really know if he/she really said what he/she typed. Secondly, there may be a mistake or saying something contrary to his/her DS 160. Additionaly, sudden large lodgment of money on SOA is a reg flag.

This was the main issue @ bolded. The owner should come up with a good reason for that next time, or use a less suspicious SOA if possible.

Fenix:
Hello everyone,

I've been following this thread for a while and it has been a roller-coaster of emotions. One person will get rejected, another will get accepted...na wa o!

I would please like some advice on preparation. I got accepted to an Ivy league school (think Harvard/Princeton/Stanford) for a masters. One of the requirements for issuing my I-20 was to show that I had all the money in my account. Luckily I got financial aid worth half the cost of attendance. I had to borrow the rest and put it into an account to show the school. I now have my I-20.

My interview is next week Monday and I am nervous because I have had to return some of the money. So what I did was print my statement up until when I still had the full amount in my account. By the time I go to the embassy, the statement will be 3 weeks old. Please would this be too late for the embassy? Do you think I would have potential problems?

Thank you!

You don't seem to have much of a choice. Just go with what you have and hope for the best. You may not even be asked for the statement. But then, depending on what you filled as your current job, many VOs would be curious as to how you were able to save up that amount of money. And if you reply that your siblings or uncles gave you money to support your dreams, you would most probably be asked what they do. So reason well bro.

naijatisumi:
Boss, the worst part is I can't even post here again am so ashamed aswear

Reasons been that I prep my Wife for summer got her admission and even did mock interview for her just a week and she got it now in the US

Secondly have helped two of my friends going for same course and they got it

This last VISA interview tells me something is really wrong with me tho i don't really believe and supernatural powers except that i need to pray fast and trust in GOD

2nd Attempt

ME-Good Morning
VO-Good Morning

VO-Why are you going to the US
ME-To pursue my masters of science degree in Finance Management which is basically about effective and efficient management of funds,planning,organizing,directing and monitoring the resources of an organisation in order to achieve the optimal objectives and goals of the organisation

VO-So you a chattered Economics
ME- YES

VO-There is nothing like Chartered Economics
ME-Sir there is .... Institute of Chartered Economics Of Nigeria and its an umbrella body for professional Economics in Nigeria established in the year 1990 and even affiliated to an American University.

VO- Okay good...Please list recent Economics that won Nobel peace prize
ME- Damn I went blank and i knew I lost it and i just mention one stupid name Gregory Adams...He gave me blue paper sharperlly

I knew I bleeped UP and i went back to work on those lapses

But My 3RD AND 4TH ATTEMPT was nothing to right HOME about

VO- Goodmorning
ME- Goodmorning Mam

VO- Why are you going to the US
ME- I went blank , couldn't say a word not until she gave me a blue paper that my eye opened outside. I was DEAF and DUMB I dont wanna believe some peeps are against my plans...Have fasted, prayed , prepared.

4th Attempt couldnt speak OUT...Deaf and DUMB

I was just thing about my life where exactly did I went wrong...I work in a bank for 4years now, Was an SUG welfare director so no one can tell me I can't express my self

Lastly I woke up and saw Cobwebs where ever i pass

I need HELP seriously


Fast forward I was so prepared that i answered all questions on my head almost every time people questions me

I understand how that feels bro. Being denied once is hard enough. That said, I feel you keep blanking out because your mind sees that moment in front of the VO as a sort of judgement day. Try this if you can (please try), although it may sound a bit weird:

1. Pretend the VO is your younger brother or cousin, wearing the mask of a white man or lady. Tell yourself this till you are almost sure that if you scratch his/her face, the mask will come off. So answer any questions thrown at you like you are talking to your younger sibling or relation.

2. Tell yourself that the worst that can happen is another 64k, and that you shall persist till you get the visa. This will also ease the mental stress.

3. You have prayed, so have faith. Stop observing things the devil whisper in your mind to make you doubt. Cobwebs have always been there. It is your state of mind that made you rediscover them in a new light. Peter, in the Bible, asked if he could walk towards Jesus on the sea and he was given the unction to "come". He began to walk on top of the sea towards Jesus, successfully. Then he started noticing the waves and began to doubt and began to sink. But the waves were there when he asked if he could come and they were there when he began to walk on the sea. The waves had always been there. So focus on God bro, forget the waves. you have prayed, stop doubting. Have faith, refire and tell yourself you are killing it this time, in addition to my two points above. If you allow the devil, he will use many things to destabilize you. You will start seeing meaning in everything - black birds flying across, your toe hitting a stone, etc. The more your mind gets messed up by these, the more of them you see/notice. Remember the battlefield of the devil is your mind.

