Your naira bank account bank statement of course. You are required to submit 6 months statement, showing balance that is equivalent or above your deficit.

However, open a dom for your personal use in the U.S and get a card for the account before you travel. It will help you a lot.

ifeanyimoses:



Thanks a lot for your clarification, please don’t mind my naive questions as this is my first time. So the school asked that I upload additional proof of funds of 14k$, what should I upload actually?,
is it my SOA of my naira account with equivalence of $14k in naira or I need to open a domiciliary account and domicile $14k in there

Secondly , talking about SOA, what period is okay, is it 1 year, 2 years, 3 years ( the later will be my preferred).

Thanks

Prexy1999:


I am still waiting to know if at ALL you’re in any school in USA. I need to know the school you are in this country which I am very sure you will never say it out man

Yes sir, I am currently in school in the U.S! I'm studying How to Become a Billionaire in a community college in a village in Montana state. I hope you're happy now? Idiot!
Go and do something useful with your time!

ifeanyimoses:



Thank you so much for your response, really helpful.

I got an information from someone that if my deficit in this case is ($14000), I should have more than it in my account, I should have about $20,000 before going to the embassy.

I am really shocked with this information, please is that true guys??

It may be helpful to have more than your deficit available in the account. But it is not a requirement if you will be having subsequent funds as you study. But what if that is what you have?

In my opinion, if you prepare very well and tell your story with confidence, the consular will likely not check the statement and you will be approved. Use embassy is not all about document; it is more important to talk well than to pack all document to the embassy.

However, if you can increase the balance, it won't be a bad idea. The important thing be say, you can afford to pay the deficit.

adeyusuf2000:



Many thanks for your feedback.

So my wife has applied for a year Sabatical leave with pay for a duration of year with option of extending for another year or resume back after the first year.

Second reason why I will like to go with my family is because my wedding is just 8 months old and my child is also less than 8 months. So I will not like to depart for that long away from my family

It is alright! You can try with that and see how it goes.
All the best bro

Prexy1999:


Try to jettison your sense of entitlement man! I am done with my PhD now bro! We don’t even know which school you are in USA. It will be nice if you can even tell us bro which I am sure you will never even mention. If you are an alumni of my school you will never open your dirty brain by talking to me like that.

I don’t argue with an asinine person bro. Take care

You have a PhD? What a waste of time and resources that should have been used on something that would have given you critical thinking skill and enlightenment. And you might have gone to Harvard or Yale and still be a stupid, illogical person. It is not by school or degree! Some of the people who run Nigeria down own PhDs too. You think it is about PhD? If a person with a PhD cannot reason and be fair in his assessment of subject of discussion, then your PhD is a waste of time, and I am sorry for you!
Don't mention me again.

There are people on this thread with negative opinion on things they do not understand, and I feel if they see things from another angle, it will help their journey.

On revealing school or not, nobody was forced at gun point to do it. I only advise those who are in touch with me and they see sense in that advise. We have seen 0ver 1000 approved f-1 transcripts from this thread as they continue to grow. One thing is certainly not useful to any student on these transcripts: the school name. Instead, picking up schools from transcripts here is part of the reasons some of you are not getting your visa and that you will still not get it until you change and do your home work.

WHEN YOU COPY SCHOOL
When you copy school and only rely on transcripts for this purpose, you CHEAT YOURSELF of potential opportunity for your own school and perhaps, good scholarship and funding. I am of the opinion that if your Dad is not so rich that he could pay about $30K cost of attendance X 2, you ought to take the path of strength and self-sufficiency: getting good scholarship or assistantship. I understand that there are people on this thread with intention to merely use the F-1 visa to migrate. My advise are for those who actually wanted to study and secure a better future for themselves. These are the people that are required to do their homework--as part of the price for future success. It is not suffering!

When you copy schools from here, you deny yourself the opportunity to find schools that can offer you better opportunities. There are hundreds of schools for your program and that will fund you if you have a good profile and you apply early. All you have to do is explore those schools! But when you copy school from here, chances is high they will exhaust their funding due to high volume application and stop funding subsequent admission. WIU was used as a case study. They may give you admission, but always remember that every school has number of international students they wish to take, and every department has number of GA, scholarship, fellowship they award to admitted students. Bombing a school someone got admitted into always cheat you of opportunity to get something better if you had applied to a school that is not like a pure water on Nairaland.

