₦airaland Forum

Nicklaus619:
Ohh okay, but countries like Canada offers such opportunity, so what type of visa do you advice me to apply for ?? As I will like to work and live there

what is the advantages of studying in Canada over US? thanks

lalavita:
Hello All,
I’m a longtime follower of this thread and I feel compelled to share this.
It’s apparent that there has been a policy shift in the US regarding issuing of student and other non-immigrant visas. This isn’t the first time it’s happening and it won’t be the last. I look back to ten years ago and I remember even people with Ivy League admissions being refused on their first try at getting a student visa from Nigeria to the US. Check out this thread - https://gmatclub.com/forum/f-1-visa-denied-good-ending-31273.html

If you compare this Nairaland US Student thread to the same thread this time last year, it’s like night and day. Something is definitely going on. I was so disheartened when I read about the student with full funding plus monthly stipends posted last week over a tiny deficit in funds.

So what do we do now?

Here are some tips;

For Current Students
I know students monitor this thread, so I’ll start with them. If you are still in school, focus on your studies, aim for a 2.1 or first class as this opens up now international graduate study opportunities in the US and beyond.
Build productive formal relationships with your faculty so you have strong future recommenders.
Choose at least 1 extracurricular activity and excel at it. It could be student government, it could be debating, it could be working with a charity organisation.
Internships and work placements related to your course of study.
All these will make you a super candidate with access to more scholarships and higher ranked schools.
In addition, many people don’t know it’s easier to build your travel history as a student. From your second year, you can ask all these uncles and aunties to start inviting you for holidays. Embassies are pretty open to REAL students going on holiday. Also if you are in a debating or computing team for example, there may be international competitions you attend as a team.

For Graduates - Current and Intending Applicants
Start Early:
Because of the relaxed visa policy over the past few years - thank you President Obama, many have gotten away with last minute applications, admissions and visa issuance. Unfortunately, things have changed. Apply months in advance. This will help you avoid the ‘brain touch’ going on right now. I see people with December appointment dates being rescheduled for January with no consideration for the resumption dates.
Getting your admission early also gives you an opportunity to go for a second or even third visa interview if your first attempt is denied.

Do all you can do:
Some people will come here and say they didn’t do GRE, they applied at the last minute, yet they got full funding and visa on the first try. While those people are blessed, remember, they are the exception, not the rule. Be thorough, do your GRE or GMAT and excel. If TOEFL is needed, do it, if you can apply for a waiver, apply on time for one. Research your programme well, communicate with faculty, write a compelling and authentic personal statement or essays. Know and understand clearly WHY you are going for this course.

Your Visa Form:
Some people don’t even need to go for the visa interview because it’s a NO from the form (joke o but seriously...).
Fill your visa form yourself, read it over and over and over again before submitting. Be honest and be confident about the content.

Interview Prep:
This is pretty much one of the best things about this thread. Read successful transcripts but don’t go and repeat what you heard. Be confident and prepared to have a conversation with the VO. We all know the questions they ask at this point. Answer honestly and confidently. Remember no one word answers. Create an engaging conversation.

Honesty and Ethics:
Whether we like it or not, bad eggs are part of the reason for this present visa denial trend. From fake bank statements to all sorts of tricks. For your sake and for the sake of our fellow intending students, don’t do anything dodgy and also be wise. We have seen cases of ‘uncles’ giving people fake statements on this thread. GTBank has this function where statements can be sent directly to the embassy, if your sponsor uses their bank, you can suggest that in addition to giving you the printed statement. I’ve heard this makes admin processing smoother.

Pray:
So many testimonies. It’s needed.

For the Discouraged
This is for those who have been refused several times and are discouraged.
Hug for you. All will be well.

If you are a really committed to graduate study, don’t give up.
While the US has such a rich mix of universities offering almost every course you can dream of, plus juicy funding options, it is not the only option.

