segunbolawole:
The bolded has been giving us concern on this thread..

Abeg Gurus, what do you think

Congrats! I prolly don't need a new i-20 then

Jachy4real:


My last work experience was in 2015. So I put that. I did not include any educational qualification because that section didn't show while I was filling my ds160. But I was asked during the interview. Sorry I forgot to include that question in my transcript.

OK, thanks a lot. I actually forgot to put past experience like my nysc. And I'm hoping I won't be asked

Jachy4real:
Hello everyone!
Visa approved in Lagos on June 13th, 2019 at the 6.30am appointment.

Ok, I was here over a month ago to ask about my chances of getting my visa approved since I planned to go with my spouse and child. Some strongly suggested I went alone while others said we should all go since I was fully funded and my case was subjective. Some said my chances were low since I had no work experience, can’t show home ties and my funds were solely from the school. Well, since I didn’t want to divide my home while pursuing my career, I decided to brave it anyway.

We arrived Walter Carrington by past 5am and went to join the queue by past 6am. My baby was all joyful, playing with everyone and everything that came her way. Immediately we got into the consulate, she became restless and started crying. We tried to pacify her and feed her but to no avail. And there was no way I could breastfeed her there! I became disoriented. The black lady at the first check point had pity on us and gave us an expedite slip. She called the security and asked him to take us to the front of the next queue where we met a white lady.

White lady: Pass me your passport
Me: (I did with the expedite slip)

White lady: Why do you have an expedite slip
Me: The lady gave it to me because of my baby

White lady: (angry) We don’t give expedite to babies! Why will she give you an expedite slip?! (she called the security)

White lady: Why will she give her an expedite slip?
Security: I don’t know. I am surprised myself.

She then went to confront the black lady. My baby was still crying. I made up my mind to join the queue since I wasn’t ready for any of that drama. When she came back, I started walking back to the queue.

White lady: Where are you going to? Who asked you to go? Pass me your passport.
After all the checks and biometrics she handed me the documents.

White lady: (clearly angry) I don’t know why you were given an expedite slip, but congrats.
My baby was still crying. I took her from my husband and tried to calm her down, but no way. I became more tensed. The security took us directly to a white guy for the interview and my husband took the baby from me.

VO: who is the applicant?
Me: I am, good morning (I tried to smile, and passed him our documents)

VO: What are you going for?
Me: to study for a PhD in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (this was actually my area of specialization not the course but I was so disoriented that I said that. He obviously didn’t see that on the I-20 so he asked for a repeat of my response.
Me: To study for a PhD in Chemistry with a specialization in analytical and bioanalytical chemistry.

VO: What University?
Me: The University of Alabama.

VO: Tell me about your research
Me: (I started to talk, but he cuts me off)

VO: I mean, what instrument would you use for your research?
Me: Mass Spectrometer and Bleep

VO: Do you have a supervisor to work with?
Me: Yes, Prof Bleep

VO: I can see your assistantship covers all your cost. Can you tell me about it?
Me: (I started to give him a breakdown of my benefits, but he cuts me off)

VO: I mean, what do you have to do as a graduate assistant?
Me: I have to teach, grade reports, make good progress towards the completion of my degree and maintain a good grade.

VO: Is he going with you? (referring to my spouse)
Me: yes

VO: What will you be doing in the US?
My spouse: for the first year I will help with the baby because it will be incredibly difficult for her to cope with the baby and then... (cuts him off)

VO: Have any of you travelled outside the country before?
My spouse: Yes, to the UK for my master’s degree (he wanted to mention other places but the VO seemed to be Ok with just that)

VO: what work do you do?
My spouse: Bleep

VO: Is that your only child?
Me: yes.

VO: (he gave me a pamphlet) read this and let me know if you don’t understand.
Immediately I started reading the pamphlet, I knew it meant that our visas were approved from the information it contained.

VO: Do you plan to receive any medical treatment in the US?
Me: (I didn’t get the question, so I asked for a repeat) No.

VO: Do you like American football
Me: (smiling) Yes. The school is well known for it (he happily agreed with me).

VO: I will be approving your visa…
He asked for our pick up location since he could not clearly see it on the passport.

VO: Enjoy your stay
Me: Thank you.

I packed our documents and we left. Immediately we came out of the consulate, my baby stopped crying. It was while the people outside were congratulating us that I looked at the top of my file and saw the white paper. I was so disoriented that I didn’t even know when he gave me the white paper. So Kudos to those here who said they saw both the white and pink paper even while interviewing. It shows the level of their composure. I didn’t have the luxury of that because of my crying baby. However I answered my questions confidently and tried to smile all the way.

