₦airaland Forum

hopybarbar:
Good day Everyone
I am presently studying in Europe(last year of my masters programme) i wish to apply for a B1/B2 visa in lagos (appointment scheduled already), my cousin would send the invitation and he will also be sponsoring the trip.
my great concerns
1. Wont i be asked why didnt i apply from europe? Reason(short TRP validity), but i think its not advisable for me to say this, WHAT CAN I SAY?
2. What are the likely questions i would be asked?
3. What documents do i need to get from my cousin?
4. what documents do i need to prepare myself and take to the interview?

Please i need urgent and helpful responses
Thanks a bunch.

Applying from a non resident location is not always advisable. Yes you are a nigerian, but the fact is by the virtue of your student status in europe changes your situation. You are suppose to apply from their not here in Nigeria.

You should come up with an explanation because you can't misrepresent and no one in this forum will give you such advise.

2. The documents from your counsin does not really matter as a common letter of invitation depending on what he is inviting you for should clearly be stated.

3. The most important factor is you. You and you only has the burden to prove you are a genuine tourist and that you will go back and finish your studies. You have to prove that to the VO.

4. Your student documents such as student card, Work visa from your resident country if any and all that proves you are a genuine student in europe will do. Also you should have a bank account in that country and possibly a credit card. You need to present all those.

Good Luck

NanaF:
Changing the location makes no difference. You'll have to address the possible reasons for the first two denials. Did you use an agent? Perhaps you can share your transcript with us if you still remember the details.

What do you mean by 'migration form'? The lottery? If it's the lottery, they understand that a lot of people attempted and didn't win. It does not make you a potential immigrant.

Migration form is an emigrant petition from her sister. She didn't use the right terms anyways

Good Luck

dan147:
please i need your swift response...my hubby and i have been denied twice at lagos embassy. Now are about to try again for xmas holiday, should i change my venue to abuja or still use lagos. secondly, my elder sister who is a citizen filed migration form for me before i married. should i fill it ....

The migration petition is different from tourism visa. If you are asked, yes you will include the details. Since your situation has changed to married status, she your (your sister) has to update the change of status with USCIS if you want to get the emigrant visa together.

Having said that, do you know the type of petition she did? As sister or what? Very important to know because it gives you clearer view of the processing time for such petition.

As for you tourism visa, or as it is said b1/b2 visa, you have to check circumstances used to denial you. Has it changed, what other conditions do you have. Change of circumstance is very important because you will still face same results. Meaning you can't just apply without improving your formal status.

Good Luck

Armstrong68:
Please why is my question still not answer yet, I am Also new here. I apply for Ireland visa and they refuse me but they told me to appeal and after my appeal they requested my wedding picture, company pictures and many documents which I didn't add them for my previous application, but after I send the requested documents, they just wrote me that my appeal has been granted, what does than mean? Does that mean I will now be given the visa?

Your appeal is granted, which other language do you want them to use. You appealed on your case and is granted what other language do you want them to say. If you want to know if your visa is approve you call them up and find out your self

Good Luck

Cmeo:
No, it won't. Like me now, my final destination is Washington DC and later Texas but I booked Arik to New York and would take bus to DC and bus to Texas and other places I will later visit. You can entre through any POE so far you are holding a valid US Visa. Although it is 27 hours drive to Colorado but you can take a flight from NY to Colorado which is estimated between $190 - $521 according to farecompare.com or use cheapflights.com.

Yes you have the right to enter any point of entry in u.s however, the fact is you are a visitor and the cbp officer has every right to stop you and interrogate you unnecessary soly because of that. This may even lead to other questions concerning your journey and may lead to Secoundary inspection. My friend it is not friendly to go through that process.

I was interrogated on a secoundary inspection both in u.s and canada and they are both nightmare. Telling some with easy that there is no issues should be taught all over again

Good Luck

belloluddy:
Thanks for this info. Please I am travelling to Denver, Colorado, is it possible for me to fly airkair since it lands in NY, and besides, I told the VO I was going to Colorado. Will I not encounter issues at the POE if I end up in NY through Arik ?
Thanks

Please always guard your self for any eventuality. It depends on the cbp officer. He has the right to question your change of plan not that you are doing any thing illegal. It is an inviting open doors for more or unnecessary questions. Be guarded and have reasonable reasons for such changes.

