₦airaland Forum

Debbieeeeeee:
Chriscero very detailed write up. I think memorial hermann is the cheapest I’ve even come across(among the hospitals I had in mind) lately in that area although they have had a slight price increment compared with before.

Chriscero:
MEMORIAL HERMAN HOSPITAL
DR. DAMA ZIWORITIN - +1 (832) 520 - 5983

Ensure you exchange correspondence, make part payment and print copies before you travel.

Chriscero:
Hello House,

Wifey and I gave birth to our daughter in the US in Q1 2021 and I want to share a few tips 'cos we benefitted so much from the experience of others here. We travelled on B1/B2 visas and the baby bump was very visible. Wifey's legs were hurting too much right from Nigeria so she was on a wheelchair to help with the pain. Ironically, it prioritised us and we were able to board the aircraft and even pass through security faster.

We travelled straight to Atlanta via Delta Air and from Atlanta to Houston. The drilling in Atlanta no be here o! We were asked to go for the secondary screening but I was fully prepared for the questions that came. The CBP officer took a quick look at wifey sitting in the wheelchair with our baby bump and asked, what are you here for?

Ans: We are here for medical reasons.
CBP: And what is the medical reason?
Ans: My wife is pregnant and we want her to put to bed in the US.
CBP: That can't be done in Nigeria?
Ans: It can and we have actually tried in the past. However, our Nigerian doctor refered us to a Doc. in the US to better manage the pregnancy since my wife has peculiar medical needs.
CBP: Any document supporting that?
Ans: Yes, showed him.
CBP: What is the name of the US Doc?
Ans. Told him.
CBP: Is he expecting you?
Ans: Yes?
CBP: Any letters?
Ans: Yes. And showed him.
CBP: Have you made any payments for your medical bills?
Ans: Yes. And I showed him.
CBP: Where will you be staying?
Ans: I told him and showed him evidence of payment.
We did not want any family drama with relations so we paid for a commercial apartment for the whole 3 months wifey will be around. Sometimes, unknown to you, your relations and friends in the US may have issues that you don't want to be vicariously visited upon you especially if your village peeps are very active . There is a lovely Nigerian couple who have a very huge self contained room for rent in Richmond, Texas and the rates are great. I can hook you up if you are interested.
CBP: How long do you plan to stay?
Ans: 3 months for my wife but just a month for me.
CBP: Why are you leaving her behind?
Ans: I need to get back to work and I have strict instructions to complete the design of the baby's room before their return.
(General Laughter and lessening of tension previously created by wicked village people)
CBP: Oh! You do now, don't you. So, how much have you got.
Ans: In cash I have $XXXXX here and in my card, I have $XXXXXX.
CBP: What do you do for a living?
Ans: I am a Bleep.
CBP: Where do you work?
Ans: XYZ company and ABC.
CBP: And your wife?
Ans: She works with WXY company.
CBP: You got any document to prove that?
Ans: Yes. And I showed him.
CBP: So what do you plan to do after the baby is born?
Ans: I will travel back to the US to accompany them back to Nigeria.
CBP: So, have you visited Northern Nigeria recently? Got any relatives or friends there?
[/color] :oMy eyes nearly popped at this unexpected question. WTF!!! I braced myself and told the whole truth and nothing but the truth 'cos I do not know what document my wicked village pipu were flashing on his computer screen.
Ans: I was born there and I schooled there many years ago but I have not visited recently.
CBP: So you wouldn't know anything about Boko Haram, right?
[color=#990000] Me thinking, thinking of all my prayer points against marine spirit, ancestral spirit, familiar spirit, etc to die by fire IJN! Somebody cannot even play with these wicked pipu again . I braced myself and continued in the line of truth.
Ans: I certainly have. I listen to the news and I know as much about Boko Haram as anyone who pays attention to the news coming from Nigeria but I have nothing to do with them
CBP: OK (smiles) Welcome to the US and all the best with the baby and your future plans.
See relief washing all over me like a river!