From now, rise with holy anger and book another appointment. If you see anything your spirit doesn't like, speak to it! Tell it your case is different, that it is your heritage as a son a God to condemn any tongue that rises against you in judgement and that you invoke that heritage to rebuke it. Exercise your faith bro. If this is God's will for your life, nothing can stop it. Like someone said, some people got it after their 8th try, and in their case they made pretty strong cases the 7 times and still got denied each time! yours is more like a case of panic attack.

Build your confidence with these 3 points, prepare cogent responses, speak up, look the VO eyeball to eyeball and don't worry about the outcome. I look forward to your success transcript.

Beegamer:
Guys, I graduated from secondary school 2015 and went to lautech for bsc. Unfortunately the school has been on strike for 15 good months. I decided to apply for admission in USA and luckily they gave me computer science. Already booked my appointment for next week

My Question::::
If they ask why am I just applying to university now? what will I say

OR

What have you been doing after your secondary school?
Any help please because I know they will ask.

Rheenah:
Yea but what if he is asked why he did not retake Jamb and reapply to a school in naija

I agree with Rheenah's viewpoint on this issue. That one wishes to apply to a school in the US because his own school has been on strike doesn't sound cogent enough. Why didn't he apply instead to a very good private university here in Nigeria? He will get similar or closely approximate education in a place like Covenant University and spend far less than travelling abroad. Then again, why is he applying to the US? there are many other countries to pick from. Some schools in Germany, for example, offer great education and do not charge tuition. So why the States? These two questions will certainly run through the mind of most VOs. The good ones will ask and give you a chance to elucidate, while the bad belly ones will just deny you without further questions.

I personally don't think using strike as a reason is a great idea. To me, it sounds like an emotional one. Like a decision taken due to how frustrated one felt at the moment, especially as deciding to school in the States instead is neither the only available nor obvious option. So what if you get there and your head clears after 3 months and you begin to regret your decision? Some VOs would wonder that (I am not doubting your personal decision to go. I understand you as a fellow Nigerian). To them, deciding to spend lots of time and (especially) money in a particular foreign land on a value you can generally get anywhere should be a decision that is carefully considered and based on sound reasoning. That is more like how they think.

Again, applying to a school in Nigeria or abroad takes a year. You pass, you get admitted. Telling the VO that taking Jamb and applying here takes a lot of time would seem like admission in Nigeria via Jamb normally takes like 2 years and they know that is not true. Foreign schools have Fall and Spring. Preparing for each would cost you a minimum of a year too. Well, the guy in question may claim this is July and he wishes to target Spring intake abroad as he has missed Nigeria's Jamb for this year and doesn't want to wait till next year but again, that reason is not cogent enough. It implies your decision is a 'spur of the moment' thing and hints at desperation.

Telling the VO something constructive you have been doing with your time would be better. Forget the fact that you were in Lautech. You want to go study Computer Science. I presume you must have learnt some basic computer packages. Have you taken some MOOC courses (udemy or coursera or the likes) or have you been working in a computer/computing facility? Even if its a business center? You can repackage all these. Make the VO feel like you are going abroad to pursue your passion and that you are confident in what you want and that you are going to get it where you are going. That you want to go there because of strike in your school is flimsy.

temphil17:
Hello house, glad to be a part of this trend. would like to seek advice and directives. I should complete my undergraduate studies as a bachelor in Mechanical engineering this year october and i intend to take GRE and TOEFL before its completion. My plan is to further my Master degree in Industrial Engineering and Management in the United state as i would like to apply for the Spring admission now. please how possible is this and i need informations to guide in the choice of university. is there any university that will grant me admission for the Spring, seeing my final results and degree won't be readily available until October? thanks for your prompt responses.

Target Fall. Besides, some VOs may ask why you didn't wait for the mandatory NYSC. That may count for you (that you will return for it) or against you (that you want to run away because you will only need it if you plan to return)

femi312:
Depending on which state you are going, your best bet is Lycamobile's $19 plan,its cheap and its going to serve you till when you settle and you decide to choose other carrier or plan. The $19 plan comes with 100mb data,unlimited calls and text within the US. You can also call about 60 countries too, but Nigeria is not included. You can only call Nigeria's landline on the $23 plan and higher plans. You can try Tmobile's $27 plan too which comes with unlimited call and text within US but no data, the $45 tmobile plan comes with 3gig data. But if you ask me, Lycamobile's $19 is the way for a new student till you settle and decide to choose any other plan or carrier. You can always port from carrier to carrier within 1day. If you are not driving soon, you don't need to worry about data since most apartment (all utilities included) and schools have wifi you can always connect automatically too.You should order the lycamobile plan on there website and it comes with a free sim, with that one guy in the mall wont scam you to pay activation fee/sim etc. I am always an advocate of do it yourself except the issue requires an expertise you don't have.

