Okay but I'm neither. Will however try to sketch something informative up.

Lhimeet:

If you're the picture freak kinda person.

Or you like talking about things a lot.

Please open a thread & post pictures of happenings.

Kindly mention me when you do so.. Excel

Me :Good Morning
POE Officer : Morning
Me : Hands him my Passport,I-20 and CBP form (USA customs and border protection form)
POE O : Typing and then stops to look at my I-20 and Passport then faces his computer
POE O: Been to the US before ?
Me : No
POE Officer : First Time ?
Me: Yes First time in the States
POE O: Smiling at me
POE O: Put your right finger on the biometrics machine and Stand for a picture
Me: I obliged
Me : Excuse me sir I was told I need to be searched by customs
POE O: Yes you get your luggages go up that way to be searched
Me : Okay thank you sir
POE Official: Hope you don't have any fresh food in your bag ? Or Luggage ?
Me: Not at all sir
POE O: *stamps my passport and signs on it*, *stamps the form too*
POE O: Proceed


Some of my friends were asked different questions because they weren't going to their school so they asked them Why ?. Please give a tangible reason.

Nahum777:
More details on the questions asked please. Do it like we do transcript. Thanks.

At the POE I was told to submit The US Customs and Border Protection Form (that asks you what is in your possession like vegetables,Fruits etc cant remember) which was given to me on the plane then He asked "Been to the US Before ? First Time ?" Then he directed me to where I will be searched I picked up my bags and went there.

learner007:


Wow...thank God for journey mercies. But please can u briefly tell us about your POE experience and the things you were allowed to carry in your bag...I still dey reason stock fish and some other ingredients. Awaiting ur reply. I dey move soon too

Yeah the connecting flights too. Even booked from Michigan to Mississippi (School) with him. No problems.

NefT:


Connecting flight inclusive?

Yes one way. The flights are very expensive.

LagosismyHome:


Hope you remembered that student can buy one way ticket.... no need to buy return if you are on a 2 year and more program

I used a guy from British airlines and didn't have any problems at all. Lagos to Detroit was about 493,000

NefT:

Sorry! How did you book your flight and how much did it cost you.

Finally in the US. Left Lagos via Ethiopian Airlines on June 24th got to Addis Ababa then Dublin then Chicago which was my POE then entered a domestic flight to Michigan on July 25th (my final destination).
This thread has been helpful to me even though I joined some weeks ago and to those who have been denied and need help but are too shy please drop your transcript don't let your shyness prevent you from enjoying this calm place. Thanks to major contributors and advisers may God reward you.

Danielaz5:
Trancript
I was walking to the embassy i was reciting my Hail Mary and Our Father interchangeably (I'm a Catholic) Window 6
Me:Good morning
V.O:Good morning
Me : Thank your for the hardworking based on the number of interviews
V.O : what did you say sir ?
Me : (Repeats) then he says you're welcome
Vo: Tell me why you chose your course ?

Me:  Biology has been a subject I've been fond of and inquisitive about ever since i was in high school .studying biology will enable me to understand the integral foundation of life and interaction between living things and its environment and how they stabilise and destabilise our ecosystem and causes of medical problems such as Ebola,Lassa Fever, HIV and how to come about obtaining cures.It doesn't limit or restrict me it gives a wide array of careers to pursue.

VO :Why Alcorn?
I was offered a full ride scholarship that covers my expenses. It is a small liberal arts college that brings me in close contact with my professors. I was also placed on the honors program so I get to pick a professor in my major to carry out one on one research, assigned an upper class student who is excelling in my major to help me integrate into the Alcorn state community.

VO : How many schools ?
Me : 7 Schools and got admitted into all..
(Looks at me nodding then cuts in)

VO :Did you use the normal application process ?
Me: Yes,Mentioned the schools I applied to then told him I got to know about them through the college board search engine and attended some sessions at EducationUSA ( Only one session) and Management Education and Training Limited

V.O: Tell me your academic background
Me: I graduated 2016 but before graduation I took the Cambridge O Levels,WAEC,NECO and attended a 1 week students industrial work experience program at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (V.O was nodding and typing) Then after my graduation I enrolled for the Cambridge A Level Program and immediately after took my SAT at Management Education and Training Limited and scored 1370 which gave me my scholarship

V.O : Sorry could you repeat your score
Me: 1370 and also got a high school gpa of 3.62/4.0.

