₦airaland Forum

cant put my email out here, sorry. Keep trying pm.

Bisoye76:
@debby516 pls can i have ur email addy to pm u.i intend to use oakbend too and am a first timer traveling with a toddler.
Will like to ask one or two question privately.i tried to pm u its not going.
Thanks in adv

Send me a pm.

tootush:
struggling to put a lot of things into places .Pls if you don't mind if i can send u a couple emails. Thanks in adv n Godbless

Anyone with a walmart gift card for sale should please send me a pm. Thanks

I kept the bottles of palmoil in the freezer for some days b4 my trip and on the departure day, i put the bottles in a cooler bag b4 putting in my luggage.

Akins345:
Please how did you freeze the palmoil and got it to final destination @debbh516

I arrived Houston on 28th December with my 2 children and mum via emirates. The queue was not too long because the CBP officers had more booths, unlike my experience in 2016. So we were directed to a booth with few people. B4 my turn, my baby fell and started crying, thereby causing unnecessary attraction. The older one too was pulling me that she wanted to use the toilet, but we culdnt go bac, just begged her to manage till we pass the CBP officer.

CBP officer was a black mid-age american, looks like Denzel Washington.

hands over 4 passports to him
CBP: How many of you?
Me: 4 of us, myself, 2 children and mum
CBP: What re u here for?
Me: To have my baby.
CBP: (was abit tense now and not smiling, not like he was even smiling b4) what do u mean by u re here to ve a baby?
Me: (now i knew i don enter ma) I applied for a medical visa and informed them at the embassy of my intention to have my baby here.
CBP: I didnot ask you what you told them at the embassy, i said why do you want to ve ur baby here?
Me: I had some medical issues with my 1st child and i didnt want a re-occurrence
CBP: What medical issue?
Me: Placenta previa (Note that i was not prepare for this, so was just saying wat readily came to mind)
CBP: what do u mean by that?
Me: Placenta lying low blabla (honestlym cant even remember if my explanation made sense)
CBP: And it cant be taking care of in ur country?
Me: I had option of coming to America for better medical care and i didnt want to take chances
CBP: Options? really?
Me: Yes
CBP: How much do u ve with u?
Me: 3000USD and about 6000USD in my bank account ( i think he wasnt really listening here, he faced his computer. Also, at some point he was trying to call someone, maybe they didnt pick his call. During the course of d interrogation also, he stood up facing me squarely.)
CBP: Scan ur 4 fingers, same for my mum.
He then said we should step aside.

He was on his computer for about 5 mins and he didnot attend to someone else. Later an officer came to chat him up and he left.

He then called me alone and resumed interrogation.
CBP: Do you have any evidence of your last payment?
Me: brought it out and gave to him.
CBP: How come the letter is dated Janaury and u delivered in November?
Me: I paid immediately after birth but i guess the internal workings of the hosp delayed the bills.
CBP: You only paid $2500 (he was reading the 1st page alone, dat letter issued by oakbend to the embassy- zero balance)
Me: No, i paid much more, thats just wat i paid to the hosp. You can flip thru to see the other payments made to other service providers.
CBP: How much:
Me: About $7000
CBP: (flipped thru and saw the lengthy account statement from oakbend dat shows several deductions and brings everything back to $2500) How come this sums were deducted and u paid $2500?
Me: I had a contract with the hosp, for cash paying patient. I was to pay $2500 for all.
CBP: (Went thru baby's American passport) How come i got baby's passport soo soon?
Me: It was based on the time i got the birth certificate at the county office.
CBP: I need to call my supervisor (he started typing again)

after 2 mins or so, he started stamping the passports.
CBP: Who stays in this address? (referring to the address on my landing card)
Me: An apartment i am leasing for our stay here.
CBP: Do u have an apartment number?
Me: Told him and he wrote it on the landing card.
CBP: Hands over our passports and said we can go but will keep the evidence of payments
Me: Okay

Thats how we carried ourselves quickly and left him o.

Note: I was actually not prepared for this kind of POE interrogations, I worked till friday 22nd, slipped at home and fell in the early hours of 24th, was on admission in d hosp till 25th evening. barely packed my bags on 26th b4 we set out on 27th. The stress of excess luggage, packing and repackaging our load in d airport to avoid excess luggage payment was also another factor, i had to turn some to hand luggae quickly and bought small size ghana must go bag. My baby wanted to be doing waka abt in d plane, really stressed my mum on d lagos to dubai leg, she didnt sleep for one second.

