₦airaland Forum

gunther6:
I am not averse to it, Na lag u wan shoot or Abj

abj. j don fill ds 160 plus d application online. na just to pay mrv remain.

bigfrancis21:
Thank you.

That's new to me. Civil union vs engaged...what's that?

means u av been together for about 5 years at least and shows ties to one person.

gunther6:
Umaru 'Dicko' you no even hail your guy again, you don pay your MRV fee I no like Abuja o but its time I took a road trip

I go pay tuesday or wednesday oga gunner wat abt u? Make we go collect d visa together.

youngmoney416:
Amundu, I wish you the quick visa. Receive

skuskisku. Santarabobo I receive it.

imperiouxx:
Since you're sure then go for it and let them know you have kids (if asked at interview). Having kids at the time of filing green card makes life so easy for the kids.

yes thats my only motivation foe leaving nija. once those kids nack 21 am coming back. wetin i wan gk kill myself for dia. past experience has shown me old age is enjoyable in nigeria ifbu got money. i no ready to get stuck in an old peoples home.

imperiouxx:
Don't forget that being single gives no much room for doubt when you finally decided to file through marriage. If you feel filling civil union makes your case stronger at the embassy and you're actually into one, then do the needful. Best!

truth is i filled that cus i tot it wiuld give me a chance to add my kids names on the form but sadly nk such option. after submittjng i realised i could not make any change.

Holudarey01:
Happy birthday to this beautiful lady @purplesummer.
Wish you more fruitful years ahead.
All the best in your visa interview.
Cheers

u no gteet me abi?

imperiouxx:
Don't forget that being single gives no much room for doubt when you finally decided to file through marriage. If you feel filling civil union makes your case stronger at the embassy and you're actually into one, then do the needful. Best!

civil union simply means i have somebody here. it doesnt mean i am married. its not recognised in the us as a marriage just two people living togrther. bro na just way to taje tell them say i get ties to naija. i have researched in the us and it mostly refers to people who live together but have no plans of getting married yet.

imperiouxx:
The second part of my last post was corroborating what you said that failure is allowed in as much you tried. That's why I said it is his choice (failure/success) which no one can do anything about at this point.

kai. u dis guy u just dey make me like u small small sha. in other news. i filled civil union in my status on d ds160 cus there was no space for engagedm i hope it is tenable if i am asked and can explain with concrete evidence.

Walspring:
Am back.... Happy new month to you all..

where u waka go before? you better be present so u can help me get my visa. house i just chexked d app page and dates are available for may 10. abuja is still open. peepss book book book. lets go do our interviews and collect our visas.

bigfrancis21:
First off, life in America is not all beds of roses. Now, I am going to be plain and direct with you about life in America and tell it to you as it is. I am not wont to give off the impression of America as heaven on earth while actually the reality in the same 'heaven' is the opposite for many people living here. As a new immigrant to this country, basically you are starting life afresh and you would need between 2 to 5 years to be able to stand on your feet in this country and this includes sorting out your permanent residency status (many people get married to a PRdent or citizen, join the US army and become a citizen immediately thereby bypassing the green card step but joining the army requires signing about 6 years of contract with them, or obtain their PR by doing business and investing up to $500,000 or $1,000,000 depending on the type of business or by refugee/asylum status etc.) and this could take about a year or two to achieve, going back to school here in the US to obtain a US degree (our Nigerian degrees are not usually recognized here and to land well-paying jobs in corporate america, as an immigrant you would need to obtain a US degree and any attendant certifications where and when necessary - be prepared to go back to school again here in the US, establishing a credit history for yourself (I cannot overemphasize the importance of starting early as soon as one gets to America to start building one's credit history as this is the key to so many doors of opportunity in this country) etc. and it takes at least a year or 2 to have satisfactory credit history and a good score, adapting to the American culture, learning Americans and their ways of thinking and doing things etc. America has a high taxation rate, especially for employees. The tax rate can be very high especially if you're single. To give you an example, from a paycheck of $1,500 for 2 weeks of work (here you are paid biweekly and not once every month end like in Nigeria), about $400 is deducted in form of federal taxes, state taxes etc. leaving you with about $1,100. Or out of an annual yearly salary of $70,000, your actual take home pay would be about $46,000 as a single individual, with about $24,000 paid to Uncle Sam as taxes. Now, if you're married or you have kids, the tax rate is lower.

