₦airaland Forum

Otelsmyg:
Good evening everyone.

I am really confused, please I need advice.

I have full funding ($32,184) for my MS program that will start Fall 2025. My school asked for $5k proof of fund to add my spouse as F-2.

Here is my question, I want to know the effect that the proof of fund that I am going to send to the school will have on the visa interview. I plan on going together with her to the interview.

NB: That both me and my wife are working in a good company here in Nigeria.

1. Should the whole $5k be in my account, and what will this mean to the consular officer since she is also employed.

2. Should the whole $5k be in her account, and what implication does it have.

3. Should we split the fund, say $3k for me and $2k for her, and what implication does it have.

NB: we don't have a joint account.

4. Please who has gone interview with their dependent at the same time, how did it go, what do we expect.

Please I need you guys to talk to me before overthinking finish me.

Hello Ote.
I have answered this question b4 but let me expound it. I do however hope someone with good experience can corroborate (it seems you want to compare multiple answers).

1.The best option is for the whole 5k to be in your account because you are the principal applicant and your wife is your dependent. That is that , you are also the bread winner of the family (US consular are human beings and they understand Nigerian family characteristics).

2. The whole 5k can be in her account too it does not really count . Some wives are more learned or more financially stable or calculative than their husbands. The only two things that voted for the money to be in your account is that ... You re the principal applicant and You re the husband . It does not affect the visa outcome but it affects the mind of the visa officer .

3. Splitting the fund is becoming a complex case. It's better you transfer the money into either's account. I am not voting for this but if you don't have a choice you can go ahead .

4. I have done it and i know lot of people who have done it. No individual family transcripts can help you. Go back to the beginning of this forum and study different family F1 visa transcripts.

Good LucK 👍

Drone95:
Pls my start date is May 25th(Summer term) as indicated in the 1-20 form, but the date I currently saw is September 2025, can I proceed to picking September and then apply for expedited date ? If yes I need someone to put me through I read it on their website but I don't want to mess up

Hello Drone.
Pick September 2025 because picking any date first will give you other options (reschedule and emergency appointment). Not picking a date at all leaves you in a delicate situation because you won't have access to those aforementioned options.

Follow the attached screenshot (click on the arrow) in the first and 2nd page. First page will take you to the 2nd page (inside your avits profile ) and in the 2nd page (emergency appointment page) you must tick the circled after which you will have to click on Create Emergency Request.

Be certain that you have paid your SEVIS fee and have signed your Form I-20 before you make the move . Attach sevis fee receipt , and Form-I 20 in the upload option. Ciao 👍

Otelsmyg:
Good day everyone.

I want to add my spouse as F-2 (dependent) and the school wants a $5k proof of fund. They said that the proof of fund document can be in my name or my spouse's name or a sponsor's name.

Please, which person's financial documents should be used and why (what impact will any choice of the financial documents be on the interview), bearing in mind that both the student (F-1) and the dependent (F-2) will attend the interview at the same time.



NB: Both the F-1 and F-2 works in a multinational company here in Nigeria.

F-1 Master's program is fully funded.

Hello.
You can use your personal account as the principal applicant or use joint-account (as husband & wife).

Don't use any sponsor's name except if you have the real sponsor. Both of you seems to be career oriented. Being working in the same multinational firm is a solid background for your joint motives. 👍

Tomi321:
Thanks for your swift response. But then what do i do since dates are not available in Lagos? Do I just keep checking until there are dates?Also, I hope the 1 year validity of the visa fees will not expire before the dates for Lagos are open? I will appreciate your advice on this. I am not eager to get a date, I noly want to ensure my fees does not waste due to unavailable dates

What you can do is to raise a ticket or email the embassy or keep waiting . It is the onus of all visa applicant to research and verify their appointment location before they chose a post.

