₦airaland Forum

mzjennypher:
CC @seyewest @LadyGuinivere @OmoBendel24

While waiting for replies from the gurus ....
If your trip is not urgent, plan for a time when the hotel prices are low. I got $50/night in January/February, and right in the middle of Manhattan (about 30th street; very close to Madison Square Garden). The room was micro, but it was sufficient.
In NY now, I would think the hotels are about $100 per night upwards. The better the hotel, the higher the price.

@Gurus: has anyone used hostels or apartments before?

You can search through family, schoolmates, friends and you might just find someone you know living in NY. In my case, it was months after I returned that I realized there is an old school mate living in NY, that I would have loved to see and he would have been happy to host me. [If you want to use such as contact, you will have to be clear about how they got to the US though. Do you know that you can use a friend studying legit in the US as a contact?]

I have read here about people that successfully used AirBnB contacts for POE, and had nice stays with their Bed & Breakfast hosts: but I can't remember whether they related using same for visa application; (and sorry, I'm too lazy to search through past posts).

Lastly, I guess you can book an hotel you can cancel/change dates later, especially if you find a cheaper deal.

honeyoluwatoyin:
hello house, we are planning a family trip for summer, my mom , kid sister and myself,ive got the visa already,the issue now is do you think its advisable to be the sponsor or my dad? and do i need to give them copy of my visa on the day of interview? my mom has got no travel history but my sister has... would be waiting for ur response..
thanks

Hi,
I think your family should take a copy of your visa along. The VO might not ask for it, but just in case it comes up since it is a family trip. (Hope you have utilized your visa at least once already, in accordance to the application data for which it was granted.)

On whether your dad should sponsor, the gurus here may shed some light; but i think the important thing is that each person qualifies on his/her own merit and ties.
My 2 cents.

seyewest:
All airports from these following countries are affected not just these 10 airports but 10 countries.

Oga Seyewest.
There are 8 countries in the list. I think all the international airports with flights to the USA, in those countries are captured.
Cheers.

Prince1980:
Hello, while appreciating the good work you guys are doing here, kudos.
Planning a trip for first week of August through Air Maroc, .

The airports currently affected by the ban are:
Dubai International Airport (DXB), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), in Amman, Jordan
Cairo International Airport (CAI), in Cairo, Egypt
Ataturk International Airport (IST), in Istabul, Turkey
King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (JED), in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Kuwait International Airport (KWI), Farwaniya, Kuwait
Mohammed V Airport (CMN), Casablanca, Morocco
Hamad International Airport (DOH), Doha, Qatar

lipunchvirus:
thank you ma, I Will just pay for visa fee only noting more than that? Because some agents are telling me to bring huge amount of money

Yes ma,
Only need to pay the visa fee via GTBank. (It was N64,000, last week and should still be.) No other payments. Read bit through the past pages on this thread and you will see why "agents" are to be avoided. Doing it yourself is your best bet.

Akex:
there is a conference in US i recently scheduled an appointment for and i have confirmed if i am good to apply as
i'm travelling from Dublin.

Please I am interested in conference in Accounting or Finance Management

Sir, Are living in Dublin? If yes, are you holding an Irish Passport or Nigerian Passport. If Nigerian, are you with a visit visa or what kind? And are you applying for US Visa from Dublin or from Nigeria.

@Bolded. Do you have a conference already, or just looking for one?

lipunchvirus:
please Mrsjohnson22,. can you give me ..email address so you can explain how you fill the form etc... thank you

Mr LiPunch Virus,
Seeing that you are asking people for email addresses and help to fill your form, a little thought.

Most of the form is filled with your data; your name, date of birth, etc, that are best filled by you. Take your time in filling it; if you have specific unanswered questions, you can post them here and many people can try to assist.

If you put the effort to fill the form yourself and have the content clear to you, it will help you to be confident and clear in your interview at the consulate.

soljid:
Interviewed yesterday with wifey and my 3 years old son.
Vo.. Y are you going to NY?
Me.. For family vacation...
Vo.. Why are you going to the new York city?
Me.. (I wan vex say, sebi u no allow me finish that time nah). We are going for a family vacation, we are taking this year annual leave together to visit nice places in the city and to celebrate my wife's birthday.

Thanks guys!

