₦airaland Forum

Lifeisforliving:
Hello @ Fairheart Please I sent you an email, I will like to have a mock with you. Thank you in anticipation for a Response

naijaeclectic:
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I am the daughter ohh!

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for the transcripts, advice, and encouragement here. You were extremely helpful. God bless you all.
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I think I got there at some minutes to 6. There was a crowd already. I had to register my bag for N2,000. Then, I learned that I was not with the correct copy of one payment receipt (the one paid to GT). They said that I needed something with a CGI logo.

A guy there showed me a sample of the correct document. Then, he said it would cost N10,000 to log in and print it. I didn't know when I told him he was wicked. Lol!

After bantering small, I started speaking pidgin/Igbo. I told them not to look at my clothes or smell my perfume, that I'm from the streets, and we're all here to hustle. All na packaging. Lol.

We later agreed on N4,000 for printing that paper and photocopying my passport data page. Photocopying costs N1000. If I hadn't argued, I would have paid N11,000 to print a sheet and photocopy a page.

I only agreed because I knew time was far spent. If you have time to argue or you don't have cash, please tell them you don't have the money. They'll drop the price.


Please, everyone going should ensure they're with the correct documents. The guys there are seriously looking for how to extort money from us. Someone behind me on the line said she paid N10,000 to print something.
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After paying the N4,000, I ran to the line. My interview was for 8 a.m, and they'd already called that set when I was sweating/haggling over the price of printing. I lined up. It wasn't time yet, but they usually check documents first.

We stayed on that line for about three hours. No seats. Please wear comfortable clothes so you won't suffer more discomfort. Also, dress decently (like, nicely).

Your documents will be checked on the line. Carry your reciprocity fee, or you'll have to start looking for that.
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At some minutes to/past ten, five of us entered the building. (We'd been entering in groups of five.)

We kept standing inside. We submitted the GT payments to someone, then joined the line for the interviews.
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There was this terrorist at one window. He kept grilling people, and when he got to one boy that said he's studying Creative Writing or English (I'm not sure which), the boy was there for a while. I come dey sweat because I'm also going in for Creative Writing. He was grilling STEM-inclined people, and now, an art-based person was almost sleeping at his window. Jump and pass, na my prayer.

I started praying specifically to be sent to a friendly VO on the left (Window 10, I think). He occasionally asked people to stop sounding like robots, but from his demeanor, I could see that he was nice. Plus, people spent less time at his window.

Please try not to recite what you read online word-for-word. It shows when you're repeating it. Just pick valid points and mention them. Be confident.

Someone said you should smile (even behind your mask). I agree. A smile in your voice shows you're not intimidated.

When I got to the front, I saw that I'd either go to Mr. Terrorist or Mr. Nice Guy. They were delivering finishing speeches to the candidates in front of them. I prayed harder for the person in front of Nice Guy to pack his things and walk fast. Immediately he did that, I raced to Nice Guy. Two seconds more from the applicant, and it would have been too late.
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TRANSCRIPT:

V.O: Good morning (smile).

ME: Good morning.

V.O: Please, pass your papers.

ME: (Passes papers.)

V.O: What school will you be attending?

ME: I'll be going to Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

V.O: (Laughs.) Not to be mistaken for University of Miami, Florida.

ME: Yes (laughs).

V.O: So, I see you're going to study Creative Writing. Why Creative Writing?

ME: Well, I'm an editor, so I understand the power of language and how stories can be a powerful tool for sharing information about and addressing issues in the society. (It was basically something like this I said).

V.O: So, you're an editor. Freelance?

ME: No. I co-founded an editing company with my mother.

V.O: What kind of editing?

ME: Fiction and creative non-fiction.

V.O: Have you published a book?

ME: (Laughs). Not yet, but I have stories and poems in literary journals.

V.O: (Smiles). Well, that has to change soon. (Taps on my 1-20, and I believe it's because he knows my final year project is going to be a book).

V.O: (Tikka Tikka Tikka on keyboard.) Are you married?