Then the waka about inside Dubai airport cos we had a 10hrs layover, we had collect our hotel vouchers from lagos. we arrived d hotel at abt 1.30am and barely slept for 3 hrs b4 we rushed down again to take our breakfast and was already in the shuttle bus by 6.40am back to d airport for a 9am flight.

Then again, the long flight from Dubai to Houston, plane was as full as lag to Dubai. Though, we had a bassinet seat, so my baby who is over 1 year was able to sleep on and off in d bassinet, though, the hostess initially said she was too hold for d bassinet. We sha used it all thru.

At the baggage claim, i had to get assistance, cos we had 7 checked in bags and 3 hand luggages, paid $20 for them to push it out. Agric called us on our way out and passed our luggage thru the scanner. The officer there asked me if we had, ponmo, egusi, indomie lol. I just smiled, cos i was tired and i had much more than he was mentioning. The only thing taken out was my maggi naija pot seasoming cubes. All others sailed thru, dry fish, garri, beans, poundo, semo, groundnut, knorr beef, peak milk, milo, egusi, crayfish, yam flour (elubo), frozen locust beans, frozen palmoil, frozen pap.

In all, travelling alone is much more comfortable than this my trip with my battalion (lol), didnt regret it sha, they are worth it.

Apologies for the long story. I am available to answer questions if i omitted any info.

P.S. Houston is freezing.

Where ve u been, bros?

onatisi:
price ?

Arrived houston y'day with my mum and 2 children. My encounter with the CBP officer coming shortly. Tired much.

Thanks alot for the offer. I will keep it in view for future purposes. I have gotten my ticket already.

HokageTravels:
Maybe @debby516 can contact us and we can provide the necessary assistance on acquiring the tickets. Our WhatsApp contact is on my signature.

Thank you

Thanks alot. You are a life saver. How can i reach you? Can i send a pm, sir?

LegitBachelor:
Would have preferred you mentioned the ages of the infant and child. However I presumed infant is less than a year and the child less than 5 years.

So the most affordable rates are those for outbound flights on 7th and 8th January 2018. Inbound flights for 28th February and 1st March 2018 are approximately same. The overall eight most affordable flight schedule are given below:

1. United Airline: LOS - FRA - IAH 25hrs 20mins (Jan 8th) and IAH - ORD - FRA - LOS 20hrs 45mins (Feb 28th) N1,684,627

2. United Airline: LOS - FRA - IAH 25hrs 20mins (Jan 8th) and IAH - ORD - FRA - LOS 20hrs 45mins (Mar 1st) N1,684,627

3. United Airline/Lufthansa: LOS - FRA - IAH 25hrs 20mins (Jan 8th) and IAH - FRA - LOS 18hrs 35mins (Feb 28th) N1,690,006

4. United Airline/Lufthansa: LOS - FRA - IAH 25hrs 20mins (Jan 8th) and IAH - FRA - LOS 18hrs 35mins (Mar 1st) N1,690,006

5. United Airline: LOS - FRA - IAD - IAH 26hrs 58mins (Jan 7th) and IAH - ORD - FRA - LOS 20hrs 45mins (Feb 28th) N1,690,572

6. United Airline: LOS - FRA - IAD - IAH 26hrs 58mins (Jan 7th) and IAH - ORD - FRA - LOS 20hrs 45mins (Mar 1st) N1,690,572

7. Qatar Airline: LOS - DOH - IAH 34hrs 35mins (Jan 7th) and IAH - DOH - LOS 33hrs 15mins (Feb 28th) N1,832,567

8. Qatar Airline: LOS - DOH - IAH 34hrs 35mins (Jan 7th) and IAH - DOH - LOS 33hrs 15mins (Mar 1st) N1,832,567

In summary, avoid outbound flights for the 6th of January as it it could shoot up your cost to 2.6 million. Costs from the 7th is in the neighbourhood of 1.7million. United Airline is the most affordable with an average of 25hrs of voyage time and with stops at Frankfurt. This is followed by Qatar airline which have a longer voyage time of 35 hrs and have a layover at Doha.

Make your choice.

Please anyone that can help ticket for the following dates

6/7/8 January 2018 (flexible with outbound trip)
28th February/1st March 2018 (inbound trip)
2 adults, 1 infant and 1 child

LOS - IAH

Thanks.

