₦airaland Forum

LadyGuinivere:
Was your visa not gotten for xchildbirth?
Nne the ONLY reason one should be afraid of poe IMO is if your visa was gotten with klegged wakaring.
After your refusal, I'm sure its on the record that u intend to give birth.
There's this song ... Can't remember the singer ...goes sumn like this
'...I'm walking in power cos I know who I am...'
That's the confidence you should be wakaring with. So unless e get something when u never yarn, you no get issues.

I just love it when this lady talks. Thanks LadyG. With all the shredding I have received from you on this forum, I must have my success story. And yes my dear, na only childbirth be reason wey I give to VO. Didn't have liver to mention vacation. Who is vacationing in this hard dollar times?

Colouredgirl:
I entered yankee thru Houston Poe on sunday...


It wsnt easy but God took charge
Will give una the gist tomao

Chei! these Houston stories are just giving the jitters. This is why I have not booked my flight. Still don't know if I should go through any of the smooth POEs like JFK or just brace up and face my demons at Houston POE. Can someone please borrow me her/his faith make I add on top the one I have? I guess I need a lot of it cos I must come here testify too.

Zocken:
My good people of nairaland, please don't brand me lazy. I don read tire so tey I don confuse self. DW will be birthing in Chicago by 1St week of November. She intends to travel by mid October. The choice of Chicago is because we have a relative there and we have also found an affordable hospital. However, after reading the scary POE issues there, she will be entering through another state. That's where the dilemma is. I don't even know which POE she should use self. Any advice on that? Pls help a brother. God bless

She can try New York . JFK. I have quite good stories about the POE here. You can also read more to make a choice.

Zpearlz1:
@BeckyU

good evng, thanks for your response. I paid for the visa fee today, i will get the doctors report tomorrow. I am about filling the ds160 form, i dont know what to write on that why were you denied. Like i earlier said i didnt disclose that i lost my job on my last application but now i want to put unemployed. How do i answer the question if its comes up during the interview.

Expecting y'all kind response. Thanks everyone

Oh sorry I missed this post. To be honest my dear am not a guru when it comes to this but if there is anything I have learnt in my small experience with the VOs, its the value of honesty and the power of prayer and faith in God. So if you have all these tools, do not be afraid to face them. Forgive me if I didnt give you the answer you expected.

Nnystc:
Hello house,
Just to thank you all for the wonderful information passing through this thread. I have benefitted a great deal.

And so in the spirit of giving back in the spirit of paying it forward , here goes:

Greetings from sunny Los Angeles again!
I arrived on AirFrance today August 19th.

I was unable to get PTA after all the promises from my various account officers. I also followed the lead on First Bank, and didn't get. So my ever loving DH (my own personal blessing!) bought me 5k from the BM at 396/$
The man was always baffled why i was chasing every banker around town for cheap PTA. Even when i told him i'm trying to save him at least N300k, he said theres no such thing, and that this journey must happen... And that we should just pray for life and health and the grace to always be ahead of this Nigerian economy.

I was fuming at the extra cost but thankful for the privilege of being able to afford it even at the cutthroat price.
Let's say a prayer for these great men in our lives. They give us strength and encouragement per second.

But i digress...! Back to the matter...

AF asked for fit to fly, which i provided. They didn't even glance at it, but added it to my docs.


NDLEA stopped me for questioning, asking me where i was going and for what. Childbirth of course in the US. Stop me if you can!

Currency control also stopped me for questioning. Where to and for what? I dey go America to born eeehhh! Abi dem send una?
How much are you carrying? I told them up to the last dollar.
Where do you work? I told them. They joked about my stomach being so big and that they believed i will come back with triplets! Na true.

And we were off!

Plane was okay. Service was a bit crappy, but hey! I didnt come to live on the plane did i? Paris transit okay, journey to LAX was also uneventful.

LAX:
For the first time i booked a wheelchair, just in case.
I was transported from plane door to immigration hall. But told to wait another 30mins for a wheelchair to take me to CBP.
So i told the lady that i could manage if i could be expedited on foot to the self service kiosk and to CBP.