No matter how urgent you want an appointment you cannot rush or force the US embassy out of their yearly , monthly, weekly or daily allotted calendar routings except if your case qualifies for emergency appointment. 👍

Wealth1990:
I have a passport error number on my visa appointment letter .I need suggestions how to rectify the issue. It's been a month I raised a ticket until now no response.

Hello.
If the error is just one alphabet or number you can attend your appointment like that but if it's entirely whole number error ( eg boy200 ....boi200 or boo200 manageable / boy200.... girl200 not manageable) you can raise a ticket or email the embassy.

Naturally your appointment letter is a gate-pass. Your ds -160 information as well as your physical travel passport is what the US embassy follows in issuing your visa and recording your data. 👍

ChiomaCharity:
Good day, everyone.
I need some assistance while filling out the DS-160 form. Should I list my National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) separately as two distinct entries, or should I combine them into one? I also took a one-year break between the two programs for my Industrial Training (IT). How should I best represent this on the form?

Hi.
If you acquired the OND & HND in different institutions then you should list it differently eg, Osisatech OND masscom 2010, Kadunapoly HND masscom 2015. If you have acquired the OND & HND in one school then you have to list the last one only eg : KadunaPoly, HND masscom 2015.

Leave your industrial Training. It's part of your HND qualification curriculum. 👍

[quote author=zinachidi post=135098930][/quote]There should be reschedule options in her dashboard. Anyways that's a profile issue.


If you are unable to create a profile on AVITS or you encounter other error while using your profile, email us at LagosNIV@state.gov with the following information: cc: nigeria@usvisaappt.com

USE THIS SUBJECT LINE: V77 - Profile Issues on AVITS

Full name
Date of birth
DS-160 confirmation number (starts with AA)
Passport Number

A short description of your situation including screen shots if applicable. (attach the current appointment letter and her dashboard display)

Also explain her needs to reschedule due to current date tallying with her examination.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Upon receiving your request, our team will assess it and contact you with next step of action.👍

Tomi321:
Please can someone kindly guide me on my current situation with getting US tourist visa appointment in Lagos consulate. I already filled my DS-160 form, selected Lagos as my desired location, submitted and made payment. On getting to the appointment page to select a date, the website says here is no available date in my location (Lagos). I changed it to Abuja and I found that there are available dates in Abuja. Can I select Abuja and then go for the interview or do i need to fill another Ds-160 form to choose Abuja as my location and I hope I dont have to make another payment or what is the way forward. I will appreciate your advice on this.

Hello Tomi.
If you select Abuja you are applying against the rule and regulation of the US embassy but you will still be interviewed. In this respect you have to follow your mind.

If you are ready to pull the stunt pick Abuja and fill another ds-160 indicating your Abuja post in the beginning. You must update your ds 160 after this and print another visa appointment letter.

Note: This kind of stunt is very likely to have repacaution because the system will retain your initial Lagos post despite the fact that your ds 160 is now aligned with your location and matched your appointment letter. 👍

tumininuoby:
I have an appointment booked for the next two weeks, all i have is a payment screenshot. I belive i need payment receipt to take to the embassy, but i could not find it anywhere

Your payment screenshot is sufficient. All they need is proof of payment. Print the screenshot out in a clearer form (especially if you have paid by card or bank transfer). Or go to your Banking App if you will be able to download clearer payment evidence 👍

tumininuoby:
Help needed!!!!! Paid for visa fees 185$ in November and now I do not have a record of it in my email or anywhere else. But I can still see the debit from my bank account. How can I get the visa fees payment receipt? Thanks

Hi Tumininuboy.
You have to give more information to your question. Have you booked an appointment and you only needs the payment receipt to take to the embassy ? Or you need the payment receipt to quote while booking your appointment?

You can go to your bank if you pay via transfer or card may be they can assist. Or use the debit screenshot to email the embassy on payment issues. 👍

zinachidi:
Hello all.

Please this is the situation of someone.

