₦airaland Forum

Hello Nairaland Forum.

I wanted to share my experience for a while now but has been putting it off.

I applied for F1 (Study Visa) to the US, I had my I-20 ready, paid my SEVIS fee through an agent I saw on nairaland,
prepared all my documents, bank account statements and the likes. I was to resume school in January, 10th to be precise. Due to many personal factors I booked for visa interview sometime in December and the available dates were in January from 15th, way past my resumption date. I sent an email to the embassy with proof (Admission documents, I-20) for expedited interview date and it was granted, I went online and rescheduled to 27th of December. I went for the interview and my visa was granted. I got my passport after some days.

NOTE:You have to be very careful when rescheduling, the page is very sensitive.

Interview questions were, What are you going to do in the US? Why study this course? No document was checked and she said keep you I-20 within reach. Very brief.

Booking a flight at that time was very expensive, so I booked towards the end of January. I arrived the school weeks after resumption, I decided to defer my admission and stay back till August (Fall Semester) . The same day I got my new admission documents, I got a HOT mail from the international office that as part of F1 rules and regulations, I could not stay back in the country, I had to leave and come back in July, they explained a five months rule, that is the maximum time you can be out of the country on F1 visa and it will still be valid. They also explained that my SEVIS status would be deactivated and reactivated a month before I come back in August and assured me that it is okay, I would be able to come back, I was scared, disappointed all possible feelings I went through.

I did not have a choice than to leave and go back home dejected in February. Five miserable months after, I got an email from the international office that my SEVIS status is now active. I made the journey back with same visa, same documents and I resumed in August.

One year after I do not regret my decision though I had no other option and I am sharing my experience to encourage.