₦airaland Forum

dasparrow:
Will do. Thank you. However, is it wise to purchase my flight ticket when I am not sure of what the outcome of the transit visa application is going to be? Don't want to loose money.

Ethiopian Airline will take you Mexico from Lagos via Addis. You do not need transit through the UK.

justwise:
Not at all, you can state that and add a note in your form to say that she became a British citizen after your last application.

She doesn't need to provide any document regarding her brief stay in the UK.

Thanks @Justwise. I appreciate.

@justwise and other gurus
My wife is British/Nigeria. She return back to Nigeria in December 2015 after spending 6 months in the United Kingdom. She currently staying with me as she has no intention of going back soon. My problem is that in my four previous successful U.K. Visas, her nationality with Nigerian before she got her British passport in 2015. I intend to change it now to British Citizen living in Nigeria supported with both her British and Nigerian passports. Will this new information in my application affect my chances? Should my wife provide a supporting letter to clarify her dual nationality and time in the UK? When she was in the UK she worked for 5 months before returning back to Nigeria. I am applying for 5 years business visa to attend a conference in April 2017 which will cost me £600. My current 2 years UK business visa will expire on the 10th of April 2017. Thank you in advance.

wolfash:
@OP
Thanks for the eye opener.
I agree with some of what you wrote.
But with all due respect and information available to me, I am yet to come across any official statement where RCCG spoken against the government, I know a lot of Christians who attends pentecostal churches who are angry with the government before now used the medium to accuse the government of bias and trying to break the bones of Christianity in the country.
And let's not forget this is Nigeria, not USA, we are sensitive when it comes to religion, because we are still working on our coalition and unlike most countries, we have almost equal number of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, which gives room always for suspicion and sensitivity.

Lastly, I don't know if you are a Christian and if you are whether your own denomination uses the same organisational structure as RCCG and most pentecostal churches (meaning you could be catholic, Anglican, etc), but which ever, I will like to say you can't separate spirituality from the governance of church, if start saying GOs have a specific number of years they must use, then you are saying God doesn't have a say in when a Christian leader should hand over like we saw severally in the bible, citing Moses, Elijah, etc as example.

Thanks

The only thing aspect of this code I have found offensive is setting tenure limit for head of church/mosque. By the way can some tell me the tenure limit of the Pope who is the head of Roman Catholic church?

Kollysweden:
I've got a bit of my personal experience to share here. Justwise would know me too because I've emailed you two years ago for advice regarding applying for a Swedish visa which got turned down anyway.

So here's it. Am 24 Married to a Swedish citizen and I've been denied Swedish visas twice German visa once and Greece once. I took the Greeks to the European commission court before they finally issued my visa then went with it, flew to Sweden and got my permit there. Before I did that though I was denied American visa and here's the transcript.

VO- Good morning,
Me- I didn't answer
VO-Where are you going in the USA-
Me Hawaii
VO-Does your wife have a US visa(With a stupid look)
ME- No and I showed her my wife's passport (From this moment she got mad, why though? I don't know.)
VO-How old is your wife?
ME-20
VO-Where did you get married?
Me- Seychelles
VO-How long have you known each other?
ME-2 years
VO- The paper will tell you more about your denial blah blah blah
ME- Squeezed the paper into my pocked and bounced.

Immediately I got the paper, I drove straight and withdrew money from my account and paid for a new visa fee at GTB in Abuja because i felt I could still stand a chance. The VO didn't even ask for anything during the interview. Just checked my passport for visas (I've been to Asia, Ireland and South Africa with properties in South Africa itself even brought property documents in case I was asked why I go there alot) What I noticed though is the fact that two particular women VO on that day were denying ANY and EVERYONE while the men LISTENED carefully to everyone and for real if you had a convincing story the men will grant your visas and if you don't they won't. Got me wondering why it's this way. Anyway since I was called by the Greeks to get my visa and came to Sweden, I threw away the payment slip for the next interview and forgot about the whole American thing then last month my wife said we should try it again. Nah so we take train go Stockholm from Gothenburg. The embassy had about 4 applicants all of whom are on resident permit since Swedish citizens themselves don't need visas to Yankee.