ME: No.

V.O: Do you have kids?

ME: No.

V.O: Have you ever traveled out of Nigeria?

ME: Yes, to Denmark.

V.O: (Surprised look). Denmark? That's an odd place to go. Why did you go there?

ME: Well, I gained admission into the Erasmus Mundus Journalism program. I did not get the scholarship, but since it was a subsidized program, I joined. In my second year, I was supposed to go to Swansea but could not make it due to financial issues. (NOTE: Some Erasmus programs let students school in different countries. Depending on your course, you can school in 2 to 4 universities before you're done. One school per academic year or one per semester. Something like that.)

V.O: (Nods like he could feel my pain). But I see you have a full scholarship now. (Happy smile on my behalf).

ME: (Happy smile back) Yes, I do!

V.O: Well, I'll be approving your Visa. (Story story story.) Miami University, huhn? It's a great school!

ME: I know, right! And it's public Ivy, too. (I laughed and said that because the school is on a list of public Ivy League schools. The guy slipped my passport and the yellow slip back to me. Told me to have a nice stay. I told him to enjoy the rest of his day, smiled, and ran to the reciprocity place.)

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That's all.

The interview lasted about a minute. I was worried he'd ask complicated questions, but nothing like that. Seeing as they were grilling people doing super-complicated courses, the chit-chat for mine was just a miracle.

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Lessons learned:

1. Carry extra cash. You never know the stuff you'd need it for.

2. Calm down. Confidence helps anywhere. Overthink it, but don't overthink it. I hope that makes sense. Overthinking will make you tense, but you still need to realize how important this is.

3. Know why you're going to study the course. Me, I just need a space to chill and write in peace while chopping life, but I gave a valid reason for why I'm going. And what I said about why I'm going down the writing path is true.

These guys have interviewed people long enough to know lying patterns and stuff. Plus, when you deal with humans, you'd learn to watch their faces and decipher speech patterns.


That's all, guys. I wish everyone going the best. Please stay safe. Also, let's just say they're happily giving out visas. Stay optimistic.

God bless you, and good luck!

(Forgive any grammatical and punctuation errors in the text. Don't use this to judge my editing skills ohh. Lol.)

Philadelphia:
Hi,

Please check your pm. I need a mock interview please.

Thanks.

4hranc:
Co-asking please

Africa1414:
Interview Date: 30th October

VISA APPROVED!

Me - Good morning
V:O - Good morning

V:O - place your hand on the scanner
Me - I did

V.O - Take off your nose mask for minute for identification
Me - I did

V.O - Where are you going to?
Me - I am going to the University of Illinois in Springfield to pursue a masters degree in Environmental Science, with concentration in Environmental Planning and management.

V.O - Why did you pick this school?
Me - The University of Illinois offers a unique concentration in Environmental studies which is the Environmental planning and management course which aligns with my academic and research interest.. (cuts in)

V.O - Your research, what is your research interest? (I was almost lost because this wasn’t in the proposed transcript I prepared, and I didn’t prepare for this question since my program was course based)
Me - Environmental protection, policy and environmental laws (I just said the next that came to my head at that time, but was in line with my interests)

V.O - Tell me about this your research interest. (I didn’t prepare for this question, so I just started to talk about my course instead)

Me - (He stopped typing and started to look into my eyes this time, he was trying to put me off but I looked back into eyes while being tensed)
Environmental protection and policy involves the process of evaluating the social, economical and political factors that affects the environment when considering development. The aim of this is to come up with a win-win situation for the society and the environment, and in this win-win situation, the society wins by... (cuts in)

V.O - What school did finish from?
Me - I finished from the University of Lagos with a BSC in Marine Biology.

V.O - What did you study?
Me - Marine Biology (I talked louder this time, cause i think he did not hear me the first time)

V.O - When did you graduate?
Me- I graduated in 2019, Jan 2019

V.O - Who is sponsoring you?
Me - I got a Graduate Assistantship and... (I forgot to add spring semester as that was how it was stated in my I-20, so I started again)
I got a Graduate Assistantship for the Spring semester which comes with a tuition waiver and monthly stipend, and my father would be supporting me with
the rest.