The better your financial opportunity and unique your profile, the higher your chances of approval. Your friend might have done it and easily get their visa, but it doesn't mean it will work for you that way. This thing is case by case.

I have shared ideas on doing the work in the past. Sometimes, people assume because I am experienced on F-1 application that I know all the school that funds and easily give admission. And when I tell them I have no idea, they assume I am selfish or doesn't want to help them. The truth is that, I don't have schools in my head, except the ones students on and off here recently got approved with, and it is a matter of time before you forget them. Because of this, I feel those who did not understand should be made to understand.

There's nothing hard is finding your own school, and it is not a crime to keep it only to a small circle of friends. It doesn't mean selfishness or greed. By keeping it away, you give others the opportunity to work and find a school that works for them. But if anyone feels they want Nairaland to know their school, I have nothing against it. Who am I to be against such?

HOW TO SEARCH AND FIND GOOD SCHOOLS FOR YOUR PROFILE.

1 Google is the first place to start. And cost of attendance and profile of the school should be on your mind as you begin. First, you want to go to a school your sponsor can afford. Secondly, you want to be considered for funding that will come with monthly stipend to offset living expenses, so that you will not worry how to survive (especially if you can't get adequate support from home while in the U.S). Thirdly, you want to study at a school that offers courses that will equip and prepare you for the next phase of your career. You need specialty, broad knowledge, internship opportunity, etc. Remember, I am talking to students who genuinely want to study in the United States and are willing to do the work. Now, the three points should be in mind before you begin your school search.

1a, Be creative about it. Use search strings that is worded with your wants, i.e affordability, funding, good course., etc. Let me give you a list:
AFFORDABLE UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S FOR MASTER'S IN CHEMISTRY (For blog posts and sites that catalogue affordable schools for chemistry).
BEST UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S FOR MASTER'S IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS (For top ranking, research-driven universities for the mentioned course)
UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S WITH ASSISTANTSHIP FOR MASTER'S IN MATHEMATICS (For schools offering assistantship for mathematics).

As you would see, search string contains what you want Google to show you, and that is what you will see. The more creative you're, the better. Your search result will bring up blog posts and sites that discuss and list universities for what you want. Then, you visit site by site, and from there, make a list of the schools you see, and keep away. When you are done, visit those schools one by one. You could make a list of 20 schools, or as much as you want.

1b, Get your schools by choice of U.S States. If you were to go to the U.S which state would you like to study? California? Texas? New York? Tennessee? Etc! Select best 3 states of your choice or that you have a family member or friends.
Go to Google and type, for example, ALL UNIVERSITIES IN TEXAS. Google will bring up sites and blog posts with list of these schools. I advise you look for Wikipedia page for all the schools on the list. As a study-abroad consultant, Wikipedia [/b]page for all schools in each U.S state seems the most resourcesful. There, private and public schools in the state you search is catalogued, so you get to see list of public and private schools in that state. You see their acceptance rate as well. All you do is open those schools in new tab, then read about it and get the school website directly from them. It is simple, except you are not computer literate.

[b]2, CHECKING FOR ASSISTANTSHIP: When you open the school webiste, go straight to academic and you will see undergraduate and graduate programs. It is always under academic. Click the one that applies. Check list of programs offered and pick the program (s) you are interested in. Check program courses, and look for assistantship/scholarship. Every program page has information for assistantship/scholarship. If your master's program department offers assistantship, you will see the information there. Read it and understand condition for selection. If that school is okay, make a list on a paper and keep. You can do for as many as you want.

2a, Immediately you review your program webpage, look for the "Graduate Coordinator" or "Program Director". These are the faculty members with information on funding. Your duty is to contact each school before you even apply to them. I always advise my students to contact their program coordinator before they apply. Get the email and name of this person. Take your time to write a 3-5 paragram message detailing your course, undergraduate GPA, that you are interested in the program for so, so admission term, and that "what is the chances of being selected for a graduate assistantship or departmental scholarship if admitted into the program."

