₦airaland Forum

Rolake1:
Please I really don't mind if I can have your number sent to my mail so that we can have easy conversation. Thank you
Adebambo.morolake15@gmail.com

I understand not everyone is tech savvy but since you can use nairaland, you can do the booking yourself. Simply go to www.booking.com OR www.hotels.com, input your destination 'Anaheim california' in the space provided for it, then check in date, check out date, number of adults, no of children, no of rooms...thrn click on 'search'. It will bring out lots of hotels, you can scroll to the end of the page and click next for more options. Ensure you choose a hotel that says 'FREE CANCELLATION, NO PREPAYMENT'. put your details name, email and card details. Use your debit card pls not credit card. As an added security I always use a debit card without funds in it. This is because there are some 'hungry' hotels that will still go ahead and charge the card despite saying no PREPAYMENT. That way, since its a debit card and not credit and insufficient fund in it, it will decline. You would be informed by mail. The majority of hotels do not have this issue. After booking the details of your bookingbwill be sent to ur mail...so you can get the address of the hotel and anything else you need. After you get the visa you can cancel

kagari:
i couldnt really get abuja to orlando for below 600,000

lagos - orlando

houston - lagos

23rd jan - 6 feb

one adult: 430,500

two adults: 861,000

one child: 382,500

one infant: 59,500

total: 1,303,000

hope this helps, i advice you buy now if you

Thank you. Is his Emirates?

kagari:
more tips coming

Pls can I get an estimate for Emirates (multicity)

Dep: Abuja to Orlando
Return: Houston to Abuja (or Lagos)

2 adults, 1 child, 1 lap infant

My dates are very flexible...any date as from middle of January to middle of February

Total trip from 9/10 days...max 2 weeks. Thank you

Fyorgyn:
Hehehe...

I'm really not panicking... I was actually responding to a picture someone posted earlier.

How are you? And how is Baby?

We are fine dear. Trust u are doing great

Fyorgyn:
Is he stripping citizenship from those who have it? Or is he stopping "jus soli" going forward?

You people can panic shaa. Nobody is stripping anybody of anything. It's not done anywhere, Britain didnt do it, nor Ireland. Whatever decision they finally take, is 'going forward' in fact, Britain had an interval of 14 months between passing the law and enforcing it.

However, one thing is sure...it's gonna get to their supreme court this time around and having looked at that law (the 14th ammendment), one phrase stands out..'subject to the jurisdiction thereof'. Seems to me like something that can be interpreted to favour any side.

Viola2017:
Hello gurus in the house,

I need your candid advice so as not to proceed in error, I had my baby late last month in California.
Hospital bill which is on the paper I signed the first day I went there is $3000 for days VD.
Doctors fee for VD/CS is $2000
I paid in full and got receipts from doctor and hospital same day.
Of the day I delivered, I took epidural ($500) which I paid for there and then and got my receipt.
I was discharged the following day after my VD, I got bills at home for radiography, pathology etc for less than $1000 collectively and I have paid via phone.
My issue now is that I met another lady that went through same hospital that got itemised bill for about $20000 but below the $20000, balance to pay is zero. they did not issue a zero balance cert. but insisted that she is not owing them a dime.
I am afraid as this may portend a problem during visa renewal. I plan to visit the hospitals' billing section on Monday to know if my bill is ready and if it appears like that of the lady, I will insisting on getting another bill of exactly what the contract paper states and not otherwise.
Please I write to seek advice from people that went through this lane in the past and also to gather enough ideas/advice before going there.

Thanks all for your time, I'll await your response(s) here

Specifically request for 'Letter of non-indebtedness'

To whom it may concern

LA Passport Agency no longer accepts ds3053 not notarized in the embassy. This is causing a major shake-up to my travel plans.

Pls who has used visa on arrival recently? How long did it take to get approval letter? Cos I've read some posts here recently of people who were complaining that they haven't received any response and their travel dates were close.

who can help me fast track the voa? pls pls...with all the public holidays packed around Christmas, I don't even know how many days we'd be left with after getting the pasport

fasttrack:
Call the airline directly to add infants ticket

Alright, thanks.

Please has anyone booked their ticket through wakanow.com? Did you encounter difficulty adding infant ticket on return?