V.O - What does your father do?
Me - He is a Real estate developer.

V.O - Why did you get a Graduate Assistantship for Spring only?
Me - The Spring semester marks the end of a fiscal year and a session. New GA contracts can only be issued at the beginning of a new session or fiscal year, provided I retain my GA position.

V.O - He nods..
(He types for a while..)

V.O - Have you ever travelled out of Nigeria before?
Me - No, I’ve not

V.O - Are you married?
Me - No, I’m not

V.O - Do you have Children?
Me - No, I don’t have kids

V.O - What does your father do again?
Me - He is a Real estate developer.

(I had my dad’s statement of account, but he didn’t ask, so I didn’t offer to show him)

V.O - I intend to issue your visa, says all the pay the reciprocity fee and keep your I-20 well...Good luck.
Me - okay thanks

THINGS I NOTICED.

-The questions can come in any format and they’ll come from the answers you give too, so be over-prepared and know how to wing your way with the answers you have in your head or what you have prepared.

-Like two of the guys that got denied there, from what I heard, were asked if they’ve traveled out Nigeria, they started to say they’ve been to Ondo state, Ogun state, I’ve been to about 22 states in Nigeria. Please answer according to what you filled in your DS-160.

-Read details in your I-20 & DS-160 well. There should be no conflicting details in them to your answers.

God bless everyone who posted their transcripts, experiences and advise here, I learnt a lot. God’s Grace be with everyone.

solihp:
Retrieve your old DS-160 form, if you can't, fill another one, submit and update it on your visa page

solihp:
Retrieve your old DS-160 form, if you can't, fill another one, submit and update it on your visa page

Sharon8:
You cannot make SEVIS payment within Nigeria. I guess that's why you didn't see Lagos as one of the city options. Contact Walspring to help you with that.

Johnadu:
I strongly suggest you get help on the payment. I couldn't pay mine, so I contacted Walspring who helped immediately. Just PM Walspring..

Johnadu:
I strongly suggest you get help on the payment. I couldn't pay mine, so I contacted Walspring who helped immediately. Just PM Walspring..

Sharon8:
Select 1-20 if it's for F1 visa

drDoom3:
Schedule normal appointment on any date, then request emergency appointment after. They'll get back to you.

Sharon8:
Select 1-20 if it's for F1 visa

Etherealbeing:
I presume that you're an F1 student, so you should fill in I20. DS190 is for J1 students I think.

Sharon8:
I was supposed to have but it was canceled. Does your own appointment still stand?

Agnestardom:
Good afternoon.

Please any other person reading this can drop a comment, I couldn't start a fresh conversation.

I need an Assistance in making SEVIS payment.

Here is an attachment. I do not know what to choose in the form type asked.

lasthero:
, I have studied you and every other experts on this thread and I know where your strength lies. You seem to have passion in helping the lower graders. And I was right, you just replied the person

Meanwhile, your nickname, are you into horse racing?

Aderin0la:
Please go ahead and request it. They’ve been giving emergency dates to people even when it’s not 60days till their program yet.

geofortress:
Best of luck. God will do it for you. Come back and share your testimony. Inbox me your number let me add you to the panther club from Nigeria.

Sharon8:
Congratulations dear. Waiting for your transcript

Babatill2023:
Visa Approved.

