Visa Alert!

DHL delivered my passport today. 6 months visa was issued, after 14 working days. Although we are frequent travelers and expected a longer term visa, we are grateful all the same. Now we’ve a trip to plan!

Thanks to everyone here who freely shared information making it possible for me to submit the visa application without recourse to agents. I was able to package my application with adequate documentation proving socio/economic ties listed on this thread. Thank you all and all the best to other applicants!

josephb:
We got a Text and also an Email some moments ago that the passports have been returned to the TLS Center.

Submission was on the 18th of July.

Regards,

I received mine today, followed by a notification from DHL that our shipment is on the way. I’ll report next week. Have you picked up your passport yet?

josephb:
Oh thank GOD it’s not only us then, Lol.

Do you have past Schengen visa(s) or USA/UK/Canada?

Sorry I’m just seeing this. I also saw you tried to email me. I don’t know how emails work on Nairaland, sorry…
Yes I’ve had several long term uk and us visas since I was an undergrad student. Also visited several southeast Asian countries on vacation. I’ve never been to Canada nor applied for a Canadian visa out of personal interest.

I think this is just a very busy period for them. They will circle back once they have cleared their backlog of applications.

anyilecourage:
16 jun ,y am nervous is as a first timer tho..

Don’t be nervous. Let us know how it goes when you collect it next week. It appears the turn around time is faster in Abuja.

josephb:
I noticed that you applied as a first timer haven't you had any previous Schengen visas? or visas from the USA, Canada, or the UK.

I had to revisit this thread after a long time to check the latest, My family and I, including my Mum, applied on July 18, 2024 for Our Yearly Family Vacation.

Usually, our applications are processed within 3 to 5 days. This will be our fifth Schengen visa, except for my mother, who has visas for Canada and the USA.

Between my family and me, we have visited over 34 countries and hold valid 10-year visa for Canada and the USA. We also have four expired Schengen visas issued by the French Embassy, expired UK visas and many more.

My second Son does not need a visa as he holds a Canadian passport.

It has been 15 days without any updates. Abi, Has France denied our visas ni?

I sincerely hope that Nigerians can overcome these visa challenges, as the anxiety over visa results is immense despite being well-traveled.

Regards,

lol 😂 I don’t think they’ve denied your family visas. They are probably busy watching the Olympics 🤔. I submitted on the 22nd along with my spouse. We are also well travelled but no updates about our applications yet. Let’s be patient, they will revert when ready.

Blessedsteph:
Individual certificates.
The only group thing we submitted would be bank statements, parental consent for kids (1 copy for the 4 of us since we applied as a group)

Got it. Thanks a lot

Atinukemi23:
I have just sucessfully booked travel insurance on aiico ( https://ebusiness.aiicoplc.com) for 4 people
So it doesnt give you the option to do family package, you have to apply for everyone individually.
I selected the Europe cover of over €35000.
And it cost around 8500 naira per person including adults and children, for a week travel.

Hope this helps.

Yes it does. Many thanks

Blessedsteph:
Date of submission - 10th May 2024 (4 applicants)

Documents submitted:
Filled Application forms
1 passport photograph for adult
2 passport photographs for each child
Introduction Letter
Employment letter
Pension certificate
Work ID card
3 months payslip
3 months salary account statement
3 months personal USD account
No objection letter
Return flight reservation
Hotel reservations
Disneyland hotel booking
Insurance

Extras added For the kids:
Consent letter signed by both parents
Sponsorship letter
Birth certificates
Parents passport data pages
Last term school report sheet for each child

Note that:
1. Sponsorship letter had names of the 3 kids in it but photocopied into 3
2. ⁠introduction letter was done separately for each child with day-to-day details of itinerary
3. ⁠flight reservations, hotel bookings, bank statements and evidence of employment was submitted only for myself (the adult) since the applications are in one group so no need submitting one for each person.
4. ⁠insurance was from aiico and for 12 days duration. Cost us around 20k total for 4 of us.
5. ⁠children bellow 12 yrs don’t need to attend biometric. Just make sure you snap them passport according to the size on France website. 2 passports each child.