Try Another Country:
UK, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands etc..
All have funded options available. Is it harder to get than the USA, you may say so. Is it impossible? Nope.
Commonwealth scholarships
Gates scholarship
Chevening Scholarship
etc
There are many more. Google is your friend. There are also specialist sites that offer this info. For example, https://scholarshipsandaid.org


Build Your Professional Profile:
You can also consider professional fellowships and competitions to boost your profile and even travel history. You can find on https://www.opportunitiesforafricans.com

Plug Any Gaps:
If the USA is still your ultimate, what were the gaps in your last application. Work towards filling them. For example, if you wanted to use your Masters to change your career path, how about getting a job in that area so when you want to try again, this proves you are committed to the career. If your issue was inadequate funds, work on getting a funded offer or formal scholarship.

Wishing you all the best.

thanks so much, how much do you know about Germany?

AkanniHelen:
Pls I have an issue. The agent helping me for my travelling told me that the University in the usa refuced to verify my University transcript because my transcript was not properly evaluated that instead of the transcript to be evaluated course by course, that it was evaluated document by document which made the school to reject my transcript. Am confused cos I don't understand. I need enlightenment on this pls.tnx

did you select course-by-course
transcript evaluation or document-by-document transcript evaluation during your application?

Enasdan:
please everyone kindly scrutinize the statement how safer it it

Vo: who is your sponsor?
me: my aunt, Mrs Charles dxxxxx?
vo: that she do,
me: she is into importation of electronics and she own houses in dxxxx estate
vo:let me have her statement of account
Vo: the fund in her account is low, it can't fund your tuition fee, why so much withdrawal,
me: this is her personal account, she is into importation of electronics and other business, she is currently renovating houses in her own estate forthe year, beside this is the same account statement I submitted to New England university, that my I-20 form was sent to me, it was printed a week ago, she can send updated statement of account if required.

please house how safe is this statement, to tell a Vo, if such question came up

@ fairheart pls do you have any advice or suggestions on this

fairheart:
It depends on bank and how much interested the embassy is in your application. If they suspect anything on the statement during review of the transaction inflow and outflow, which I strongly believe is the normal and basic verification, they will go beyond mere verification account existence with the bank. They could request for updated SOA, or even ask you to contact your sponsor to authorize his bank to release his statement to them (in case they can't access the directly-from-bank SOA without his assent); in certain cases, they do that behind the owner of the account.

The issue surrounding statement of account is case by case. You can't be sure what they will do with your SOA. But don't forget, I am not a Consular officer

But does it really matters to you if they do?

thanks boss

please everyone kindly scrutinize the statement how safer it it

Vo: who is your sponsor?
me: my aunt, Mrs Charles dxxxxx?
vo: that she do,
me: she is into importation of electronics and she own houses in dxxxx estate
vo:let me have her statement of account
Vo: the fund in her account is low, it can't fund your tuition fee, why so much withdrawal,
me: this is her personal account, she is into importation of electronics and other business, she is currently renovating houses in her own estate forthe year, beside this is the same account statement I submitted to New England university, that my I-20 form was sent to me, it was printed a week ago, she can send updated statement of account if required.

please house how safe is this statement, to tell a Vo, if such question came up

fairheart:
They checked all those stuff you mentioned. Inflow/outflow, balance--compare to how much your Sevis program requires you to have per year. With 3M. balance (which does not look good based on my experience), well, nobody can say what will happen during and after the interview (suppose your visa will be approved). Miracle happens! The lady that was granted on Monday did not have her SOA taken down; I think it wasn't even asked for at all. Visa has been picked up.

Cases dey different; head no be the same. Prepare for the interview and hope for the best.

Good luck to you!

when embassy verify statement of account, do they also also verify the cash balance in the account

fairheart:
They checked all those stuff you mentioned. Inflow/outflow, balance--compare to how much your Sevis program requires you to have per year. With 3M. balance (which does not look good based on my experience), well, nobody can say what will happen during and after the interview (suppose your visa will be approved). Miracle happens! The lady that was granted on Monday did not have her SOA taken down; I think it wasn't even asked for at all. Visa has been picked up.

Cases dey different; head no be the same. Prepare for the interview and hope for the best.