She is a PhD student in the USA and she applied for an interview waiver (Dropbox) for Abuja to to renew her visa. But no dates in Abuja again for that option, and when she tries to use emergency, it says she is not eligible. She has also tried rescheduling but that calendar page is blank. What can be done please. She really needs May date for Abuja.

Hello Zinachidi.
Your attachment showed a successful booking of April 28th for the said applicant and the next step for her should be OIS drop off appointment. Despite this she is supposed to have at least 3x reschedule options on her dashboard but that also seems to have disappeared?

Anyone under F1 visa appointment (fresh or renewal) is supposed to also qualify for Expedite appointment but if the option is also not displaying well that means she is not qualified.

I want to summarise that her MRV payment confirmation has issue based on the inscription in her profile .

* Is she physically in Nigeria ?
*How did she pay the visa fee ?
*Was her initial visa issued in Nigeria ?

May be she should write to the embassy on profile issue .

Note: Click on print appointment letter may be the already booked date would be displayed.👍

Toptierworldwid:
Thank you very much

I have one more questions please
Can I tell the school to include some available saved funds as personal funds on the I20 like $20k.
Just incase the VO ask me, I’ll tell him/her that’s the money my parents saved with me to support me or should I just focus on my uncle which is my sponsor .

Hallo.
You cannot dictate to the school without physical financial evidence ( just as @smartpolitician have told you) , therefore you must present your personally saved funds of the $20k to the school before they can do what you want. 👍

Kingsleo:
Please can I contact on WhatsApp? My mums interview is on the 29th April. We need to update her ds160 cos it carries different location. Please I need help.

Hallo.
@Cashmadam has guided you appropriately. Fill another ds 160 and pick the right location. Login to your profile (avits) , raise a ticket (update of ds-160 and attach the new one with the correct location) and log out.

Log back after 24hrs and print out another visa appointment letter as it will reflect your new ds-160 confirmation number . 👍

Toptierworldwid:
Hello, Please I have few questions

Should I include my sponsor name on my I20 or I should leave it as family funds

Secondly, My COA is $35k and I only have a scholarship of $7k will the VO be convinced my sponsor which is my uncle will take care of that because it seems more easier with full funding scholarship nowadays

Hallo.
US visa interview officers (VOs) does not like to crack their brains during work hours. They have lot of visa applicants to cover,therefore any stumbling block (complicated issues) against their time would be cut off.

When you say family-fund " Is it your father or mother , or aunty or mother-in-law ? You will leave the visa officer with further inclination to probe you but there is no time . ** New or inexperienced or impatient visa officer will deny your visa immediately. Experienced one might place you on 221g or sacrifice his or her time to query you the more .

Mention your uncle as the sponsor in specific term.

NOTE: Your làst paragraph is a fallacy. You must scale through all F1 visa application pass marks in order to be successful. Ciao.

Dixoxoxo:
This is wrong information but thank you for responding.. Is there anyone that has been through this first hand?

Hello.
My answer was based on outright denial. Visa circumstances (in which they needs you for re-bio metric or data update) is different. 👍

missidy:
I applied for expedited appointment date. I followed the steps and clicked on submit. I didn't get any notification or email neither can I see the request on my dashboard. Is this normal?

Hello.
Don't rely on notifications because notifications might delay to deliver or might not even sent as a result of system error or glitches.

After 24hrs of requesting for the expedited appointment always login to your profile (on AVITS) intermittently and click on " Reschedule Appointment"
It will take you to nearest date if your expedited appointment has been granted. 👍

Folukemi01:
Good morning everyone, please my interview is early next month, pls give me any tips that would help me for the interview
anyone at all

Hi Folukemi.
@JMG12 has given you some fantastic tips but your question contain zero information about your visa application. You cannot really rely on generalized success tips as Individual visa case is different.