They obliged. Finished at self service kiosk and then got expedited to front of the line for CBP

My transcript:
CBP: hello (skinny preppy and boyish looking guy of Asian descent with nerd glasses, with a stern face!. I'm like, "Dear Holy Spirit, i know say your mind dey here. Oya do your thing!)
Me: Hi
CBP: what are you here for?
Me: Childbirth
CBP: How long will you be staying?
Me: 9 weeks
CBP: Why so long?
Me: because of the childbirth.
CBP: huh? (Apparently didn't hear the first time i said it!!)
Me: Childbirth, childbirth, as in having my baby.
CBP: Oh! How much do you have on you?
Me: about $5k and bank cards to support me.
Proceeded to look through my passport and all the visas and stamps therein. Caught sight of the entry stamp from May where i was stamped in till November, rubbed his finger over it and then:

CBP: How long did you stay on your last visit?
Me: 2 weeks, that was in May this year.
CBP: Do you have family here?
Me: No, just friends, who i will be staying with.
CBP: keeps looking through the passport, drops it, picks it up again. I could sense him hesitating. Me i'm like "Dear Holy Spirit, e be like say the cellotape wey you take cover this guy mouth need reinforcement oh. Abeg nack am anoda layer.

CBP: shrugs his shoulder, picks up his stamp and stamps me in till February 2017 (my visa expires January 2017)
Time spent with him: about 3-4minutes.

Off to pick my bags. All came out in good condition.
Next was the one they call exit control (that would be Customs, in Nigeria)

CBP: you got food?
Me: yes. Dried fish, crayfish, stockfish, gala, leaves such as utazi, uziza & nchanwu, ukwa, akidi, cashews, peanuts. All been declared on the form.
CBP: scans through the form then says. Grreat! Thats okay, you're good to go.
Me: Thanks, and have a nice day! And i walked out.

My heavy dossier of "burden of proof" was chilling in my bag and wasn't needed.

Got home, took a long shower, ate, and jumped into bed to sleep it all off.

My apologies for the long post.

For those who are coming behind me, (Veleta? And others) May our Almighty God who has the keys to all the countries of this world send his angels to encamp around you as you pass. You will Never be turned back but be stamped in without hassles. Smooth sailing all the way in Jesus mighty name! Amen.

Congratulations. And thanks for making me laugh really hard in this 'dollar' hustling period. I tap into your success story for my Houston POE too.

Zpearlz1:
@LadyGuinivere

I am sorry for bugging you. I checked the US embassy on expedited date, one of the requirements is to get a letter from my doctor in nigeria stating my medical condition and why i need to travel. But my pregnancy is not complicated. How do i go about that. What does the doctor needs to write? Please house, if anyone has requested for expedited interview date what did your doctor state in your letter. I would appreciate your responses. Thanks and God bless

Hi, my pregnancy is uncomplicated as well and that is exactly what my Nigerian Doctor wrote in his report. My request for emergency appointment was approved same day. I think the important thing the embassy looks out for is the age of the pregnancy vis a vis when your normal appointment falls due. Please be sure to explain that in your comment box too. e.g I told them I was 29 weeks and that I will be 35 weeks by the time of normal appointment and so it does not afford me the opportunity to plan my journey properly and most airlines might not take me on their flights hence my need for emergency appointment.

Udiboy:
Don't buy Turkish. Not worth the stress. Keep on searching . It's definitely not adding money cos schools are starting soon and prices may come down. Give it sometime before purchasing except you wanna travel soonest.

Thanks Udiboy. Really appreciate the advice.

NaijaMama:
True, I should get down to it already.

As some of you may already know, I mentioned that I'll use a birth center in Katy Texas. I followed up with my plan, contacted the birth center and paid a total of $4,500 using wire transfer through IBTC. I had a balance of $500 to pay on arrival.

I flew AirFrance at 35 weeks and 5 days. I was asked for Fit-to-fly by their officials at the airport in Lagos and I handed it over to them.

I carried dried fish, garri, pap, blended melon, blended crayfish and groundnut. The bag was checked in without issues.