I thanked him and an assistant helped me wheel madam away to catch our flight to Houston.

LESSONS LEARNT.
1. CBP accepts legitimate travellers with intention to depart the US.
2. Have your all your relevant documentation with you.
3. Speak confidently and truthfully.
4. Maintain eye contact politely.
5. Have sufficient funds $$$$$

Godheard:
I’m so grateful to God for his Favour and mercies throughout this process.

My POE experience at JFK was a breeze!

I was asked just 4 questions:

Purpose of trip: I told the officer that I was here to give birth

How long will be staying: I told him the duration. (3 months)

How much do I have: I told him the amount of cash at hand, the rest in my bank account.

Any goods to declare: None

My mother-in-law and I were stamped for 6 months.

Thank you all for the tips on this page. It was so helpful! From Visa application to POE. As at February/March this year, I wasn’t sure of embarking on this journey. Glad that I gave it a shot!

I declared the purpose of my trip for both visa interview and POE and it was positive.

The only bottleneck I experienced throughout this process was leaving the Nigerian airport. The officials almost didn’t let me fly because of my tummy size. They claimed that my fit to fly certificate was not true because my tummy looks like someone who is due ��. It was the most ridiculous thing i had ever heard. I was sent to the airport clinic for the DR on duty to confirm my pregnancy gestational age and thankfully, she was able to confirm that I was telling the truth. Naija and wahala!!! I had initially planned to travel in July but changed my mind because of my ever increasing tummy. It was a good decision in the end.

Just to add, traveling through JFK was very hectic in terms of flight duration especially since I was still headed to Houston, my final destination. I couldn’t get direct Delta flights to JFK. Delta’s only option was to arrive at Atlanta as first POE in the US before heading to Houston. I had to travel via Turkish Airlines which was a longer route and definitely more stressful.

Wishing all the other expecting Mama’s a smooth experience.�

Godheard:
Thanks for the response.

I have gotten rates for Maryland. They are so high. I’m running back to Houston. Lol.

Did you arrive at Atlanta airport as your first POE? How was the experience?

Godheard:
Congrats Mama!

I got my visa approved today too.

It’s my first time traveling to the US. I declared my purpose was to have my baby and I will also be declaring at the POE.

I am actually going to Houston too. Can I private message you especially about Oakbend please?

Thanks!

Veniscy:
good day everyone. are there single moms here that have gone through this route? please I will need all the help in terms of info on how to scale through. thanks.

ibukunpops:
Yes it is worth it, more leg room

Delta is the best to travel with when pregnant, no fit to fly, no unnecessary procedures/documents like other airlines.

Thankful11011:
please do you know the hospitals your friends gave birth in, because the renewal chances depends on the hospital and the amount that was paid

purpleribbon:
I was at BA’s office yesterday to inquire about their tickets and all. I was informed that they are currently not flying pax with visitors visas. Only citizens and PRs can buy their tickets for now.

Thankful11011:
Good day mummies, please i gave birth to my kids 2016 and 2018 respectively, both in Houston north west medical centre, i havnt tried to renew since then because of the rejection of low medical fees, but now i want to renew, my husband and i have never travelled together before and he has only been to Dubai, but i have been to UK, Netherlands and schooled in wales , so i was thinking we should go on a vacation together in the USA, but im scared of fear of rejection, my question is , is it adviseable i apply alone or together with my husband,
thanks

Debbieeeeeee:
Your friends were lucky , mine didn’t get o , they even join her husband refused him. She went all the way to Abuja due to this no date wahala

Debbieeeeeee:
She said some airlines aren’t flying to the USA at the moment.

Debbieeeeeee:
Then she has to endure Delta 36 hours. I hope by the time I’m ready to move this whole covid thing will be over or at least controlled to a large extent and I can fly BA jejely because I don’t think I do emirates to the USA again.