America is a beautiful country with an efficiently working system and well advanced technology in almost every facet of life. The weather is adorable such that within a year of staying here you begin to notice changes on your skin (with sunshine for only about 3 to 4 months of the entire year and cold/rain/snow for the remainder of the year, your skin begins to produce less and less of melanin pigment). The economy is robust such that without a university degree, there are lots of jobs for you to survive on but there is only an extent to how much you can make compared to having a US university degree. Food here is cheap and with $100 you can eat comfortably per month, especially if you cook at home. There is constant electricity 24/7 and you never have to worry about there being no light when you get home at night after a long stressful day. Water runs steadily at home - both hot and cold, and the choice is yours to use depending on the weather. Almost all homes are equipped with heaters and ACs such that you enjoy the best of summer and winter weathers. The system here works in so many ways. Depending on the state, there is often a minimum wage that is paid, and this ensures that nobody is unfairly underpaid in any work they do. Oh, did I forget the yearly tax returns? Did you know that every year you are required to file what they call a tax return, which is basically Uncle Sam's (nickname for the IRS) way of ensuring that everyone is paying their fair share of taxes and you are refunded some or all of Federal or/and state taxes you paid for the previous year which could amount to $1,000s? The internet service here is very fast with wi-fi in almost every house, on campus, some restaurants and fast food joints etc. There is much more enforced security and you can be sure of police arriving at your house in less than 5 minutes when you dial 911. The United States Postal Services works such that you barely have the need to use courier services except for international packages. The roads are all well-built with very few potholes here and there to ensure that your car lasts you quite a while. Needless to say, life in America is very comfortable but this comfort comes at a huge price. It is not for free neither is it cheap.

On the flip side, nothing in America is free. Every freebie you enjoy is accounted for in this country. You pay for every social amenity you enjoy down to the very little of it. Out of your biweekly paychecks per month you pay for your rent (or mortgage if you bought the house), light bill, water bill, gas bill (for cooking and for the house heater depending on the house type), internet bill, cable TV bill, monthly phone bill (phone service in this country is based on month to month subscription and for any month you do not pay or renew your subscription, your line is totally cut off and you're disconnected from friends and family. This is in reverse to what we have in Nigeria whereby if you don't have money to recharge credit on your phone, your line still remains connected for as long as 6 months and you don't have to worry about any monthly subscription fees whatsoever), bus transportation fares or car loan monthly payments (if you purchased your car on loan), gas/fuel for your car, feeding, miscellaneous etc. With little or nothing left after paying all these bills per month, you'd realize that you need to savings of your own. Then you have your relatives and friends back home asking you to send them dollars that afterall you're picking dollars from the streets.

To sum it up, you must have to work or be hardworking at whatever that you do to keep enjoying the social amenities that you enjoy. The system has been designed in such a way with several avenues that take the money away from you as you earn it, thus keeping you entrenched in the system.

Now, who are those I strongly recommend to come to the US? Those people who have very little or nothing going for them in Nigeria. People who work quite hard but have very little or no hopes of making it in Nigeria, people who have very little hopes of achieving, at least, a middle class life - a house, a nice car, a good job etc. in Nigeria. For such people, I strongly recommend them to come to the US. Please come over with any opportunity that you can get. Perhaps with hard work, you would get to live in a middle class style home that you've always wanted, drive new cars and models of your choice (most times on car auto loan with payment plan to pay back the bank or loan lender), have an above-average income job, enjoy the social amenities of America, etc. That is just about it, nothing more nothing less.

For those who already have a system working for them in Nigeria such as a successful business or a well-paying job with huge benefits today or sometime down the line, packing up your bags, abandoning a system already working for you and coming to the US would be your greatest folly. For this set of people, I would not recommend abandoning a system already working greatly for you just for the sake of going to obodo oyibo. With such system working for you, you could comfortably afford to visit the US at your leisure, come shopping in the US, etc. and still get to have a taste of American life while still having your system back home running for you.

With all of these said, it is left to you to evaluate your situation and see where you stand. The ball is in your court and the decision is yours. I ji ji, jide mma (you hold the yam and also the knife, meaning you how you choose to cut the yam is your decision to make). Cheers.

i have fallen in love with you for this response. the part i love most is the change in skin sheen.
fast forward i got a question. i filled the ds 160 form and in the place of status i filled civil union instead of engaged i hope it wont be a problem?

imperiouxx:
My point was about how hard it will be without any contacts. He has his choice and have made his decision on what next for him. Nothing I can do about that.

i was actually supporting u. reread my post.

imperiouxx:
Who is that in bold? About U.S, well, the choice is yours. No contact or whatsoever will make this journey extra hard for you to survive. Best of luck.

I agree with u bro but let's face it a lot of people have just one chance at a better life, if he misses it he might be stuck in the monotony of life here forever. Failure to me is welcome, it means you have tried to achieve a goal no matter the number of times. Stagnation is the only thing I am averse to.

Mayflowa:
Seriously! You want lalasticlala to put you out to the world? There is everything wrong with your intentions. Begin to take that thought from your heart.

You wanna abandon your job and become a fugitive here? People that come here legally find life hard at the start let alone you with no housing and job. The cold will finish you.

If you are interested in coming to America. Go apply for cheap school. Read and pass your GRE and take study leave. You may even qualify for scholarship. If you like America you could then work your paper to stay legally.