Please read other treads concerning issues on point of entry. Remember I said it is not illegal but very inviting for more questions. You may still be luçky to meet some one that wouldn't mind

Good Luck

kpdasylva:
Hello guys, I'm new here so I'm sorry if had jumped any protocol. Myself and my wife are currently in Canada for our post graduate studies program. We came in shortly after we got married in Nigeria and so her passport and study permit still carries her name though her school enrolment letter was successfully changed to my name. Now my worries is how to go about her study permit and passport still carrying her name. However, her passport would be due for renewal in 2017 , same with her study permit because her LLM program is just one year even though she has the grace to extend he LLM to 2 years. May I ask if she should wait till close to a year when her study permit, passport and visa would be due for renewal before she starts the change of name processes or please guys, what do you suggest sirs.

Using her maiden name is not affecting anything hence you all have ur marriage certificate. If you should affect the changes them you have to wait for your renewal and affect the change of name. But she can graduate, renew her visa still with maiden name.

Good Luck

Omooloriredade:
You are too much. So on point. After the interview, I tried to review my transcript myself. I felt my answer to why NY was not convincing to the VO. In my application, I indicated I have a relative in Staten Island. But my reasons for picking NY was the reason I gave the VO though. It made more sense for me to visit NY because it had more attractions and direct flight there was cheaper. My other alternative was California (I also have someone there). It can't be compared to NY, right? Like a foreigner comparing Lagos and Kwara for vacation (so it seemed to me). I guess the VO wanted me to mention that I had a relative there.
Also, the VO mentioned that I didn't qualify for the "type of visa" I applied for. I can't remember if there is an option to pick just B2 only or B1/B2. I remember picking B1/B2 either on the appointment scheduling platform or DS 160. I know you are given B1/B2 if your application is successful but maybe I should have been more specific in my selection.

For the bolded, a month will require more money nah

Normally for tourism you are approved for b1/b2 visa, meaning business type visa and tourism type visa.

California is a great place to visit depends which part, north or southern part. Every one anyways wants to visit NY so you can't get it wrong in both.

Good Luck

Guys we make things complicated for our selves. State the way you are paid with back up documents to prove your earnings. If there is no room for you to state it in the form, you can always add your extra paper attached to the form for further explanation. You bring your back up documents to prove your statement during interview.

Remember investments can not be used such as profit sharing, fixed deposit or any thing that gives you interest bearing.

Your income may be right but not having clear knowledge of where you are going is not good either. If you have family, state it and adds on, if you don't, say it but you know what you intend seeing, what is interesting you to visit those and hotel accommodation.

No need calling names, we are here to educate our selves. I have over 20 years of travel experience but still learning. Rules change and situations are different. We just need to help each. I have made pass mistakes but am willing to help people not to make same mistakes.


Good Luck all

Omooloriredade:
Cozybunch, what do you think about the transcript below?

When you mentioned staten island, NY. It shows you have families/relatives/friends their. When asked why NY, I thought you should have concentrated on those loved ones before the side attractions.

Another mind bubbling thing is 2 weeks vacation to north american. A question will be asked he earns xyz say mid size income, is it worth 2 weeks vacation. I should think a month if you are entitled for it at your work place could havr being a good period to vacat.

Now know these mentioned above may not be the issue but remember they are psychologist and they ask them selves questions based on your response to there questions. I will advise to hold on a bit and reapply much later. A little in a rush is suicidal. Please hang on a little and a little reorganization on your own part will help alot.

Good Luck

jennytbell:
Thanks but there is no portion in the form where you can explain that you earn more than your monthly income. Also I have some fund as fund in fixed deposit investment that yield interest on a monthly basis

Jennytbell this is a straight thing to present. You must have a payslip that shows when you have those allowances. There is also bank statements to prove you earned that much. All you need to the state your income on the form, them state with extra paper you also earn xyz, them you highlight those extra income in your bank statement. So when added up will come with the figure you worth.