Lochinny:
Hi guys! Wanted to give my POE experience coz I’ve learnt a lot here and I believe mine would help someone. Sometime in March I told you guys about having a visa that’ll expire in May and that I was thinking of using it to give birth. I was encouraged most especially by @debbieeeeee
and @pointednose to go ahead.. and I actually did.

So here’s my experience:
I traveled with my Child which I gave birth to with the same visa 2 years ago. It wasn’t an easy journey. Went with Qatar airways. (One of the best airline I must say, just that the journey was quite long)
My POE was JFK which I used the previous time. When I got there, I was directed to join the citizens line because of my child. While on the line, a lady saw me and asked me to come forward (obviously a helper from God plus she saw I was pregnant and carrying a child) mind you, I didn’t try to cover it my pregnancy. did same 2 years ago infact I was almost due when I traveled the last time.
So back to my story, I met the POE officer who asked for my passport, he collected my child’s own and asked what I’m here for, I told him to have my 2nd baby. He looked at the computer for a while without saying a word to me, then stamped my child’s passport. Then he collected mine and asked where I was going to stay and asked for how long. I told him the town I was staying and I’m looking at 3months Or more. He now asked if I came with any food stuffs and I told him just spices, he now asked to see my face and I removed my face mask. He then stamped my passport 6 months and said have a nice stay.

From this, I can tell you two things
1) prayer is the key. I and my husband prayed seriously for a smooth Poe. Even told my pastor

2) Be truthful. Just say the truth to them. I learnt it here that being honest pays so when I traveled to have my first child, I told them exactly the same thing, (then I was obviously pregnant so I couldn’t even dare lying) and it was an easy Poe and I used the same JFK.
After hearing people say that 2nd time is always tougher, I got scared and people advised me to cover up since my pregnancy isn’t that obvious but I still couldn’t see myself doing it. I just said what will be will be. I made sure I was with every single receipt from the first one and a letter from the hospital showing I didn’t collect any Medicaid from them. Still they didn’t ask of anything..

These people appreciate honesty and I think if we keep being honest, they’ll start seeing Nigerians in a good way.

Thanks @Debbieeeeee and @PointedNose for the encouragement.

Godheard:
Hi. Thanks for sharing this.

Can we get more details on what the interview questions were like and the sort of documents that she had to present?

Thank you

adycatus:
Good day
Please are they giving visa for vacation/ tourism in this covid era?
I would like to renew our US visa that expired on sept 2020 to enable us go for Christmas vacation and wedding anniversary in US this year

Please any details about interview date
Kindly assist

Godheard:
Thank you so much for the response. I appreciate it.

I am visibly pregnant, now I’m confused on what to say.

bukkylove:
Good afternoon fruitful mothers, I pray God's Mercy locates everyone here and release the power to conceive, to carry pregnancy and to deliver safely; on everyone here in Jesus Name amen.

QweenM:
Update

God has done it!

TTC since last year January and now a BFP this month!!!

Baby dusts to everyone on this thread; more BFPs here in Jesus name. Amen!!!

Gloriagee:
No one wants to birth abroad now with the Corona ish ongoing. Have u checked flight ticket costs recently. Nobody is crazy bout travelling at the moment