So my Mum's visa interview in Lagos by a middle-age black American lady today for 10.15am appointment goes thus:

VO: Where are you going in the US?
Mum: Houston
VO: Why are you going to Houston?
Mum: Follow my daughter who is expecting a baby and take care of my grandchildren
VO: Does ur daughter have a visa?
Mum: Yes (hands over a copy of my visa to the VO)
VO: (looks at it and returned it to her) How many children does your daughter have?
Mum: 2, she is expecting another 1
VO: Did she have any of them in the US?
Mum: Yes, Last year
VO: Do you have any evidence?
Mum: Yes (Hands over all receipt of my last year trip and my current doctor's correspondence) P.S. Mum could not sort the documents, so she just handed over everything i gave to her.
VO: (looks at the documents briefly and hands them back to her) Please go and sit down, i will call you shortly.

There was a break in the interview and Mum sat with 4 other elderly women, who were also waiting for be recalled. Later on, the other women were called into the inner room one by one (i assumed because they are old, and not literate, they needed interpreters for them). After about 1 hour, the same VO beckoned to Mum to come back to her cubicle and the interview resumed with apologies for delaying her, cos she was attending to others while mum was sitted.

VO: Who filled your form for you:
Mum: My daughter
VO: What does your daughter do:
Mum: xxxx and works with xxxxx
VO: How many children do you have:
Mum: 3
VO: Is this ur daughter the 1st?
Mum: Yes
VO: How long will you be staying in the US?
Mum: 2 and half months
VO: Do you live in Lagos:
Mum: Yes
VO: Hands over the white paper on where to pick her passport.

Visa granted.

I had explained to Mum that her interview is successful if her passport is retained and not returned to her, so while she was sitting during the break in the interview, her passport was with the VO, so mum was already happy that they didnot return her passport to her. lol

In all, she left the car park at 10am and returned 1pm, I was soo frustrated waiting for her and wondered what kept her that long, but in all we give thanks God for a successful interview.

i doubt if this promo is still valid. Peeps shld call Delta airlines' reservation numbers to confirm. I have called and i understand that the promo started y'day and is fast selling out and it is for trips in the month of march.

Michoolu:
Please more details about this delta 50% off thingy.

I am here.

stevenadelowo:
$25 amazon GC available


With valid receipt

Call delta office directly with your dates and dont bother with wakanow.

oluwafunkenny:
Hello all,
Saw an ad from wakanow on Delta promo to Houston for 283k. I have been trying to book but getting outrageous figures. Anyone in the house that can put me through will be appreciated. Also am interested in the flying period. Thanks and nice night.

Please help a sister HNWMC mama's, pls.

debby516:
Hello House, any January Houston-Bound mama in the house? now torn btw HNWMC/Dr. Xydas or Oakbend/Dr. Z. Please for mamas who have used HNWMC, whats the timeline for BC, SSN and passport please, from date of delivery? Abeg help a sister. Thanks.

I am. I have "Holla"

kafcakes:
Hi Ladies and gentlemen, I've been following his thread and reading and learning alot, Would like to know if there are any ladies planning to go to Houston early next year.. Holla

Hello House, any January Houston-Bound mama in the house? now torn btw HNWMC/Dr. Xydas or Oakbend/Dr. Z. Please for mamas who have used HNWMC, whats the timeline for BC, SSN and passport please, from date of delivery? Abeg help a sister. Thanks.

Senatornuella & Slimbims, thanks a lot for the eye opener experiences you shared.

May God deliver us from evil women. Had my own little experience too with my host, not on the accommodation though, mine was superb, but on playing smart with my money and claiming to ve paid my medical bills which I had paid to her in advance but I was a step ahead of her and she had no where to hide, she thot I was a novice.

Let's just shine our eyes very well.

I got. plus letter addressed to the US embassy in lagos.

Omodadi2:
Congratulations Mellchii, your transcript confirms that you dont have to have all funds you meed for the trip before your interview, it all depends on your income/monthly inflow.

That bin said, pls who has gotten an itemized receipt from Oakbend that include all services? hosp, doctor, baby, epidural, etc. Do they give this?

Also the one that shows only the zero balance letter followed by some itemized cost and the self paid option I have seen, is this okay?

On use of naija bank cards in Australia, i didnt use my gtb naira mastercard on an atm but used it on POS last month and it worked.

Hope that helps

That one pass me o, I booked for fresh interview sir.

Omodadi2:
Please does this inclide follow up apointments?

I am 100% sure as at 12noon today, 27th December 2017 was available, but i picked 8th January 2018 for the person. Pls check again maybe over the weekend. The whole of January was still available.

Omodadi2:
Are you sure?

I saw the first date by the right to be February 21then i clicked on 'book follow up apointment' and all I saw is April 11, April 18

Where are u checking? scheduled appointment today and i saw as early as 27th December 2017.