Is this your 1st or 2nd time ? Is your application PhD , MSc, Bsc or M1 ? Community college or University? Are you single or married ? Full funded or no funding ? Etc. Every question must contain individual information in order for people to give you near accurate opinions. 👍

Dixoxoxo:
Hi guys, after waiting since April 3rd my status changed to refused this afternoon. Can anyone give me any advise on how to go about this? I am guessing that I would have to go for a physical interview. If anyone can tell me the timeline it took for them to go for an interview after seeing this refused status. Did they return your passport or hold on to it? Did it take a week or two weeks? Did they call or email? Any info will be appreciated. Also submitted in Lagos.

Hi Dixoxo.
Of course you are no more qualify for IW again because the strongest brick wall against qualification for IW is when you have been refused a visa before and now that you have been refused you are back to queue with fresh visa applicants until after you secure a new visa again.

You will be able to collect your passport this week (Friday) at your chosen pick up location but unfortunately you will have to start afresh by purchasing another MRV and securing another (physical) visa appointment date in order to re-apply.

They cannot hold on unto your passport (except if you have committed a bad visa offences or needed to be arrested) and with that they will have to lure you to the embassy not holding unto your passport.

NOTE: You have likely overstayed or abuse your previous visa or you misrepresented some information in your renewal - visa application (ds-160) in which the embassy cannot confirm. Wait until you receive your passport along with INA 214b (or 212 etc depends on circumstances) denial slip before you can finally decide your faith. 👍

AnCorner:
My mom's interview is scheduled for next month (May). The Nigerian passport she used for her visa application will expire in February 2026, so she recently renewed it some days ago. The new one has both the new and old passport numbers in it.

Does she need to update her DS-160? She plans to take both current and renewed passports along for the interview.

Hi Ancorner.
Ds -160 (visa application) is a vital form and it mostly determine how your overall personality and application is viewed. Despite the fact that your Travel Passport usually carries old and new passport number but ds-160 is an individual application form which requires only your valid passport number.

Fill another ds-160 with her updated information, update the ds-160 in her avits profile and print another visa appointment letter for her. There is plenty of time for you to do this so don't hesitate. 👍

chiammaka:
[color=#550000][/color]Hello Everyone, I need advice. I have 2 sponsors on my I-20 but the DS-160 form only allows 1 sponsor's information. How do I handle this? Any experiences? Thank you.

Hello Chiammaka.
On the ds 160 Select "Other" if the available options (like Self,Family, or "Sponsor) do not fully represent your funding sources.

Choose "Other " and provide details: In the space provided, clearly explain that you are using a combination of funds. For example, you could write, "Combination of personal savings, family support, and a scholarship etc. 👍

Gratitudes081:
Good evening everyone,
Happy Easter.

I received a 20Hr GA position Award that covers full tuition fees, health insurance and a stipend of $17,000 a year.

The quoted living expenses from the school is $27,000, which means I have a deficit of $10,000 (after subtracting my stipend from the living expenses)

Ordinarily, I am very sure that my stipend is enough to cater for my living expenses for the year, but they said I have to show evidence of the balance.

I have spoken with my bank and they are willing to borrow me the deficit as proof of fund to get my I-20 and also for visa interview, after which I return it back because I honestly don't have anyone that can cover such.

My questions are:
1. I have not received such a huge money before in my account, hope it won't look suspicious especially during Visa interview, seeing the money just came in to my account?

2. How long does the money has to be in my account before my Visa interview?

3. What is the best advice you guys can give to me on how to go about this without issue.

I will appreciate your positive thoughts on this.
Thank you.

Hello.
1. It won't look suspicious. US embassy does not care about that. Genuineness is what they want. The deposit may indicate " educational support fund.
2. Leave the money in your account until after you have gotten your visa and ready to travel .
3. There is no best advice than for you to move forward since you have seen a helping hand from your financial institution. Ordinarily the US embassy/consulars prefers to see the deficit amount deposited or available in visa applicant's personal account (PhD/MSc especially) . 👍

Lagzyl1:
Good evening everyone, i live in UK with my family now want to move to USA with my family but i am confused if i should indicate it to the visa officer that my wife and the kids will be going to USA permanently with me or to tell the officer they just need the visa just incase they want to visit me. Also i dont know if i should tell the visa officer that i will be coming back to United Kingdom after my studies? i am really confused on what to say..

