₦airaland Forum

Mamabella:
Good day everyone, please I need some clarification . I flew from Houston to lagos and one of my luggage was missing . I had to be calling back to back both their call rep here in Nigeria and in the US. After 2 weeks they found the bag. However the airport in lagos iS asking mi to come pick up my bag at the Airport..please is that how it's supposed to be
?
I thought they were supposed to bring it to my address since it was no fault of mine . I.will appreciate your response .thank you.

Hi Mamabella.

Sometimes your lugage might be put on the wrong flight because the scanner reads it incorrectly or it doesn't even get on the aircraft at all and still at the departure airport.

Or, it falls off the the belt system as its moving through. Passengers also grab the wrong bag and don't realize it till later and then return it to the airport.

There might be lot of reasons they want you to come , and the reasons applies to all advanced countries.

1. They may want you to come and file Property Irregularity Report (PIR) for tracking and compensation ( if the luggage has been lost completely ).

2. What of if the luggage is found already and they re-scanned it (necessary for temporary lost bags or items) and discovered illicit drugs inside it, will the airport authority still ship the bags to you ?

Not all lost and found luggages/baggages are quickly shipped to the owners because criminals (even some airport staffs) might have compromised the contents and they want you to come and file PIR.

Or the bag is lost completely (they wont tell you this while you are at home) and they want to compensate you . Good LucK.

iyaaliyah:
Good afternoon everyone,

Pls, what can be done in this situation. I have an appointment soon. My school resumes in May. But I have to go to another country (African country) for work and I will have like a resident permit. How do I change my application and interview to the new place? Do I fill another form still on the same receipt or how do I go about this.

Iyaaliyah. Taal17 have told you the truth.
You cannot transfer non immigrant visa appointment from (example) Nigeria to Ghana or one country to another . You can only change /reschedule your non immigrant visa appointment from one state or post to another within the same country (ie Lagos to Abuja).
You will have to cancel your present appointment and go to your new country to purchase another MRV (visa fee) , fill ds-160 aligned to that country and book your new appointment.
NOTE: You can only transfer immigrant visa appointment from one country to another with genuine reasons and despite that it's 30 over 100% approval chance.

ZinnyG:
Please is there an answer to this cis I'm going through same situation

Hello.
The only avenue for every F1-visa applicant to get their desired dates is to apply for the expedite visa appointment.
US embassy gives priority to F1 visa applicants so if you do the process accordingly your emergency appointment will be granted before your school resumption.
You must have date-sign your form-120, paid mrv and SEVIS fee , and secured your first date before you can apply for the expedite visa appointment. Good LucK.

pathinv:
My sister is having her wedding in US in August and my mum was invited and we need an appointment for July latest. Can we apply for an emergency appointment with the Invitation card and letter of invitation sir. Will it work?

Hi.
Your mum is applying for B2-visa (pleasure) therefore she is not qualify for an emergency appointment.
If you want to give it a try the invitation letter has to be a tailored one and must present your mum as a must/prime attendee whose absence will affect the ceremony.

Omotolani26:
Hi everyone,

Please forgive me if this is the wrong forum to ask this question. I have filled ds-160 and selected Lagos as place of interview this is for B2 visa (so no chance for expedite). I have also started filling the appointment form on usvisappt website and selected Lagos as place of interview. But after payment I realized there is no date available in Lagos but there dates available in Abuja.

Please can I pick the Abuja location for interview and there won’t be any problem on interview day regarding this?

Hello.
You are supposed to wait until there are dates in Lagos because that is what you indicated in the beginning of your visa application.
Let's even assume that you wan to play a fast one on the embassy and picked Abuja post then i expect you to fill another Ds-160 based on Abuja and update it via opening of ticket in your AVITS profile so that your new ds-160 will tally with your appointment letter.
Deliberately doing visa application against the US embassy stipulated policy or rules is enough for a visa denial. Good LucK.

Princess080:
Good morning house.

Please I need your advice on my visa interview preparation. I applied for a professional study in master's in "applied machine intelligence" with concentration in "AI for Finance". I work with a financial investment company as a financial/administrative manager, I also lecture part time students in my area of disciplinary in accounting. I already have master's and PhD in accounting and business education. Job experience is over 15years progressing from secondary school teacher to my present job in my field of specialization. My husband is going to be my sponsor, he works in an oil multinational company in Nigeria, privilege to travel round the world due to his type of job. I also have a scholarship of $25,000 from the university, though I have admissions into three other universities, but I choose this particular one because the area of concentration blind with my career. I have a stepdaughter schooling at Georgia Southern university in US.

