₦airaland Forum

abujaniv:
Contact the Embassy immediately. It is likely we were waiting for your SEVIS to reflect.

Thank you so much guys! I did contact the embassy and was told my passport had been sent to the pickup location. I finally picked it up today.

Dear VO,

I was wondering if you could advise me. I interviewed for a J1 visa to go train as a psychiatrist in the US. The interview was on the 25th of May at the Abuja post and the visa was approved. Up until today, the tracking website still says that the passport is still with the US embassy. Orientation starts on the 9th of June and its mandatory. Additional information about my case is that I still have a valid F1 visa having just graduated from a masters degree program this spring. I am wondering why it has taken as long as almost 7 business days to get the passport back. Is it possible that the passport has been sent to the GSS location without updating the tracking website? Should I be worried?

Thank you.

Please I have a quick question: my J1 visa was approved 25th of May. I did post the interview transcript here. The issue is that my passport is still with the embassy. I was wondering if I should be concerned about the time it has taken. Thank you

femoalaofin:
congrats sir, do u think a gre score 300 is enough to get funding and get admitted for an engineering PhD programme Q= 152, V= 148. Thanks.

Thank you sir! From my experience, I would say you need a higher score given the competition these days. It would be great to get a higher score. Focus on the quantitative. Also remember to have a well rounded application bearing in mind that GRE is only one of the requirements. Hope this helps!

Holudarey01:
congrats cashglue

I appreciate it! Thanks!

Hello. Just wanted to share my visa approval story on here. I had my interview 7:30 this morning at Abuja.A little background first: This is my second time of posting here. My F1 visa was approved in 2014. I graduated from the masters this month and was already accepted by God's grace to begin another program on a J1. I chose to return to Nigeria for another interview versus trying to change status in the US.

Here's my transcript:

VO: Good morning(very pleasant and courteous)
Me: responded in like manner
VO: Your passport please
I pass that to him
VO: oh may I have your DS2019?
Gladly gave it to him
VO: oh looks like you have been studying in the US for the past couple of years
Me: Yeah. I have been studying for a masters degree in health administration and health informatics. The degree was conferred last week.
VO: Nice. What are going to do now?
Me: I am going to train as a psychiatrist at Bleep school of medicine
VO: Are you a doctor?
Me: Yes, I am
VO: Do you have a specialty?
Me: Not yet. That's what this training is for. I am going to specialise in psychiatry.
VO excuses himself and disappears to the back for about 5 minutes. He returns and then
VO: Tell me about your interest in Psychiatry
Me: I had done a self evaluation towards the end of my medical education and realised that my strengths lie in my resilience, empathic listening as well as my non judgemental nature. These are some of the very tenets on which the specialty of psychiatry is built. I knew that if I wanted to be able to use my strengths to the utmost benefits of patients, it would have to be in psychiatry. I can also relate to the burden of mental illness having had a mentally ill relative who set fire to our house while living with us. That condition is called Pyromania.
VO seemed pleased with response
VO: Types for a long time and then says your visa has been approved. He signs my DS 2019 and affixes his name seal on it and then returns it. He hands me the white paper and another booklet that talks about the rights of workers in the US and says some other information and then I leave.

Lessons:

I really wanted to not come back to go through the process but it wasn't as bad as I thought.
Maybe having had a visa before helps especially if you have abided by the regulations binding that class of visa
If you know what you are going to do and can defend it, they will likely approve it.
I thank God who did not disappoint me once again. He has no assistant doer and so I return all the glory to him.

Feel free to direct questions to me and other experienced people in the house. Regards to the wise men like imperioux, bigfrancis, etc.

PS: For those still wondering about the issue of having two classes of visa on your passport. I still have a valid F1 and then I would have this J1. The guy who interviewed me didn't say anything about cancelling the F1 and from what I saw, he was an older mature VO that would know the workings of these things.

Thanks! I really appreciate!

slimmy05:
it still works

Thanks!I really appreciate!

Best wishes to everyone going for their visa interviews! Please I have a quick question: Has anyone recently used the Walmart money order means of transferring money from your GTB account to your account in the US? It was something that was talked about here on this forum sometime ago. I just want to be sure its still working before making any plans. Thank you

JabinodelaRatta: @Cashglue...what a delightful journey experience coupled with adventure!!! Enjoy ur stay n studies.

