₦airaland Forum

Efetobore1980:
■

YOU
Good afternoon nairalanders,

So I have one my sister who wants to go see her son for the Christmas holiday.
She's in her late 50s
A business owner, she has hair salons across lekki and ajah Lagos
She went for her first interview June and was refused

Your sister is still in her active adulthood years, therefore, she did not proof enough ties (let's assume she passed financial capability) to the consular. Her hair saloon businesses across Lekki and Ajah is not a good tie. She can be living in America and be controlling the businesses in Nigeria or abandon the businesses for family and establish newly in the United States. Ipso facto, she needs to proof enough ties and genuine intention in her 2nd attempt.


YOU
So now they're preparing for her next interview on Monday
Then proceeds to saying how she misses her son and would love to see him
Then when she'll becoming back because of her customers

How she misses her son is not a genuine excuse. Her son can visit home during holidays (normal expectation from all U.S residents who have families outside america) or they can always video-chat and communicate as often as they want. Also coming back because of her customers is a feeble excuse because she is not the sole person attending to lets say 70 customers at a go. She definitely has many apprentices or staffs working under her, so she is just like a CEO, or can she prove to the consular that all of her saloon centeres in Nigeria will be closed while she is away visiting her son in the USA ?


YOU
Then her son said she should not stop talking except she's interrupted by the vo , as it might show a sign that's the vo is interested in what she's saying so if she vo doesn't stop her
She should introduce what she does over here to prove her ties and other relevant stuffs that could help the go understand her case and approve her application
So what do y'all think

Dont follow your nephew's idea. He is saying if they ask your sister " What is the Capital of Lagos ? His mother should answer = Ikeja, and after that, your sister should start telling the VO the Pre-colonial Era History in Lagos State ?
●The normal rule is to go straight to the answer. When you are talking out of the answer then, you are trying to force or trick the consular into your belief.

■ You and your nephew should arrange a good VO Questions and How to Answer format for your sister in order for her to assimilate upon. You should also fill her new DS-160 in a different way from the previous one, otherwise, she will experience another visa denial. You can get whatever info on the aforementioned by studying this thread from the earlier pages.

Thank you so much
I'll work on it now

Good afternoon nairalanders,



I have have a question and I'd love y'all's honest opinion or answer.


So I have one my sister who wants to go see her son for the Christmas holiday.
She's in her late 50s
A business owner, she has hair salons across lekki and ajah Lagos
She went for her first interview June and was refused


So now they're preparing for her next interview on Monday

So the problem is when I was asking her some prep questions
When I ask her a question like where are you going
She says where she going
Then proceeds to saying how she misses her son and would love to see him
Then when she'll becoming back because of her customers
Then her son said she should not stop talking except she's interrupted by the vo , as it might show a sign that's the vo is interested in what she's saying so if she vo doesn't stop her
She should introduce what she does over here to prove her ties and other relevant stuffs that could help the go understand her case and approve her application


So what do y'all think

Silkrose:
Lol, how is inviting four people considered “abusing the system”? In my 20+ years living in the United States, I’ve never seen or heard anything to support that nor has it been the experience of family members who came through various channels, including student visas. That’s why I mentioned that I wasn’t asking for feedback.

I’ve noticed that you [no hard feelings] tend to overanalyze and critique every post. I appreciate that you’re passionate about helping others here, but I will call it out when statements are presented as fact but are really just assumptions. Could it have been for an invite - their child’s funeral, wedding, graduation, etc.? Please ask clarifying questions before jumping into conclusions.

I never said Trump himself is targeting anyone; I mentioned the Trump administration possibly having reduced visa quotas.

And just to reiterate, I didn’t ask for feedback.

Have a good day!!

That's true
Can you pls clarify the purpose of travel and your relationship to them.

Thanks

dsureguy:
Happy my mum got hers recently...

Congratulations


Can you pls share her transcript
Thank you

Machini:
Thanks so much for your input. I appreciate.

Well, to address some of the things you raised:

It was never my intention to travel again this year. In my application, I stated I would be travelling in June 2026. Also, my trip this year to Barbados was with my wife, before she gave birth of course.

I appreciate the corrections and all, but there's no denying the fact that the system is prejudiced!

Once again, thanks.