Why does all Nigerians want to become mega rich. Most people don't aspire to be mega rich in America. They just live a simple life and pay their tax. I have to take my time to talk to you so u won't face so much regret by ur decision.

ur right but wheen last when you in nigeria? I can tell u most people don't even eat 1 square meal talk less of round meal a day in dis country... I can't give him advise cus he doesn't even have a starting point but if he does have a place to stay my 2 cents is go... Life isn't easy in america but let's face it it aint a bed of roses here either. Even most nairalanders in nigeria sef dey form.. There are times I have as much as 1 million idle in my account and some times just 1k to siddon drink 2 big origin and nkwobi will be impossible. You swim with the tide of any ocean you are. Let's listen to his story and see if life in nigeria holds anything for him.
P.S aadeyi thanks for helping that guy pay his sevis fee.

done with ds 160 form. booking on tuesday for interview. an6body booking soon make we meet fot abuja.

dudkko:
I am from ekiti. Fayose is a scammer anyday anytime. Imagine his china station scam thinking that he can deceive the whole like he has been deceiving ekiti people. His days are numbered in ekiti.

he is aiming for vice presidency that is why he is trying to bring heaven down. his medicine men have told him he will become vice president. if u enter govt house see as he dey waste money on girls ur heart will bleed and he no gree pay salary

Agunechemba1:
That's the people's governor.


God bless the slayer of Tinubu.

The Voice of the voiceless.

His Excellency, Ayodele Fayose. The best serving Governor from the South West.

As you have shown the people of Ekiti state the dividends of Democracy, so shall God bless your going out and coming in.

that building he commissioned was funded by banks and is a tetfund project to be situated in eksu yet he brought it to where it will be of no use to students so it will look as if he has been working. The road he commisioned is just a kilometre at the cost of 500 million naira and it was already awarded and started during fayemi's tenure. He simply added streetlights and speedbreakers. Fayose is a rogue in ekiti when 2018 comes we will kick pdp out of the state.

imperiouxx:
Fine. How are you?

bros of life I am loyal o

DeeTus:
Cool bro. How u dey?

brodaly i am loyally loyal. anytin for ur boy? by way of advice. i get thrre usef visa for my passport. as i dey go amerika embassy now my sp9nsor is my uncle hope e no go matter. we no get same surname sha.

DeeTus:
Save all the info you already filled and return later.

oga Titus how far na?

DeeTus:
Save all the info you already filled and return later.

oga Titus how far na?

Adazlolly:
Goodluck, welcome to Abuja in advance. Waiting to chop fish with you in celebration of your successful visa interview.

amen. i claim it dear. but i dont chop fish again cus of fat o. na nkwobi tins. nwanne fresh fish odikwa very risky.

Holudarey01:
Good news.
All the best baba.
Everything go gel

bro i no sabi. i hope it works cis we plenty dem shortlist.

ProfTPE:
I boarded this taxi somewhere in Enugu-Ezike. I kept wondering why he needed so many locks to secure the Radio.

give me a call on will reply on whatsapp... My mail isn't working.

Peeps I just got shortlisted for GA. Grad school and marketing position. My dept chair recommended me.. I hope I make it finally cus its just for 2 people and my own dept no get GA.

Holudarey01:
I never even process anything. waiting for other options

it is well bro..

Fortissimo:
D***oflife I see you too.

wos wobi, shebi ur interview was in abuja? Abeg where the embassy dey? Besides sef do u know if may is full already?

Holudarey01:
all the best bro

fanks man.. Has ur I-20 arrived?

Hy peeps abeg when does tma close?

Halidaf congrats... Will pay ma visa fee next week. Am off to the embassy as soon as I can book a date.. Fortissimo I sight u.. Holudarey well don.. Don4eye ku ise o... Imperiouxxx how market na? Lovely weekend to everyone. Am still getting over the stress of my cotonou journey... Abuja will be my own point for interviews... Wish me luck.

Zenas212:
Okupe and Daniel are both politically irrelevant. Who cares if they decamp.

those idiots underestimated that animal called fayose. He made sure sherriff emerged so he can hijack the party structure. Mark my words if ayo should succeed as a viice president nigeria will be in for a worse reign than goodluck jonathans reign. Take it from people who have dined with him for long and know how far even when it means taking lives he can go.

happney65:
I dont know why some people are not banned for a long duration of time..Always bringing up wahala every now and then..This is very bad..I guess some ojoro is going on here...Too Bad.. stevecrun how u dey jare?

oh well thats life. i wanna fill d interview form jow. i will pay the bisa fee nect week. i thinkbi can fill the form first without paying right?

realsheggs that mail dont work no more drop ur whatsapp and i will cobtact u. this forum is pissing me iff really. i have been here since 2005 anddl this place is getting sort of a hub for fighting and trying to expise people private luves. really wat do u people get out of this? no need to fight and be petty. i have seen this in nigerian communities abroad. alwayds the same. bring him down mentality. i might close all my monikers for good. we need as a group to change our attitude. trying to ruin someonds life or exposing him on nairaland will not change him. is that a last resort or simply so that people can see u can do it. people bury the hatchet or ya all just gonna be making the same mistakes u made here in nigeria. anyone wants to get a russian visa open thread lets educate people. sorry for d typo i still dey sleep.