Hello anuoluwa222. Information on visa renewals can be found here:
http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng/ng-niv-visarenew.asp
First-time applicants must appear for an interview.

anuoluwa222:
Hello lagosNIV and abujaNIV

I was granted a US visit visa early this year and I spent four months there.... Now am back to Nigeria

I will be getting married soon and u will like I and my spouse to go to the US for our honeymoon...

But I don't know how to go about it.

Someone said I should do a visa renewal......

But for the visa renewal will I and my husband go for interview or just him


Please advise me

Hello urstruly1. Try contacting customer service:
http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng/ng-main-contactus.asp#ContactInformation

urstruly1:
Hi...

I had a little issue when paying for the Visa fee...

So last week, I helped a friend pay for her visa fees(N64,000) but unfortunately my bank account was debited twice..

I reported the problem to my bank (Guaranty Trust Bank) and they promised to look into the matter to try to resolve it.

Unfortunately, my bank got back to me yesterday informing me that I need to contact the embassy directly and inform them about the issue myself because once the funds go into the embassy's account, there isnt much the bank can do about it and the onus is on me..

Could you please advise how to go about this??

I have all the details, debit alerts, applicant's name etc..

Please do let me know...

Awaiting your response... Thanks...

If you want to try your luck, buy a lottery ticket. We do not consider the US visa process to be a game of chance. Self assess and apply if you chose to do so.

Apple2:
As a final year student in Nigeria what ties could I provide as am going for Christmas invitation to my cousin(aunty). I actually don't work while schooling and I don't have fat account or properties, is a December- February stay, come back March for school clearance. My aunty(cousin) is sponsoring the trips. Any luck ?

Hello Apple2. You quoted a post from a few pages back, but I encourage you to keep reading and absorbing what we've been saying here for a long time. Visa officers are not focused on documents. Carrying a copy of a US passport or social security card will carry no weight in the interview.

Apple2:
Evening room

Pls I'm applying with a b1 b2 usa visa, I'm a final year student(written my exams remaining clearance and Nigeria youth service) and my big cousin a citizen of USA is inviting me for Christmas holidays and to spend 3months with them before returning to finish everything about my school

My question is ' will I be granted visa bcus I don't have ties in Nigeria, I'm still a student. And I have a daughter but am not married nor worked while schooling becus it was a full time course.

Secondly, she wants to send me copy of her social security card because she doesn't have passport and she's a citizen, Haven't travelled outside USA before. Would the social security card be OK?

Hello Lordcrixus. We encourage applicants to speak in English at the interview if at all possible. If she requires a translator, she can request one at the window.

Lordcrixus:
Dear AbujaNIV,
My elder sister just submitted her ds-160 form and also scheduled her b1/b2 interview for early December. In the process of filling the form and scheduling interview, there was no option for choosing to use an interpreter, what is the process of requesting for an interpreter as she wants to be interviewed in her mother tongue?
Thanks

Greetings hardworkpayss. Participation in the Diversity Visa lottery is not in itself a disqualification for a non-immigrant visa. It may come up in your interview, and if there was fraud in the DV application, that can have an impact. We can't speak with any authority on the Canadian visa process. It is up to the applicant how he/she plans to pay for their education.

hardworkpayss:
Long Post Alert..

Firstly i want to commend @Lagosniv @Abujaniv and @Visaofficer the consular officers for a great job you are doing over here to help put people in the right directions on applications. Thanks  a lot.

Please i will really appreciate if my issues are addressed.

- I was refused a DV lottery in 2006, i am not to sure why but i think the reason being there was a mistake in the date of birth the visa officer had on the her computer and the one my passport, according to what she told me then with either a day or a month can't really remember the details as it has been a really long time. That error came along because i didnt put in for the lottery myself. A relative did without my consent and i didn't know till i got a post mail of the lottery.

- I was refused a canadian study permit in 2006.

- Later in 2007, I wanted to accompany my Mum for medical treatment to the UK, but I was refused a UK visitors visa.

- All this time, i was in the university, but now i have finished, done my nysc and worked for some years and gone for a course in south africa and back.

- I applied to canada for a study permit to go further my studies. I ticked the yes option in the space provided for if you have been refused visa to canada or any other country and i declared i have been refused canadian visa and stated reasons but i didnt talk about the USA and UK. But that was an honest oversight due to the crowded place i filled the form hurriedly. They sent me a procedural letter stating that i should explain why i didnt include the USA refusal in 2006, i explained and told them the truth that it was an honest oversight. They gave me a 5 year ban because of that.