Thanks bro

I thought I would post my POE experience. Left Nigeria on the 8th of August. I flew Delta. As soon as I got on the plane I couldn't help smiling. The whole place was just amazing. Anyways, I was met with all the rowdiness at MMIA. My luggage was excess so I had to sort that out. Eventually I got checked in amid all the "anything for the boys" from the immigration and customs officials. Then I got into the waiting lobby. The departure was for 10.30pm. We started boarding by 9.45pm and by the schedules departure time we were set. Originally, the duration had been set for 12hrs and 2 mins but the crew told us we wud do it in 11hrs and 33 mins( they actually did that). In flight treatment was quite good. We really had enough to eat and drink. There was top notch entertainment-recent movies and all. We were given forms to declare all we had. Then, about 90 mins before arrival we were again given some things to eat and drink. We landed at Hartfield International Atlanta at about 4.55am by which time the customs and immigration hadn't started attending to ppl. So we had to sit in the plane till 5.15am when the doors were opened. I had a hassle free experience at the POE. I had loads of food stuff in one bag but I wasn't given any extra treatment. I spent approximately 15mins to go through immigration and customs. When I got my luggage, a customs official asked me if I had gala, suya or rice in my stuff and I said no. I just told her I had garri and she said ok. I was let thru and by 5.20am I was in the park waiting for my folks. In all I think God favoured me at the POE. There was a student from Nigeria who didn't come with his original I-20. I felt really bad because we virtually all know that bit from coming to Nairaland frequently. He was taken to another room and I didn't quite know what his fate became. I wanted to spend sometime with my folks before going to Missouri but they advised me to get tickets showing my itinerary from Atlanta to Missouri eventually. This I did even though I wasn't asked. I would advise the same. I am now just trying to get used to the time difference and weather. Kindly ask any questions if you have any. Wishing visa applicants success on their interviews. You will all be fine God willing.

Ashigolo: it depends on the school but most schools accept online recommendation. They automatically send a 'request for recomendation' email to your referee once u fill in his/her details in your application. I could remember during my application, 2 of my recomenders (drs) would ask me to bring my system with my modem to their offices (claimed they were busy) so they could just send the letter (I would even composed and filled myself while they jst vet) and a prof even trusted me with his email and password that I logged in into his account to send a recomendation whenever I needed one..lol. It all depends on your relationship with them.

Exactly!!! I had the log in details of about two of my referees and with their permission I could respond to the requests for LORs once I got them. It's indeed abt your relationship with the referee in time past

bbdd: Oh ok.
It is.

The recommendation thing though. Im doing 7 schools. Now tell me about that stress.

One thing is this and I've told myself over and over.
I don't care if the lecturer can't press a keyboard.


Im getting my recommendation.
Simple and short.

Get like 5 lecturers and disperse it among them
They hardly say no to these things.
So if you have like 5 you can just share if among them so they don't feel like you're disturbing them or something.

Just to give my two cents...you can apply to as many schools as you like and get the number of LORs u want. It depends on how you go about it. It is important to note that inasmuch as it's desirable to get LORs from top professors, these folks are not readily accessible especially in our schools. So it's wise to choose ur cohort of referees bearing in mind who will turn in the letter in time to meet the deadline and who would say great things about you and then their designation. Sit down and make a list of potential referees and see who would do the job best. From experience I know Nigerians whom you ask for LORs especially the academic folk can virtually stall ur application. If ur program accepts professional and academic LORs then take advantage. The professional folk will most likely turn up promptly. In all the personality of the referee and ur previous relationship with them matters. Permit me to say that I had a huge issue getting references for just four schools for fall 2013 admission and ended up not getting admitted because the LORs came in later than the deadline amongst other problems. This yr I applied to ten schools and I didn't not sweat at all to get the rec letters. Start early to talk to potential referees and keep reminding them. Be proactive. Some may ask u to write what u want and send to them to sign and turn in for u. It all depends. My two cents...

Mystiqme: Difficult one. Could you get a professor from your dept to stand in for you? Or someone from where you work in school? I agree with you, in less populated counties, this shouldn't be a big problem.

I agree that this may be an issue in a big city like NY. I already got an apartment for the next year from naija. They insisted on a guarantor but then I didn't have anybody to guarantee me. The other option I was given was to be my own guarantor in which case I would have to pay the first and last month's rents upfront. Needless to say I took this option.

zeezahbee: you mean the ziplock bag as in the transperent one. i think you can get at lagos island or ask around sha. a cousin that just arrive from the usa gave it to me.

Thank u again Zee! Yeah I meant the ziploc bags-the transparent one. I will certainly look for it in Lagos. I shud be able to get it.

zeezahbee: things you need depends on you. anyways i will give brief detail.

1. Booking a ticket: book a ticket immediately you get your visa so you can get a cheap flight. taste differ anyways. if you want a direct flight, be ready to pay more, if you want to explore, book a flight with stop overs. i have a website i used wego.com/ng. it will give you prices of each flight for your date of choice.some dates are cheaper so you need to do a thorough check. well dont be too anxious to leave nigeria and therefore booking at an expensive rate. if you want to book a flight to new york first before connecting a flight to your destination, you can ask someone in US to help you book the connecting flight because most local flight dont accept naija card.