ALWAYS CONTACT YOUR POTENTIAL SCHOOL BEFORE YOU APPLY THERE.

2b, If you compose your message well, your program coordinator will be compelled to tell you what is obtainable according to your profile, GPA, experience, etc. They always tell you what is obtainable. You can then use this information to decide if you will apply or not. In December last year, a student followed these step and the two schools he contacted promised --right in their response to her message--that based on his profile, if he apply, he will be considered for admission and assistantship. He did, and both schools admitted him and offered him assistantship. He got his visa last month with deficit of $1K.

If the response from the person in charge of department seems favourable, go ahead and apply right away. The earlier, the better for you.

2c, Don't underestimate your potential of getting into top schools. Explore those too. Make a budget on how many schools you plan to apply to. Be principled about it. Be creative. Use initiative and push yourself and do your thing.


RESOURCES YOU NEED.
A LAPTOP--You need a laptop to do these search well and for better result.
DATA FOR INTERNET-- plan how you will always have data for this task.
TIME--Decide which day of the week you will use to explore schools (put off things that won't add value to you for this task).

It is funny that some of you who complain that people are hiding their schools and so you couldn't apply their and get the same opportunity carry expensive smart phone but don't have a computer, and you say you're a student in 21st century? What exactly do you want to sacrifice to study abroad? As a youth, I was fortunate to start using computer at 17. By the time I was 21, I own a brand new laptop as a gift. I didn't ask for shoes, no jeans, but a laptop. I was hungry for knowledge. Even when I clock 30 and I needed a new laptop, I deny myself a smart phone and used the money to get a UK-USED laptop. I was using a Nokia analogue phone for 15 months, using laptop for Whatsapp, email works, and others. A silly person would say "O, you must have suffered." This is not suffering! This is sacrifice for a better life and a glorious future!

Some of you have rich parents but you never asked them for things that will help you advance your career. It is either expensive wig, phones or shoes. What happen to asking for laptop, books, and things that the beautiful future you want required?

Going to America to study is a worthwhile dream. It is a dream that both young people from the grassroots and the upper class can achieve. Last week, a student from this thread called me that he got an internship of $10000 per month. He sacrificed a lot to get his visa. Look at him today? Sacrifice paid off! I have seen young people that sold their stuffs to make these dreams a reality. Today, they are richer and more successful their their peers with rich parents.

You must gift yourself what your future demands! Get a laptop, keep money for data and make this task of getting a good school for you a priority. Enough of Netflix that add no academic value! Enough of using social media to waste quality time. If going abroad to study is your dream and you have no rich parents, listen to me and you will remember this message 10 years to come. If you really want to study abroad and become your best, get yourself a laptop, create time for the work involved. You have no business carrying iPhone 12 if you don't have a personal computer you can go to, to do the things that are better done on laptop.

The school search I just shared here needs a working laptop.

I know some of you already hate to see the name Fairheart , but well, I know my people and my people know me. Those who needs the message I preach will take it and use it. And for that, I am blessed!

It has been nice being here.
All the best!

[img][/img]

The U.S student visa is subjective. Nobody here can tell you how the interview will go and how the VO will look at your application. However, from the information you shared, there's high intent of migration all over your application. You are going for a 2-year master's and you want to take your wife and child with you. What is your reason for this decision? Why can't you go alone? These are some of the questions that will be ringing in consular's mind as he/she interview your family. Think about this: Your wife would be leaving her good job in Nigeria to stay with you in with a F2 visa in a country she's not allowed to work? From experience, it is not the best thing to do! However, you can try your luck!

All the best.

adeyusuf2000:



Please house, I have been seeing most approval transcript that are with either scholarship or GA.

For someone like me who have a good private business with SOA, planning to apply for for F1, F2 with my wife and my child. My wife work in an oil agency with good salary.

Is there any risk applying together, am good for masters and I have my private business with enough money to sponsor myself and my family.

Lastly, is it advisable to use my company statement of account or I should use my own personal account statement to the embassy.

