₦airaland Forum

hi mamas,

Please quick question for the house / frequent flyers.

Does anyone know when do the counters open in MMA?

Say I am travelling on a flight that leaves at 11pm.

Can I go and check in my bags as early as 3pm, 4pm? Is that possible? I have a non missionary journey coming up and need to make some plans...

A middle ground is to spend pre-delivery period in private accommodation, and then move to family accommodation post birth when you need support and more space etc.

That way you don't overburden your guest (max spend 1 month) and you also retain your own dignity.

^^^ it's not even up to 10usd.

Add like 5usd to Uber. They are very close.

Besides you will only go to hospital once

Rebarobyn:
And this is a learning point for those of us with girl children to groom them to be independent. By the time you're getting married you should be able handle a new born...learn from sisters neighbours anybody...this generation is full of people demanding to be spoonfed

And boy children too.

Marking present

Hello mamas and dadas,

I have one new angle for us o, particularly for hospitals that don't have a clear maternity package

So there is a concept called upcoding (you can Google it). The general principle is that hospitals want to charge as much as possible. Hence they ask the doctor to indicate a "diagnosis", so that they can bill the patient for that.

For example preggie mama has a condition that requires some monitoring during / after labor.

The hospitals then ask the doctor to basically make it seem as if the "diagnosis" was a big deal and they need to charge extra for it.

I think they do that to get more money out of Americans who have insurance i.e. the insurance companies will pay more.

I hear that the hospitals actually have seminars with the doctors showing them how to implement this upcoding thing.

For example I think I was "upcoded" - my labor was induced, and when my extra bill of US$2k5 came, the account woman kept stressing, oh your diagnosis, your diagnosis, and I was wondering which diagnosis naa??

Appeared my doctor wrote on my case file that I was for induction + special monitoring or something like that hence the additional hefty bill.

It was when I spoke to my US doctor friend that I understood what had happened

Sooo, how to avoid this is to have a great rapport with your doctor so he can help you cut costs at the hospital. Also to see the breakdown for any additional bills so you can challenge them if required.

Hope this helps someone...

For Methodist Sugarland, pls we need to get aggressive with them.

It is your right as a patient international or not to see your breakdown. Did you not pay your money? When they are collecting raw cash they don't say you are international. Mtchww

Ask for LaChaundra. I think she is a more senior billing person.

geojay:
I think you have hormonal issue, get my post right, i didnt ask for procedures or what is expected or whatsoever, i already have what is needed, i only ask for someone that have info about another recent doctor aside fagbohun, mind you i used fagbohun last year, so asking if anyone is aware of anyone this year i dont think it should make you snap. And for the accomodation, i asked if anyone has info on accomodation, cos due to the trend i read some condemned the accomodation i got aware of and i wrote it there that we had bad experience about accomodation the last time we travelled. So what really is the issue. If you dont know then let it be please.

Sigh.

I think you should calm down. Your approach is not the best. I will ignore the above because I can see you are distressed.

geojay:
I asked a simple question here and i see some people laughing, oh so serious. Am i expected to go through part 1 to part 4 where part 1 alone is 400 pages. I saw houston was mentioned most and Dr fagbohun was mentioned as well which i have used him before, so that is why am asking if anyone know of any other doctor. And i asked of accomodation info, but i realised some people just choose to roll off their bed. I read from part one till part 4 till this particular post for days, that was why i thought this will be a good forum to ask. But since some people choose to make mockery of themselves, then goodluck to them.

Yes.

Give yourself a target. 100 pages a day.

Skip the discussions that you are not interested in.

Get a jotter and make notes.

Nobody is going to do it for you.

Cheers.

temyb:
Did I mention CPS were on my neck,my testimony plenty o. They just closed the case last week on top that my babies came our screaming like a 9month babies&they thought I was on drugs. A nurse called them&CPS stated harassing&threatening to take my babies. It was the shot I took from Nigeria that helped their lungs&I was told to go for urine test. At the long run,God vindicated me&case closed.

You have got to be kidding me. Whaaat! Over sabi nurse. Shior. You are a strong woman **hugs**

Pele. Well done. It shall end in praise.

NEWSFLASH: Stanbic now selling at N274.20 / USD.

I am now very scared for this country, this economy, everything.

Everyone is living life as normal, but I can't help but be really worried for this country.

#sigh

^^^ I heard about this, that they return US$ to CBN because they don't have demand...

Mehn which way?

I have been grovelling at all the banks, only got part of what I needed so far. GTB, Stanbic, Stan Chart, nothing...