The flight from Lagos to Amstardam was very nice and comfortable, in flight entertainment was superb but the food wasn't fantastic. From Amstardam to Houston wasn't as nice though. I didn't need a wheel chair at any point, so I didn't use.

My POE experience was very nice and easy:

Officer: What are you here for?
Me: Child birth and shopping afterwards
Officer: I see that you were in New York in December
Me: Yes, I came with my family for Christmas holidays and also spend 2 weeks in Houston.
Officer: Put your fingers .... Why USA for child birth, why not UK?
Me: UK doesn't give citizenship with child birth, I'll like to give my child the options of choosing where she'll like to live when she's old enough and the opportunities that come with being an American citizen, especially good quality education.
Officer: Why isn't your husband with you?
Me: he's home working and taking care of our older son. (As we were talking, more like gisting, he'd finished taking my biometrics and stamped my passport)
Officer: Do you have any paper work?
Me: Hand him my emailed receipt from the birth center and correspondent.
Officer: Barely glanced at it, hands them over with my passport and wished me safe delivery.
Everything took less than 5 minutes.
I couldn't believe how easy it was. I had to ask him if that's all. He said yes, you can go. I looked at my passport and if been stamped in till Dec 24th.

I went to wait for my luggage, picked them all, passed through like everyone else, called uber and got home nicely.

My birth was uneventful. My baby arrived at 39 weeks and 5 days. The midwives were super nice, spoilt me silly. They were very attentive and supportive. I laboured in water but eventually had my baby on the bed. Wasn't a walk in the park but wasn't bad. I had my baby around 6.30am, I left the Birth Center around 1pm. The mid-wife came to visit me at home 2 days later, tested the baby and confirmed everything was fine.
The birth center waved my balance of $500 and gave it to me as a discount.

They applied for my Social Security Number and filed my baby's birth with the state. I received the SSC in the mail 2 days later and processed birth cert and US passport. Still debating what to do about Nigerian visa.

There you have it. That's my experience so far. It's been wonderful here but I can't wait to return to my family.

Beautiful!! Congrats Ma'am

Good morning Dear NLs,

Please does anyone know of a cheap ticket to Houston for Sept to Dec. Been sleeping and waking with the internet to catch a cheaper one. Unfortunately, only Turkish Airways is less than 500k and I am afraid of the return journey. 41 long hours!!.

AyaAremu:
I spoke to sm1 in Access today abt the pta card and he said the daily limit on the card withdrawal at the atm is $300 per day with a charges ranging btw $3-5 on every withdrawal depending on the merchant.

Is dis charge diff frm the 240 u mentioned above? This thing is getting confusing o

Pls sm1 shld help with clarification abeg

Hi dear, am confused already. I got the information I sent to you from an internal email on the subject. However let me clarify directly and get back.

I just got clarification, the $300 cash limit applies to other cards i.e credit card. But for PTA Travel card, the daily limit is $1k and charges is USD equivalent of NGN240 plus any additional charge imposed by the Bank whose ATM u are using.

XX01:
Does it follow the daily, monthly limits and is there a cap per transaction?

International POS and Online Transactions are Subject to the account balance Daily and fee is Free

International ATM withdrawal is subject to a daily limit of $1,000 . Fee is equivalent of N240 on International ATM withdrawals. (Please note that some foreign banks levy additional charges for using their ATMs)

tippex:
Please can I open an access bank account and apply for PTA immediately? My travel date is in 2 weeks

I just asked a Branch Manager. The advice is for you to open and fund the account, then make your request the next day or two.

XX01:
You can but the charges may be out of this world. I have an account with diamond bank but when I read through the charges on the card, I didn't bother activating the card. The charges are in Fx o. That's my fear with this Access card. Hope there won't be charges.

I have resurrected my fcmb bank account. Don't know if I still have the details of my NYSC Access bank account.

you will be charged if you withdraw cash. But POS and web transactions are free.

debby516:
So my NL People, i waka small today on this PTA fact-findings. I opened a Stanbic account today and was told that my account has to be active for 2 months b4 one can apply for PTA and application has to be made 2 weeks to travel date i.e. u must ve travelling in minimum of 2 months and 2 weeks from today. I sha opened like dat even though i ve 2 months and few days, we'll cross that hurdle wen we get there.