Congrats

UTILITYMAY:
Married with two girls(twins). Is there anyway I can prove myself on this, apart from merely telling the VO I am married with two kids. Meanwhile, the VO did not even ask all these from me yesterday, I don't know why... As for the aspect of a woman leaving her husband and kids: I am a man.

Thanks Boss.

21 days is a lot to go enjoy alone leaving wifey and daughters behind, IMO. If you aren't going with them, it's better to shave off some days: 2 weeks may be more reasonable. (The VO didn't have to ask you, it should all be in your form.).

I think some UK texts use "c" instead of "b", and since you teach IGCSE (UK, right?). A visit to UK, Canada, Schengen, with more rigorous visa procedures, just might be more relevant as travel history for future visa applications.

If your hols to US is just to relax and visit your uncle, I still think it may be better not to reapply soon; spend the time and money in another country, and if possible, take your wife and children with you. (You can make it a one week family trip, to save costs).

#JustGeneralAdvice

UTILITYMAY:
My interview transcript yesterday 31st May, 2017
V.O.: Good morning
Me: Good morning
V.O.: What do you want to go and do in the US?
Me: I'm going to the New York to visit my Uncle
V.O.: What is the equation of a line?
Me: y= mx + c; where y is the y-coordinate, x is the x-coordinate, m is the gradient of the line and c is the y-intercept
V.O.: We are sorry you are not qualified bla bla bla... As she handed over the blue copy to me.
Me: Pakam... Lols

My question: I want to reapply again, how soon can I reapply? Though it is written on the blue paper that I can apply again at anytime. If I apply today or tomorrow, won't they see it as being desperate?

Thanks guyz... I need your contributions ASAP...

My 3 cents.
@Bolded: Perhaps the VO was not satisfied that a grade 10-12 would understand your explanation of the equation of a line.

"....how soon can I reapply?" -You answered this yourself. It is written in the blue paper.

"If I apply today or tomorrow, won't they see it as being desperate?" If I am the VO, I will see it as desperate. Though you want to visit your uncle, I would suggest having a holiday somewhere else, e.g. a trip the UK (US appears to use "b" instead of "c" in the equation.). Good travel history is a plus for demonstrating that you love staying in Nigeria and love traveling for short visits.

I assume that your uncle is legally in the US and cleanly also (not the visit converted into stay type).

dejiolaniy:
Good day, i ve been a silent reader here ever since i schedule an appointment.
My interview was may 31st, 10 am. I went there with my wife, 3yrs daughter and 1 yr old son.
we got there 9:37am , it was rainy then.
i filled the form my self , No AGENT.

..Big thnks to every one here
God bless u

Congratulations!

tolman061:
Hello Guru's in d house...

Please i have a question that needs urgent reply/advise abeg

I have a US visa that still valid till next month "5th of June 2017 to be precise. I need to make an urgent trip to boston nxt week Saturday which is 3rd of June for a cuz wedding and i intend to spend d remaining of my annual leave over there...3weeks
My question are...
1. Can i travel with d visa so far it has not expire before my travel date?...if No...can I renew before expiration?
2. If i can't travel wit d visa...pls how can I go abt d Dropbox?..I was able to make a trip wit d US visa last year and i have a valid UK visa and a good travel history.

Thanks

My 2 cents.
"The visa validity is the length of time you are permitted to travel to a port-of-entry in the United States." Read more on travel . state . gov

The real challenges are:
1. Will the airline take you? Or more practically, will those airport officials allow you check-in? If you know your rights and insist, they may eventually will. You will need to ask the airline for their policy. Sometimes, they are scared (and rightly so) that missing a connection could lead to your arriving late at the POE.

2. You will be convincing the CBP at the POE. If they allow you in, you will be duly stamped in for 6 months or whatever duration the CbP decides.
The visa allows you to get to the POE, to be interviewed for entry: outcome of which interview can be yes-yay, or no-go back.

That said, leaving Lagos on the 3rd of June is pretty borderline.

Dropbox: I don't know whether there is enough time before the 3rd.

seyewest:
Haaaa come on... we all know it's not in pidgin and the way the poster delivered it in pidgin is topnotch... Enjoy your stay.

Thanks Seyewest.

I remembered two other questions later, but catching up with old and new friends here delayed my coming back. I have to squeeze every minute here dry, that ticket fare needs to be converted into time well spent.