My question now is:
(1). Should I declare to the visa officer that I hold a degree in PhD?
(2). Stating only my husband as the sponsor while I have been working for 15years, is that not a red flag?
(3). Saying I have a family member in US if ask, hope is not also a red flag? Because in 2018 I have once applied for a visiting visa to visit her but was denied, since then I have not gone to America embassy again, except for my husband and two of our children that went visiting.

Please I need your sincere input and advice to my visa application. My school resumption date is in August 2025.

Hello

You have a very good academic, job, and family profile ( resumé ) but your denial of the year 2018 will keep hunting you.

US embassy are not moved or freaked again with your good (family/personality/academic ) history once you have been denied and annotated as an impending immigrant .

The only thing that can bail you out is genuine intention and how to communicate it very well with the consular because you have all other qualifications.

1. Yes declare your real profiles in your ds-160 including your Phd degree.
2. It is not a red flag. Your husband (followed by your parents) has the first responsibility of taking care of your well-being.
3..It is not a red-flag to mention your family in the US. GOOD LUCK

Morexxy:
Good morning house.

Please I applied sometimes in 2022 and 2023 but was denied visa. I want to now apply but where I’m worried about using the same school cos it’s the same school I used in both. Do you think I will be advisable to apply with the same school or it doesn’t matter? 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Hello.

Your F1- visa applications were not denied because of the school. Thousands of students (world-wide) have used the same school and got visas . Except if the school is not SEVP-certified school that offers programs that makes you eligible to enroll for F-1 and M-1 visas.
Work on your 1. Proof of funds . 2. Proof of ties. 3. Purpose of your study. 4. Your over all ds-160 profile, and 5. Post-graduation plans. Your ability to express yourself in the presence of the visa officer is also of utmost importance. GOOD LUCK.

oluseeno:
So are you saying once my DS 160 is filled for Abuja, and the appointment is in Abuja, I am good to go? Even though the MRV fees were paid for the Lagos location

Hello.
Yes fill another ds-160 to match your Abuja appointment. If you don't know how to update it just login to your avits profile and attach the new ds-160 asking avits to update it for you.
After 2-days go and print another appointment letter and it will match with your new ds-160 .
My answers on NL is empirical answers , not copy and paste or hearsay. It's what i know and have done. GOOD LUCK.

CrossX54:
Please how can I get earlier appointment date in Abuja? I'm looking for interview in April. My daughter's graduation is in May ooo.

Hello. The only avenue is through emergency appointment and i don't think you qualify because emergency appointment is based on three (3) categories; 1. Student emergency, 2. Business emergency, and 3. Medical emergency.


But if you have a tailored invitation letter for the graduation you may be granted an emergency appointment. GOOD LUCK.

Best256:
Greetings everyone.

I'm sure my question may have been answered. Mey una no vex. Abeg, should I still go with CEAC site to apply for the interview or go with new website; AVITS?

Thanks a lot.

Hello.

Here is the new and only approved USA embassy website to initiate your visa appointment procedures.

https://www.usvisaappt.com/visaapplicantui/login

GOOD LUCK.

oluseeno:
So are you saying once my DS 160 is filled for Abuja, and the appointment is in Abuja, I am good to go? Even though the MRV fees were paid for the Lagos location

Yes . Embassy will not turn you back. You are good to go.

oluseeno:
Hello everyone. Please, I need advice. I started my avit application with lagos and used that to pay for visa fee. But I was able to get a date in May for an interview in Abuja. I have yet to submit my DS-160. If I submit my DS-160 to the Abuja consulate, can I still have my interview in Abuja without having any challenges on the interview day?

Hi. The most important aspect is for your DS-160 to match your interview location, so in your scenario i will recommend you fill another ds-160 based on Abuja post.
Come what may you will still have your interview successfully but some hard-line interview officers can use that negligence to deny your visa by seeing you as an unserious visa applicant (that is if the officer does not have any reason to deny you).
In USA visa denial record (because consulate must give denial or approval reasons) , arriving late to your post can be jotted down as the reason for your visa denial if the consular does not have any other reason. GOOD LUCK.

ifeoluwasegun:
Thank you so much for your response, but the error wasn't on the DS-160 form, it was on the AVITS portal, details to fill before submitting to make payment. I realized the error at the point of payment and there was no way to correct it, so I had to cancel the pending appointment to create another one.

But I'm getting the error - Duplicate user found.