(Types for long)

V.O : Thank you I will be approving your visa ......... Circled location
To be really honest I didn't hear anything until he said Circled location

Thanks to everyone that helped me and scolded me I'm sorry if I don't remember your usernames
. We Global Now

No it isn't advisable. If you're praying God answers you and you're preparing to Lie you know they both contradict. All the best.

Samuel60:
Hey guys... is it advisable to lie about how many schools one was offered admission??... may be 3 out of 4 instead of just saying one.

Alright thanks.

LagosismyHome:


What school things are u buying in Michigan that is not sold in Mississippi.... the answer is NOTHING

That story won't fly, that been said

There is no rule against you going to see your aunt. To be on the safe side then have your ticket that connects you to your school... also the more load you have from Michigan translates to money in extra luggage

My aunt has accepted to accommodate me and help me get my school things in Michigan but then going to school later on in Mississippi. My question is if I will be asked why at the airport or if I should buy the flight ticket to School now (which is a problem as I don't know if I can pay for a domestic flight here) so I can show them I'm going later on. POE is Chicago.

Congratulations this was a calm interview

PHUMEELAYO:
Hello good people.... The queen of silent followers association over here whup whup

July 21st, 7:30 I was interviewed by the beautiful black American Lady (the young light-skinned one), she was just so calm and focused and it really helped me regain my confidence. Whenever she asked a question I didn't have an immediate answer, I would say excuse me.... The time it takes for her to reply, I was already thinking up an answer. I did breathe-in-breathe-out exercise at the beginning.

She was just staring at me and smiling, not typing much.... I couldn't afford to fidget or flinch at any question.

I: Good morning ma'am

VO: Good morning, and how do you do?
I: I am great, thank you and you?

VO: good, good. pass me just your i20 and passport please. So what's your course of study?
I: Masters of social work at east Tennessee State University in Johnson city Tennessee

VO: what do you do now?
I: I am currently employed at xyz specialist center, a special needs school that caters to children with developmental disorders like autism, ADHD and Down's syndrome. As a program facilitator, my main duties are (she cuts me off, she was cross-checking with my DS160 throughout)

VO: so who would be sponsoring this trip?
I: I got a merit scholarship that covers 50% of my tuition, my great-uncle and sister would cover the rest of my expenses. Then she goes through my i20

VO: Why didn't you apply to more affordable programs?
I: well most of the other schools expect their MSW students to pick a concentration at the second year but since I don't have a BSW nor basic SW knowledge, I wanted programs that offer a generalist practice model where I would be able to experience every aspect of the profession

VO: any standardized tests
I: yes, I sat for the GRE with a score of 314 and IELTS with an overall band score of 8

VO: who would you be staying with? Do you know anyone that has applied to or attending this school?
I: I will be staying on campus at the Buccaneers ridge apartment and already made a deposit. No I don't know anyone at the school

VO: how then did you know about the school
I: I made use of the worksheet available on the EducationUSA website and was able to solidly define my priorities. Then I researched for schools using socialworkdegreeguide.com, usnews, mastersportal and gradcafe and I was able to shortlist the programs fitting my requirements.

VO: What other schools did you apply to and how many admits?
I: southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, University of Maine at Orono, Michigan State University at East Lansing, Ohio State University at Columbus and Georgia State at Atlanta. I was admitted by four of them.

VO: can I have bank statements to backup your claims (handed over my sis first, savings with over #11m) what does your sister do?
I: she is a level 13 civil servant with the Lagos State govt

VO: (just looks at front page of the statement), has she ever left the country?
I: No, she hasn't

VO: looks at my Uncle's (>$100k), where does he reside and what does he do?
I: He stays at Maryland and is a real estates agent

VO: how did he get to the US?
I: (laughing) he's my great-uncle and it would have been rude for me to ask him that, it was a long time ago even before my mum was born. From the stories passed down, I hear he was given a federal scholarship when he was in secondary school and later citizenship, I don't really know specifics, you know how stories can change when passed from generations to generations.