I'll also like to know what was said in the previous threads about bankers.. we dey carry customers money run?? 🤣

Ohhh you should have rescheduled if that was the case
They only issue 3 months single entry visas for non immigrants
And I don't think there's anything the consular could have done .

THUNDER4real:
Don’t mind all these analysts, the only problem you had was being a Nigerian. You would have gotten the visa if you were from another country even Benin or Ghana.

Well you're very right
But you need to understand that it's not always the VOs fault but the situation and economy of our country

If we have a better economy
They won't receive as much applications they receive daily


But all the best to those who have their interviews coming up
Good luck and congratulations in advance 🦅

Machini:
Sorry, I haven't had time to come on here.

V.O: Hi, so what's your purpose for wanting to travel to the United States?
Me: For my annual vacation
V.O: Where in the United States would you be travelling to?
Me: New York
V.O: Why New York?
Me: Oh because New York has some good tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square...
V.O.: Have you travelled before?
Me: Yes I have, I've been to the UK twice, 2023 and 2024.. and then this year to Barbados.
V.O: Do you have friends in the UK?
Me: Yes I do
V.O: What do you do for work?
Me: I'm a banker, I work with Guaranty Trust Bank as a Relationship Manager.
V.O: Would you be travelling alone?
Me: Yes.
V.O: why?
Me: Oh I'll be travelling alone because my wife would be busy with work and our new born.
V.O: Oh You have kids?
Me: Yes
V.O: How many?
Me: Just one, our daughter.
V.O: Are you looking at having more?
Me: Oh yes we do.

He then went on to type for like 30secs and then goes: "I'm sorry you do not qualify for a visa at this blah blah blah"

Inside my mind I was like Oga give me my passport make I dey go house abeg

Sorry to hear about your refusal


But to me the only reasons why I felt it might have been refused was because

You said annual vacation and you already traveled to Barbados this year
And you're planning on traveling again let's say December. ..


And you just had a new born (let's say few months old )and you're planning on traveling again

Machini:
Hi everyone.

Please I need clarification on the photo/passport to be taken to the interview. My interview (B1/B2) is next week Monday, on the appointment letter it is stated to bring along a passport photo, whereas on the reminder email I got a couple of days ago it is stated to bring along "a 5cm x 5cm photo".

My question: is the 5cm x 5cm photo still going to be a passport photo? or a full photograph?

Thanks in anticipation.

We're still waiting for your transcript pls
Thank you

Shofat4real:
Good evening friend.
As per someone that posted that no visa approval in September. He may be right or otherwise. I got a denial on a day to my birthday in recently in Lagos US embassy
Here is my transcript.

V.O: Good morning.
Me: Good morning officer
V.O: your passport
Me: here's my passport with a smile
V.o: Where are you going in the US?
Me: Indianapolis
V.o: What's the purpose of your traveling?
Me: I'm going for my annual leave vacation and tourism
V.o: how long do you plan to stay?
Me: I intend to stay for 2 weeks and return back home to resume my job.
V.o: what do you do?
Me: I work as head of Bleep at xyz where I have been working for 8 years now
V.o: have you traveled outside the country before?
Me: yes officer. I've traveled to Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic
V.o: Are you married?
Me: yes, I'm happily married
V.o: how many kids?
Me: a beautiful daughter
V.o: what's your monthly income?
Me: I earn 300k monthly
V.o: where would you visit during your stay?
Me: Indianapolis motor Speedway, Indianapolis museum of art
V.o: sorry you're not qualified for this visa.

I got to the hotel and I just laid down flat on the bed. I was static for some minutes. I couldn't do anything after months of rehearsals with my wife and kid.

Please my senior, where did I get it all wrong?
I'm still disappointed at the whole thing. It was only one guy that was given visa out of about 12 people who were on the queue with me. An elderly woman was denied because she overstayed in the US. The US embassy is like a world on its own.