The BOCBP also asked:
BO: Na only you waka come? (Are you travelling alone.)
Me: Yes.
BO: Wetin you carry? (You have checked in luggage, how many?)
Me: Yes. One piece.

Greetings from Atlanta! First time here; too many hustlers, was my impression at the airport.

Washington: IAD.
Nice POE experience recently. Very simple setup: very little waiting time and smooth entry.

First there were no machines, so no print outs. It was straight to the queue and straight to the CBP interview/stamping in (plus immediate customs declaration).

Me: Good ... afternoon. (I was pretty tired, wanted to say good morning, but realized it could not be morning. A little later, I realized it was about 7pm really)

BO: Wetin carry you come?
Me: Na vacation sir.

BO: Wetin you go come dey do?
Me: I go go visit the Mall, see the monuments.

BO: You no go go see your padi and your family people?
(My brain was slow in catching the question. Too tired.)
Me: I get uncle, but no be him I come see. Maybe I go see am sha.

BO: You no go go see your friends.
Me: I go see my friends.

BO: So you will stay with your friends.
Me: Yes, na with my friends I go stay.
(Had filled my friend's address in the immigration landing form. He asked me about how we met and became friends and I answered).

BO: You bring any food come?
Me: No. mbah. Na only Tomtom I carry come. (I had declared the candy and their $ value in my form.)
BO: No wahala.

BO: How much you carry come?
(Told him).

BO: Nno.
Me: Thank you.

Na so I go collect my laptop (had to drop it at the boarding gate in Istanbul- a Turkish airlines offer that gains passengers a free 24 hours in-flight WiFi voucher- come see chatting over the Atlantic. )

Then, picked my bag; and was inspected by a dog labelled something like "Agricultural Sniffer". The leash handler of the dog thanked me and moved on.

The rest na just short simple march out of the airport. Welcome to America. God bless Nigeria, God bless America too.

keji157:
Do I need a Heath insurance for 2 weeks vacation in the states? First Timer.

Health insurance is not a prerequisite for visit to the US.

Although, people don't plan to be sick -especially on a vacation-, getting a travel/health/life insurance is an option open to anyone. Just make sure you read the small print of the insurance policy, ensuring they cover incidents in the US and the conditions you need to make a claim to them.
And don't go swimming in a beach where there are sharks.

chaps1124:
Thanks so much for your reply. But I think I have serious tie that will bring back to Nigeria. My wife is still app level students. And I have private company here in nigeria. I also have business in ghana. I have a private computer institute and farm/ poultry. I also have good statement of account which shows how money comes in and out. I have been to India and China on a business visa. So what's the chances of getting visa to spend our honeymoon in US. We will only spend just a week and come back Nigeria because of my business.

Great!
Happy reading.
@blued text: no one can tell you 100%. It is like a jollof rice question.
Just be honest and be prepared.
Wish you all the best.

chaps1124:
Hello how am new here. So happy to join Nairaland. I have plan to visit US with my new wife. Our white wedding is coming up next 3 months and we are panning visiting US for our honey moon. We plan to spend 7 to 10 days there and return back to Nigeria. How possible it is to get visa. And what type of visa should we go for as this is our first time . I[b] will be glad for any kind suggestion[/b].

My first suggestion is that you read from page one of this thread. It has all the info you seek, and you will end up more prepared for a US visa application/interview/travel.
You will see that a lot depends on your ties to your home country.


My second suggestion is that after reading, you assess your circumstances, go for your visa; if you (and wifey) get US visas, have a lovely honeymoon in the USA. If not, you should visit Dubai and/or Seychelles, OR Kenya and/or Seychelles. Visa requirements for such places are normally stress-less, and with such trip(s), you build travel history as a couple.
Following from the above, don't pay for ticket and hotel in the US, until you have your US visas.

egariyi:
Hello All

Pls am in the process of renewing our expired visas this May but our passports has 8 months left before expiration (Feb 2018). Can I still use this passport to process our renewal? Has anyone been in this kind of situation, pls share your experience. thanks.

Ordinarily, NIS would not renew valid passports unless they are less than 6 months to expiry. (info from 2014 experience: things might have changed). (Extraordinary reasons include, damaged passport chip, faded photo, lost passport, full passport pages, etc.)