If I remember anything else then I’d add it. Or pls feel free to ask for any clarification.

Congratulations! Did you submit a group (family) insurance or did you do individual insurance certificates for all 4 of you? Kindly confirm, thanks.

amaka157:
Good morning fam,

Please how much bank balance is enough for a 3days tourism in Paris. The intending traveller is my niece ( has a steady job, a single mom and post graduate student ) any input will be highly appreciated

Thank you

N3m or more is a fair amount based on the current exchange rate and number of days but a good bank balance isn’t all they are looking for. Scroll to previous posts to view what constitutes social and economic ties which the embassy will look out for before granting you a visa. All the best.

dennis201:


Is it the E visa you used?
Did they stamp your passport to show that you have been to south Africa before
Has anyone traveled with this e visa

Yes your passport would be stamped to show that you were seen on arrival at the airport in South Africa. The eVisa immigration queue was a separate one from the one for those with sticker visas and took a little longer.

Tesclaros:
I don’t know what the ticket owner used. Its a woman tryin to sell her ticket

Didn’t know it was possible to sell an issued ticket to someone else. That means name changes are allowed. Nice. Pls DM me with the cost.

Maz8:


Travel insurance is not a requirement. The primary difference between e-visa and normal visa is the mode of application i.e online vs walk-in/physical. You are expected to rely on the documentation checklist downloadable on the VFS website just as you would have done if you were applying for the normal visa at VFS offices for short stay business or tourism only. Note that e-visa is only applicable if you're traveling for tourism or business purposes for not more than 90 days.

Once you have met the requirements of the documentation checklist, upload each relevant document on the e-visa site by following the e-visa site’s instructions. Good luck.

Thank you so much

Hello everyone, first of al thanks to all the gurus who have been sharing experience with us here. Quick question please. Does one need travel insurance to apply for SA e-visa? If yes, please recommend companies/ contacts to get from. Thanks in anticipation of a response.

Commonsense99:
Once again where did they lose even one naira to scam? you really think it takes a fool to become a Dr?have they complained of losing out in any way? It's easy for people in Nigeria who haven't travelled out to think every scheme is scam. You think it's easy or cheap to hire a chartered aircraft? When the Doctors haven't paid any extra dime to the human resource company apart from their air tickets ? Why don't people think for once.
Those guys will still ball anyway, Nigerian immigration is just playing to the galary.
If the UK is not complaining about their travelling without visa, how exactly does it affect Nigerian immigration? This is plain witchcraft as it is, possibly they are demanding to be bribed cause that's what immigration is known for bunch of zoo an1mals!

I’m with you on this. The whole thing reeks of a combination of ignorance, illiteracy and jealousy (bad belle).
As for those shouting scam up and down, I’m looking forward to them eating their words when those Doctors are eventually allowed to board the flight. They have a visa waiver. They have employment letters. They have written Plab 1 and Plab 2 (sorry for those that didn’t see Plab specifically mentioned in the article. The article assumed you had sense to understand that is what they meant by “exams”)
The total cost paid by all the doctors for the flight is not even enough to charter local flight let alone international flight. Yet people are still calling scam. Pull him down specialists. Doctors that spent years in school and wrote their Plab 2 in UK (they had visas that are likely expired by now) fell for a 500 quid scam. Na so. Scam wailers will eat their words before the week runs out.

Usman4:
I need naira in Nigeria, anyone with a chase Bank account here in the states I can deposit dollars in?

I'm interested. How do I contact you?

missexiest:
Pls am new here,can anyone pls help me with detailed info on affordable hospitals in atlanta,chicago or maryland..will really appreciate it as am due in june n will like to have my baby in d us + I already have a b1/b2 visa.Thanks

Welcome. You can start by going to page one of this part 3. It was recently updated. Next, use the search button and you will find more than enough information as all three places have been over flogged here already.