Your fixed deposit do not count because is a type of investment. You can't even withdraw on it roundly expect it matures. You should have bank statements that has what you have and available for you to use for your trip example 2 million in your checking account and 2 million in savings. Good figure, but how much of it are you willing to use for your trip. Of course you can't use 80% of it. You have to evaluate your trip know heads up and amount to use.

Good Luck

yetiebaby:
Had my interview today at the USA embassy in Lagos
Transcript;
VO: what's the purpose of your visit ?
Me: vacation as a tourist
V.O: what do you do
Me: I'm a customer care officer wit *** bank
VO:how much is your monthly take home ?
Me: 220,500k
VO: Are you married:yes
VO Will you be traveling alone
Me : yes
VO:Who will is sponsoring you?
Me : myself
VO: Where in USA are you going
Me: California
VO:Have you travelled before?
Me:yes ; I've been to uk and Dubai
VO: ok! Your visa has been approved, you can pick it up at the circulated Dhl branch By nextweek
Me : thank you
I'm not lucky I'm blessed. The interview was fast and specific , no document checked. Thanks to all the gurus in the house for all the tips on how to answer questions and all. I wish you all the best
Thanks to Nanaf, @ladyGuinivere and @cozybunch

Congrats

jennytbell:
DearCosybunch, please can I adjust my salary in my next application or I should just leave it at 129k even my leave allowance is higher than what I take home monthly? Thank you

@jennytbell, any type of alteration that is falsify is misrepresentation. You need to state clearly

1. Monthly salary
2. Allowance (quarterly, bimonthly or how you earn them)
3. Any other type of income you earn.
4. Show the total figure. It shows you are worth such figure annually.

Please note profit sharing is not considered as income, it is an investment. You don't need to include those.

If have any other meanfull information or document that can help prove you are a legitimate traveler, take it along.

The whole idea is for you to prove your legitimacy or your credibility. That burden is solely on you.

Good Luck.

[quote author=allen0000 post=38272842][/quote]Those are not the reasons. You can be single and still make a trip, no travel history etc and still have a visa. She should added all her income to make more sense.

Grace of God is always important when ever one is seeking for favor.

Good Luck

jennytbell:
Good day House,

Please I need an input from the house guru. These are my questions and situation.

I am a 27years single lady working with a bank. I applied for US visa in june this year and I was refused. I wanted to go for vacation and I have being working with my present employer for the past 4years and my annual take home pay is 2.5million. Though on my application form I filled 129000 which is what is paid to me on a monthly basis while I received the balance on yearly and quarterly basis.
At my interview the Vo asked me the following question

Vo: what do you do
Me. I work with bank xyz
Vo: what is your job about
Me: I do..........
Vo: how much is your monthly income
Me: 129000 but I received.......on a quarterly basis.(i didn't mention that I receive yearly allowance)
Vo: Are you married
Me: No
Vo: Where are you going in US
Me: To New York
Vo: Do you know anyone dear
Me: I said No
Vo: Have you travel out of Nigeria before
Me: No, Never had the opportunity.
Vo: where do you live
Me: surulere, Lagos
Vo: with who
Me: my brother

Then he next thing he said sorry I can not issue you the Visa.

Please I want to know where I have not responded well and also if there is anything I could have said because I wish to reply later in December as I want to travel with my colleagues in the office as they are planning group tour for next year February and also I just came back from UK this month.

I will appreciate your kind response.

You did not go wrong in any way from your answers. I think you should have included all of your allowances to ensure what you make yearly. It is always helpful.

Your U.K trip is a plus for you now even though it is not a ganrantee. Your group trip will not be a bad idea, even though your all trip period is considered bad timing. Febuary is towards the end of winter and the beginning of spring. I don't know if it is a good time for holidaying.

Good Luck.

Dyke004:
Cozybunch[b][/b] Pls i sent you a mail, Kindly check it. Its important.

Did not see the mail, I think we are not connected, that was what I saw but I replied asked you to send the mail.