- I am being sponsored by a company where i did my internship work while i was in school. Due to my performance at work, a scholarship after school test and an interview. I have letters from the company and their bank to the scholarship effect. I was told to open a new account and the funds for the scholarship transferred to the account.

My questions are:

If applying for an F1 visa:

- Will the DV lottery which is probably viewed as immigrant intent from what i have read on this thread, disqualify me?

- Will my previous refusals and the ban from canada make me not qualify for the visa?

- Hope the fund deposit from the company will not disqualify me as my account is a new account.

Hope to read from you soon.

Please you guys should keep up the good work. So many of us really appreciate.

Thank you for your anticipated response.

Hello bimbotek. It's our prerogative to ask any questions we feel necessary in order to determine an applicant's suitability.

bimbotek:
Hello VO...thanks for th good job you are doing.
I have read other people's transcript where they were asked about how the person who invited them got his permanent resident permit. A whole lot of people feel the visa officer denied them the visa because of this question.
I have always thought granting or denying an applicant a US visa is strictly based on showing ties to his/her country. Can u please clarify on this. Thank you.

Hello shina88. For something like this, I'd recommend that your mother just explain the change of departure dates when she goes to the interview.

shina88:
Hi US Embassy,

My mum submitted her DS160 Application with 28th September as the intended day of departure but the available first interview date in Lagos she got was December 4th. Which was way beyond the initial departure date, though what she wanted to do in the State which is the graduation ceremony of my sister is billed for 16th December.

Is there a way she can change the initial departure date submitted to another day or she should go ahead to book the first available date hoping this would not affect her chances.

Thanks in anticipation of your reply.

Hello sizl. Anytime the actual travel deviates from stated travel, it invites more scrutiny. The greater the deviation, the greater the scrutiny.

sizl:
Hi LagosNIV/AbujaNIV

Just trying to clarify something.

If at the interview you stated that you were staying at the US for 2 weeks, but ended up staying for 3 weeks (CBP stamped for 6 months), is it an issue when you renew?

thanks

Hello Unik222. I can empathize with your situation. Healthcare in the US can be quite expensive and confusing, for tourists and residents alike.

As we have said before, it is not a valid procedure to inform the Embassy/Consulate about medical intent after the interview. You can e-mail the Embassy/Consulate, and in some cases, you will get a form letter in response, but nothing is changed in your file as regards to your purpose of travel. What matters is what you present in your application and your face-to-face interviews at the Embassy/Consulate and the port of entry.

Some states have special, tax-funded healthcare programs for non-insured residents of the state. If you are a tourist in the US, you are necessarily not a resident of any US state. Hospitals and birth certificate authorities may take you on your honor if you declare local residency, but doing so may impact your credibility in the future as an applicant for a non-immigrant visa.

There are, unfortunately, some unscrupulous healthcare operators that may quote unusually low fees for medical care, only to send the balance of the bill to Medicaid. Consular officers have ample experience looking at medical statements and receipts, and we have our own experiences with the US medical system to draw upon. So we know approximately what a range of procedures cost. Prospective applicants for medical tourism should do ample research and be suspicious of quotes that are unusually low.

Unik222:
Good day.

I need advice, I had my babies in the USA, in 2012 and 2013 respectively. I informed the embassy before I embarked on this journey and they acknowledged this by replying my mail. At the port of entry I informed the immi officer of my intentions and he asked for my app letter from the hospital of which I did and he let me in. 2012 I had my baby paid all my bills self pay (cash).

In 2013 went through the same process only this time the officer at the point of entry requested for my receipt from 2012 and I presented it to him and he wished me luck. After my delivery I made payments as the bills came bit by bit. While in the hospital a Medicaid worker came in and tried to encourage us to get one and my husband n I refused and said we were self paying. I still remembered her name because she came back again confused on why we don't want it. Anyway, we paid the bills until they stopped coming. Got all my statements of payment.

Hello agates. We don't consider our visa laws and processes to be ridiculous. If you and your family do, you are welcome to exclude yourselves from it.

agates:
Hello VO, Abuja NIV. My sister went for her visa interview this morning and was denied. This is very ridiculous considering the fact she works for an American Oil and Gas company and is scheduled for a training. The cost of the training and all expenses is being borne by the organisation. According to her the VO kept her for about 15 minutes and drifted from the core purpose of her visit which is her training and went into personal details asking if her siblings have travelled before and she answered in the affirmative. She also told them my elder sister has been to the states before. The VO checked and said oh so your sister had a baby in the US, she didnt say she was pregnant when she came for the interview and with that he denied her. This is unimaginable considering the fact that these are two different individuals. How do you make a judgment based on another person's issue. Please i need a response urgently. Her training is tied to her work promotion.