So this is my transcript, unfiltered.
I will like to encourage everyone who sincerely want to pursue their career to go for it. Don’t let anything stop you. Work hard. Do everything you can and let God do the ones you can’t. Impossible is nothing!

Hello! Big congratulations!! Pls, I have some qstns. Does it mean you didn't put any work experience? Did you include your masters? Pls, kindly reply. Thanks a lot. Congrats again

Time2win:


You believe you have gotten it already and you came here to seek for help? Use your faith to get the visa please. There is no need seeking for advise here when you have such strong faith

Lol, you need to read what he wrote, it's not good enough. You don't advise people by saying they won't make it, or they won't achieve what they want.. That's not the best way to go about things. It will even kill people's confidence. And you are all saying confidence is key isn't it? So, I'm against his bad energy and nothing else! I value all the advice I've gotten from here and I know a lot of silent readers too do. We are here to lift ourselves and not dampen our spirit, the tension at the embassy is already enough. So, don't get me wrong, read the thread well, and flow!

Thank you.

dumbiri99:

Forget it bro, they won't approve. PhD should be fully funded.

Tani bro e?
Anyways, I've gotten my visa!!! Yea, I believe it! So, bad energy, stay faraway! I'm going to one of the best schools, and my funding is renewed every semester, plus, for my case, God has given me victory! So, watch out for me!! My testimony is sooner than you can ever think!

Temi87:
Good evening. Please who know the nearest available date for lagos consulate. I just paid the visa fee so that I’ll book an appointment.

My portal still hasn’t been updated, it still shows my passport is still at the consulate after ten days. Would I be able to book an appointment if it’s still displaying that message? Thank you.

Yes, you should. I just did. Let me know when you do. All the best!

ObodoNaija:


Please Sis, how did you get admission for a PhD when u haven't defended your project? I am asking this cus I wish to apply for a PhD for fall2020 but I haven't defended my MEd project yet. Is it possible to apply for PhD without my MEd result? Please put me through on how to go about this.

I got a direct PhD. I applied with my bsc because I had a strong 4.cgpa.

dreambound:

Oh I get. Buh your school shouldn't have done that. I think you should request a new one.
What was the total cost WITHOUT your funding?

Edit--okay 24K plus 23K+ = 47K+. Is that the total without funding?

Yes

dreambound:

I don't understand. Here you said your deficit is 24K dolls..but they put 70K dolls as what your sponsor is providing (since that's what they saw in his statement). In your reply to Brown2Green, you said you needed 46K dolls??

My uncle is paying 24k dols. However, he has in his SOA 46k dols. My assistanship is 23k+ So my schl added them up (23k+ 46k) which made a total of 70k dols.
Do you get?

Brown2Green:



First Question, what was stated on the I20?
Second question, were you going for a second masters?
3rd Question, how much was your total deficit?

1. Funds I have on my i-20 was a total of 70k dols. What I needed was 46k dols.

2. I'm going for a PhD not second masters.

3. Deficit is 24k dols. Although my assistantship is to be renewed every semester

dumbiri99:

For just one semester? What's the deficit on i20, and next time don't offer to give any document they didn't request for. Those people sef, this thing need prayer.

Well, they just put all that's in my uncle's account as the deficit on my i-20. Deficit should be 24k dols. But they put 70k dols

Gloryemo:

I think the issue started when VO found out you're going for second masters.... Just my thought

It's a PhD not masters

Good morning house.
I'm new here.
I'll love to post my transcript. Visa delayed
Lagos consulate
June 11th

Vo: good morning with a smile
Me good morning. Smiled
Vo pass your I 20 and passport
Me. Did
Vo -- straight up, can I see a letter backing up your assistantship
Me: sure, so... I search for my funding letter o, took almost a minute.
Vo (while I was still searching for the letters) you're doing your masters? (With an irritated face or so)
Me yes, my final defence is in 2 weeks. Then I gave him the letters
Vo scrutinizes letter.
Plus, I gave him 3 letters. (Funding and contract award letter. Guess that's part of my mistake)
Vo does the letter cover all the 70k dolls,
Me yes, my funding covers all my tuition and stipends for the first semester and will be renewed for subsequent semesters.
Vo. No, you're not answering my question. Is your funding all the 70k dols?
Me. No, my uncle is paying for the rest, do you want to see his bank statements,
Vo no
Vo have you travelled out before
Me no, I haven't have the reason too, till now.
Vo, where does your uncle stay
Me. Lagos, ikorodu.
Vo.. Blabla..not eligible for the visa now... Blablabla.


OK guys, this was my first time. Please, I really need advice. I'm picking abuja this time and I need to get it right. Please gurus in the house, kindly help me.