Thanks a lot. So even infinix hot note 4 pro is a go

biikeys:
Type Lycamobile,ultra mobile in the search box. There have been lots of posts on that.

Thanks.

Beegamer:
Guys, I graduated from secondary school 2015 and went to lautech for bsc. Unfortunately the school has been on strike for 15 good months. I decided to apply for admission in USA and luckily they gave me computer science. Already booked my appointment for next week

My Question::::
If they ask why am I just applying to university now? what will I say

OR

What have you been doing after your secondary school?
Any help please because I know they will ask.

While waiting for your school to call off the strike, you must have learnt something.. or doing something. Eg, did you register somewhere to learn some basic computer packages? Did you at any time read up courses or materials online on computer science, like MOOC courses? anything? How exactly have you have spent the past 1 year and 3 months, if you don't mind? So I can give you an example from that

Please ladies and gentlemen in Trumpland, what mobile carrier would you advise a student that doesn't intend to spend a fortune on airtime and (especially) internet, but also needs internet freedom/privacy... even the possibility to use a vpn if one so desires and ability to share hotspot with one's laptop?

Is it AT&T? T-Mobile? Sprint? Sim card-giving companies instead? (I don't know their names), etc? Your insight will be invaluable o. Thanks in advance.

Laadeh:
Victory At last! Congrats bro

Yes o, lol. Thanks dear... and for your encouragement then too.

Akin26:
Good morning house

Visa Approved this Morning 8:15 batch.

I am one of those silent readers

First of all i want to thank God the almighty for his grace and favour (no be by how prepared you are)

Secondly i want to thank @Rashfad for the Mock interviews, corrections and hint on how to answer some questions.

Vo - Good morning
Me - good morning ma

Vo - pass me your Passport and i20

Vo- So you going to morgan state University for African American studies
Me- yes ma

Vo- how long will this course take
Me- 24 months

Vo- how did you know about Morgan
Me- the school was recommended to me by one of my colleague at work who finished from morgan, i also came across a book written by one of the professor of the school Professor Dibua on Mordern Africa

Vo- why Morgan
Me - morgan offer me major concentration in African diaspora studies and its also one of the most diversified historical black colleges and Universitied

Vo- how many school did you apply me
Me- 3 schools

Vo- which course did you study in your first degree
Me- History and international studies

VO - what do you plan to do after this program
Me- after my master degree i want to apply as a lecturer to one of the newly established federal universities

Vo- did you took any english test
Me- none was required for this particular course

Vo- tell me about this course. Your study plan
Me- i will be take a 30 hours credit course over the period of 24 months. 16 hours of required credit course, 10 for elective credit courses and 4hours for Thesis all in the same 24 months period.

Vo- have you travel out of Nigeria before
Me- yes. I have been to Benin republic (cotonou)

She typed for a while and said the Magic words i will be approving your visa and brought out the white papper. .

Anu ni mo ri gba

Congrats! True too @ bolded.

emmy994:
Good morning all. My visa was delayed at Abuja consulate. This is my transcript.
Me. Good morning sir.
Vo. Good morning.
Vo. Passport n i20
Me. Here they are.
Vo.why are you going to utep
Me. I'm going for my masters degree in Statistics.
Vo. What do u do.
Me. I work with xyz as the admin officer.
Vo. How many schools did u apply.
Me. Utep, uic n University of Texas Austin. Got two admit n one pending.
Vo. Which other school admitted u.
Me. Uic.
VO. Why wud u be going to a low ranked sch if uic admitted u.
Me. I chose utep cos of its well structured masters program in Statistics and it also offers concentration in statistical modelling which suits my area of interest. I'm also keen on working with Prof ori in his research group. He was highly impressed with my sop and my researches that he offered to allow me join his research group upon my arrival.
Vo. Who pays.
Me. My sister. She's been the one paying for my education from my college through the University.
Vo. What does she do
Me. She is into real Estate and also owns a large farm.
Vo. Sorry blabla hand me blue paper.