For Access, na so i went there also to 'resurrect' my old NYSC acc and they confirmed the acc isnt even dormant just to update my records and do change of name and start funding it. I was told i can apply for PTA 'some' weeks to my travel date and they dot give cash but travel card or so.

Long and short story, my PTA hustling is in motion. So pls tell me which bank again i need to go because this my useless GTB wont come to my aid.

You can apply now in Access as long as you have your ticket, Visa and Naira.

herrik066:
Is the PTA Same day you apply, if not, how long does it take?

Could be same day if applied before 10am. But to be on the safe side, prepare your mind against two days.

simababe:
Fcmb self isn't smilling. That was how I opened an acct for mysef n son before this trip, they ended up teling me shit, I had to travel to ijebu ode, same tyn hapnd. Meanwhile I asked if they were selling PTA before openin n they acted as if they were. In all, PTA na divine grace. Had to buy extra 4k tru black market last week.

All, I have it in authority that you can get your PTA from Access if you have an account. However its not available in cash. You will be given your 4k dollars in form of a debit card called ''Access Travel card'' which will be activated here and then used abroad to the tune of the 4k in it.

LadyGuinivere:
@Beckyu , I'm happy everything turned out well for you.
But I must say my mind sha. Because I have been here a while and by God's grace will still be here helping where I can.
This your confession can make people not want to bother helping people in future. You knew exactly why you were refused and you came here and made us waste time and effort. If nobody else will say it, I will. It is not fair. You took advtantage of people. If you had said you put fake stamps, Allah me I would have been hard with my comment but I would have told you immedately that vo's are trained to know fake stamps. Down to fake Ghana stamps (yes some people actually do that) and pointed you the right direction.
Next time I see a refusal I'll prolly think in my mind, I wonder what this one hasn't said and not bother myself. The long and short of my epistle is , don't be taking people's good nature for granted. And don't do things that will pour san' san' in other people's garri.
Safe trip and happy dollar hunting

Oh! no LadyG. I did not know it had anything to do with a fake stamp. Didnt even know it was fake until Omobende24 pointed it out and so I had to call the agent to get details of how he got them. I could not have led you on if I knew, seriously. Like I said, am not a frequent traveler and so didn't know better, that's why I agreed to having the stamps in the first place. Would I do that again?? capital NO. Please don't make this stop you from giving advice like you always do. Its truly valuable.

feddy27:
I have not done this before so i really don't have the experience.

From what I've read, I think you need letters from your doctor in Nigeria and US, bank statements...I don't know what else is needed.

Pls what will the doctor write the on letter
He needs to state your present health condition that should make them grant you an expedited appointment

True. I just attached a letter from my Doctor here and in US, Bank statement and cost as given by US Doctor and it was approved same day. My Doc here just gave a history of my pregnancy from the first day I reported at the hospital. Just normal Doctor's report. What will make them grant your request is probably the age of your pregnancy now against the date of normal appointment.

OmoBendel24:
Be sure that all entry/exit travel and visa stamps are actually legit if you are thinking of reapplying. Seems that is where the issue is, those little things we underrate though. Regards

Good morning dears,
I decided I will not post until I have something positive and today God did it the way only Him knows how. After my denial in July, I reapplied with hubby this time and requested for emergency appointment. Went for the interview today and below is the Transcript:

VO: Good morning
US: Good morning
VO: What are you going to do in US?
me: To have our baby
VO: Oh! good. congratulations
US: Thank you
VO: Is this is your first child?
ME: No, our third
VO: Have you travelled before?
ME: Yes, to the UK and Dubai, in 2014. We went with our children
VO: Nodded and looked through the passports, then asks ''what do you both do for work?
ME: I am a supervisor in ........financial institution and have been there for the past 8 years
Hubby: Quality control engineer in ..........dealers in .......... and went on to describe his duties (He sha wanted the VO to be the one to say its okay and he did)
VO: Whats your budget for the trip?
Me: USD13,153.00
vo:Which medical facility will you be using?
Me: Oak Bend Medical Centre
VO: Have a doctor?
Me: Yes, gave him name of Doctor and correspondence.