My interview was by 8:00m but I got there by 5:29am. I met 6 people there already waiting and I joined them. When it was some minutes to 6am,a woman asked us why came this early and we told her some of us had appointment by 6am,she was so shocked. She said she was expecting 7am as the earliest time for appointments.
So,she took her time before she started attending to us. We were asked to line up and we did security check before we started going inside the building in 5.
The V.O denied the first two ladies. They were married and working. Only one came with her kid. The 6 people that followed were given. Two were going for undergraduate,one PhD and 3 masters. Three have started their courses online.
I was the 9th person that was attended to.
V.O :- Good morning
Me:- Good morning (I passed my passport,I-20 and SEVIS fee confirmation page).
V.O:- Where are you going?
Me:- I am going to Georgia state university for my master's degree in Chemistry.
V.O:- Why this school?
Me:- The university has a strong reputation for research, innovation and diversity, I believe it would be an exciting place to be as I would be offered varieties in (he cuts me)
V.O:- Tell me things I can not find on the school website. You are telling me things you crammed from the school website
Me:-( Looking at him without saying anything because I was so confused)
V.O:- How many schools did you apply to?
Me:- Six
V.O:- Name them
Me:- Marquette university,Texas Tech, Bowling Green, Auburn university,Ohio university and GSU.
V.O:- Did Marquette give you admission?
Me:- No
V.O:- What about Auburn and others?
Me:- Only GSU gave me admission.
V.O:- oooooh I see, Which University did you finish from?
Me:- Federal University of Technology Minna.
V.O:- Who will pay for your deficit ($15,000)
Me:- My brother
V.O:- What does he do?
Me:- He has big store where be sells food stuffs and provisions in wholesale and also.has trucks for transportation business.
V.O:- Okay(types for some minutes). I intend to approve your visa,we are having problems with our reciprocity fee payment,you will have to come back tomorrow to pay it. Thank you
Me:- You are welcome ( I was shocked when he told me thank you,I said you are welcome in reflex).
He didn't ask me for any documents.
Solihp and Iwriteng,I am joining you guys.

sonofakin:
I'm not sure if you can, maybe someone else will answer that. But why can't you use the form to request for emergency appointment in lagos?

Babatill2023:
Visa Approved.

My interview was by 8:00m but I got there by 5:29am. I met 6 people there already waiting and I joined them. When it was some minutes to 6am,a woman asked us why came this early and we told her some of us had appointment by 6am,she was so shocked. She said she was expecting 7am as the earliest time for appointments.
So,she took her time before she started attending to us. We were asked to line up and we did security check before we started going inside the building in 5.
The V.O denied the first two ladies. They were married and working. Only one came with her kid. The 6 people that followed were given. Two were going for undergraduate,one PhD and 3 masters. Three have started their courses online.
I was the 9th person that was attended to.
V.O :- Good morning
Me:- Good morning (I passed my passport,I-20 and SEVIS fee confirmation page).
V.O:- Where are you going?
Me:- I am going to Georgia state university for my master's degree in Chemistry.
V.O:- Why this school?
Me:- The university has a strong reputation for research, innovation and diversity, I believe it would be an exciting place to be as I would be offered varieties in (he cuts me)
V.O:- Tell me things I can not find on the school website. You are telling me things you crammed from the school website
Me:-( Looking at him without saying anything because I was so confused)
V.O:- How many schools did you apply to?
Me:- Six
V.O:- Name them
Me:- Marquette university,Texas Tech, Bowling Green, Auburn university,Ohio university and GSU.
V.O:- Did Marquette give you admission?
Me:- No
V.O:- What about Auburn and others?
Me:- Only GSU gave me admission.
V.O:- oooooh I see, Which University did you finish from?
Me:- Federal University of Technology Minna.
V.O:- Who will pay for your deficit ($15,000)
Me:- My brother
V.O:- What does he do?
Me:- He has big store where be sells food stuffs and provisions in wholesale and also.has trucks for transportation business.
V.O:- Okay(types for some minutes). I intend to approve your visa,we are having problems with our reciprocity fee payment,you will have to come back tomorrow to pay it. Thank you
Me:- You are welcome ( I was shocked when he told me thank you,I said you are welcome in reflex).
He didn't ask me for any documents.
Solihp and Iwriteng,I am joining you guys.

Lifeisforliving:
Saw it some minutes ago,

saintexcel:
Pls how do you request for an emergency student visa appointment. I need assistance.