Thank you, God bless.

ifeanyimoses:
Good evening great people, I have a question my people.
So I got funding of about $35k+ and the total amount I need for I-20 and visa is $49000, so I need additional $14000.

So I can get this from my savings and contribution from my sister, however I have my reservation about using personal funds as scholarship students don’t have much issue with approval of their visa.

Do you think my chances might be reduced as I’m funding the balance??, or should I try to see if I can get additional scholarship ( there might not be time for this as I’m supposed to be in the US by August), thanks

You can use personal fund, but if question comes up about it, you need to explain how you plan to pay and the source of money you'd using.
If you have been working, you can say you have been saving over the years for this purpose.
All the best

gerona:
Congratulations.
I am travelling with 2 kids 4 and 14, for my interview do I need to show proof of schooling arrangements for them? If yes, how do I go about it, please?. Also, did you pay for SEVIS for your kids. Kindly guide. Thank you.

You are not required to pay SEVIS for F-2.

Prexy1999:


[s]Bro, this is morally wrong as you have no right to have instructed anyone here to hide their school. How do you want others to learn if not by sharing their profile adequately others can learn from their experiences. I understand the facts that many are mentally lazy to search for schools and all but that shouldn’t connote you instructing those that have contacted you for one help or the other not to share the school they’re heading to.

Fine, at the first instance who instructed them to post their transcript here ? Nobody! But if they’re doing so from their own volition or conviction they should do so wholeheartedly so that others can learn and get to their yearnings and aspirations in life. I saw where you raised an issue where you said many got rejected as a result of applying to one particular school, that notion of yours was also wrong as well too as it’s from time immemorial prospective applicants have been applying to various schools not just only as you’ve wrongly said. Where is your statistics that justify your reasoning that many got rejected as a result of applying to WIU? What about Texas Tech , BGSU and others that are very popular among our people in 2019-2020, are you telling me that they all got rejected ? No man !!!!! That’s morally wrong and a felling of self entitlement unless you told us that you’re an agent as your position on not posting schools guys are applying to will make this nairaland post senseless, oblivion and not educative again as we know how useful it has been since it was created.

Bro, if you are helping your people that’s fine as it’s a welcome development which they will be grateful to you if at all they even recognize you at all when they are in USA as many won’t bother to reach out to you unless they need your help for 1-2 info or for their friends/relatives. Please don’t feel entitled to ANY individual feelings at all and don’t let others that intend helping the needy with schools they actually applied to do so because you can’t instruct me to hate/like who you like/hate when I am not gullible bro.

However, if you feel you’re an agent and you charge kindly let people know your thoughts/positions because it look weird to me by instigating a bad reasoning by instructing those that have been favored already to hide their school, man it’s so bad to have uttered such an erroneous statement as what this platform is meant for was to help people and no law banned anyone from posting schools they’ve gotten visa approval with or intend.

Moreover, I understand your feelings that many will steal info from those approved right , is that your thinking man? If that’s it also it’s wrong too because you yourself what you know today and become today was as a results of schools they posted here you actually know most schools, advice and counsel you are giving out to your clients or prospective students as it is hard on anyone to Google search alone and become a mentor it’s not POSSIBLE man you need others experience to understand situation and kind of advice you give man. Please leaders we actually know here don’t give such bad advice like you’ve said before as I know you to be helpful in so many ways here as I do read how helpful you render to many here until suddenly you changed your mind as that’s your life you can use it the way you like bro.

There was a guy that reached to me two days ago, he was rejected from Dartmouth college for his MBA despite having a huge scholarship he got rejected totally. Bro, are you telling me that many people applied to Dartmouth College that right ? So that’s why he was rejected ? That’s a goofed statement or erroneous thinking. Don’t pride yourself as the almighty known bro, many will get there too either getting that info here or there but it’s a great opportunity if they can have it here as that make this platform relevant every season[/s].

Finally, my advice is that don’t think in your own figment of imagination that it’s only you that will actualize people’s dream in life, many will get to where they ever wanted in their lives. Don’t you ever think that many have becomes best of friends as a result of meeting on this platform ? Do you think many meet friends on street again unlike before ? It’s this kind of platform that intend actualizing many dreams many people meet and be useful to one another. So please don’t suffocate this platform with your self entitled mindset.