Don't know what to do at my end to connect or see what you sent

Good Luck

Good Luck

LadyGuinivere:
Neither hotel nor iv has any edge over the other the issue is proving ties to home.
The only other thong is to know the status of your inviter and how she acquired it (whether thru visit then she stayed back)
Sorry eh! I don't like the phrase ' I am confused'. The key to success is making up ur mind and being confident

The status of the inviter may be checked, but in reality it does not matter. Hence the inviter is finally legal and has income to accommodate him. Yes they do check, but will not use her method of getting her legal status in making decision. It may be psychological but technically not what the officer is suppose to use in his or her decision making.

The burden rest on the applicant. Hence he can prove to be a genuine tourist, and able to convince the vo, he will be given visa.

Good Luck

janykute:
Please can someone share his or her experience with Iberia airline.my travel agent suggested that I use it for my trip to naija as the ticket price is relatively cheap compared with others.If you've flown it before kindly share your experince.

Has its good and bad.

Good: Is usually a small plan they use coming to nigeria and chances are you still have empty sits. Meaning you can stretch you legs and sleep good for the 5 hrs ride.

Bad: They do not have a lost and found office that you go to or even phone number to call should you miss any of your suitcases. I had that problem with them, was frustrating. The NACO staff will only forward you information to their office in madrid. Most transaction comes from there. I got a text both in English and Spanish telling me to come to airport for pickup when they found it. For change in schedule you go to BA office in the airport to do that.

Good Luck

omotolani22:
Hello gurus in the house,good morning.I have been a silent reader for long,now I need your help please.I am applying for a b1/b2 visa very soon for an uncles birthday who is sending the invitation this week.I am married with 2 cute boys,a business woman and I have been to dubai and south africa respectively.my question here is that I just came from south africa on sept 6,and as it is now I'll be going in for interview anytime in november,hope the time frame from my arrival from one trip to application to another isn't too short?I don't want it to look as bin desperate as I have not appeared before the US consulate before and I don't want to ruin my chance(s).also,I had a scheduled stayover at adisababa on my way to n fro south africa where my passport was stamped,does that count as one of the countries I have visited?thanks so much at your continous help on this platform.I am grateful.

You have no problem with the short range between your trips hence your job or business allows or give you such freedom.

On the Ethiopian stamp, only shows you are on transit for few hours, unless you spent some days there. I have seen 24 hours layover and a paid hotel accommodation, is still technically still considered a transit but always feels good to have such stamps in our passports.

Good Luck

yetiebaby:
Hello house. Pls I need a quick advice on this
I'll be going to the embassy next week applying as a tourist and il be getting an invitation letter from my aunt stay for just 10days.I'm a banker , married but not child yet
Ive been to Dubai and still visited UK in March. Do you think il stand a chance in getting the visa or il just make an hotel reservation without an invitation letter. Thanks

I see other people's comments on your writing but still not clear. I do not see what hotel reservation and aunt's invitation got to do with each other.

If you are been invited by her and will be staying in her house why think of hotel. You can still be invited by her but you want to have your own accommodation by getting your own hotel reservation, I don't see anything wrong with that.

The burden rest on you to prove you are a true tourist. You have to be clear what you want to do and explain in detail when asked.

Good Luck

belloluddy:
Good day great people
I have just secured visas for my 2 kids, on the fact that I told the vo when I went to apply for visas for my kids 2 weeks ago that we are planning to visit the US form the Xmas and new year, and in fact, the vo specifically asked me if we are planning to travel as a family for Xmas and I answered yes
But from the look of things , we are not going to be able to go again is December, as we have decided to make it February next year. Considering the fact that I told the vo during my kids interview that we are tralleing in December for Xmas and we won't go again, will it not count against us ? Myself and my husband already have visas long ago and just my kids got theirs 2 weeks ago
Thanks

I see no issues with change of plan due to circumstances. It may not even come up on point of entry, but if it comes up you simply tell them the reasons why you changed your mind

Good Luck

Great Job you're all doing.

I'm legally married with a kids.

I have a refusal record with the US consulate.