You have good ties
But the only this i see is that u didn't give the vo enough information about your trip

Your salary is too low (you have a wife and kids)
Your travel history is weak for someone who goes for vacation annually
You can't win level 2 and wanna jump to 10
Maybe try other countries in Europe or southern Africa.
Idk but your travel history is too weak for someone who goes for a yearly vacation

You can try reapplying your profile is good if you work on your loopholes

Layeeee:
The wedding was postponed when she couldn’t get it. 3 denials was over 3 years, not 10 months. The first two times, she was trying to come for graduation. Her children, one is a permanent resident and two are students. All legal, no issue with status. Questions were is she traveling with anyone? Why is she traveling? Where is she going? If she has travelled anywhere else before. She answered all truthfully. She has only been to Tanzania and Morocco

Well the only thing I see could be wrong is what they're seeing on their system about her(DS-160 or previous records of her) because no one actually knows what they're seeing on their system, and they asked who is she going with which is not so common and since she didn't add that anyone would be going with her on her DS-160. Cos she has every right to go to her child's graduation or wedding (most importantly)


Or maybe they fear she might not return because all her kids or family are in the US and she has nothing to return to over here.

Layeeee:
Hello all,

Thank you in advance for your responses.

I have my wedding coming up in the US in April and I really want my mom to attend. She has been denied 3 times already. The third time she mentioned she was going for my wedding and tourism. The problem is she has 3 children here and we believe it’s one of the reasons they’ve denied her. She still works as a teacher in Nigeria and she has a business too. Please any advise on what we can do differently? I plan on adding wedding invitation card and a letter of invitation as part of the documents for her to take there.


2. If I start the DS160 now, can I choose a date in maybe Feb or March next year, so that the 3 months start on time for the wedding? Or should I wait until closer to that date to start DS160? I’ve seen people saying they got October dates. Or should I try to get an early date now and if she gets it, just do a renewal later on?

Please help. Thank you.

I just checked ur profile and saw u started the processing for mama Dec last yr
And she was denied 3 times in less than 10 months

Can you provide a summary of how the interview went
Or a question they asked her that might have looked like the reason for the denial

And does it mean all her children aren't in Nigeria

And what efe said about how you guys immigrated



One more thing if the wedding is next yr April as you said and her purpose of going to the US was for your wedding (her third interview). Isn't that too far. Cos the consular might think if you have a 3 months visa and the occasion isn't till next yr why are you going now.



Or maybe the wedding was postponed

IjeObi:
It's for a wedding, actually, and I'm going with my mum, but she already has her visa. I don't have the funds in my account. Apart from the bank statement, is there any other thing I need?

For documents you should go with the same documents your mom went with and with your sponsor's bank statement

I also someone with a similar Case
He's going for his sister's wedding
He's self sponsored.
He's in his late 20s and single

He has been denied F1 4 times
The last one he went for was over a year ago

I don't know when you're going but if it's before late November. I'd appreciate if u can you share your transcript. Good luck bro . Congratulations in advance

onile1975:
@ Cash madam God we bless you for your response


The conference organizer were from India and they claim they are coming to New York City in America to organize conference,they ask me to pay $200 for registration. How do I use there contact as point of contact in Ds 160 since they did not reside in U.S?

I hope this conference is not a scam?



Another question, if am to go for tourism can I use hotel as point of contact?

because if I did not get conference I will go for tourism

You're definitely getting scammed 😂.

You're Nigerian, why would you wanna fall for this scam 🥲

alphafemale123:
I was at the US emabssy today for my B1/B2 application for tourist purpose. I got the visa!!!!!!!!!! I do not know the validity yet untill i get my apssport back.
My tips, be confident, pray and do not speak too much when not asked it will look rehearsed. Please, dress properly, it matters a lot. dress how you want to be addressed.

Arrive early and be done with everything on time. ALL THE BEST!!!!!

Congratulations 🎉..
Do you mind sharing your transcript just to see what's it was like.
Thanks

it 's done on the day of the interview when you get to the embassy.

Good day everyone
Im planning on going to the US for my son's wedding this october and i would need you guys advice or tips on things i or my children can say to improve our chance of being approved.
im going with my 2 daughters (1 is 17 and one 20) and im the one sponsoring the trip(im an entrepreneur)
we were previously denied last yr dec when we wanted to go meet my son for the Christmas holiday (the V.O said we were not didnt meet up to the requirements).
the last time we went he was a PR but may this yr he became a citizen. i dont know if that would help.
and i dont have any travel history

i would appreciate y'all advice and contribution . Thanks