Take-Care man !!!!!!!

Dumb arguement! Some Nigerians are just stupid! How do you connect a transcript not showing a school to the arguement that others may not achieve their dreams without it? What has showing everyone the school you are going got to do with their dream. Now I understand why Nigeria is backward!

Get your own school and move on! It is not a crime.

emmanuelle27:
Nigerian Elders thought most of us that one MUST suffer to get to were they are even though they have what it takes to make life easier for you, that's what is playing out here, Good luck with that, case closed

Wo, I pity you! Searching for school is suffering to you? Doing your home work is suffering to you? I pray that the Good Lord open your mind to know what is good for you and your future. Amen!

There is a reason why initiative and proactivity is part of personal leadership training in top universities.
Last month, a young man sent me a message from this group. He got a fully funded phd admission from the University of Georgia. His admission even came with free air travels, and other benefits, with surplus. I looked at the i-20 and I was impressed. There was another one, University of Massachusetts. I have seen a number of them, in their early and mid 20s.

Even their transcripts are usually unique; they don't copy, and they are here on Nairaland. What can you learn from them? Initiative! It is a powerful quality! When you learn it, you can move things most people in your age group cannot move; you start things yourself, you push yourself, you want the best, you do your own thing. That is simply what you do when you search for your own school. It is not suffering at all, but of course, you think your so-called Nigerian elders want you to suffer because, in your head, you have identify suffering with hard work. Where on earth is doing things right a suffering?

I am not saying you must do everything by yourself or that you cannot pick up something from others to assist your process or journey, but do things right. You can always ask for help, and I think that is why most people are here.

Don't despise a good advise, for it will guide you during difficult times.

Guys, I have nothing against any of you going to WIU. My advise for you is to prepare well for your interview.
Know why you pick the school
Know why you pick your course
Know what you will be studying
Be ready to link what you do now and what the degree will do for you.
Don't copy people's transcript.
Tell your story as it is, and make it unique.

You may be refused and you may be approved. It is 50/50! In the first place, having admission, paying sevis and visa fee doesn't guaranteed visa approval. And being refused once, twice, thrice and so on doesn't mean it is over. First week of June, I have an applicant that got his visa at 5th attempt with WIU i-20! No scholarship or funding! But I know others that have been refused as well. Now, it seems I am done on this topic.

If you hate a good advise and the person who gives it, know that it is a blessing unto that person!

Jukwasi:
Fairheart biko allow people. Their choice and not yours. The sky is very big for every living bird to fly. You said this before and I got my Visa. Stop killing people's spirit. I hate your lackadaisical disposition towards wiu and people hiding the name of their school. You are taking this too personal.

You hate what you don't understand! Hating is a thing that people without understanding and experience do, and so you are free to keep hating. I don't care! That is that for you!

And let me add here, I don't have anything against WIU! I have over 12 students I personally guide and prepare for interview. The school officials themselves complained that they were burdened by the number of application they received from Nigeria alone, including people applying for courses they do not qualify for. This is from one of my people who were approved in December.

GUYS, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, I AM DOING THIS FOR ALL OF YOU!!!!!
WHY DO YOU ALL THINK I AM AGAINST YOU? I AM NOT! BECAUSE OF INCESSANT PRIVATE MESSAGES I RECEIVED FROM PEOPLE HERE, I WAS FORCED TO PUT THESE STUDENTS TOGETHER SO THEY SYNERGIZE AND GET THEIR STUFFS RIGHT. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR A VISA FOR GOD SAKE!

Let me explain this to you: the more applicants take i-20s from a single school, the more they will refuse applicants with such i-20. If it gets so bad, once they see WUI on your i-20, they just ask you few questions and the next thing is I am sorry. Do you guys want to be wasting visa fee? wasting time? getting heart broken? I am not so sure what you guys are against exactly!

Maybe y'all are having someone pumping money into your application. But if you are working your ass out to make your own money, you will invest it on application with high chances of approval. Don't you guys get it?