VO: (laughing along with me) congratulations, I would be approving your visa..... Blah blah DHL.... Blah blah i20.... POE
I: thank you ma'am, I do hope you enjoy the rest of your day.
VO: I hope so too, thank you

This is my second interview, was denied June 27th.... Will dig that up and post later.

It would be remiss of me not to thank the wonderful people of this thread especially Texrem (wonderful man with a beautiful soul), Sorelee, Walsprings, lagosismyhome, profojah, meritdee and sponge3.

The Yellow Fever vaccine is it required for F1 students ??

True but there are so many ways to say Extensive research and you would still speak English.

EZEIGBO1OFIMO:

And what if doing extensive research was the truth; or is extensive research no longer a good thing to do when going to donate 2-5 years of one's precious life slaving away at a grad school, and getting hyper depression and under the table wages ( especially for my Poor PhD Brethren) . A whole lot of these consular officers are quite the NOT SMART people from america's work force (Hence their inability to land private sector jobs, and instead get a damn government Job which sends them to AFRICA!! ); they want to start feeling like sanctimonious HR recruiting officers In fortune 500 companies, which they clearly aren't. There's nothing wrong with some generic answers people give, because there really isn't any other way to put it for most folks; if a person asks how are you, we all reply fine; that's a generic answer, but tell me what is more conducive and perfect other than 'fine'. Yes a person can go on and on about how many of Themistocles Army they had to battle before selecting a school , but it's still all extensive research. I have always felt that this Visa interview process for F1 is a cat and mouse game; let the embassy switch to the Canadian style, and do a thorough vetting instead of the mickey mouse club house show we have to undergo where they're expecting entertainment when there shouldn't be one

Sorry bro. How did you know it was because you were single ?

VECOH1:
F1 visa denied today.
Cos I am single. Nonsense.
Transcript loading

Those black V.O's cut you short when you're saying "I did an Extensive Research through....." because they have heard it so many times . When I went for Education USA the younger one said it that most students that are interviewed come with same exact reason which she has heard somewhere. She even said she's heard all types of answers but deny students because she feels the reasons are not personal. So if you're asked why this school If you have funding let it out quick, if you have any thing that differs from a normal student's admission let it out first then continue with the rankings or research.

CS I don't know what that means

Olalekank:

Nice one. Do you have any idea if their CS is well funded?

Bachelor's degree: SAT 1370 GPA 3.62.
With a good SAT score (1270 upwards )you could qualify for their Full scholarship. Regarding Graduate scholarships I don't know but you can always check the schools website

Glocal1:
Good, Congrats. I can see that you've got a visa. How did you go about securing funding?

I'm attending Alcorn

Glocal1:
I'm planning to attend Alcorn State University, Lorman. Please do you know someone there or any information about funding there. Thanks

tolatof:


Congrats..
But this transcript is not useful to anyone ******. I am even ***** you posted this kind of *********.

Congrats again

I'm not advising him to lie but since he was determined to it should have been a smart lie

imperiouxx:


To say Education USA, Usnews.com or Princeton review or A college fair when he actually doesn't know how he got the school. What if they ask him to state what's Education USA, Usnews.com or Princeton review or A college fair and what crosses his mind is they are all private schools in Lagos State? What would you have advised him? To keep lying? Did you lied about yours?

Amen thank you.

lyrondee:


Congrats Dear..... Wish you sucess in your new journey

So far your I-20 was not torn by the visa officer bro take it and go. Your next V.O might not even ask you for what you said before and you bringing a new I-20 raises questions why did you switch. Give a smart lie if you truly heard it from a friend.

Temitayo1949:
Hmmmm..You right bro...Now i know where the problem lies..So what can be done should i just get a new I-20 from a new school or make i just forget about US student visa in general ni?...

He could have said Education USA (Because this is affiliated with the US) or Usnews.com or Princeton review or A college fair. Most times if you say your Friend in the same category recommended it to you and you applied to it. It sounds like you're going to mingle with him.