You can still use your passport for visa renewal. When eventually you renew your passports, you will be needing to carry the two passports (old one with visa + new valid one) whenever you need to travel.
#My2cents..

match2016:
Hi nairalanders,

Please I am in a dilemma. My family went to apply for a visa today and my parents were given but my brother was denied. Purpose of visit is to attend my brother's graduation in Texas. They said he doesn't have sufficient ties and said he couldn't appeal in the letter they gave him. I am also doing my phd here in the US. Looks like they had an issue that he was the only child of my parents left in Nigeria and maybe they thought he wanted to run away which is not the case. He has a semester to complete his undergrad program here in. Nigeria. We are all pained at this time and we were thinking of reuniting as a family again this summer. Do you think we have good chances if he re- applies? And what can we d do better if he does that? I will appreciate any feedback. The last few hours have been very painful because of this denial. He is the baby of the house so we all feel bad for him

If you post the transcripts from the interviews (of your parents and your brother), people here can make suggestions and clarifications; and perhaps even hazard guesses about his chances on reapplying.

Tunnyz7:
Hello everyone, please I intend traveling with my wife for vacation on b1/b2 . what are our chances? No travel history. And please how many places can we fill that we want to visit

Hi OP,
No one can tell you with certainty your chances, more so as when they do not know your situation.
The best recommendation you will find on this thread is that you read, research, fill the form honestly, assess yourself, pay you visa fee, schedule your interview and pray.

As to how many places you can fill, it depends on you, your plans and your budget. Someone said recently that it is best to keep it simple. Choose a place of interest to you, and research about the city to ensure it meets your requirements.

All these work of reading, researching, will help build your confidence. You need to be convinced of the purpose of the trip; failing which your chances of convincing anyone else will be very low.
Also, self preparation will help you avoid the pitfall of looking lost, actually getting lost, or lack of confidence at the interview.

Wish you all the best.

cumz:
Are you God?

No, s/he is not. Only giving his/her rating of "chances" as requested. Just an opinion.

Terminalia:
Hello house, pls I'm in a fix now and I need some clarification. my hubby and I got a visa for vacation in February, we really wanted to go for vacation then but due to the dollar scarcity, we shifted it. mid March, I was confirmed pregnant. mind u, I wasn't asked if I was pregnant during our interview and neither did I know I was pregnant den. now, I'm 3 months gone.
The issue now is my hubby and I planned going for the vacation next month (may) den I can go for childbirth later but I was told today at my office that I can't take my annual and maternity leave together in a year.
So now, I don't know what to do. can I go for childbirth later with a letter of intent since I wasn't asked if pregnant then? what are the options available for me now as I'm really confused. gurus in the house, over to u. lady Guinevere, kaptainafrika etc, over to u.

You may want to appeal to your office, so that you can still take a short vacation in May, even it means discounting it from your maternity leave later. I think it is important to try your best to first use the visa as you planned in your application. Consider what a stern CBP may think, if you and your husband arrive for birthing. Also, perhaps the birthing thread can offer more insight.

seyewest:
Chai I don enter my own oooo
My international passport got wet from rain and the picture on my data page is a bit faded but the rest of the data on it is fine and my U.S visa is fine as well... Do I need to get another passport or still make use of the same passport.. I'm traveling very soon in short I've got my ticket already...

Sorry bro.
If I am in your shoes, I will go to the nearest passport office or international airport (open daily), show the immigration personnel the passport and ask if it still okay. Then follow their recommendations.
Can someone looking at the picture, recognize you easily?
The passport has an electronic chip that stores your image; so it depends on how faded the picture is. It can be so faded that they will not attend to you, or just a little that they consider it worthwhile to scan the chip to reconfirm.

olaoye15:
Hello good people. I need your take on this. I am about applying form US visa B1/B2. the reason is to visit my uncle. I want to be truthful as much as possible in my application. There is the concern, I fear the VO may want to ask me how my uncle got to America which was through a visit visa, there he overstayed and got married to a citizen (though Nigerian). Consequently, he got got his citizenship.

my fear is that will this not jeoperdise my chances of securing the visa?

Self-assessment. You already have fears.
Put yourself in the VO's shoes.
You are the only one who knows your full story.
It's probably easier for your uncle to visit you.

kino47:
ibasked a question I said income can change

What is your question?
Be ready to explain any change. If you get married and change your surname to your husband's, you will have a reasonable explanation ... You get my drift?