Buku:
Please to all that can advise,

Kindly tell me if this budget is okay. I included extra fee should in case I deliver by c section as this is my first baby. I intend using hnwmc and I have gotten correspondence already ,that's what I used in preparing that.
Thanks

Go to thread 1, page 105 for a sample budget sheet. Twerk it to your taste. Information is easily assimilated at a glance when presented in tabular form. use tables (word or excel etc).

Nwebele:
Shrek and fiona,

aabeg na you dey been answer me.
please I have done all my research and I chose Dr M at california. I spoke to someone at his office and she sent me a mail with the breakdown of Dr's fees and all the test I need to do before delivery. She also sent me a copy of fees for st Francis hospital.

I have made several calls to st Francis hospital, Centinela and Good Samaritan hospital in a bid to get a correspondence from them, all to no avail.

My question is, that breakdown which I received from a lady from Dr M's office, should I go ahead and present it at the embassy as the doctor' correspondence? And can I use the quote she sent me about st Francis fees which includea paeditrician and epidural charges as my burden of proof while going for interview or is there a special letter the doctor's supposed to write. Please help me before I make mistake at the embassy

Hi Nwebele,

the documents sent by the dr office is all you need. After printing the hospital and dr.s fees, also print the email trail between you and the dr's office (hoping it is a bit elaborate). during my time, I was conscious of the fact I will later print the trail for visa interview so I kept it as professional as possible. I used subject 'self-pay international patient' proceeded to write: ' I am Dr. Mb----'s prospective patient, the lady you just spoke to...please forward...blah blah blah.
After she sent it, I also replied 'Thank you. Information for Centinela is not attached, please.... (aside wanting the info, I also needed the communication to elongate the trail. Always use the reply button so that you can print the email correspondence together.

In ur budget sheet, use the upper limits (prices for cs) as the bill (aside being the reasonable thing to do when drawing up a budget, it also gives you a higher figure for the medical bill and helps your planning in case you end up having a c-section). Draw up a budget sheet that is eye catchy and well arranged...do it in 2 segments (medical bills (dr, hosp, tests, pediatrican, etc) others (accomodation, flight, living expenses, baby documentation, miscellaneous etc) all should be on the same page. have a total for each of the segments and a grand total with the naira equivalent besides it. state your exchange rate. (banks are doing 360 to 1 dollar now). keep all the documents till you are asked for it (if you are even asked)

Finally pray...pray...pray ('they' will come for my head now and say you don't need prayer to get visa because they want to be perceived as 'westernized' and 'enlightened'). But what happens when you have crossed your t's and dotted your I's, and you appear b4 a VO who personally does not like this whole idea of birth tourism. (Of course there are people who dislike this whole idea, especially Nigerians in the US. Last yr when the Nigerian embassy in Washington came to LA to issue visas and take biometrics for those who want passports, i went to get my baby's visa. The man who sat besides me, could not understand why they are letting us do his. He said we are having the best of both worlds: raise the kids in Nigeria and they are grounded culturally and still have the choice of living in the US as citizens. Then another man who sat besides him told him that he had been informed by someone in Washington that it will be ended next yr (conversation took place last yr) whether Hillary or Trump wins. That piece of information seemed to give him some respite.

Wish you luck in your upcoming interview, keep the house posted.

doreese:
Hello @Cutelass and Forgyn.

Please I sent you pms for more details.

@cutelass yes I was Elpaso bound initially as that seemed the easiest and less stressful option. In fact I have even booked my flight. However my mom won't be coming with me as planned. She was unable to get more than 2 weeks leave so am thinking of changing location to where I have friends that can take care of me and assist when I need help so my mom can come when i put to bed.This is because recent development with my pregnancy warrants me to have people around.

So am thinking of la but I need docs correspondence and all for my poe.

Hoping the change of location won't be an issue at poe.

Shouldn't be an issue as long as you can convince cbp officer (if asked) that there was no prior intent to withhold info.

Fyorgyn:
Nah... it wasn't that cold. Some days were cold (not "winter" cold- a warm sweater should suffice), and some days were quite sunny.





Yes! It's now one day for VD. I did give birth 17hours later... however, it was still within the same day. In addition, the baby is usually "monitored" for 24hours... so I did not need to pay extra. I gave birth at about 6pm and was discharged the next day.



Yes, I got a free stroller.

Thanks a lot Fyorgyn, this is very helpful.