Hello.
I have sum it up in your question that you want to relocate to the US with your family through the study route.

In that respect honestly is the best policy but some truth does not have to be blunt (too direct) in order to not look as if you are relegating the UK (they might ask you to process immigrant visa).

Tell the consular that if better career opportunities surface in the course of your study in the US you won't mind relocating your family permanently, especially career opportunity for you and educational opportunities for your kids. Good LucK.

Princkez:
asking because it's my first time

Hello.
You can use any Android or apple phone or iPad or laptop or desktop computer. They all do same task regarding browsing the internet. Any phone of 3GB RAM upward will connect to the internet faster . Ciao.

klifeomg:
Yes. I am absolutely capable financially. I work as an engineer and can fund it BUT I am just concerned about that question reducing her chances despite presenting a sufficient amount in the bank statement. Someone here said, once you are asked to provide documents, it means your chances are reducing. I don't know how true that is, though. She has a couple of broken teeth though and I would like her to see the orthodontist - that's all.

Your last statement (Any senior citizen (older people ) going....) makes a lot of sense too.
Thank you @Efetobore1980 and Happy Easter

Hello.
I don't believe the statement that once you are ask to bring a document by the embassy it's a visa chances reduction.

Narrate your mom's teeth fixing in the visa application (ds-160) and teach her to state it if asked by the consular . Truth is all they need.

If possible you should contact the orthodontist and get appointment for mom before hand. The orthodontist address and contact info can be stated in the part of the ds-160 that ask : where else do you want to visit in the US ?

US consulars knows that 85% of senior citizens have one medical issue or the other due to years of bodily activities or stress (especially women). Good LucK.

Princkez:
Please can I use my android phone for visa appointment booking?

Hi.
Your question is like : Can i use my hand to eat rice if i don't see a spoon ? Ciao.

klifeomg:
Hi, I have been reading through comments and noticed this question: "Are you planning to get any medical treatment while in the U.S.? ". I am applying for a Visitor's visa for my Mom to come see me and I am fully sponsoring the trip. I'm curious,if she says she will receive medical attention, would that reduce her chances?

Hello.
It is a delicate question. Americans (govt organisations) wants the truth. If they ask you " have you rob before ? And you says yes" i have robbed before but I have changed " They tend to give you another chance and trust you but you will be kept on radar (monitoring).

In your mom's case if you (the sponsor) are absolutely capable financially in terms of status and your mom has a physical or glaring body defects ( using walking sticks, slow walking , weel chair , etc) as a result of old age why not ? You can say she will use the opportunity to seek medical attention.

Even if she is upright and sound and physically fit (but with internal defects) she can still tell the truth. It all depends on the availability of funds from the sponsor as well as the sponsor's profile.

NOTE: Any senior citizen (older people ) going to America (especially with obvious body weakness) is usually seen as trying to seek a medical attention. The US embassy does not care but do you have the money to fund it ? Happy Easter.

Esther00ome:
Hello good evening everyone I am confused on how to make comments or post on this website but please I have an issue I don’t know if anyone is experiencing the same and If you know a solution

I paid my MRV fee on the 8th of April and ever since the forward and backward arrow is not working on the calendar not letting me see any dates beyond April.
When I select both Lagos or abuja it says there are no available dates but I know there are dates on other people’s Avits currently it says nothing is available on mine, Please does anyone know how to fix this issue

Happy Easter Aunty Esther.
Change your browser or gadgets (ie from Chrome to Microsoft edge, from phone to laptop vice versa) and clear your browsing history and retry.