Good luck to you!

thanks for your responses

Enasdan:
please house, I just want to make an urgent enquiry, in sponsor statement of account, what does the Vo
and embassy check most, the inflow and outflow of cash or the total amount in the closing balance, my sponsor just made a huge amount withdrawal for business before her SOA of 3 months were printed, her total balance is 3m while my tuition fee is 8m what are my chances of defending this at the interview? please kindly help, thanks for your contributions in advance.

please who can help me on this,

please house, I just want to make an urgent enquiry, in sponsor statement of account, what does the Vo
and embassy check most, the inflow and outflow of cash or the total amount in the closing balance, my sponsor just made a huge amount withdrawal for business before her SOA of 3 months were printed, her total balance is 3m while my tuition fee is 8m what are my chances of defending this at the interview? please kindly help, thanks for your contributions in advance.

Phummy2018:
Hello Peeps
I have sent my Waec and academic transcript to Wes, but they are still request for my degree certificate which is showing pending. What do I do?

send your degree certificate via fax to cut cost for you

good afternoon, please which is best and appropriate way to answer this question from the Vo

1.Vo: have you traveled out of Nigeria before?
me: yes. or
me: yes to South Africa for business trip

2. who is your sponsor?
me: my aunt. or
me my aunt, she is into importation of electronics

please which options is the best to answer the Vo, I'm in need of your suggestions, thanks in advance

good morning house, I just want to ask, whenever a Vo asked you to bring your sponsor's statement of account, is it appropriate to also give the Vo your letter of sponsorship from your sponsor along with the SOA? is this gestures ideal or wrong or one has to wait until when asked the letter of sponsorship? please kindly advise or suggest, thanks

for an MBA applicant, I do understand the following direct question during an interview,
1. why do you need this MBA?
2. what will this MBA do for you
3. why are you going for this MBA?
4. why do you choose to study this MBA

but my questions is this, when Vo just ask why MBA? only
does it also means the same following 4 questions above or i'm to give brief description of MBA to the Vo, thanks in advance for responding and suggestions

Time2Smile:
Stop worrying about proving that you have funds for the second year or you will end up shooting yourself in the foot.
What is required of you is to have enough funds to cover your first year expenses as stated on your I-20. The VO will not ask you for fund that exceed that. Have you seen anyone asked the question in bold? You need to relax and don't create unnecessary problem for yourself.

thanks for your advice

if I may ask what is the difference between graduate assistance and paid internship offer to graduate student? please I need more updates, thanks

jerrypeacelinks:
Focus on your aunt being your sponsor ONLY. Don't talk about any yeye future GA whatsoever whether u have it or not o.

VO: Who is your sponsor?
You: My aunt.

Next question might be WHY (WOULD) YOUR AUNT (SPEND THIS MUCH ON YOU)?

You should know what to answer then.

I wish you the best but again, NO CARRY INVISIBLE GA WEY U NEVER GET COME YARN VO OOOO

thanks Mr Jerry, is a paid internship for international students for the second year

Abacino007:
That statement looks somehow. You can talk about your potential GA but I think you should dwell more on your financial capability of paying the fee even without the GA opportunity because you are yet to have it. Don’t give the impression that you are relying on it. Discuss more on what you have to sustain yourself for the second year. But if you have a letter to back up the claim that they will be give GA for your second year then you can state it that way. I hope this would help a little bit

thanks for your advice, but I don't have a valid letter to back it up, the school promise paid internship for international students for the second year,

good morning house, how safe is this statement,

me: how much is your tuition for your first year?
me: $22,000
Vo:who is paying for your education?
me: my aunt, my mother elder sister
vo: who will pay for your second year?
me: my school New England university, do grant graduate internship assistance for all international student in the second year, I will be granted graduate internship assistance in my second with support from my aunt in Nigeria.

please kindly scrutinize and make necessary corrections and suggestions. thanks

Enasdan:
for those going for graduate studies and that filled employed in their DS-160, which of the letter is required by the US embassy ?

1.letter of study leave
2 letter of introduction
3 letter of employment

thanks

please who can help on these pressing issues

for those going for graduate studies and that filled employed in their DS-160, which of the letter is required by the US embassy ?