VO-How are you
Me- Am good.
VO- Smiles
VO-What are you going to do in Hawaii?
ME-Oh you finally asked!! The other lady who interviewed me in Nigeria didn't even ask that! Well am going to renew our wedding vows
VO-(Nods)
VO- How long have you been here?
ME- 6months
VO-What do you do here?
ME- I co own my wife's nail saloon.
VO-Does your wife have a US visa? (At this point I don they think say shey my 1400 kronas visa fee no go waste again today sha?)
ME- She's a Swedish citizen
VO- Your visa has been approved come back in two days for your visa.(Note she didn't say congratulations, because there's nothing to congratulate you for. It's a VISA people!)
ME- I don't live in Stockholm so I need it faster than that.
VO-We will let you know if it's faster.

Nah so I bounce. 10 years visa Gbam! Funny thing it was like a chat.. No Tension,no big crowds, No B.S. Worst thing, I'll get denied and go home and I can easily visit after 4 years when I get my Swedish passport. No one will leave Sweden to go to Yankee and suffer. We don't have homeless people here etc. The thing is they don see us say we dey like run away and they rarely respect you if you apply from Nigeria. Only the lucky ones are able to get their visas. I remember while i was at the US embassy Abuja the crowd was WAYYY tooo much. I was like Jesus christ!!!! Even an elderly woman in her 70s was denied. I saw a commissioner denied too, funny thing he came with his protocol but they weren't allowed into the main interview room but were allowed to stay outside, he left with a daze in his eyes lol. It's so funny when LadyG etc talk about TIES?? What ties?? I mean who care about TIES?? Ties to what? This is Nigeria we are talking about! Anyone can leave any day any time. They know this and even those with millions and high ranking officers are denied.. Don't they have ties? I remember seeing a dude who wore a really nice blue suite.. He's in his mid 20s if am not wrong and he got his visa. We walked out together and I can hear him talking to his agent who was outside like "dem don die for Yankee oh, nah to born pikin fast remain". I laughed my ass off even though I'm pained about my denial. Anyways my advice for those who are applying is - American VISA is pure luck, forget ties.. Just go and apply if you have extra money to waste. It's a game of luck. Forget all these people who continuously talk about ties or travel experience since the decision is based on the person who is interviewing you. You can qualify and STILL get denied! The VO might not even like the way you look and deny you. Or he could be having a terrible day and deny you. Another thing is applying from Nigeria itself is a complete hassle. The crowd alone will make any VO want to discharge as many people as possible so as to finish up work for the day. I've seen people not wanting to leave the VO's front after been denied lol, in my mind am like he won't change his mind even if you stand there the whole day. So it all depends on luck IF YOU'RE APPLYING FROM NIGERIA. NOTHING ELSE. Goodluck!

Very interesting experience.

amanonymous:
Good morning guys. Please my picture didn't upload on my ds160 am asked to bring hard copies, please what is the dimension of the passport photograph and hw many copies? Thanks

Go to any good photography studio and request to take a passport photo for US visa. There are familiar with dimensions and appropriate facial appearances

seyewest:
And if they ask him ''how much did you pay for the conference'' what will he say? that he want to get the visa before paying right? Is that not dubious? although you can attend free conference or paid conference but there must be correspondence with the organizers showing your serious intention to attend the conference.

My advice is the OP should focus more on how to explain to the VO the relationship between the conference and his work/career and home tie. There are many scam conferences in the US asking attendees to pay non-refundable fee upfront and some promising to facilitate US visa approval. If I was the OP I will not pay as I smell a scam conference here.

asapkudi:
Is there any help she can be to me if i decided to apply for visiting USA instead of Mexico visa in 9ja incase i decide to go there...Pls advise.

Given your intentions. The Mexican visa will be much easier to get than the US visa. Meet her in Mexico get married, get a stay in Mexico, while she file for you to join her in the US. Give or take 5-6 years you will land in the US pronto!! Lol.

asapkudi:
Yes thats what i thought but the last time we see again in dubai, she spent about 4 to 5 days to recover from the traveling distance stress so its not advise able, Is there any help she can be to me if i decided to apply for visiting USA visa in 9ja incase i decide to go there...Pls advise.

The only help she can give is that you sort her permission include her name and address as your contact in the US in your DS160 form. The VO might want to see some evidence of relationship during the interview, so copy of her US passport data page will be great too.