After checking through the documents, he returned them and at this point he then settled down to look through our passports, mine in particular. You remember I mentioned here that the first VO that denied me perused my passport same way too. Now the truth is that there was actually a stamp I had an agent put on my passport earlier in the year. I didn't know better then. After that denial, and reading the answers from some of you on this thread, I knew it had something to do with those stamps. And so today, the VO showed me the stamp and told they were fake and asked me whether I knew about it, I said yes and told him how I got them on my passports. He was I didnt need to do that and that it will put question mark on my integrity. I told him it was a huge mistake and of course will never do such a thing.

long and short, he approved our Visas with a strict warning on having an agent put stamp on passports. My people if anyone ever tries to convince you there is no God or that He doesnt answer prayers, hmmm.....I pity such a person. Never heard that a VO will see a fake stamp and still approves Visa. Today God showed me how ''the heart of kings are in His Hands''. You may know someone who is as ignorant as I was and considering using an agent, please tell them its the worst decision ever.

Finally, Thank you LadyG, Firsttymum and a host of others here. You guided me well on how to answer well. God Bless.

Hello dears,

My Visa request was denied a week ago and I intend to reapply with my husband and apply for expedite appointment as I am 29 weeks pregnant.

I wish to clarify if it is within our rights to seek the expedite appointment together or just me. He is supposed to join me in the States later if granted Visa.

Appreciate your kind feedback

BeckyU:
Dear VO,

I went for my interview this morning and was denied. Please I need your candid advice as to why I was denied. I have been preparing and reading every post from you all and I gained a lot so I really thought I was prepared. My visa class is B2

My transcript:

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning
VO: Asks for my passport, I handed it over. He typed and typed and then, why are you going to US?
Me: To have my baby
VO: Where in US?
Me: Houston
VO: Why Houston?
Me: Because I have friends there and the Doctor I will be using is based in Houston
VO: How much did you budget for the cost of this trip?(Trying to use his exact words)
Me: $13,153.00
VO: What do you do for work?
ME: I work in a Bank, blablabla Bank precisely
VO: Opened my passport over and over and then typed and typed and then brought out the blue paper. ''Unfortunately you are not qualified for US visa, read the blue paper .........He didnt ask for any of my papers just the passport.

Please I need your urgent help and advice. What did I say or do wrong? Thank you so much in anticipation.

Dear VO,
Please could you you be so kind as to answer my post above? I will really appreciate as I intend to reapply since my due date is fast approaching. Thank you once more for your time.

LadyGuinivere:
This is where you make use of the space/column where they ask why you were refused.
State that you do not think the vo considered your husband and 2 kids and the fact that you have worked without a tarnish in xy bank for x number of years and earn soo so and so when he reached his desicion

Many Many thanks LadyG. You should earn an award in this forum for your dedication to helping people here. Firsty and Nef too and a host of others(you all know yourselves). This is me saying 'Thank you'. Will try the expedite interview and come back with testimony this time. God Bless.

lobus:
What is the reason for refusal on the blue paper?

Section 214(b). Something about not having strong ties in Nigeria. Was surprised because he didn't see my burden of proof where I included my family photo to show I have two kids and a husband here as well as a Bank job to come back to.

firsttymum:
Lemme add
How did you sound? Ur countenance
What's actually in ur passport? Is it virgin?
I think the highlighted statement put the VO off.
They wanna hear u researched it nd bla bla

Thanks Fisttymum, I think I sounded confident and composed. I have UK and Dubai visas that I used in 2014 and then Ghana stamps of air and Road transport of early this year. Could it be any of these? I am sensing he saw something cos no request for documents was made.