Lady G, you are a superstar. If only I had extra dollars to "spray" you with

nefertitiram:


Use the search button

Exactly. Ucystan, the information you seek is all over this thread. Take your time and read through. Even if its just this part 3, its right here. At least its just a headache you have, not that youre "well enlighten" whatever that means... The headache you feel can't be worse than that of expectant mothers here waiting for Dday or those who have to stay awake nursing their little ones. The search button will narrow things down for you. God speed!

@ Twingirls, please be strong. The loss is indescribable but God will restore. Blessings to all those around you now and more grace to you and your hubby.

There's nothing quite as disgusting as misplaced feminism. So women should support their "fellow women" even when they are whoring about? Absolute nonsense. Men and women should be called out whenever they do wrong. Feminists have fathers, sons and brothers too even if they dont really care for other men. Based on this story, OP you dont need more proof. It's up to you whether or not you want to pursue a divorce but just know that your marriage is a joke. Going forward, lay your bed the way you can lie on it and stop being such a pushover.

@ favouredgal I know of a Doctor in Georgia that has delivered twins vaginally recently for some Mamas I know. I was told that he encourages you to go for it unless there is a medical indication not to.

Dear Mamas and Papas, please there's no need to conceal the fact that you're pregnant. It's not a crime as long as you have made preparations. Really these frequent "change of intent" emails may start to lose value. It's not really chaget of intent because that was your intention ab initio. I had a choice to use Dropbox but after learning from favouredgal and others that sometimes they hold on to your passport for weeks and then call you for interview, hubby and I decided to go for an interview. When I showed up I was almost 35 weeks preggers Nd looking more like 42 weeks . Hubs said people were looking at me like "is this woman crazy! Coming to interview with big belle" lol anyway interview didn't take long at all. I'll transcribe below
Visa Officer: good morning
Hubs n I: good morning
VO: looks at our passports and says we should have used drop box instead of coming all the way
Me: we decided to come because we learnt that we may be invited for an interview since I'm going to have a baby.
VO: smiles and says "that makes sense"
VO: I see you're going to Florida. Have you contacted a doctor?
Me: Yes, showing him my appointment confirmation
VO: When are you due?
Me: January ..
VO: How much is it going to cost you?
Hubby: Approximately 10K
VO: Types for a while and says your visas have been approved.
He didn't ask for documents at all. Except for my appointment letter from the Doctor. People around were looking shocked even the security lol cos they had assumed we were going to be thoroughly questioned and maybe rejected.
I'm not saying everyone's interview will be that brief and uneventful but if you're prepared there won't be a problem. We carried both our bank statements and receipts from my first delivery yet didn't show them.
Fast forward to POE at Miami. Travelled with mum and son
CBP: Welcome to Miami. Are you here on vacation?
Me: I'm here to have a baby.
CBP asks my mum when last she was in the US. She just returned November and also went with me for my 1st childbirth.
CBP asked how long she stayed when my son was born? We both answered 2 months. Then he stamps her in for 6 months and stamps my son's passport. Then tells me to come with him to verify some info. I was preparing for those long Houston detentions. Lol. Turned out otherwise. When we got to the other room, he handed my passport to another guy and left. The guy looked into my passport and entered some data into his system. He was looking at his screen then less than 5 mins later he called my name and handed my passport back to me and aside I was free to go. We declared food but nothing was seized. Now doing some sightseeing and shopping before baby comes next month.
Honesty is always the best policy. Especially when you are asked a direct question about requiring medical care. Many agents are clueless and will bring you more harm than good. Best to stay away from them. Wishing everyone a happy yuletide.

Activa:


Do you think cbn manufactures dollars?

Where will cbn get dollars for every purpose of your country doesn't earn enough?

Crude oil price has fallen by more than 60% compared to a year ago. Oil contributes 90% to our foreign exchange earnings.

I agree but the oil drop isn't affecting only Nigeria. A few months ago they rejected dollar cash deposits. Now they don't have dollars. Didn't anyone at CBN anticipate this? It's not as if the dollar dropped suddenly. At the end of the day, CBN is benefiting commercial banks and black market operators with no thought of how travellers or SME businesses will survive. Imagine the situation now? What do you suggest people abroad do when they didn't get PTA/BTA and now cards are being disabled for international transactions? They can't even access the dreaded black market from abroad.