A have another woman, though not legally married to her, she's pregnant and wants to give birth in the US. We have already made a budget of $30k for this.

She doesn't bear my surname, but I'm the sponsor and will definitely be included in her application.

Bearing in mind that I have a record with the consulate and my name will pop up on the system, hope this will not pose a problem if they find out her name is different from that of my legal wife, though she'll inform the VO we are not legally married but engaged.

Do you have any advice for us as we do not intend to lie to the VO?

And hope we won't look silly knowing fully well polygamous is not practised in the US.

I wonder what type of question and answer you expect

Good Luck

lovettett:
Pls my gurus advice me.
We stated new york in our visa application. Now my daughters are suddenly loving California. Can we enter America tru California n not encounter problems at poe?

You have to have a strong reasons for a change of plan. My advise is to keep to schedule and take a local flight to California

Good Luck

uniqyemi:
Ok @cozybunch u have been so helpful.please with all i have written would like to mention few of the document we intend to include .
-proof of treatment in india - treatment protocol , result and receipts
-letter of resignation and letter from work accepting it
-spouse peraonal bank statement showing profit from company transactions.(this funds will be used for the trip)
-company's account
-letter of introduction of spouse by his company (own company )
-CAC document of his company
-Tax certificate on both company n personal accounts
-marriage certificate
-letter of introduction of spouse from the bank

Please tell me what else we could include and what we can take out from this list above.As per the reason we were refused the last time are we to address that.will be waiting for your advise.thanks for your prompt response

Remember, your circumstance changed, your are applying for a holiday visa or so to say vacation to reduce stress. Stay focus and get all necessary documents for your trip. Now if your previous application comes up, now follow below statements.

The documents you mentioned above seems ok, but remember the main reason they denied you with; how much from the company account, your husband willing to pull out for the total treatment.

Now they want to know if he will use almost the company fund to support you which seems tricky. He has to state how much he is willing to pull from the company funds to support your trip plus personal account. Depends on the worth of his business, if pulling some amount may be 20% of his total networth wouldn't shake his business and 40% of personal account wouldn't mess his financial stakes in personal and family operation and finally if the amount willing to be pulled out will cover all of your expenses in this trip, them you guys are good on this aspect.

Meaning, you have to check the total cost of your trip and marry it with the above statistics or percentage figure mentioned above to check if you guys are within guild lines. Remember; to include hotel booking, transportation, feeding, places intended to visit on your trip and so on. You have to be fully prepared because questions will come from areas list expected example

1. Where do you intend to visit, they expect you to know places you want to visit and how you plan to visit those places.
2. If emergency occurs, how do you intend to handle it. Meaning, do you have enough funds to cover such expenses and so on.

Now they will want to know if you intend to visit a fertility doctor in your trip. Very tricky. Stay focus, stay on focus of your intended trip. When you are ready again for your treatment, you will reaply based on that. Remember, you cannot mislead or misrepresent.

Get all documents ready, hotel accommodation fully booked and other things needed for tourism or holidaying.

Good Luck

uniqyemi:
Thanks @cozybunch, grateful.what would you advice we do.we intend to include the reciept and all protocol detail on the treatment we underwent in india , it's the same as what we intended to do in uk .The treatment didn't work in india though and it's not cheap so we don't intend to repeat this treatment anytime soon.we only want to go to uk for visit now .We did administrative review immediately after the visa refusal but we were told to still reapply.at this time we had no time to reapply immediately cos my work leave was close and I had to make use of it and was meant to visit india for check up cos of the surgery I did earlier .It was only when we got to india we decided to stay and do the treatment we were meant to do in uk.

The initial plan was to go for the initial consultation and test in uk(to return 3 months after for the treatment proper) and then proceed to india for the check up but when the visa was refused and administrative review also fell thru we proceeded to india and we realised this same treatment is offered in the clinic in india .I hope u understand me.

Yes, I do understand. Going with the documents supporting the reason why you could not reaply is very important if brought up.