Fyorgyn:
Hello cutelass... how's our miracle baby?

You know, last year, when I was planning my missionary journey, I was leaning towards going to Texas until I read your post.

It was your story that drew my attention to Dr M and LA.

Thank you for sharing your miracle story.

Hi Fyorgyn, baby is doing great. Turning the whole house upside down...phewww...

Second missionary journey loading...will be in LA towards d end of the year. Saw you were in LA nov- jan (how is the weather)? extremely cold?

Also saw from your post, you got to hospital at about 1am and gave birth 17 hrs later...how long after delivery were you discharged and did you pay any extra? My reason for asking being that the bill sent by Dr M's assistant to me few days ago indicated 1 day for VD...don't know how that is calculated.

Finally with the change in hospital management, are they still giving free umbrella stroller?

doreese:
Hello @Bisoye82 please I PMed you. I need some info on At Francis medical centerLynwood CA.

Dear house

Please has anyone used the above hospital lately? What was the bill like and how did you contact them?

Thanks in advance.

used them last yr and will be using them again soonest. you don't contact the hospital, till you are on ground to sign the self pay contract. You rather contact the dr, he gives you all info you need before you actually visit the hospital.

scroll up on this page, you'll see 'fyorgyn'...click on her posts...you'll see detailed info of present cost both for dr and hospital. just Google that dr's name, call the phone number during work hrs (bear in mind California is 8 hrs behind us) and his asst will send you all info you need by mail.

finally, looking through your posts, saw you got ur visa less than 2 months ago for elpaso...I'm just concerned for you so that someone doesn't give you stress at POE. Aldou LA is usually a breeze but I've read one story of secondary inspection on this thread. Wld have been a lot better if all you said at the embassy tallies with POE...it may not be an issue dou

freshdad:
They would reply you with a second mail with what you require at MMIA or ABV when you touch down

pls is this visa on arrival restricted to MMIA and ABV? what of phc, enugu and kano int'l airports?

cerezo:
Hmm..I hope thats not the case. Perhaps I need to shed more light. I got the visa since last year and I mentioned I was going to Orlando for 2 weeks. I couldn't go last year as planned because of projects I was involved in. This year I decided to review the planned holiday and felt going to a friend's place in Boston might just be cheaper due to prevailing economic condition. And thats what I did, though I am convinced that the friend is a citizen. I was skeptical about this change initially but my friend kept reassuring me it's not an issue. To my utmost surprise, I was not asked anything wrt this at the POE. Knowing and being convinced of your host's circumstances in the US is very key.

some cbp officers write the date, some dont. Go to this website (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home) click on 'get most recent I-94', then click on 'consent and continue'. input the required data correctly...it will show you your validity date.

PrinceAdeAde:
Hello All,

Thanks for the information and support. My journey ends here. Just some tips based on my wife second US birthing experience
1. You need two valid means of identifications(preferably driver's licence & international passport) to process and collect US docs(Birth certificate,US Passport). My wife licence expired before she traveled and she forgot this requirement so it was not as straightforward as her first experience. Alternatively, you can use work ID or any US resident to identify you.

2. Visa on Arrival is way cheaper and hassle free than it is made to look[i](the only cheaper option on the long run is if you are in atlanta and go for the baby nigerian passport)[/i]. Just send a mail to oa@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng requesting for one using the format shared previously on the forum and you would be responded to early enough. in my case,I got a response the same day and please do it yourself and dont pay any processing money. You only need to pay the actual application fee to immigration which can be made on arrival($180 using card and $190 using cash though. Surprisingly,my wife mentioned they did not even look at any letter at Lagos Airport to give our baby the visa. Note that houston immigration requested to sight the actual email so you may want to keep your phone and email handy to avoid complications

Am always available on PM to assist with any further information.Good luck to all expecting mums and Dads. God Bless

Pls house, is the visa on arrival also issued in ph, kano, Enugu int'l airports? Or is it only Lag and Abj

urblackpearl:
Lagos to LA. Oct -Dec. Thanks

ET, QR, TK (the last two have long layovers. the first one is said to have greatly improved their services). I'm heading same route in November though not departing from Lagos. This your ticket hunt is quite early..buying .end of next month may just be better except you run into any promo

urblackpearl:
Hello All,

Please I need help! How does one get cheap tickets abeg.

The prices im seeing are crazy!