TalliusCeciro:
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.Please I need your candid advice on this issue I have thinking about.Theres this important conference that I will love to attend in New York.It will take place in February 2017.The conference fee is 250 Dollars and it's not refundable.Please is it advisable for me to pay the conference fee and continue to book an appointment with the embassy?Conference registration is non refundable.Thanks very much and am anticipating your replies

My advise. Paying the conference fee will not add any advantage to your visa application. So don't throw away you money. Work on your home ties instead. You can alway pay the conference fee when you get your visa.

maddock:
Lady G he can actually do that if he is a Lil smart. All he need do is create d DS Form and use the same number to get an appointment. He can always come back and complete the form whenever you likes and submit. But like I said if he is smart oo.

Yes possible but very dangerous and the OP is most likely to dash US embassy free visa money as DS Form number changes each time you retrieve your form unless saved in a particular way. The OP should follow LG advise.

LadyGuinivere:
You can only get into the US if you have a visa.
Do u have a visa? If the answer is No, then ask yourself if you have ties to get a visa? My answer is hinged upon the fact that this is the visit visa thread so that's the advice we give here.
If u want to know the process for getting a visit visa, u can check the embassy website or the very ist page of this thread for the link

Obviously the OP clearly has immigration intention and seeking advise on how to cross the Mexican border into USA. He advise his Mexican girlfriend to come down to Nigeria to marry him and file in a spouse petition for him.

Blizzle:
So here's my interview story. I stumbled on this thread about 2 weeks ago and I'm grateful to all the contributors here cos you all prepared me for the interview.

I assessed my application based on the info here and I realised the merits n demerits of my application.

DEMERITS
1. Single
2. Low income

MERITS
1. Employed
2. Travel history.

Here's the transcript

VO: Why are you going to the US?
ME: Holiday, Vacation.

VO: Where are you going to?
ME: New Jersey.

VO: Why New Jersey?
ME: Because I have an uncle there who is willing to accommodate me and be my tour guide.

VO: What do you do?
ME: I work with (I name the federal agency and state what we do). I am an IT analyst.

VO: Have you travelled before?
ME: Yes I have been to the UK and Republic of Ireland.

VO: Can I see your previous passport?
ME: (hands him the passport and he flips thru it o verify the UK and Ireland visas).

VO: Your visa has been approved (Hands me the white paper) pls pick your passport at the designated center in three days.
ME: Thank you.


I believe travel history won it for me. Thanking God and I sincerely appreciate everyone that contributes free of charge here too. Daalu

Congrats. Yes I agreed that your travel history did the magic. And don't forget the content of your DS160 form also played a major role. Enjoy your trip.

LadyGuinivere:
Yes. If one has an account and they check and see suspicious inflows, it would raise an issue. So kindly review the complete story of the person that gisted u. None of the people I know that have US accounts have had issues either at poe or renewal.

The truth remains that for as long as it is not illegal to open an account anywhere in the world, one can do so. Its freedom of choice. I can even decide to open a US account just to flaunt the ATM card, its my choice and perfectly legal.
They also benefit from it. Imagine one saving and leaving his money in a US account? That's the funds they trade with.
My only ish with with op is that his question ought to have been BEFORE he opened the account. Nigerians are in a habit of doing stuff without considering the legal ramifications then asking 'will I have any issues' later.

I totally agree with LG. it is perfectly legal to have a US based account. All that is required is your 2 years visa and a US contact address. In this period of FX restriction by Nigerian bank and suspension on the use of their ATM aboard. An offshore account is the only remedy unless you want to carry large cash on you. The OP need not to worry about his Dropbox VISA renewal. He has not violated any US immigration law. Beside there is no question on the DS160 that request to know if you have a US account or not.

purplecircle:
good day VO or anyone with knowledge,
I got a B1/B2 visa that has expired and i want to renew it via the dropbox service. After filling my DS160,and made payment. i started to fill out my application form for the dropbox, but i logged in with my old profile for the previous visa. i noticed i cannot change my passport number as my old passport expired in 2015. what do you advice? My D160 carries my new passport nos so also payment confirmation. Should i just go ahead with the appointment using the old expired passport but submit both passports at the dropbox center?
thank you for your response.