Also, your situation of non working to underscore the stress factor is also a good point to give as part of your reason to go on for a vacation. Please get all your documents ready and study both present and passed circumstance very, them marry both to make sence. The whole idea is for your interviewer to understand your situation and they will make their decisions based on your material facts and their methodology of judging cases.

Good Luck.

uniqyemi:
Hello, I am new here and I need your advice on my case.i went to india last June for an operation and afterwards decided to apply for medical visa to uk to try out treatment.we had 2.5million in my spouse company account and 1million naira in his personal account .In my salary account there was 200,000 naira.The initial visit to the fertility was meant for consultation and few test which would cost abt 1200 pounds which was stated in the letter we got from the clinic.We applied for 2weeks to visit the clinic in uk,money we intend to spend; we stated another 1000 pounds .We were refused, the Eco calculated the total money required for the whole treatment as 10,000 pounds which was also stated in the letter from the clinic ignoring the part stating our first visit will only cost 1200 pounds.in the refusal notice, he wrote that he can see we have enough money for the treatment but since my spouse is the one sponsoring the trip and treatment he doesn't have enough evidence showing he can spend the money in his company account and if he can, how much of it can he spend.we were asked to reapply but cos of time constraint we did administrative review which yielded same result.
We couldn't reapply immediately because I had to go back to india for check up on the surgery I did earlier on getting there we decide to do the treatment in india.
The issue now is we want to apply for uk visit visa .and my circumstances has since changed .though am still not pregnant yet but I resigned from my work to help with stress management .will this be possible I mean applying for visit visa with my spouse and him being the sponsor rather than the medical visa we did b4.its been a year since the refusal.please any advise you can give will be highly appreciated.can we apply for visit visa now since we don't need the medical visa anymore .Thanks

I responded on your other post, main reasons people are refused visa. Check my response their.

@Lexusgs430, circumstances can always change even though I understand where you are coming from. All she needs to do is to prove she is a genuine tourist and answer questions on her previous application if brought up.

Good Luck

uniqyemi:
Hello,am new here. I need an urgent reply on my last post.i just really want to know if after one year since the refusal and all that I have I explained in my last post,can I change to applying for a visit visa rather than the medical I applied for earlier

There is nothing wrong in your change of plan hence you have all the necessary supporting documents to prove your application.

Now remember, the issue of your first application may or may not resurface example, reasons why you did not reply them, what are the changing circumstance and so on. You and your spouse need to have all those possible Q&A on your finger tip.

Good Luck

@Jamalsky, the 10 yrs ban started somewhere April of 2008 if I stand correct. Technically, you are not affected based on the statue. However, there is a fine line. The fact you misrepresented the first time, will alway hurt you, to them you are not credible.

Now your secound situation even shows more your lack of credibility. Your secound situation will definitely get the 10 years deal.

Now does it affect your chance of getting other visa such as u.s, eu, canada, Australia or even New Zealand is Yes and No. What do I mean, your visa refusal will always come up and your honesty is now on the line. You say yes, you have to explain why and if you say no, they may find out and denial you visa.

Now it all comes down to material facts. What do I mean by that, since your situation has changed and there may be need for you to travel based on official or even personal, you will have the burden to prove you are a legitimate traveler. Grace of God and your material facts can always utter your situation.

Things has happened, miracle still exits and will continue to happen. You need prayers and getting all your necessary paperwork right this time around.

Good Luck

edwina621:
Hello everyone, I currently live in the Nashville area. I am considering moving to Houston. I want to live in a bigger city with other Nigerians. I hear there is a lot of career opportunities in Houston. I work for the State of TN as a social worker for the Medicaid/Medicare program. Please can anyone living in the Houston area give me the pros and cons of residing in Houston? I would greatly appreciate it !

Houston is good, but have you thought of Dallas, Austin and other big cities in Texas where you equally see lots of Nigerians. You can check opportunities in all the big fours (cities) in Texas

tpiander:
it can be backdated to say 1900.

meaning anyone born after that year, will not be considered a citizen unless he or she has at least one American parent.

You are very very funny

@Phema, you are on fire. Wow, you are very much right there. Naturalized citizens can be stripped of you citizenship. Wow