Travel date is practically here.. The Unity Bank that is taking cut, abeg where them dey...half a loaf is better than none.... getting desperate...

oyibo4real:
Na wa ooo! Biko nu, someone shud answer me na, This is d 2nd time I'm asking question n evry body jst ignored like it's a silly question I asked. Ok why must we birth in d US? Maybe someone is gonna answer dat one. Lol. Pls na abeg I dey abeg, will dry prawns be allowed in2 US? Thanks again my people

I believe fish related items are allowed, once it's dried and as clean as possible.

Ground stuff is best to avoid seizing though.

favoredgal:
This happens very rarely

They don't update anyone's record. The letter is for the officers at Poe

I remember my first foray to Houston. When I produced the letter it changed everything. They definitely couldn't see it on my record.

This was very early 2014 tho. Before the letter became pure water

I am not saying that they update any records, do they have time for that self.

I am saying that you can't just send a letter without your details. There was a story here of someone that sent the letter of intent without her details, and they wrote back asking for her passport details.

shithapuns:
WHAT BRANCH OF standard chartered was that?...from what I hv seen most front desk officers of most banks are clueless about this pta issue...
@poster asking how old the scb acct must be.....I don't really know, am an old acct holder..
but I opened in stanbic 2wks ago just to hv a plan b,.....will apply for pta in stanbic next wk.........fingers crossed, hope they don't pull the 6months old acct isshh

SC Head office, Ahmadu Bello.

Stanbic is cool. No 2 weeks anything.

ucystan:
Just thinking out loud wondering if the U.S. embassy really update ones record with that change of intent letter we normally send, because I realised some people don't even add their name and passport number for d fear of visa cancellation.. Hmmm... and why will a record be updated based on an email sent (it could be anybody sending that email). #welljustmythoughts#

As far as I know, when people send the e-mail without their details, they ask you to resend with your details so they can crosscheck.

isysleek:
What's standard Chartered requirement? Account opening? Do I have to maintain the account for awhile?

No requirement. Just walk in and open. The only thing is that you need referees even common savings account

chloe7:
please go with standard chartered they will give most likely they just don't want to over assure you, I know a few people that applied and got from them theirs was even 5 working days

thanks for the info.

They bid at CBN every Tuesday so will make the request before then.

shithapuns:
intend to go the standard chartered bank route, and my acct officer assured me of high chances of being given...just that it takes 10 working days...he also mentioned the prefunding issshhh.

u may consider hedging ur bets...ie try 2k from scb and try the other 2k usd elsewhere..............ie prefund/request only 2k from standard chartered bank.......

Thanks. The thing is that the girl sounded so pessimistic, she said that only school fees requests had been granted, that SC had not given any PTA over the past 4 weeks.

I will probably do that, share the risk across 2 banks...thanks

So after opening account and going through the wahala, Standard Chartered is saying I must prefund my account ...which they will debit whilst they go and bid at CBN...PTA not guaranteed still.

Me no likey because if I get in another bank, my money would have "hooked".

Looking at GTB and Stanbic as my focus areas...will update the house...

darellone:
Where is Good luck branch please !!!

Otueke...

Hmm guys let's be careful with this scanning receipts to embassy. Because one person was asked to do it does not mean it applies to everyone.

Also it may backfire, what about people that for some reason or the other have to use a payment plan (twins, complicated births, NICU bills) and don't have complete set of receipts yet?

Very soon it will now become a condition to renewal of visa post birth. Let's not create a precedent and turn it into something similar to the letter of intent.

Just hold your receipts when you travel (in fact gum it to your passport if you have to, lol).

In any case even if you send it to the embassy, you will still hold it when you travel.

These are just my thoughts.

Able15:
OMG part 4 already!
While am still trying to catch up.....
congrats to new mums and babies, successful poe's.... we give God glory.

honestly, my conscience wont let me do as advised by Dh and i wont want to confront them either. besides, if kartakarta bursts, the family(inlaws) will point a finger at me.
but on the other hand, what about my child's future?
i decided to narrate this story, so others will be alert and learn.
@justwise,
can blocking my child's ssn help? if yes, how.

The truth is that I don't believe any fraud has been committed...yet.

Opening an account is not a crime. When (and If...) it is used illegally, then you have an issue.

For now it's all red flags (i.e the type of account she opened etc). There is no crime yet.

However I support your DH's stand, very pro active. but it may be premautre.

What you can do is tell the SSN office that you think the number has been compromised, and the SSN should be put on a watch list.. That way you are exonerated in the event of any yawa. Keep all correspondence with the IRS safe, as evidence later in the event of any issues.

In addition, you can get your husband to casually mention to your in law that the SSN may be compromised, that "someone" saw the SSN, and you have reported to the IRS so that "no one" does anything funny with the number.

That way she is informed (with style), and does not attempt to do anything funny

You can also ask her that you don't want the account again. Escalate at the bank if you have to. Is it not your child?

It's not easy. All the best. Wisdom is best to direct.