The purpose of the f-1 visa interview is to assess your credibility for the visa. Nothing more! When 100 people takes WIU i-20 to the school in 2 days, what do you think will happen? how do you think you will be seen? They know that for such high number of students to have same i-20 from same school, it must have been cheap.

This morning, I have an applicant who is going to George Washington University to study human resources management, with total cost of attendance of about $60K. Her i-20 was shared with another VO and she was still approved. While it may be her time and God's favour, one thing stands out: her school. GWU is like an Ivy League school, even though it is a blank admission!

I care about you guys and not against you! At the same time, y'all can do what you like! All the best!

emmanuelle27:
so the person that gave you that information was listening to all the VO's that interviewed every applicant and concluded that all WIU faithfuls were denied, he/she saw all of it? making up shit to drive home your point is not the best, someone who's Visa has already been approved should share his/her school that's one of the essence of these thread from judging from the past transcripts I have read, lighting my candle from yours does not extinguish your own flame, that is my opinion.

In this context, you miss the point. You need not to light your candle from another person's burning candle. You have what it takes create your own matches box and light your candle each time you need your light. Find your own schools. I know searching for schools and finding the right one is, perhaps, the hardest task in the entire application process, but do it. It is always worth it!
Some of you here are just not ready for the truth.

Anyone can say what they like, choose to post their school or not. I don't really care! But if indeed you only wanted to know how the interview went and how students performed, then you do not need to know the school they are going. It is utterly unnecessary for your information. Your argument is useless.

Have you asked: Why am I so interested in other people's school when I have my own school, selected out of a well-done home work?

NigPatriot:


The issue of posting school name has lingered for long. And I see some people trying to impose their opinion on another, which I feel is wrong. I've been reading transcripts for a while and it's only recently I saw people censoring school information with "xyz" "abc" etc. - I doubt if people gain anything from such. It's better such transcript is kept to themself. I check indian blogs I don't see any of this censoring, if for any means they are always in unison in schools they apply to. I don't see any fuss in posting your school information. Some say it shows laziness in approach for those that copy and apply there, well wouldn't you rather want your Nigerian fellow with you in same school.

The idea of a school "casting" like WIU or University of new haven is a weak argument. People still get their visas from these schools, almost daily. The VOs are aware that most international students select these schools because of their low and affordable cost of attendance.

My deductions should be, if anyone wants to post their school they should be free to do so. Let's encourage a symbiotic environment and not a parasitic one, the sky is too big for everyone to fly. Hoarding information because "we want people to suffer before they get it" is a Nigerian mentality that's why we have things so hard in our land.

Visa will reach everyone, it's only a matter of time and chance.

Canada2021:
please which University? I am also a lawyer... thank you

Why do you need to know her University? So that people will bomb it as they now did with Western Illinois University? I heard yesterday from someone at the embassy that many applicants came with Western Illinois University I-20 and almost, if not all of them, including someone who is fully funded, were refused.

So I have advised those who are in touch with me not to reveal their schools on this forum. I advise potential applicants that will be approved to keep their school out as well. Let every student find their own school and have a unique profile, so that they will take you serious when you apply for your visa at the embassy.

For your information, WIU was funding students until over 2500 Nigerian students bombed the school with applications. Now, they are reaping the result with many refusals.

Remember, the United States has over 5000 colleges and universities, so find your own school. Do the work! Don't avoid the work! It will help your journey. This is for all of you here!

If this will keep people safe and help protects lives and properties, then it is welcomed.
The Nigerian people must understand that this times requires all form of measures for their own security.

In addition, protect your land against those who are against emancipation of Biafra.

ife92:
i had my visa interview on 10th of June around 8am in Lagos.
COA : $35000
Deficit : $22400
Kindly see transcript below :

Me : Good Morning & How are you today?

V. O : Replies ( and i passed him my passport and i-20 as requested)
V.O : I can see you are going for Computer and Information Science
Me : Yes
V.O : What do you do currently.
Me : I work as a ***** Engineer in ***** a leading FinTech company in Africa
V.O : What is your undergraduate degree?
Me : ****** Engineering
V.O : What do you do as a ***** Engineer?
Me : I explained
V.O : How did you hear about the course?
Me : I did an extensive research online using usnews.com, studyusa.com, i streamlined my search to schools that matches my academic profile , work experience and future career goal.
V.O : Who is sponsoring you?
Me : My Cousin

Next thing , he just gave me the blue paper.
I have not even explained, he didn't ask for any documents, nothing.