Travelling to LA in Oct to return in December.

Pls help!!!

where are you traveling from? For now nothing below 400k from the affordable airlines

jaypisces:
@manlikegb God bless you

Jaypisces, make sure u send notification of intent to the embassy. A family friend who had travelled to the US severally before giving birth there, was called in for interview after she did dropbox and is now on a 5 year ban for not informing the embassy. U would also need copy of the email and the response from the embassy for POE, just in case. Also correspondence with Dr and proof of funds

LadyGuinivere:
I'm just curious about the tone of interview and poe transcripts for the next couple of days...

U took the words out of my mouth...there will always be a harsh immediate outcome before it stabilizes

adycatus:
This election result so far isn't funny! God help America, God help us

A possible repeal of d 14th ammendment but in the interim, tougher POE...u'll literally have to blast tongues to pass cbp. I don't wanna sound like a pessimist but anytime Republicans are in power, embassies tighten as per visa issuance, so imagine a Trump presidency...oh Lawd!

Is anyone looking at the results coming out of the US election and it's direct impact to this thread?

I sincerely apologise to the people who pm'd me...that email is not my most current email and b4 I get to it, time don pass

Nnystc:
Hey Guys,
Please has anyone heard from Cutelass?

Its been a while. I hope all is well with you and your LO?
You just crossed my mind...

Blessings!

Nnystc I'm fine o...was offline for awhile, been on silent mode. We got back safely. LO is 12 weeks and doing very well. I don't have a nanny yet, I'm overwhelmed as a FTM. Thanks for ur concern. I appreciate.

TheLeakyTribe:
It appears that Stanbic has increased their exchange rate to $1 to N315.

Be warned.

Same as GTB

ijeomaobi1:
Veleta/nnystc,

Am in support of this LA group thingy. I wake up almost everyday by 3 am Nigerian time trying to reach peeps across. E still never work
This kind nsogbu , o dikwa risky as a FTM.

Ndi LA, that dr used to provide accomodation for people, heard he stopped cos pple stopped requesting. One of u can get accross to him and ask, who knws he may also slash d cost as he did his fees.

swappylove:
Pls house who has recently added their baby to their united ticket.pls how much did it cost?

480 if u are adding from US, 358 if adding from naija. U now have to pay dollar into their domicillary account in naija. Exchange rate 362 as at today.

najalady86:
Wow. Congrats dear. I think you were the one i saw my first day at the Dr's office with your LO mum and aunty. Didn't know you went through all these. May God's name be praised. And like you said, the Dr. Is a God sent. Nice to a fault. May God bless him. He even offered to collect his fees via wire transfer despite slashing his fees.
And for those considering L.A., trust me it's so much better here. Used Oakbend and Dr F last time and i can tell the difference. There is also Metro bus and train to almost every where. Haven't spent up to 10 dollars on transportation since I came and I go out almost every day. Most times, the bus driver will just wave you and say dodnt bother paying.

Yes ooo...it was me. Thank u. Sure u a countin down. Wish u safe delivery.

Nnystc:
An awesome God we serve!
He suspended that baby in there and made sure no one delayed you at POE just to make sure that His purpose was realised. Also He slashed your bills and ensured you didn't incur further bills through NICU.
Sister, God did you good oh!
All praise to Him! He's just a miracle worker!

And what are you rushing back for? Stay And recuperate jor. .. Afterall that was the initial plan, wasn't it? Abi you get shop for Onitsha market wey you wan rush go open? Are you not on Mat leave?

At Dr Mb---u, hmmmm. I may need to port from the other Dr Mb. These prices are tempting at half of his!

Many congratulations Mama.

U may really need to port ooo cos even my aunty whose children all deliver at that 'C' hospital with that other Mb doctor confirmed st Francis had better services. She cldnt believe the cost in relation to services rendered. Said in that 'C' hospital, u had to share a room with another patient in post-partum but st Francis has private post-partum rooms.

Also when I saw the doctor few days ago (follow-up visit to check if bp had normalized), he asked if I had any extra bills...I said yes $900, he said I wld hav paid 1600 for extra day at that 'C' hospital (u knw h delivers there also). His assistant said 'for thesame service' and he said st Francis is newer and their nurses are more efficient or something like dat...can't remember his exact word...just compare shaa...meanwhile, how much does that other dr. M charge?