Omodadi2:
My people come and help me o, this visa thing is becoming somehow o. I was trying to book follow up apointment but the first available date [b](April 11)[/b]has passed my EDD. What option do I have?

How do one book for emergency apointment pls? I saw requirements like letter from US doctor, letter from Nigeria doctor, then proof that I can pay. has anyone used this route pls?

I never expected this.

Thanks.

nomanicole:
let her go with ur own visa page, she does not need to go with ur child's American passport. then maybe her statement of acct and yours since u are sponsoring..

thanks.

Omodadi2:
I mean if you have visa and never err the immigration rules

What do u mean by my status sir? [quote author=Omodadi2 post=62463032][/quote]

My people, ejo, biko, pls, those whose mum/mum-in-law have gone for visa interview, pls i need ur help/info/advice.

Are the following documents sufficient for her to take with her for interview? Copies of my visa page, my last baby’s US passport data page, zero balance etc for the last trip, doctor’s correspondence for the next trip, evidence that she is retired (to show her previous work history).

Pls what else should I give her apart from the basics, confirmation page, GTB Payment receipt etc

Any tips on what she should be prepared for?

Pls Sirs and madams.

Thank you.

My responses are in the body of your post below.

OnJosh1:
Thanks a lot Debby516, did you book your ticket directly on their website or through an agent you know or wakanow?
Booked at emirates office in lag after observing d dates and prices on their website.

Were you very far gone by the time you travelled? Travelled at 35 weeks plus, not stressful for me. Inbound trip, layover was 4hrs in Dubai airport and by d time u walk from ur arrival gate to the boarding gate sef, u wont ve up to 2 hrs b4 u start boarding. For ur toddler, there are free strollers in d airport to use. I will advise u dont vw much handluggae wit ur toddler.

I'm looking at going at 35+1 do you think flight of 16:30hrs Dubai to Houston will be too stressful for me? And do you think the 15hrs Houston to Dubai will be too stressful for me and my baby coming back whether or not I have someone to help out on the flight?
I came back with my hubby, toddler and baby and cant really say if it wuld ve been easy alone cos we had handluggages for d layover, cos u wont ve access to ur luggage till u get to lagos. Besides, we didnt get Bassinet seat, so we had to be exchanging the baby when we fell asleep, so baby doesnt fall off from our hands while asleep, lol.


You mentioned you were lodged... I'm assume it was Emirates that lodged you right? Did you have to do / pay anything extra to get the accomodation?
Emirates lodged us, didnt pay for anything extra, we qualified because of the long layover.

Just trying to picture the trip using your experience. Thanks a lot.

Cant speak for BA, but i used Emirates to Houston to and fro and i have no complaint. They didnt ask for port health fit to fly, just the one their website signed by your doctor. On comfort, Lag - Dubai flight was full, so no space to stretch, but Dubai - Houston was light, so i had enough space to rest and stretch, the cabin crew were nice and courteous.

On return trip, adding baby ticket was easy and cheap, less than $100. My toddler, who came with my husband also on emirates, not with me, but we all returned together, was soo comfortable and stucked to the ICE all thru. She had all sort of sweet things to nibble on thruout the flight. The Layover for our return was overnight, we had dinner and breakfast at the hotel we were lodged and transported back to the airport in the morning. In all, Emirates is good in my opinion.

OnJosh1:
Please I need your help with making a quick decision. Recent Mamas, Please between Emirates or BA Which has better care / treatment/ considerations for pregnant women or women with children?

I know one stop BA flight to Houston is shorter than one stop Emirates to Houston, however I feel a shorter trip can still feel long if the treatment is poor or if one is uncomfortable. And a longer trip can seem short if one is comfortable.

Please flight class on both flights is Economy.

Please I appreciate your urgent response. Thank you.

If i find info i will let you know, but i am definitely not sharing ma.

Vivy01:
Hi I’m a newbie in the house, I’m also looking to get accommodation in Houston for early next year. Also haven’t had much luck with Airbnb and google searches turned quite expensive. Please I’m interested if you find any info that might help or if you be willing to share an apartment.

From Fyorgyn's post, I will refer to Supernaturalone's post on applying for a new visa when one gets pregnant post obtaining visa. In my opinion, the VO already saw a pattern, maybe, Fyorgyn will go for the conference and get preggy during the course of next year, which info she didnt disclose during this interview. So the VO just put it straight on her records, no recourse to medicals, until she comes back in for another interview.

In short, saying i ve used my visa for the purpose for which it was obtained and subsequently using it for birthing purpose plus sending 'change of intent' may not fly sometimes in the future, until u ve returned to the VO for another interview.

My own 2 cents.