cinammon:
So here is my transcript***
My interview was scheduled for 8am Wednesday morning, I went with my Husband and baby. We got there and went through the queues and finally got to the waiting point to be assigned to a VO. The number of colored papers that were already flying around that early was discouraging but hubs stayed positive. We finally got to the front of the VO and the convo below was how it went:
VO: passports please
Me: hands over 3 passports
VO: scans our passports and takes quite some time reading on his screen (going through our applications I guess).
At this point I was starting to get nervous especially since I had been denied before but my husband stayed confident all through.
VO: where are you going to?
Hubs: Maryland to Visit my sister and holiday with the family.
VO: how long will you be spending?
Hubs: 4weeks, we plan to leave Nigeria on the ** of July.
VO: *quiet* scrolls again for sometime, looks up, goes back to his screen.
All this time I just tried to stay calm, not like I had a choice lol.
VO: what do you do for work?
Hubs: I am the head of ****** at *******, (goes further to explain what his role entailed) and my wife is an *****, she works with ******* (goes further to explain my role)
VO: how much do you earn monthly?
Hubs: I earn *******(7 figures) and my wife earns ****** (6 figures) monthly.
VO: you had your first baby in the US?
Hubs: yes
VO: do you have your receipts?
Hubs: yes (hands over hospital, pediatrician and doctor’s receipts)
Hubs: we made full payment through insurance (hands over insurance card)
My husband’s HMO is CIGNA, provided by his employer.
VO: (goes through all the papers) was there any out of pocket payment?
Hubs: No, it was fully paid for by insurance.
VO: how old is your baby? (Looking towards my baby in hand)
Hubs: she is 10 months old, she was born on the 27th of April
VO: (goes back to his screen and scrolls through again)
in my last interview I had mentioned that I applied for the visa to go have my baby but my baby came early before my appointment date and my appointment was on the 30th of April, so I guess he was trying to count back to see if my story at the time was true.
I also believe that the VO who denied me before was not convinced that I had given birth then seeing my tummy was still big lol. She must have thought that I was still pregnant and was trying to evade defending financial capability for child birth.
VO: do you plan to incure any medical expenses on this trip?
Both of us: NO
VO: have you been to China before?
Hubs: yes I was in China twice last year.
VO: when?
Hubs: err I may have to check my passport, I can’t remember exactly but it was in August. I spoke up saying it was April and June and my husband and I went back and forth a bit lol.
VO: let me just. Check your passport.
(Checks and looks back up) she was correct.
Hubs: (smiles) she knows these things better than I do I have to admit.
VO: (smiles) Ok, everything looks good so I will be issuing your visas. Please pick up in 3 business days (hands us the white paper) you can go and make payment to the cashier.
The excitement was not of this world lol nobody likes being rejected.
*just to add* my husband is a frequent traveler and has been to the US multiple times, he did his MBA in the US too. Even though we were not asked for travel history.
Then again Hubs answered questions in full and confidently that even I myself was amused. He handled it like it was nothing.
If I want to really put a pin on what worked, because the VO really took the little time he had to drill through our application, it would be that my husband’s profile was strong.
Then again there were many people there who from their interview had strong profiles too but got denied maybe they were not convincing enough?! I cannot really say. For mums who have had babies in the US, always make sure you have your receipts.
There was a family who was denied, their son had a US passport and was 8years old but they did not have medical receipts. They were denied.
please try to also answer questions fully, don’t just drop one word answers. Ensure your answers align with what you have filled in your application, you can always save out a copy of your application and go through it before your interview. Pray for Favour too.
Good luck.

Dhollargurl:
Hi fam, long time no see. So, I got my visa renewed this morning and here is the transcript:



No receipts or anything was asked. After carrying plenty past receipts, I’m grateful to God. However, I have a question, we are not yet pregnant but as it is, after having 3 miscarriages back to back, I already classify as high risk.
So, in the nearest future, If we get a sticky bean, can this visa be used for childbirth?

chibertha:
Hello house
I just entered Houston today
It was easy.

POE: why are you here and how long will you stay
me : to put to birth and 10 wks
POE: are you visiting family
Me: No
POE: who stays at this address ie the extended stay I am at
Me: it is a long stay hotel
POE: how much do you have
me: $11,000 US all in electronic no cash. I have 7500 in Bank of America and the rest in my Nigerian USD account.
POE: do you have any food with you
ME: yes processed food golden morn
POE: (stamps my passport for 6 months ) I will be sending you to Agric

for those coming have a nice flight and breezy entry.