Afamdi12:
Wehdone to everyone helping out in this forum and to those who take out time to write their transcripts. Please I am curious as I am about renewing my visit visa, first applied durin my Msc in the UK n was granted. I applied on the premise of Conference bt couldnt meet up as school work came up so I travelled aftr the MSC programme. Stayed for 3months and back to Nigeria, i'm scared of this. Also I cant login to my old account and Im wondering if its ok to create a new acc so I dont contradict what I earlier filled. After the 55k payment in gtb, will I schedule an appointmnt first or fill out the application form? Which comes first? Please fam, HELP A BROTHER. Will I also need to upload any docs while filling the form so I get them ready? PLEASE HELP.

Hi,
The best approach is for you to read the first page of this thread. It has several links and info that will help you in the application process and answers to some of your questions. From there, you can proceed smoothly with starting your application.
As an MSc grad, I'm sure the little research involved will not be tasking at all for you.
Reading a bit more through the thread, you will see that most of your questions have been answered before. Some answers may be lengthy, so you can understand that people may not be inclined to type everything out again. You can follow the previous answers that worked.

As the truth does not change, there should be no contradiction.

Can the account you created in the UK work in Nigeria? I think so. The accounts are online. However, people that know better will shed more light. Just be a little patient, replies will come. Meanwhile, reading through the transcripts will prioritize and simplify any other questions you may have.

Cheers

PHOOMI:
I live outside of Lagos, I 'll love for a direction to the embassy from ojota nd any hotel around to spend the night at. Thanks.

From Ojota, take a yellow/traditional taxi to VI (Victoria Island), Walter Carrington Crescent, or you can take any other cab or Uber. Going by bus to the US Consulate may leave you ruffled for the interview.
If you will be driving, better to check google maps, or ask someone around you. Lagos is big!
For hotel, Lagos is big and it also depends on your preferences. You can check booking.com, there are hotels within walking distance from the Consulate. If you want something not too far and not too expensive, you can find from N10,000 upwards in Lekki Phase 1.

seg1759:
Hello,

please, i want to ask if it is very important to
have traveling experience before one can
apply for b1/b2 visa.
I await your quick response.
Thanks in anticipation.

Segun.

Not necessary, but good.

More important is the diligent study of this thread. If you can't read all, try at least 30 pages and judge for yourself how enlightening it can be.

All the best!

okechukwu101:
How can I get a medical appointment in the US. Preferably Texas. I survived an accident and my arm amputated in the process. Will need a functional artificial arm

Sir,
Perhaps your medical consultant in Nigeria can get you a referral to one of his/her colleagues in the US. If no known colleagues, the doctors normally would know the best hospitals in the field and be able to give you the ample direction.
All the best.

arclexical:
Good morning house!

I am about to apply for B2 visa. I am going to attend my brother's commencement ceremony at Columbia university NY in may 2017. He got a visitors ticket for me from his school, prepared an invitation letter and I have a good account statement. I am an architect, I practice privately with a company name i registered with a colleague. I am not married, not engaged.

I have been going through this tread and reading all necessary materials from the internet yet I am scared. Please I implore the house to give me specific advice on my case and please do I need to upload my photo while filling the DS 160 form.

Sir, the specific advice on your case is that you go thoroughly and calmly through the thread. You can read part 1 and part 2, or read part 2 first, then beginning of Part 1. Read especially transcript of people with similar circumstances to yours; and work on your ties.

Rousel:
OK thanks,I quit my job and now work as a contractor for my previous company in collaboration with a colleague.have an invitation what Documents do I need and what should be my least budget for 3weeks?

You only need to read through this thread and you will realize that your questions, and more, have been answered. Your present occupation is a "Contractor" and your budget depends on what flights you plan to take, where you intend to stay (5 star hotels are normally more expensive than 2 star hotels, etc), what you will spend there, etc. You can deduce your budget yourself.

Reading part one of the thread will also help you. Now, go to work and build yourself a successful visa application!

Wine52:
Pls ladyguniver n seweyest kindly answer me.

Sir, Kindly take time to read through the thread. You will see that bank statements are not needed at all. And you will learn a lot about USA visa application. Cheers.