If the issue persist do the following official recommendation from your official email address:

If you have challenges making payment for your visa fee or you have paid and it is not reflecting on your AVITS profile, email us at LagosNIV@state.gov with the following information:

USE THIS SUBJECT LINE: V45 - MRV ISSUES ON AVITS

Full name
Date of birth
DS-160 confirmation number (starts with AA)
Passport Number
Copy of First Bank receipt or any other evidence of payment
A short description of your situation including screen shots if applicable.


===≠=====≠

ABUJA

email us at consularabuja@state.gov with the following information and as much attachments as possible.

USE THIS SUBJECT LINE: V45 - FULL NAME - PAYMENT ISSUES

Full Name (as listed in passport)
Passport number
Copy of DS-160
An explanation of the issue, including system screen shots if applicable

After 48hrs of sending the email log back to your profile and it should be accessible to date calendars. Good LucK.

ChiomaCharity:
Good day everyone, I’m trying to book an appointment for the interview but no available date for Lagos till February 2026, kindly advise what to do. Because the school is supposed to resume by September 2025.
Thank you.

Hello Chioma.
Best256 has given you the clue . Let me support by saying you must pick a date (February 2026) first and start looking for nearer dates (you will have 3-5 reschedule options) because the date calendar may disappear entirely if care isn't taking.

Picking a date first gives you reschedule & emergency appointment (in the case of no nearer dates this is your last resort) options. Not picking a date at all leaves your Dashboard on AVITS blank. Happy Easter.

Lagzyl1:
Hi everyone I picked London Embassy while filling my DS-160 but when I was about to schedule my appointment I saw a nearby date at Belfast.

Can I possibly pick Belfast.
Hope the DS-160 would be accepted

Hi Lagzy.
Yes. The Ds-160 is acceptable for either of the post. Go ahead and pick your date. Ciao.

FisayoYe:
Hi Efe,

Please I choose free delivery unknowingly and I will be interviewing next month in Abuja but I am based in Lagos.

Please do you know how I can update the delivery option to premium delivery on the Avits portal before my interview so my passport can be delivered to Lagos?

Your response would be appreciated.

Hi Fisayo.

Login to your profile on AVITS and follow the instructions (as in the attached screenshot). You can change back to premium delivery 24hrs prior to your interview . OR go and request for premium pick up on OIS immediately after the approval of your visa .

https://appointment.oisservices.com Ciao.

Treyknowles:
Thanks

I didn't share my transcript because I didn't remember some of the questions and answers I gave because everything happened so fast and I didn't wanna provide a fake transcript.


I was interviewed by the chubby white lady at the US consulate in lagos, my appointment was for 6:45am.

VO - Good morning sir
Me - Good morning
VO - Pass me your passport and i-20
Me - Here you go
VO - why are you going to the US
Me - I am going to study for my masters in Business analytics at the University of south dakota, I have been...
(VO cuts in) Why do you need an MBA
Me - Its not an MBA, It's a masters of science in business analytics
VO - yeah why do you need this degree in the US
Me - I started talking about why I chose the program then she cut in
VO - I mean why do you want to study this course in the US
Me - I chose the US because asides from the quality education it is the most culturally diverse country in the world... (VO cuts in again)
VO - that's not true, anyway tell me about your financing
Me - I have a loan from Mpower which covers my cost of attendance, it is $25,000 and I also have $7,000 to cover my interest payment while in school
VO - what is your interest rate
Me - 11.49%
VO - what about your parents, will they be supporting you?
Me - yes they will (I wanted to explain how they contributed towards the interest payments but she cut in again)
VO - what do you do for work?
Me - I work as a **** at ****
VO - How much is your salary?
Me - #****
VO - (typed for a few seconds) I will be placing you on Administrative processing, I will hold on to your documents and you will be contacted later (She didn't exactly say it like this sha)
Me - Thank you (I took the white paper and left)

Hello.
This transcript is outright and pre-meditated denial. It does not deserve 221g. If anything the embassy is investigating if you have not committed other visa fraud or looking for loopholes to ban you.

Eventual visa approval for this transcript is dim. Ciao.