₦airaland Forum

[quote author=Ramj post=59436678][/quote]This may come late, but I did not have my baby in Chicago as earlier planned. I used Oakbend.

[quote author=Shawbabe post=55079087]I had a hard time understanding your text. Like you have a problem with using the word "did"? Really bad English. But that's not why we are here...

.....to be honest your wrong doing was not declaring in January your purpose for applying. Yes you were not asked but here you are again in March now declaring child birth? Nne even if I was the VO I would say in my mind you think we are stupid.
Secondly, your answer for budget is not YOUR budget. You quoted what you've heard. Saying "above 15K" could mean $1 million. Your answers to these questions comes across "guymanish" to me oh. So my guess is you were not credible enough for the VO. Coupled with all the errors you and Oga keep making in your applications, the thing appears like a joke to you people or desperate to them.


Since you know her English is not why you are here why even bring it up. And for the records, her words were very clear and I, and I'm sure everyone else understood clearly. Keyboard warriors.

Swisstk:
Someone kindly help out please.


How does one go about tax returns on items bought?

Is tax returns only done in the airport before departure or can it be done before heading to the airport?

How soon can one process it?

Thank you.

The US does not refund VAT to visitors like The UK and co. Unless on things like a new car about to be shipped. Thats a different procedure altogether. But in Macy's you can get a reduction... I think 11% on your purchases when you present passport and boarding pass. Don't know if they still do this though. Been a while.

Babatwi:
So, that was how you met your village person in far away Yankee and you people turned POE experience to village meeting. Lol. Lucky you.

Haha. Na so I see am o. 'Kent' complain jare.

I travelled with Emirates at 32 weeks plus yesterday. POE was Houston. It was such a long flight. 16 hours.

I had my doctor's fit to fly and the form on Emirates website. Was asked for just fit to fly and how far along I was. Guess they couldn't do the calculation. Every Emirates staff I met asked for my "birth certificate" lol funny people.

At houston, I was one of the first 5 or so people to get off the plane and saw there were just a few people there. But I had to use the bathroom. My money and documents were in my suitcase and needed it in my handbag. And I also needed to pee. For the 100th time.

By the time I got out the line was long already. When it got to my turn I was directed to a black guy.

CBP: hello, passport and landing card please
Gives him
CBP: You live in UAE? Dubai?
Yes.
CBP: ****mentions my name is from so so tribe
I said yes. I saw his name looked African but couldn't place it and asked here he was from

CBP: My mom is from mentions my state, my dad is from mentions my husband's state. Launches into a description of his village mentions popular people asking if I knew them. And even mentions where he had land. And asked if I knew it.

I said my husband is from his father's state.
CBP: but your last name doesn't show this
I told him that's because I am not taking my husband's last name. He said ok.

CBP: how old are you
Before I could answer he looks at my passport. And said ha! I wasn't even born yet by the time he came to America. By the time I was born he was in the military already.

CBP: is anybody picking you up.
Yes my concierge service is
CBP: the address on your landing card is quite far from here. Hopefully it will be close to your hospital.

Mind you he hadn't asked what I came for and I got my visa a year ago so not for childbirth. He just assumed i came to have my baby. All these while he was signing for me to put this finger here and that finger for scanning.

Told him what hospital I was using. He said how much do I have. I had declared over 10k. So told him. He said "my naija people are learning" before now they would try to sneak in by hiding their bumps and whatnot. I couldn't even hide my bump even if I wanted to. I was sweating like crazy. The airport was like a sauna. I had on a sleeveless top. They were lucky I even had on any clothes at all.

That's it he signed me in. Gave me his full name to ask my husband if he knows his family.

Picked my suitcases and was stopped by agriculture. Even though I had nothing to declare. He wrote dollar sign on my landing card. My bags were checked. I was given a form to fill. They didn't count my money though. That was how I bounced.

Actually I also called them and was told 32 weeks. As an overkill I went to their ticketing office here in Dubai and was told the same thing.

Flowers:
I called Emirates office last month when this issue of 32 weeks came up. I just called them again now, the number of weeks for single uncomplicated is 36 weeks. All you need is your fit to fly and signed medical certificate from their website. Please let's always confirm. So many people have bought tickets based on the 36 weeks. Before person go enter high jump.

freshtestimony:
I'm presently in LA, if you are looking for accommodation in LA pls mention me cos I ve a 2 bedroom apartment to share.

Hotel price won kill me.

Where in LA are you? My husband and I are coming tomorrow for 7 days. We booked Airbnb but if your rates are better we will cancel and port fast.

Good Morning guys,

After my first post here i had been getting emails and inquiries. I did not realize I had to actually reply from my email. I thought Nairaland had that dm option. If i had know I wouldn't have registered with my 'official private email' Let me address some of the questions here.

1. No I do not have a rented apartment in Chicago. I will be staying with family- However, I am going to America tomorrow and I could look around and give a cost estimate for apartment or you can check Airbnb

2. I do not have a flight for my birth trip in May. I only have for this trip. Using Emirates. Dubai-Los Angeles-Chicago-Dubai. Cost about 800 USD for my husband and I.

3. I am most likely using Presence Health Group Chicago, the closest hospital to my host is St. Francis Hospital. All inclusive cost without epidural and pediatrician is USD 3,500. I can't give reviews oo. Haven't even seen the hospital. Epidural is 650.

4. I did not have to use travelex or source for Dollar because there has been a fixed rate here for over 20 years and you can basically get Dollar at a freaking metro station at same rate nationwide.

5. As for the difficulty people have been having in booking flights I have some suggestions. Do not use agents. Look for flights yourself. And use airline websites. If you must use agents because you are busy or just can't get the hang of flight booking, get rates from different agents and compare. Or look for friends and family abroad that can help you book your flight in a stable currency and you pay them in Naira so u don't have much margins because of exchange rates.

Okbye!

Tatanda17:
Yes ooooo, am Chicago bound in May

Yay! Where in Chicago are you going and have you found a hospital? I will be in Cook County. Also are you due in May or traveling in May?

Hello All,

This post is long overdue. To say I am a silent reader is an under-statement. Every single time you see 'and so so guests' I am one of those guests.

I started following this thread in 2011 when my best friend since forever and I decided to have a baby. . A daughter we would name Mercedes!!! (Do not judge me.. I was watching Glee at the time) Anyway last year we got married and now we are going to have a baby May 2017. Rest assured, baby name has changed.

My visa story is not eventful. I have always had US visa, but this renewal early this year got me worried because i had just moved to another country and hadn't even worked up to 4 months. I considered going to My husband's visa was still valid by a few months, mine by 3 weeks, but we decided to renew same time to streamline.

Usual questions- where do you work etc etc. When did you get married, do you have family (My husband's family is in Chicago). She then spent a surprising amount of time asking us which countries we had visited before....in great details. Anyway visa was granted. I was not pregnant then.

I contacted some hospitals in Chicago because I know that people in America do not really understand our need to pay for 'free' services. The best I did was to give them the numbers to make calls for me because who has money for long distance calls.

The cheapest option I have so far is an all inclusive package of 3500. Except epidural of about 650 and pediatrician. I do not have a quote yet for this but it shouldn't be a lot.