LadyGuinivere:
Sorry bout the refusal.
Ist Its imprortant to reiterate the fact that the vos make their desicion from the ds 160 AND the interview and sometimes a transcript may not give a true picture.
You said he looked thru your passport? Maybe he wasn't impressed with what I assume is no travel history. Some VO's place a premium on that. I don't know how much you earn and how long you have worked . The vo may have considered that vis a vis the 13k you quoted.
2ndly I wish we wouldn't be using that 'my friend said' answer
Why Houston? Is basically why do you want to born in Amrica and why did you pick Houston ?
If you look at it that way? Your answer falls short. Always lead the interviewer to your areas of strenght
If it were me I'd prolly answer
A: Because I have had so so so and so issues in the past and after my research I discovered that Dr XYX in Houston has a good reputation of handling such matters and even when I mentioned it to my ObGyn he also was of the opinion that Dr XYX would handle my case better because of their facilities.
I don't know why we always give one word /short answers. With this answer I gave above it is only ntural that the vo will pick on one of the issues there and ask more questions. For egs : is it only dr xyx that can handle your matter?
Are you saying your obgyn is not good?
Tell me more about this your health condition.
Show preparedness. Own the interview. Yes its good to read the thread but don't cut and paste.
Be that person that the vo remembers at the end of the day because you stood out.
As for expedited date, read the last page, somebody just asked that question and was answered. God's grace

Thank you so much LadyG. I am grateful.

Dear VO,

I went for my interview this morning and was denied. Please I need your candid advice as to why I was denied. I have been preparing and reading every post from you all and I gained a lot so I really thought I was prepared. My visa class is B2

My transcript:

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning
VO: Asks for my passport, I handed it over. He typed and typed and then, why are you going to US?
Me: To have my baby
VO: Where in US?
Me: Houston
VO: Why Houston?
Me: Because I have friends there and the Doctor I will be using is based in Houston
VO: How much did you budget for the cost of this trip?(Trying to use his exact words)
Me: $13,153.00
VO: What do you do for work?
ME: I work in a Bank, blablabla Bank precisely
VO: Opened my passport over and over and then typed and typed and then brought out the blue paper. ''Unfortunately you are not qualified for US visa, read the blue paper .........He didnt ask for any of my papers just the passport.

Please I need your urgent help and advice. What did I say or do wrong? Thank you so much in anticipation.

My dear people,

I was seriously praying that I will be typing my testimony today, but it is not to be apparently. Please I need your candid advice as to why I was denied today. I have been preparing and reading every post you all and I gained a lot so I really thought I was prepared. My visa class is B2

My transcript:

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning
VO: Asks for my passport, I handed it over. He typed and typed and then, why are you going to US?
Me: To have my baby
VO: Where in US?
Me: Houston
VO: Why Houston?
Me: Because I have friends there and the Doctor I will be using is based in Houston
VO: How much did you budget for the cost of this trip?(Trying to use his exact words)
Me: $13,153.00
VO: What do you do for work?
ME: I work in a Bank, blablabla Bank precisely
VO: Opened my passport over and over and then typed and typed and then brought out the blue paper. ''Unfortunately you are not qualified for US visa, read the blue paper .........I just went blank sha. Dissapointed and sad.

Please I need your urgent help and advice. The paper says I cant appeal the decision so that means I have to pay again and schedule and interview. Please is there a way I can also expedite the interview because this one took me more than a month from the date of scheduling. I am almost 30weeks into my pregnancy. Appreciate all the help.

firsttymum:
Do u know that A guy sent me 500 airtime and he was promoted at work?
The next day, a lady sent me 1000 and got engaged to a very rich man.
The next day, another guy sent 2000 and he was granted a visa to d U.S.A.
Don't b left out! Why not send yours now and give your testimony.
The higher the amount you send, the bigger your miracle.
Don't be left out! Hurry now b4 I stop collecting...#etisalat only.

kikikikikikikiki!!!! hope am allowed to laugh like you.

Hi Nef, I intend to travel between 23rd Sept and 2nd Dec 2016. POE is NY, but final destination is Houston. Please could you send me the link. I have sent you a PM. Thanks a lot for being here.