Responding from experience. Use the contact embassy in the US booking appointment system to email the embassy for a request to change your old passport number to the new one. The embassy will responses and request for scaned copies of your old and new passport data pages for verification. The embassy will then update your new passport number in your profile. This must be done before you generate a confirmation letter to proceed for the Dropbox submission, else you will have to pay another visa fees. Finally go with your old passport with visa and new passport for Dropbox. At the Dropbox centre they will inspect your expired US visa to make sure you're indeed qualify for Dropbox. Thank me later.

mizbee:
Good day everyone. Please, I intend buying my ticket but the passport on which i have my visa is expired but intend renewing in few days to come. My question is which passport will I use to book my ticket is it the expired on with the visa or the new one am abt to get? Thanks

Use your new passport to book ticket. Carry bought the new and the expired passport when travelling.

mizbee:
@seyewest I was meant to travel for a conference then but cos I had a miscarriage I just cudnt go. As I said, it will expire next year February left for me, I wont even bother myself abt it but my husband keep saying it wont be right to av it and not use it. As it is, I really dont av anyone to stay with in Orlando that was the reason I asked the question. Thanks

If your visa is B1/B2 you can go for a vacation before its expire. Secondly you don't necessarily need to go to Orlando. Your visa is just a permit for you to appear at the POE. Getting into America is Strickly at the discretion of the officer at POE. The CBP officer at POE will see from his computer that you are not coming for a conference and would want to know the purpose of your visit and maybe why you did not attend your conference for which the visa was issued. Your travel history will count here. Just tell him the truth and you will be okay.

jayoy:
Good morning Lady G and my fellow nairalanders! Please is it advisable to carry sm food items like melon seed and dried fish when embarking on my trip? I don't know whether it will be an issue @ d Chicago POE cos my purpose of traveling is to attend a conferenc and will be staying in a Hotel. Thanks.

Are you planing to cook or what? Or is it a gift? Sure you can but the melon must be grind and not carried as seeds. Dried fish is also okay if it's well dried. Be aware that your baggage could be inspected after POE. 2 years ago, my baggage was sniffed out by a cute ting dog at Atlanta POE. I had in my bag dried scent leaves (for making pepper soup) for my host. It was confisticated. However they did allow my grind melon to enter America. All the best.

OmoBendel24:
Hope you are aware that sisi Portuguese has gone back home too, abi? Brazilian spec might just be available when you are around too. Try your luck!

Laugh out Load. Portuguese ko, Spainish ni! Just going to Brooklyn for an appointment after Atlanta conference and would prefer to stay in Airbnb than a hotel. That's why I asked.

OmoBendel24:
Lolz! You dey mind Ekpotek? Na other parts of US and conferences we dey hear from am before oh. Suddenly, suddenly, Brooklyn don dey enter, air b'n'b don dey interest am. Haba?! Think am Na. Hian!

Wait oh. In essence you no sabi Bendel, ba? Issorai, kontunu sir, no shakes! A whole "area"? Kai! I know 'Ibeju' along one Lagos/Ibadan express I think. Kikikikikikiiii

FYI, my conference is in Atlanta. Visiting Brooklyn NY afterward with wifey for medical appointment. So it's impossible to for with wifey to harbour such thoughts. Anyway thanks for the laughs.

ajalaonifaaji:
Thanks bro. The residence is somewhere around Queens, NY. You can sign up on the site and check up hosts in Brooklyn... Am quite sure you will see a lot.

Sure I am also on Airbnb. Just like the hospitality of your Kenyan host. Thanks anyway.

@

ajalaonifaaj. Your vac experience was great. Will be visiting Atlanta GA and Brooklyn NY in November. If the Airbnb you used is in Brooklyn area, will like to have the contact. Thank

ziggy3579:
I want to apply for American visit visa, going for my cousins wedding, how many weeks/months do u tink I wld b given at the port of entry. Pls I need contribution, thanks

Duration to stay in the US is at the discretion of the POE. The standard duration allowable is 6 months. It could be less and even deny entry depending on how the POE perceived you reason for entry. Why not get the visa first and worried about that later.