Kindly advise as i'm confused on what to do next
I have paid for another visa fee but i still don't know what went wrong even though the guy was just giving blue paper that thursday morning.

Please guys help me, thanks.

You people always do extensive research online. I am sure the VOs at the U.S embassy and Abuja must have heard the line so much that the words have lost their usefulness. The way you talk, your sponsor plus the supposed relationship (cousin?) are the reasons for your refusal. I can bet you didn't talk confidently.

Use your Mother. The reason being that, when you exhaust your personal funds, where do you expect to get more money with a visa in a country you are not eligible to work (except on campus employment, which is not even guaranteed)? Your family member should be your primary sponsor while you can say you have personal savings toward living expenses.

At the same time, tell your story as it is.

Ray2018:


Please what are the chances if I use myself as the sponsor, I have a 30k deficit and I want to use my account statement and also I can make use of my mums account statement for proof of funds. My chances are better with which of the account statements?

Thanks

If it is not personal, please kindly share your questions or concern here. But if it is not something you can discuss openly, then you may send a message.

ife92:
i need to discuss somethings with you, if you are the popular fairheart that help with mock interviews

Malone122:
odujokotobby@gmail.com

Check your email in an hour. Will forward the materials email address under all my mention.
All the best

Temitopebisi:
Please does anyone have someone who can help me fasttrack my passport renewal.
I have done capturing since 20th April, and when I checked yesterday, I was told my file has just been submitted.

Please help! My email address is temitope_bisi@yahoo.com

I know an immigration officer at the Ikoyi office. However, I am not promising you he will be able to help you if your application is still in the pool. But he is a nice man and he will assist you when you mention my name. I can't post his number here, so send a DM.

Good afternoon,
How may I help ?

ife92:
please help

Unbelievable

DON'T COPY OTHERS' INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT.

This can be one of the potential causes of your refusal if you don't take it.
No matter how sweet or good an interview transcript posted here looks, please don't copy it. Create your own proposed interview transcript.
I am receiving information that more Nigerians are applying for the F1 visa than ever before. I guess this is due to the economic woes and population boom. Note that the more applicants there is in the pool, the more selective the approval will be. By this I mean if 200 students apply, the consular will sort through their interviews to approval students they deem credible or say something reasonable and with better profile.

Yes, there's a room for favour and grace of God, but note that you are still required to do your own home work.
I always say this: craft your response according to your academic profile, research interest, course, scholarship and based on your career objectives. Use your own words to create your own answers.

The interview is a pitch to convince the consular. Nothing more. A pitch is a short conversation you have with someone you are communicating an idea/views/answers to. What makes you convince this person and win their approval is your choice of words, how you say it, the tone by which you say it, and based on your profile. You see, it is straightforward.

Do not copy people's transcript or you will be limiting your chances of approval and that of other people doing copycat on this thread. Whatever is personal is always unique, and what is unique will be recognized from the crown of over 200 applicants that troop to the U.S embassies.

Imagine 5 applicants interviewed by the same VO within 2 days saying same line of word, for example, "Aside the fact that..." or "I have had no reason to travel before..." I am sure such VO would find it boring when the 6th applicant say the same thing. But what happened to saying, "More so", "Also", "In addition", "Although I receive...", OR "I have never been outside Nigeria", "I have not travelled outside Nigeria before", "I have been in Nigeria all my life", etc.

I understand that some of you here have never been grilled before, especially talking with a Westerner face-to-face on a visa application you have spent close to 500K or more, and that is why you must understand that you need to be constructive and do it well.

The interview is the most important aspect of the entire application. You may get admission from 100 schools, but if you say rubbish during interview or you let fear paralyse you, it won't matter how many school admitted you.

Take these instructions to heart and use it to work on your answers. To avoid unnecessary message request in my inbox (except for special cases or people who need personal advise), use the questions below to prepare yourself.