2. Get few dollars and get a gtbank account : you need few dollar , maybe 300-500 just for logistics purpose like when you stp over or anything could happen. put all your school fee in your gtbank account. am not a fan of carrying cash around. if you withdraw at any america atm, they charge around $3 and your naija bank will charge around $3 also. i used that only once because i was rushing. well i use my gtbank card to buy stuffs online and also swipe at walmart, kroger, cvs or any store. no charges but so far since i arrive gtbank exchange 166-167naira-$1. note: if your gtbank card is gonna expire this year or next, go to gtbank and get a new card. inform the you lost your card or it got damaged. so they deduct 1050naira from your account and you get the card in 5 working days.

3. Packing your stuffs: 2 big box, one for only clothes and the 2nd for food stuff and shoes and other items. reason is that you still need your naija clothes for few weeks before you can start shopping especially if you arrive late and classes are starting immediately. i bet you wont have time to go get anything. get ziplock bag, i mean those transparent bag to pack your food stuff, dont pack your food stuff in black nylon because they might want to open and its gonna be in a mess,also remember to get a small padlock for your box/bags, once they are about checking it, use a padlock and kept the key in your hand luggage becuase you might need it to open the bag when you get to port of entry in usa.

4. pay your debts lol #just joking# Return things your lend from anyone: if you have anyonesstuff in your care, try return them before travelling, if you want to give anyone some of your stuffs, kindly do that.

i think that all i can remember for now. if you have any question, feel free to ask

Thank u Zee. I just wanted to ask...where would one look for these bags? Are there specific shops u would recommend?

Joenice: Yes but please keep to one and do study with her sometimes. You'll definitely enjoy relationship. Foreign female folks seem better because they believe in love. Which state are you heading to?

Advice taken bo$$.I don't intend to complicate my life and I really want to make the best out of my studies in the US so I am heeding ur advice. I am headed to Missouri. Where u at?

Joenice: all guys here are looking for babes, not knowing better babes are over there

Greetings! On a serious note, is that true?

teddyrain: Slimmy, just know that every denial is a blessing in disguise. I knew how I felt when I got denied last April.
See let me say the truth to you. It does not matter what you say or not say, when its time for your success dem no born any VO well to deny you.
I went to the embassy yesterday without statement of account, yet I was not asked for it.
The VO never allowed me to explain anything, to the extent that he said "why did you choose a liberal arts college" and like say I use juju he now said "forget don't worry, just go and sit down while I recall you". And on me coming back he handed me my pick up letter.
Even when I was talking he was not interested in what I was saying, like "I'm here to give you your visa but just blab, let it seem like an interview".
Immediately after I was interviewed the whole network went bad, but after my own has already been recorded for approved visas.
Till now I'm still wondering what happened because everything was smooth and exceptional. I was at the back of the large mammoth crowd but how I overtook and became the first to be interviewed and issued a visa, is still a mystery. God did it for me.

I know I did something extraordinary from what others do spiritually, I have a secret to tell of how it looked like jazz.
If anyone cares to know, contact me I will tell you for free. (For christians only)

Slimmy it is well. Your next try is final.
Thanks idazbawz. I'm planning to leave by early August with either Delta or British airways.
To all who wished me well before and after, may God reward you all according to your hearts.
Amen.
Amerinancy have you booked yet, let's travel together. I will be coming to your place on Friday. I hope no dogs?

Congrats Teddyrain! I am flying Delta early August too God willing. I am sure there will be space for HRH Amerinancy...Congrats once again y'all

juntod: If you are on this thread and your visa is denied, you need to be flogged. The visa approval rate for members of this thread has never been this high. Quote me wrong if you can. Congrats to you all. Slimmy05, Walspring, go and pick up your visas.

Without a shadow of doubt, this thread was perhaps one of the things God wanted me to have before I went for my own interview. This thread gradually transforms you from a tyro to a confident US student visa applicant ready to stand before any VO. I encourage ppl to keep going through this thread and use the ideas, comments and responses here to prepare for their interviews.

abymballer: My transcipt goes but denialed. I was sitted right beside Teddyrain, I heard all his conversation wih goldenchic but as a novice i was told not to communicate with anyone.

Vo: How do you know about faulkner university?
me : my cousin who studies in same school told me about it?
vo: what year did graddaute?
me : 2011
vo: what did she study?
me : computer science also
vo: did you take SAT?
me: yes
vo: can I see ya score report?
me: I passed it, he looked at it then drop it and held my I-20
vo: who is paying?
me: my dad is the CEO........he is a real estate manager
vo: wht have you been doing in Nigeria?
me: I have been voluteering a health worker in Nigeria red cross
vo: Sorry your application did not meet the requirement.