Marking present

biollar1:
For Standard Chartered bank, you have to open.

thanks a lot na me go open shop with them tomorrow AM

TheLeakyTribe:
Try hard while you're in naija to get this PTA oh, what my eyes are seeing ehn! Everyday I have to go out to get cash from the atm just to make sure I meet my monthly withdrawal limit on my naija cards

Thanks a lot. This one is not for birthing, it's for vacation. I cannot even deal with these exchange rates that I am seeing and hearing upandan.

Stanbic is good, got PTA in January from them but their cards are extremely unreliable (in my experience).

Got PIN error message so many times shopping in the UK until the card was finally blocked...see embarrassment in the store...got to Naija and they said that ehn...it happens sometimes...I was like huhh.

GT is the best card but their rate is downright thiefery. I can't even begin to recount what GTB has used my eye to see...

please house quick response required.

For those that bought PTA from Standard Chartered and Fidelity, do you have to have an account with them?

I am ready to start my quarter 2 PTA hustle and I want to be focused, Stanbic is looking saturated...

Seun:
can I see the link in question?

Ah ahn kilari

Varvara:
Thank you very much for that information. From the last parts of that forum I have discovered that Houston is very hard POE. Everybody faced there with problems and second inspection

Not everyone has problems at Houston POE.

Plus you have had your first baby, and paid all your bills the first time so I don't see what issues you have.

Or you can take a flight elsewhere and take local flight to Houston.

LadyGuinivere:
So I discovered this evening that agents are usur format. Saw a correspondence between a mama that's wants to birth in the us and the agent.
Get this. She'll book doctor's appointment, get correspondence and prepare budget sheet for the mama for a small fee of 800 usd or 1,500usd for family application.
Allah! People have money to waste o! I'm just dumb founded at how lazy people can decide to be. I can't imagine dashing somebody nothing less then N160k for can do myself.

the truth is that people don't know how to do things themselves. People do not want to read, research, etc. They would rather pay someone to do the work for them. That is how we are as a people. Common Form DS 160 people will use agent, talk less of the complete birthing journey with plenty activities, PTA hunt, international calls to make to oyinbo people who no dey hear our accent, correspondence to secure, budget sheet, selection of doctor, accommodation, etc etc

I have directed so many people to this thread but no, they would rather ask me questions as they get to each stage of the waka (hospital, BC, passport, baby ticket smh)

Agents will always thrive. If she can afford to pay someone to read the whole 3 threads (going to Part 4 sef) then no wahala.

For us that are "oversabi" let us keep reading

Varvara:
Hello, Everybody!

I delivered one baby in MIHS in 2014 and had great experience. No complaints at all.
Right now I'm pregnant again (16 weeks) and I would like to try another hospital.

In September it was horrible hot in Phoenix, I was almost suffering and I would prefer more nice weather conditions.

SO I got message from St.Louis Baptist hospital. They don't provide service for international patients anymore.
ANd I found another option Florida's Sarasota Memorial Hospital. There is nice price for delivery and epidural (excluding doctor and pediatrician): 3500$ (48 hours) http://www.smhcs.org/Portals/0/Documents/Financial/Maternity_Package.pdf

Why does nobody use it?

And I have question, so for a now. There are still 2 super affordable options: MIHS and doctoresparati. Am I right?
No new hospitals for delivery?

Hello Varvara..welcome back! I don't think anyone has heard of this new hospital that you mentioned.

As far as I know MIHS does not take international clients anymore.

You can look for other hospitals in Houston that will not be as hot as Phoenix..

TheLeakyTribe:
thanks a lot everyone I have a lot of catching up to do. I truly appreciate the support oh! God bless each and everyone of you beyond your heart's desires. I arrived Dallas a short while ago. I tire no be small. would update everyone on my POE gist, first time I've had drama in Dallas but na God win.


meanwhile the thief came back to the house at night (I guess to collect her belongings and run finally). she was apprehended based on our Instructions and eventually taken to the police station. her story is that she was jazzed and duped. I need to sleep, travelling with a toddler while pregnant is no joke.

wow thank God...let's pray the cash can be recovered cuz that's the koko.

Please rest well...pele

Ye2ndearisto:
My own $5 contribution . Go with just wise advice . Call the IRS theft hotline . And tell them your child SSN came without envelops and you will like to guide against fraudulent activities . That you will like to either get a pin for it or change it . And if your Inlaw gets to know , you will tell him that because it came without envelops so you just thought you should safeguard it and that you called cus you didn't want to disturb him or his wife with your problem , say this with all innocence.Because he's your inlaw and when they are deciding your case you won't be there to defend yourself and this will not go down well with the whole family .

yoruba sense..

pls people don't bash me o, I'm Yoruba too