Hello cornerstoneny. It's clear from this post and others that you've made on other threads that your true intention is to relocate to another country. As such, your home ties are nonexistent. Save your money and do not apply for a non-immigrant visa to the United States.

cornerstoneny:
Hello Nairaland please I need information and advice. I have #3million in my account where, where can me and my wife travel to with that amount. Am hoping Canada or Australia

Hi daddyfisayo2015. You may apply again at any time. You should self determine your ties and circumstances before applying again.

daddyfisayo2015:
Evening vo, please I have two questions (1) can someone who has been denied a visa in July 2017 reapply in December same year (2) can travelling alone be regarded as change in circumstance of previous denied family visa application.

Happy Birthday, LadyGuinivere. We consider the US visa process to be a secular endeavor. Credibility is paramount, and those who tarnish their credibility --be it through direct lies or being complicit with stories cooked up by an agent-- can find it very difficult to ever qualify for a visa. In our experience, the kind of people who lie to get a visa are similarly cavalier about all other laws and standards. The first step is to own up to these mistakes and allow the passage of time. Most applicants do respect our laws and tell the truth. So the rhetorical question becomes, should a liar be given a second chance before all those law-abiding applicants get a first?

LadyGuinivere:

Exactly!
He lied. Several times. Sought for advice.
Was told to own up.
TW said he would never get a visa no matter what.
Thats the basis of the discourse above.
History will show that I do not take the issue of quoting God and misrepresenting at the same tym lightly. I also give advice on logic not on faith usually.
My stand is on a general view point of the Bible. If you make your ways right, God is waiting to catch you.
If you confess, He is faithful and just to forgive all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Now if God can forgive a murderer or a rapist, it's logical that He can make anything possible.
Let's be real here now. When you want something, and u can't get it, it's a big deal. Whether it's a pair of sneakers, or snickers the chocolate, a husband ,baby or visa it's a biggie. I'll use myself as an example. When I was refused UK and US visas, it Was annoying and a bridge I had to cross cos that's who I am. I learnt and reapplied. Now I have globe trotted finish, it isn't a biggie anymore. Let's not belittle the ones still seeking to see outside Naija. While to you it may be " whatever" to them it's "something "
However. For emphasis sake, do not misrepresent. It isn't worth it. At all!

LagosNiv if you will, we would appreciate another comment on "born again misrepresenters" . Thank you.

Meanyl. It's my birthday in a couple of hours/days/ weeks. I no go mind birthday greetings. Lol

Hello Opeyemi007. Just explain the discrepancy at the interview.

Opeyemi007:
Hello Niv. How are you doing today? I trust you're having a great Sunday. When i was filling my DS-160, There was a Column to explain if you've ever been refused a visa/entry into the USA. I have been refused a b1/b2 category Visa on July 14, 2016. While i was explaining the reason i think i was denied, I forgot to write the Year it happened. I only wrote the Day/Month. I found out after i booked my appointment. I have a scheduled interview this month at the abuja consulate, Could this be an issue or the interviewer would know the exact time/year i was refused? I wouldn't want them to think i'm coming in for the second time in 1 year.

I'd be glad to hear back from you Sir/Ma.
Thanks

Hello LearnedPaul. A person can apply for a visa at any time. There is no "medical visa," per se. The standard B1/B2 visa is suitable for most business, tourism, and medical purposes. What's important is that your wife --or anyone seeking medical care in the US-- make their intention known at the Consulate/Embassy and also at the port of entry. The applicant should also be able to demonstrate their ability to pay the medical bills in full. Travel history is one of many factors we look at to determine ties and credibility. Plenty of people who have never traveled out of their home country have nonetheless qualified for a US visa.

LearnedPaul:
Hello VO, great stuff! Please can my Wife who has a doctor in USA and has been in touch for almost three weeks now apply for a medical visa to travel in the 2nd week of November? Her EDD is January 15th 2018, what are the chances of getting an appointment date for her visa interview on or before October the 31st? Meanwhile, does the VO or American Embassy pay attention to travel history since she has a virgin passport? Many thanks.

Hello Prince1980. We can change the visa class during the interview. The qualifications and cost for the transit visa (C1) and the tourist visa (B1/B2) are the same, so we generally encourage people to go with the B1/B2, which allows you more flexibility.