Sorelee:
SMH You lied and you were not even smart about it you gave the VO wrong details, you have put your usa visa approval in jeopardy. I am not God but this is a costly error . if I may ask you what's the name of this school ?

You put you're travelling on the 10th of august and your interview is 13th I suggest you leave the travelling plans blank . Some V.O's don't really care about the number of schools if you say you got early admission while applying to the rest with maybe a favorable criteria like Funding.

Jaked:
PLS ANSWER ME.......I need your help here....please I went for f-1 visa interview in june and I was denied due to what I dont know or could it be that because the VO asked me how Many school and I said 1?
Secondly I have reapply now and on my confirmation page I wrote that I will travel on the 10th of august which have submitted and cannot be change..then getting to book for appointment i couldn't get before the 10th .the earliest date i got for interview is 13th of august...hope there is no problem about that...thank you

Should be around 72k for registration

santricedupas:



how much do sat exam cost now

Thanks so much. I will

LagosismyHome:


Much better responses this time .... you were definitely more prepared

Congrats... God bless your new journey. Make sure you take your studies seriously from day 1. All the best

Yesso thanks Amen.

haywhizzy21:
Even if i were to be the Vo i will approve your Visa, that why its not always good to give up..congratulations and may ur new journey be blessed and fruitful.iyanumashele�

Trancript
I was walking to the embassy i was reciting my Hail Mary and Our Father interchangeably (I'm a Catholic) Window 6
Me:Good morning
V.O:Good morning
Me : Thank your for the hardworking based on the number of interviews
V.O : what did you say sir ?
Me : (Repeats) then he says you're welcome
Vo: Tell me why you chose your course ?

Me:  Biology has been a subject I've been fond of and inquisitive about ever since i was in high school .studying biology will enable me to understand the integral foundation of life and interaction between living things and its environment and how they stabilise and destabilise our ecosystem and causes of medical problems such as Ebola,Lassa Fever, HIV and how to come about obtaining cures.It doesn't limit or restrict me it gives a wide array of careers to pursue.

VO :Why Alcorn?
I was offered a full ride scholarship that covers my expenses. It is a small liberal arts college that brings me in close contact with my professors. I was also placed on the honors program so I get to pick a professor in my major to carry out one on one research, assigned an upper class student who is excelling in my major to help me integrate into the Alcorn state community.

VO : How many schools ?
Me : 7 Schools and got admitted into all..
(Looks at me nodding then cuts in)

VO :Did you use the normal application process ?
Me: Yes,Mentioned the schools I applied to then told him I got to know about them through the college board search engine and attended some sessions at EducationUSA ( Only one session) and Management Education and Training Limited

V.O: Tell me your academic background
Me: I graduated 2016 but before graduation I took the Cambridge O Levels,WAEC,NECO and attended a 1 week students industrial work experience program at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (V.O was nodding and typing) Then after my graduation I enrolled for the Cambridge A Level Program and immediately after took my SAT at Management Education and Training Limited and scored 1370 which gave me my scholarship

V.O : Sorry could you repeat your score
Me: 1370 and also got a high school gpa of 3.62/4.0.

(Types for long)

V.O : Thank you I will be approving your visa ......... Circled location
To be really honest I didn't hear anything until he said Circled location

Thanks to everyone that helped me and scolded me I'm sorry if I don't remember your usernames
. We Global Now

Window 6. Bruh that man has issues he's just bored with that his cup of coffee abi pami

Temitayo1949:
As in i answered all questions the guy at that window 5 asked me...Yet he still denied me...Congrats once again...

The guy at window 5 denied me on June 19 when I saw people on his queue I started feeling bad for them cos that man can question you until he knows your great grandfather's best friend and still Deny you.

Visa Approved Today At Walter Carrington 6:45AM
Transcript is Loading!!!!!!!

I have friend who got denied June 23 he reapplied for June 28 and he got his visa

Coloniel5000:

I don't agree with that...people reapply immediately after denial and granted on their second trial which is just weeks interval, most of all these stuff depends on the VO, besides we have seen VOs grant visa to people recently denial without even asking what has changed in their profile since last denial. I just believe you work and pray hard as your approval hangs on the VO discretion....God help us Jor.