Activa are you arguing just for the sake of it? The point is that travellers haven't been able to buy PTA/BTA for weeks now! After making me to open current account, a few days later Union Bank stopped selling PTA stating that they received a circular from CBN to stop. Whether it is a ban or suspension or pause or whatever the point is that citizens are unable to get forex for genuine purposes. Now they want to stop people from using cards abroad. Who benefits then? Black market will keep rising and the stupid banks will continue exchanging at black market rates.

GTBANK charged me N49,999.98 for $200 today. That's N250 per dollar. Just insane. What a country!

emeldamicheals:
Thanks. Pls, incase u know pages where it was shared. Pls, let me know. I don't have issues with weather have been travelling. Both winter and summer. Plus, I love cold

It's on page 83. You go love cold na when you hear some prices like Florida I like your spirit jare. Reminds me of the story of some guy who wanted to rent an apartment in a high rise building. The rental price was highest at the ground floor and reducing as you go higher. So he asked for the price of the topmost floor. When they told him and it still wasn't within his budget, he replied "this building is not high enough for me"

Kemo88:
Hi everyone,
Learning a lot from this forum. Thanks a lot.
I want to ask for something though it sounds silly. I want to start contacting Doctors in Alaska via email. Please can I have a draft of a letter to be sent to the doctors. I'm JJC / first timer. I don't even know what the content of the email to the doctors should be. How do I introduce myself, where am I calling /emailing from? What do I want to do? Do they take deliveries of foreigners. I'm entirely confused. Please can anyone help with a draft. Please don't say asking jamb question o. Na the pregnancy cause am lol. Thanks a lot

Na really jamb question . There's no format really but you're on the right track about asking if they take delivery for foreign patients. Here's a sample of what I used some years back and I got reponses from all of them. Though some of replies were deleted immediately like what legendsmother posted so me pages back


"Hello,

Could you kindly advise details of your delivery charges/comprehensive maternity package price for self-pay international patients? I would also require Physician referrals if not included in the plan.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks and regards,

Preggie Mama

emeldamicheals:
Hello everyone, please, sorry in advance for my plenty questions. I be JJC for child birth in US. I have been searching to no avail for hospitals for now. My questions are:

What is the difference between non-profit or profit hospitals? Is there any of them that possess problem in the future.

Secondly, someone told me about a community hospital that was extremely cheap. Total bill of a thousand plus. Am not sure if its a good idea.

Thirdly, can someone help me with hospitals that are very cheap with doctor's contact. Like a total less than 5k USD. Any state is welcomed. Hoping to have a VBAC though.

Make una help me abeg. I have been surfing the net and this forum but I wan craze cos I hvnt made any head way. Am so confused.

Thanks in advance

Welcome. We were all JJCs at some point so no worries. Read back a few pages. Nef and Modath shared some details of hospital costs in different states. There was also a detailed link for all states in the US. Just drill down to a few states. Not more than 2 or 3. Focus on the weather too at the time of your EDD. If you haven't experienced winter before, it may not be a good time to go to a cold state. In summary, u have some very good starting points but u need to do some work by calling the hospitals u have decided to focus on. It would be easier from there.
Meanwhile that bill of a thousand plus sounds too good to be true. And you know what the saying is about if something is too good to be true.....

[quote author=fratermathy post=39874582]This is getting too old and stale.
.../quote]

Wow Fratermathy, well said! My oniovo representing. Wado!

orezimena28:
Yipee, on saturday November 7th, my first fruit became 1. Join me in celebrating my amazing son...

You guys should show my boy some love na haba!!!

What a cutie! Isoko Wado!

legendsmother:
It is when you see quotes like this that u just click back button on ur browser hahahahahah
Interested peeps pls pm me

Lolll!!! I'm very interested. Private room please . Does the delivery come with full scholarship until Grad School? See wahala

Congratulations firstymum! Thank God for a safe delivery. Kisses to your LO

Anizi nice one! Thanks
Nef has opened the book of Revelations! Overflow of options for all our mamas and mamas to be. Una do well o!!!