Prince1980:
Hello NIV,
While appreciating your kind and prompt response here, please I would like to know, when I paid for visa application, the payment was made for B1/B2, while my visa application is actually for Transit Visa. Is it an issue or is fine? Since the both category of visa attract same fee.

Thanks.

Hello adewotired. It's very important that the contact information you put in your application is correct. If an issue comes up with your visa, we will try to contact you. But if you don't check your e-mail, or your phone number changes, it's impossible for us to do so. If the visa is revoked, you will need to apply and interview again if you wish to travel to the US. That said, the visa was revoked for some reason, and that issue will have to be addressed and resolved for any subsequent visa to be issued.

adewotired:
Hello, my mom applied for B1 visas for me and my brother around last year. We were after being asked to bring in some documents. Online, her status showed her visa as still being valid. Last week she tried to travel to America and wasn't allowed to board the flight saying that her visa was revoked after my application and she was asked to bring her visa in.

We never saw such message. And we were also not informed. It still shows online that the visa is valid. What do we do?

And also, if she has to go in for a new interview, how would the revocation affect her application?

Hello Fadman4real. Unless you are on full scholarship, you may need to demonstrate your ability to fund your education. Most people do this by providing a bank statement of their own account or whoever is paying the tuition and expenses.

Fadman4real:


Hello sir,

I recently got admission into a school in the United states for an F1 visa. I want to confirm if what you said above still holds when applying for an F1 visa.

Thanks.

It is odd to have three unused visas in a passport, but it's not an ineligibility. If questioned about it, be truthful. Do not attempt to remove the visas or alter them in any way.

mcafeez:
My bad .... Just wanted to make sure I did not violate the way the question should be asked and also to make sure I tagged the two VOs... Please kindly attend to my question...THanks

Hello marketgirl. We don't have any rules on where a traveler should buy their tickets. That said, it is the prerogative of Customs and Border Patrol to question any traveler, including US citizens, at the port of entry.

marketgirl:
Good Morning VO,
Please I have a question which I implore you to please clarify for me.
I have a visa and intend to travel by December Lagos to US. My family in the US is planning to help buy the travel ticket fro the US because it comes cheaper and they will be buying through ticketing agents. A friend here in Nigeria just mentioned that I could be interrogated and delayed at the point of entry on why I bought my ticket from the US, that I will be required to produce evidence of source of funds etc.
I thought I could buy ticket from anywhere.
Any advise please?
Thank you.

Hi ogwashiukwu. The B1/B2 visa is appropriate for the purpose you mention.

ogwashiukwu:
Good morning AbujaNIV,

My wife had applied for a b1/b2 visa in December 2105 and was granted together with my daughter when we all wanted to travel to the States for a vacation, but due to some contingencies we were unable to travel as planned.

Presently, as a Nurse, she plans to sit for NCLEX exam in the US and wanted to know if there's any other type of visa that will be required for the exam or can she still make use of her b1/b2 visa having in mind that her initial plan was for a vacation and not for exam.

Would there be issues at point of entry? Please advise.

Thanks

Hello. Yes, you can apply for a visa in your maiden name. The name in the visa needs to match the name in the passport. By the way, US visas do not include any honorifics --such as Dr., Hon., Alhajji, Princess, Engr.-- even if they are on your passport.

LadyGuinevere:
Good evening VO

Will be getting married 4th November, 2017. My future hubby has a B1/B2 Visa and would like for us to spend Chrismas in the US for his annual vacation.

Timing is a bit short and we are considering applying with my passport in my maiden name because there's not enough time to get a new passport in my hubby's name and still get an early interview scheduling slot.

Can I apply for a B1/B2 Visa with the passport in my maiden name for this trip?

Hello. This is more a question for customer support.
http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng/ng-main-contactus.asp#ContactInformation

thegreengooner:
Hello. I seem to be having serious issues uploading a digital photo to the DS-160.

The image uploaded passes the suitability test but the form fails to confirm it and i receive an error message like the one below.

You seem to do things in 3s, as this is the third time you've asked the same question.

mcafeez:



I understand the VO don't talk about chances here... Does having a unused 3 visas on ur passport mean anything ?? does it make someone look on serious to the VOs or it has nothing to do with VO's interview evaluation.. Thanks

Hello Mzsunshine. Our advice is to not use agents. It is extremely rare for the Embassy/Consulate to change interview dates.

Mzsunshine:
Good day,
Please I will like to make an inquiry, I applied for a us visiting visa mid this year through an agency and the dates has been changed three times and the agency claims that it's the us embassy that keeps changing dates please how true is this? Does the us embassy change people's interview dates?