Hello. You have to create another AVITS profile entirely and save yourself the stress and waiting time. GOOD LUCK.

chika1996:
please I need help!! My brother made a visa payment for me. I copied the payment link to him and he paid using a US card but it hasn’t reflected on my portal. I created the first ticket, they gave a generic response, I don’t think the person that attended to that first ticket has any idea on how to resolve the issue. I created the second ticket, they said they have escalated it. It been 2 weeks now and I haven’t heard from them. At this point, I don’t know what else to do, I have mailed the consular office, the Nigeria AVITS or whatever, still no response. What else can I do?? I need help

Hello.

Payment by Card is the fastest because if your brother had paid the MRV successfully you would have been able to schedule your visa appointment almost immediately.

Nevertheless, the only avenue for you to lodge your complaint as mandated by the US embassy is to write an email from your registered email address. Below is Lagos & Abuja contacts and the email format.

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
AREDS-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

If you have challenges making payment via any of the payment options available on the website, 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.

If the above does not resolve your issue within 2 days then your last resort Is to go and pay another MRV but this time walk into any first bank to make the payment physically. GOOD LUCK.

glorious23:
Good day house, please I need help. First time applicant

i went to make MRV payment at the First bank and the applicant surname field on the portal was auto populated with my first name & last name. The bank staff advised me to initiate a new request on the AVITS portal, which I did by cancelling the initial request.

However after starting again, it now its says duplicate applicant found for user error. I check my profile and saw I have 2 applicant ID, but it’s giving me option to proceed and make payment. I have written support and they say they have escalated it, I don’t know how long I will have to wait for them.

Can I go ahead and make payment? I don’t want to make error. Thanks in advance

Hi.
Don't make the payment otherwise you might ended up paying another MRV. Anything duplicate error must be sorted out first .
You should not have deleted your initial pending appointment. All you need is to click on pending appointment again and it will take you to the page where you will generate another MRV payment advise which you will take to the bank. The payment advice which you generated last for only 3 days and after 3 days it expired and that was why the teller asked you to go and generate another one.
On logging in to your avits profile , all you need to do is
to click on pending appointment but instead you canceled the pending appointment.
WAIT for Avits to clear your duplicate user or create another avits profile entirely by abandoning the present one. GOOD LUCK.

Lee310:
Thank you Efe for your contribution. A quick one please… I was been asked if I applied to other institutions… for now, I’m applying to one and I got some applications on going with other schools but I’m have not submitted yet… if I get admitted into my first school then I don’t need others. Should I indicate that I applied to other schools in my application to my preferred uni ?

That honesty also will not affect your ongoing application with your present University. Some applicant might think that " If i tell my present University that i have put applications to other school they might not concentrate with me , or they might say if we deny him he or she still have other Universities to rely on, but that is not the case. American institutions will give you unbiased and honest admission judgement based on the application you have submitted. US embassy also expects an average F1 student visa applicant to have put admission applications to atleast two (2) schools. I will say be honest with your answer . GOOD LUCK.

dydx2020:
Hello, I need urgent answers please...I was denied for student visa in 2023. Now , how do I answer this question on DS160 Visit Visa?

" Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, or been refused admission to the United States, or withdrawn your application for admission at the port of entry? "

Hi. Denial under 214b does not give any specific reason and that is why the Ds -160 question did not ask you the reason for denial . Click yes on ds-160 and in the explanation section you have to be very careful because That is where your interviewer himself or herself will deduce the reason (s) for your denial .

I will act like a wise person and write something like this in the space ; I was denied an F1 visa under section 214b according to the rejection slip given to me ( and i respected the decision). GOOD LUCK.

Lee310:
Hello house, please help. I would be glad if my school gives me financial aid. I want the admissions as this is very important. I’m paying the application fee and credentials grading. What should I choose ? Should I click no and when the admission comes, I can try again for financial aid or I should shoot it at first with I will be needing the financial aid as it’s necessary for my enrollment.

Hello. Clicking yes or no will not affect your admission decision. Aside of PhD applicants whose enrollment are based on availability of funds, all other student admissions (Bsc & MSc) is based on academic standings.
Click yes since you are genuinely in need of the financial aid and if there is no financial aid for you and you can cover the deficit the school will gladly offer you admission based on your academic qualifications. GOOD LUCK.

AdisaMighty:
For those that recently got their US visa, which design did you get? First or second. Got my passport, Surprised that my renewal came with a different design (second)

Overview

Hi Sir.