The guy in window 6 was just dashing blue paper like say na sweet.
Pls gurus help me check where I got it wrong. Wanna reapply soon. Can I reapply dis week?
Am open to making corrections thanks

emmy994:
No I didn't. Had to say that cos I didn't know how it was going to look like saying I got only one admit.

1. We have been advised time and again not to lie. You must have considered other schools before applying to utep, even if you just skimmed over them. Simply tell the VO that you considered so and so schools but decided to apply to only your school. The usual followup is "why?" and you should have a good answer for that.

2. The lie sef isn't legit. Check this out: I applied to UC Berkeley, Stanford, MIT and ETSU. All admitted me but I chose to go to ETSU because they have great facilities, great staff to student ratio, replied me on time, bla bla bla. This example may be a bit stretched but it's quite analogous. Most VOs would actually be pissed at this reply because it would seem you are deliberately trying to play with their intelligence. uic is better than utep. Why would you choose utep over uic? This begs for a very strong reason when facing any VO. And alas, it was a lie.

azurri99:
Hello gurus I want to know why I was denied.

Vo: good morning
Me: good morning ma

Vo: pass me your passport and i20
Vo: why are you going to u.s
Me: am going to united state fo my master degree in public administration at siue

Vo: why this course
Me: because it is very competitive and it will enable more when I get back to my country also getting a master degree in a public administration will enable me to purse my long time dream of becoming a finance director.

Vo: why do you choose siue
Me: I choose siue because apart from being a university they are also know as master college. It has one of largest college campuses with with wide of variety of program and facilities such as research centre, student housing and althetic activities. . It also offer major concentration on master of public administration.

Na so she just tell me sorry . Na so I just blue paper. Gurus I want to know my mistake her

To the VO, both bolded sentences didn't seem like a cogent and/or convincing reason to travel out of your country to spend time and money on an institution in exchange for an alleged academic value.

Go through past transcripts. Why you chose the school should include something about the curriculum (be ready to elaborate and mention several pertinent courses) or research or an assistantship. Concrete, singular reasons and not generic stuff like 'large campus', 'athletic activities' and 'student housing' (I want to believe you mentioned these out of nervousness).

Why you chose the course should have you talking about what the course will do for you (that is, your career). You need to go through transcripts here and develop something unique... or convincing at least. All graduate courses are competitive in their own right. Besides, how will a graduate degree in Public Admin enable you achieve a long term goal of being a Finance Director? You need to elucidate that, because I myself would feel like Finance Director ko, CBN Governor ni if I were the VO.

Go through past transcripts and further inputs on the bolded and you shall be fine. Success in your next try.

toniauj:
Hello house, please can you kindly provide views on this situation? Thanks in advance.

A friend's interview was approved last week Tuesday and he was given the white paper. He was told he would be contacted to go pick up. He tracked his status on Friday and some minutes ago this morning and he says it's status is on administrative processing. The normal wait time should be 2 or 3 days after interview.

Please is there any among those approved last week that has picked up their passport?Thing is he wasn't told anything other than your visa is approved and you'll be contacted to go pick it up. Gurus please what does this indicate? He is quite worried and his school resumes on August 14th.

Thanks for your views.

Sorry, but has your friend posted his transcript? This thread is still vibrant because people give, besides take.

imperiouxx:
@ atrapon, blackpearl27, rashfad, ukrsc, TheGreat342, Bibiakonure, iekene, preciouschydo, Sallysweet, TheLee, yemluck, Oseni007, HisSon24, OGreene, auxioneer, martclems, Obayomimi, ovieigho, akoja2, Ability247, lincolnhazzy, Labhii, Samuelmilito, Ave, Pasblack, Ezekachiamadi

Cheers guys! https://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/party/party0016.gif

So I finally get the beer I have been seeing others get, lol. Thanks bro; success to others preparing for/planning towards theirs.

electronic:
Its basically about he 4G and 3G network bro.
Most companies might 3G too.
Just make sure you buy a 4G phone.

Secondly, you could always buy a neat used phone from Craigslist, EBay, Offerup,Letgo below $200.

People in USA is 3G fully supported in all USA?
My area supports it sha (verified)

I see. Maybe the other guy went with a 3G phone in a completely 4G area. hmmm.

folmus:
Even Tecno go work

Lol. Thanks

Femmyy90:
I think you only need a US sim card your smartphone does not do anything with US network, you can get a smartphone here and get a US sim when you get there

Thanks...