Hello Kingspartner. Your accommodation choices are yours to make. We don't look at invitation letters.

Kingspartner:
Hello V.O,
Please I am about to re-apply for my wife that was denied. I hope we have addressed the reason for denying her and my children at least to my understanding and she will go along with relevant documents.

We intend to stay with my friend at Katty-City for 3 days before moving to Minnesota for 11 days. My friends in all these places have there own duplex. At least I have stayed with them in my previous traveling.

My Question:
Is it still advisable to make hotel reservation in those cities we intend to visit?
Do I still need to receive an invitation letter from both families stating we intend to visit?

Our purpose is to celebrate our 10yrs wedding anniversary this December.

I am sorry if these has been answered in the previous thread...

Hello adefreshguy. The US takes biographical data very seriously. Changes to names and dates of birth are hallmarks of fraud, so applicants are cautioned to be sure that all the information in their passport and applications are correct. Your identity must be reestablished, so you must appear at the Embassy/Consulate for an interview and fresh biometrics. Instructions would have been sent to you with your passport.

adefreshguy:
Hello V.O,

I need help on what to do, because I am lost now. Firstly I changed the date of birth on my passport because the old date was an error by Passport Office. So I apply for drop box using the new passport with the old one. My application was returned asking for additional document (fingerprint). Here is my question- which fingerprints are they asking for, is it the police fingerprint done at Ikoyi or the biometric one at the embassy. And if it’s the one at the embassy how do I go by it. Will I just visit the embassy.

Hello tryha001. Every applicant must qualify on their own merits. We typically do not look at any documents for tourist visa applicants.

tryhay001:
Hello VO. I am currently doing my masters and will be graduating in December. I would like to have my family (3 members) come for my graduation in the US.

Would like to know what will be required of them and me to apply for their visas. Most especially, how much will they need to show in their accounts? I'd also like to support their travel. What is the total amount we all have to show? I was unable to find these information on uscis.gov.

Thanks.

Hi kingi777. If it comes up in the interview, just explain as you have done here. Best regards.

kingi777:
Hello V.O., I have visa interview next for a conference in Chicago organized by my profession of which I am a world outreach student member. While filling the DS-160 form, I noticed that one must input the date of attendance from and attendance to of one's educational qualification. No room for 'to date' in case one has not yet graduated.In February this year, I filled the DS 160 form and inputted a date before submission of the form to show that my post graduate study was still ongoing though I was denied visa because I wanted to go for a cousin's wedding then. Now, for this interview coming up in few days time, I imputed a date before the submission of the form to show that I am still a PhD candidate since there is no room for 'to date(until now)' to show that one is still a student. The start date of my PhD is the same but differs in the 'attendance to' in the application form because without filling the 'attendance to', one wont be able to proceed to another section of the form or submit. Hope the conflicting date of 'attendance to' wont affect my chances? I am actually a PhD candidate waiting for my external defense having done my internal defense which I believe should be one of my ties required. Thanks in anticipation of your response and advice.

Hi Proppie. There are plenty of students in US schools who are older or even younger than typical ages for such programs. We can't answer for what your prospective schools will require, however, or what they will ask. When it comes time for the student visa, check back with us if you have any more questions.

Proppie:
Hello VO

I finished secondary school in 2010 and a lot happened, so I couldn't really further my education, but now, everything is good and fine, and I'm ready to go back to school, I'm 24, I took the SAT in January and I'm about to apply to a school in the US, would they have any issue with my age, And mostly with when I graduated from high school?
What are the likely questions I would be asked, and what are the necessary documents i should have?

Thank you so much, I look forward to being answered unequivocally... God bless

Hello Jamezy4u. Visa officers typically don't look at documents for non-immigrant visas, including F2s. If corroborating documents are required, we can put the case on hold and give the applicant an opportunity to send them into the embassy/consulate. I don't know what a weeding certificate is.

Jamezy4u:
Dear VO

1. As a student of F1 Visa in the States, you are married and it was a traditional marriage which off-course without any formal marriage certificate. You have a kid (son). If you want your wife to visit you while studying or even bring them (wife & Son) as dependents on F2 visa.
..How will you or your wife proof to the VO that you are actually married? For your son that bears your name might not be issue but for your wife that all her documents bear her Father's name, will her International passport maybe in your name be enough? How could one go around this safely and sincerely please?

2..If one must get a court weeding certificates, what exactly the nature/rank/name of courts that certificate issued by them are well recognized?

Thanks