Thank you for the information. It started last year

The US is rolling out a new visa design featuring the Golden Gate Bridge, replacing the previous Lincoln design, and these new visas will be issued alongside the older ones, which remain valid until their printed expiration date.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Japan will issue U.S. visas using the new Bridge visa foil starting August 19, 2024. Some visa applicants will have visas with a different look.

https://jp.usembassy.gov/new-bridge-visa/

oluseeno:
Hi everyone, I used my DS-160 code generated from the site to pay and register for my visa fee, I am now unable to login in to my ds 160 account again to continue my application…it’s telling me surname and year of birth do not match , please what can I do ? NB; I didn't fill out any thing on my DS-160 except writing out the code and the security answer, before using it to pay for my Visa fee

Hi.
You did not save or you have forgotten the ds-160 retrieval information but it is not a grave mistake. Go ahead and schedule your date as soon as your MRV payment is confirmed and after gotten your required date you can fill another ds-160 and have it updated in your aviits portal.
However, you may have a little delay in realising your desired date because the US embassy now access your ds-160 before granting dates especially for F1 visa applicants. That is why they state it on the website that you must complete and must have submitted a ds-160 first before requesting for a date . GOOD LUCK

Vickycindi10:
Hi everyone,

I recently got admitted into one of the universities in the USA and was given graduate assistantship with partial tuition waiver. So l’m working on my I-20 and visa application but requires some help.

Please l am a co owner of a small business. I and my sister started the business in 2018 from loan gotten from BOI. The business has since paid the principal and interest even before the due date. The business has been thriving and we have been able to open up branches in my current state.

So how do l best utilize this business in my visa process? Because l intend to use the business as my sponsor to cover up my deficits even though I don’t receive outright salary from the business. Is it possible that the company starts paying me monthly to build up my account or l should just use the company’s bank statement?

Will the visa officer ask for the company registration documents to determine the board of directors? Because my name is not part of the directors as at the time of registering the business.

Hi. One of the ways to utilize the business in your visa process is for the company to write a Sponsor/Letter of support (employment bond) indicating your role in the company and explaining why they are ready to fund your study abroad .

If your company can follow the aforementioned procedure then they can present the whole company's account as your POF. You do not have to start building the account, you only have to be sure that the account is genuine and have the funds that is more than your deficit .

You cannot take all visa- support documents imaginable to the embassy as a prospective F1 visa applicant. Just go with your Form I-20 , proof of funds, and academic credentials. If the consular needs further proof or evidence you can be place on 221g in order for you to go and bring the required item or whatsoever. GOOD LUCK.

Vickyikpa:
I would like to inquire please, I want to use my father as my sponsor but I am building the funds in my account for i-20. Is that okay? What is your suggestion on that?

And what are the options for building account for bank statement? Please help a sister. Deficit is 51k

Hi Vickypa. You can use your father as your sponsor but you do not have to build the account . If you want to deposit the deficit in pieces go ahead and do that and if you want to deposit it in bulk you should also go ahead. But the most important point is that the statement of account must be absolutely genuine because the US consular will verify if need be.
US embassy does not use financial verification method related to UK and Australia embassies so all the US embassy needs is that the money is real and the account is genuine .
However, if you are a married applicant with kids you have to be very careful and have a genuine reasons why your father is funding you . GOOD LUCK .

follygold:
M filling ds 160 for my sis coming for my vacation in May 2nd. She had not completed her ds160 for. But she was able to secure a date. Will this affect her application?
2. My school location in usa is 4 hours drive from where I live, should I write an hotel as a place of arrival for her or my address?
3. She was denied visa once when she tried attending my brother's graduation.what should she write as a reason for denial?

Hi.
Not fully completed /submitted ds-160 will not affect her application but she should submit the form finally and print out confirmation before her appointment day.
2. If you are living alone and your apartment is sufficient for both of you yes you can list your place as her arrival venue especially since she is visiting for a short time.
3. Since denial under 214B does not state a particular reason (s) just write it there that : I was denied under INA 214B which was best known to the consular but i respect the decision. But i will advise you change her reason of visit because she has been annotated for immigrant intent. GOOD LUCK.

Castalia:
Hello all,
Please is it OK to use a company's account for POF for F1 visa?

The company is a limited company with more than 1 director, but the dad who is the sponsor, is the only signatory to the company account.

If it is not OK, then can the money be transfered in bulk to the dad's personal account and used? Wont the bulk sum be queried?

Please i have been reading through the thread for a few days and I haven't seen this question answered directly. Kindly help.

Hi.
Let me help JMG12 . You cannot use the company 's account if your sponsor is the sole signatory. Not only that , there must be scholarship award or sponsor 's letter or agreement bond which will state your relationship with the company and the reason the company is willing to fund your education if any company account must be used
For your last resort , the money can be deposited into your account in bulk but it must be stated as educational support fund. Do not call it a gift as was recommended by JMG12. GOOD LUCK.