1.letter of study leave
2 letter of introduction
3 letter of employment

thanks

Ubah1:
Yes , it's possible for F1 visa but you won't find it funny with the V.O if you reappear within a very short period. They might ask you what have changed in your application or why you think you are qualified now.

what if you are asked what has changed in your last application within the last 6 months, when all the information you enter is the same compared to the previous one after 6 months. how can
you respond to the question? do you have any suggestions,? thanks

fairheart:
Well, you have to try your luck. Nobody here can say for sure what the interview outcome will be. You could be lucky or favoured enough that VO would not ask for sponsor's financial statement or that having a sponsor in the US wouldn't be seen as reg flag. A very few students have been this lucky. The most recent happened Nov. 25; the student has been to South Africa and UAE, and I feel this is why the VO who interviewed him did not bother to ask his sponsor's statement, and visa was granted 3 days later. Things happen, so give it a try.

Good luck!

do travel history do count?

samee72:
That is not a problem, it will show in their system that you exited, same thing happened to me two years ago when I was on my return trip back, the immigration officer collected my passport entered it into their system but forgot to stamp my passport and I only discovered after getting back to Nigeria, on informing my sponsor he checked for me and said the system showed I exited, after that I've gone back to dubai three more times without any issues just make sure you check properly that they your passport is stamped before leaving the point, cos it will help boost your chances of getting visa to other countries

thanks so much @ Samee, I'm grateful for responding to my msg, but is there a website or a link where I can check on the system as you rightly posted, thanks

good morning all, I travelled to Abu Dhabi for 2 week business trip, e-visa, my Int'L passport was stamped at entry point and I did eye scan at the immigration section, on my departure day at the exit point my Int'L passport wasn't stamped it , it was put in a scanning machine and I did eye scan and exit, no exit stamp, please how will know I was existed successful, when the Int'L passport wasn't stamped for exit, I might travell again with it, thanks

I'm currently employed as filled in my DS-160 online form, my aunt is my sponsor for my MBA program, please, is that necessary I go the embassy with my personal SOA, I don't know if it will it be asked during the interview, thanks for your suggestions.

good day everyone, I do want to know for those of us going for Master's program, the total amount in the I-20 form, is it the total amount for the 2 years program or is for first year? in my I-20 form I have
1. tuition and fees
2. books, fee and medical insurance
3. living expenses
Total = $22k
please is the $22k for the 2 years program or for the first year, just in case when asked, thanks

EZEIGBO1OFIMO:
Just $48K!!!!!!.. You do realize that that's almost the median yearly income of the average american family after tax. and you expect the citizen of a country with 70% below poverty line to splash that in one sitting. Yes, he may not dine with the VO, but these things are simple common sense, these consular officers receive constant briefing, trainings, and guide manuals; and trust me it's hard to believe that in a country where the average middle class folk is one hospital bill away from poverty has 12 million Naira stashed somewhere for an MSc. From a 3rd tier university.
.
There's a high rate of Nigerians consistently transferring their i-20's to community colleges once they arrive the USA, and the Department of Homeland security has been taking note.

but what do you have to tell for an MBA student for Spring 2019, with a tuition fee of $22k (#8m) in his I-20 without funding, in a private university, tier 2 institution, is that ok when viewed by a Vo, is that amount to much for a tier 2 private institution, thanks for responding.

duro7:
pls gurus in the house help me,which is passport page number i saw that on my DS.

passport number is the 8 digits figures that starts with an A found at the top right of your passport data page.

destell:
please I was also denied Visa last week though I can't really decipher where I got it all wrong cos the consular officer made a reference to the school fees which was about $21k as well as asked if I had siblings though I confused that for do I have siblings in the US and I answered No

$21k is not that much, that is about 8m naira,

Olalekank:
The best answer is to tell the VO how many schools you ACTUALLY APPLIED to

thanks, only one school gave me admission, hope that is safe is to say to a vo

Vo: How many schools did you applied for and how many gave you admission?

Answer1: I applied to 3 schools only 1 gave me admission
Answer 2: I applied to 2 schools only 1 gave me admission

please house, which of these is the best answer to the question as a serious MBA student, I actually applied to 3 schools, no standardized tests only WES evaluation was required, I got admitted to 1 for MBA