Sarki140:
The conference is very much related to my field of study and accommodations have been pre arranged am only covering the airfares.am actually going as a delegate.and I really don't have a close relative in the us.i have friends there. Thanks very much for your thoughts

Okay. You will need to be honest with your application. Provide much details as possible about the conference and and be confidence during the interview. However, the lack of strong tie will be a minus. Like we all know, only the VO can decide if to approve or not.

Sarki140:
Good evening ladies and gentlemen I am in the process of applying for a non immigrant visa to participate in a conference in Washington, D.C. Am actually a final year university student here and from what I heard so far,it seems is almost impossible for a student to get a visa.please gurus can you enlighten me.looking forward to your replies.thanks very much.God bless

Is the conference related to your study?
Are you invited to present a paper?
Is the organiser offering travel sponsorship?
Do you have relatives in the US?
What is the likelihood of you returning back to Nigeria after the conference (strong ties to home country).
The above questions will be considered by the VO either to approve of deny a visa, which can be extracted from your DS160 form submitted. Good luck.

gentleiphy:
I wasn't denied because of any body language ..pompous,arrogant or timidness...like i said the questions asked would not even warrant you being arrogant or pompous cos the questions the visa officers ask are straight and not like you are having an argument about why you feel you should be given visa..so those assumptions are out of the way...so what happened when i went back after two weeks to a different visa officer who with smiles reminded me i was there two weeks ago and said sorry for bringing you back..and for starters i have never seen visa issuance as a do or die thing cos you might be denied last two months and no status change and still be given the next time you visit...and visas are just mere permission to enter a country and when they said Nah,you are not qualified to visit at this time its not the end of the world but because most of us see it as a gateway we always feel downcast....if your purpose is just for visit and come back and they deny you happily go home and try other countries for your vacation if its vacation you sort for.Meanwhile for people residing in countries that US sees as not potential run always...the visa officers are only concerned with your legal status and not even where you work,salary,married or single..travelled before or not..i know office cleaners in Nigeria with salary of 8k a month may never be issued US visa...but here everybody gets visa so long as you show proof of your legal status which is either a student,permanent resident,temporal work permit holders...Nigerian students in Canada here always are issued 3yrs visas..only what they need show is thier student ID cards...maybe sometimes semester results and thats it..nobody ask who is going to sponsor your trip.so it boils down to how they the visa officers percieve the countries in question.

I agree with you. A colleague of my was denied a B visa to attend a conference last year. The VO denied him on the basis that he was self sponosored. However, this year he got the Visa to attend a conference again, self sponsored. Nothing has changed in his circumstances between last year and now. Most time the VO had made up his/her mind to deny or approvals from your DS160 form. The interview is either to convince the VO otherwise or not. Beside there is a big temptation out there for people to violated their US visa by overstaying or changing to another visa category.

Hi,

Anyone with an idea of a bank where to get BTA? What are the requirement/document needed? Planing to travel in November 2016. Thank you in advance.

Newbiein2016:
Proposed stay was 30days and like I said, it was a road trip...road trips often always involves pit stops : stop at Wisconsin for a couple of days and on to Chicago.

That was the general plan.

Also, travel history reflects trips from 2012 till date.

Max I have done on vacation is two countries a year and that was to England.

Sorry for the outcome. Maybe the VO was not convinced that you can afford a 30 days vacation in the US when you're not a millionaire or a lottery winner. With this hard economic time, even to spend 10 days on ones saving in the US runs to thousands of Naira excluding air ticket. No harms just my opinion.

@vickero To allow an embassy to withhold your passport for 8 months says a lot. Certainly you are not a frequent traveller. Just hope for the best. It's either you get the visa or denied.

sisit:
Hello all, trust everyone is doing great!

My visa expires in August and want to travel in October. Is it advisable to put in for renewal now or do I have to wait until the visa expires?

Sure go ahead and renew! my will expire in August, but I renewed it this June drop box. If your visa is issued, the old visa will be stamped CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

abujaniv:
Hello ekpotek,

The sooner the better. You can submit your application and passport via Dropbox at any time for a renewal.

Regards,
Nigeria NIV Team

#

Dear VO,

Thanks. I successful renewed my B1/B2 visa via drop box this month. My old visa was stamped with cancelled with prejudice. Thanks