Help me right my wrong

Congratulations to Teddyrain, Mjseun, Amerinancy & Goldenchic

First of all well done for getting this far! The blooper in your interview was when u said ur cousin recommended it. Here on Nairaland it's almost a consensus that such answers are not the way to go when answering the question"why did u choose this school?" Do your homework and go get your visa. Na God get power

Amerinancy: My interview

ME: Goodmorning ma

VO: Oh how are you?

ME :great

VO: you are nancy?

ME: yea

VO: dis you pay your visa fee?

ME: yes I did

VO: (keeps typing) so how did you choose this college?

ME: saw it on an article written about best liberal art colleges, I did an intensive research and saw its ranked by USnews, princeton and forbes too.

VO: do you know anyone in monmouth college?


ME: no


VO: I can see you traveled to California in 2010?

ME: yes


VO: what purpose?


ME: to visit my aunt


VO: how many siblings do you have?


ME: smiles*** I'm the only child


VO: smiles too *** what does your dad do?


ME: he is a businessman, politician, into real estates and also into oil and gas, he owns 4 petrol stations and also a hotel in Asaba.


VO: Did you write toefl and SAT?


ME: no it was waived by my school and I have a letter to prove it


VO: let me see it


ME: **gives her**


VO: okay pick up your visa @ isolo ** gives me a white paper and hands me back my i-20 saying I should keep it well, as it will be needed @ the point of entry


ME: thank you and **leaves**


I thank God almighty and all those who wished me success @slimmy@walspring etc, not forgetting teddyrain who helped me and encouraged me, although I hid my school from him and never knew we applied to same school. Its true coincidence.

All those going for interview don't worry God will surprise you.

Congrats Amerinancy!

goldenchic: I thank the God of Bishop David Oyedepo for this strange Favour and my new friend Slimmy 05. God bless you for helping me and to everyone in the house. Love ya plenty. My strange Transcript
Vo:are you qolden chic?
Me: yes ma
Vo: how many companies hv u worked with?
Me: 3 glo ,Guinness, consolidated breweries
Vo:who is sponsoring u?
Me: my mum
Vo: what does she do?
Me: she is a business woman, managing director and chairman of Glory ventures* vo cuts in*
Vo: pick up your visa(pass me one white paper)
This is God at work. Praise the Lord!

Congrats Goldenchic

iluvmybishop: Transcript @ us embassy last Tuesday,6:30am appointment
she: gud mornin
Vo:y AR u goin to us
she:to do my postgraduate program
Vo:y dis skool
she:becos studying dere curriculum I discovered it has in depth method of teaching and research based on there standard tutors who are leader in their respective fields around d world bla bla bla..........
Vo cuts in :who is sponsoring u
she:my sister,she is working in d us army and she resides in us
Vo:when did u graduate.
she:2012
Vo:wot Av u bin doin,becos I can see u AR not employed
she:yes but I tutor in a private primary school after my nysc.
Vo:AR u married?
she:not yet but engaged.
Vo:Am sorry miss.......says d usual things and handed over d terrible paper.
pls houser lets talk about dis.....to d gurus in d house.

@iluvmybishop First, I hope the school she plans to attend isn't a red flag. That's where to start. Then, her response to why this school was rather generic and I am guessing that with such an answer, her body language would not have shown any passion or enthusiasm. Then, the biggest flaw in this transcript in my opinion was when she was told she wasn't working by the VO. Why did she say yes?! She tutors and she could have towed that line and given a smarter answer to buttress that the tutoring is a job that gives her experience in the academia and that she hopes to return after her studies to be a faculty in one of the universities in Nigeria as she has passion for teaching...that sort of thing. In all, let her prepare better and pray harder. She shud prolly go thru this and previous threads. I insist that one cannot stand before the VO without visiting these threads. We await her visa success story. She will be fine. Na God get power

Ashigolo: hello house, a friend just told me about iberia airline cheap flights offer. I checked it out and saw $592 to chicago. How true is this, has anyone used this airline?.

Ashigolo: I hear Iberia isn't really cool cause u transit at Barca or Madrid and immigrations there think every young (black) guy is dealing drugs so be ready for extra frisking. However, on a lighter note, Iberia is owned by BA so services in flight may be worth the while.

Graviton v.2.0.:
I'm still in Nigeria...for now. A one-way ticket is the way to go.

Graviton my Bo$$ I greet u. Thank u for the response.

Thank God Nairaland is back. Unfortunately, some of the posts are missing including my success story. Just a quick question to those who are already in the USA(imperious, Graviton, etc)is there a problem with getting a one way ticket as a student entering the US? To the best of my knowledge, I have heard of ppl here on Nairaland who had no issues either boarding the plane here or getting thru the POE in the US. Kindly clarify. Thank you.

uncle Sam thanks. I have successfully unlocked my modem with the codes u gave me

Uncle Sam,
Pls help me with the unlock codes for my GLO 3G Modem. IMEI is 357133039777238, model is E156G.
Thanks in advance