CONSULAR: Pass Your Passport and i-20 Please
CONSULAR: Why Are You Going to the US?
CONSULAR: Why the US?
CONSULAR: How Did You Get This School? / How Did You Hear About This School?
CONSULAR: How Many Schools Did You Apply To?
CONSULAR: What Do All These Schools Have in Common?
CONSULAR: Why Did You Choose this School?
CONSULAR: Tell Me About Your Academic Background?
CONSULAR: Why Do You Need this Masters? / What Will this degree do for you? /What is the relationship between this program and what you do at the moment?
CONSULAR: What are those courses you’ll be taking/ Tell me about your program/What is your study plan?
CONSULAR: Did You Write Any Standardized Test?
CONSULAR: Are you married?
CONSULAR: Have You Travelled Before?
CONSULAR: Who Is Paying For This? / Who Is Sponsoring You?
CONSULAR: What Does Your Sponsor Do?
CONSULAR: How Many siblings do you have
CONSULAR: What are your career plans / What is your plan after graduation?

The questions above are for preparatory purposes only. I am not saying the consular will ask you the questions as listed; you may be surprised; you may even be asked what is not on the list. It is case by case. But remember, if you know you will be interviewed, and you know what the interview would be about, you would likely want prepare to convince the interviewer that you are a credible student and that you have done your home work and that your reason for wanting to go to the United States for studies is genuine!

Please tell your truth, always. Be consistent with your answers. Do not nurse fears of what if I am refused, or else, your confidence will be smoldered. You can be refused and that is perfectly okay as there's opportunity for reapplication.

All the best!

GRE materials sent to all email address in my mention!

I must warn some of you here: stop bombing universities that you see on approved transcript.
The U.S has over 5000 colleges and universities. Why must 2500 Nigerians apply to a single school, when there are several other schools with even better admission chance and financial opportunities?

I hate to say this, but you need to do your own home work. There's nothing wrong in searching for your own schools, contacting your program department on possibility for admission and financial support before you apply. All you need is time and focus. If you can't do it, seek help. Do not avoid the work as it may land you in disappointment. Be intentional about your dream of studying abroad and be willing to pay the price.

By avoiding the work and only applying to schools you see on Nairaland, you deny yourself the possibility of applying to better school with better opportunities that would help secure your visa and make your stay in the U.S smooth.

I wish prospective applicants having interview for fall 2021 the best.

Kubernetes:
This war is getting out of hand and no one know how it will end. The Israelis cannot afford to loose 6m Jews again.
Let their be a two state solution.
The useless united nations not acting.
Let the Israelis and the Hezbollah cease fire

Israel does not want a two-state solution; it wants the entire place. That is selfishness, and this selfishness breeds injustice that, over time, will cause more deadly violence.

When I look at everything, greed and unfairness is the root cause of almost all the problems in this world, Israeli-Palestine conflicts included.

I replied your message request. Check your inbox and other folders. And what do you need help with?

Tbill:
Good morning Guys,

@fairheart and @Pefuele. I have been unable to establish direct contact with either of you.
Could you kindly DM your email address or phone contact as I urgently need your assistance with my Visa application. My email address is tegills@yahoo.com

Thank you

Yes! The more school hours apply to, the better your opportunity to select the best one and, perhaps, receive funding.

Sevis fee must be paid before interview and a coupon must be generated to make this payment. However, interview appointment can be scheduled before payment of sevis.

AmbassadorSam01:

Are the chances of visa approval high when applied to many schools, compared to applying to one school only.?

When can the sevis fee be paid before interview?In paying sevis fee,is it compulsory to first generate a payment coupon?

MelaninGemstone:
Visa denied in Lagos
May 4, 2021

First time, First denial
COA: $60k
No funding at all
University: Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ

NB: My best friend is saying I shouldn’t post my transcript on NL, but I’m posting it, so maybe someone will learn a thing or two.

Background: The queue was very long, over 300 people or more got interviewed today. Our biometrics were taken by 2 white guys. One middle aged and one young guy. I didn’t even know they were VO’s too. I thought they were just ordinary embassy staffs. I guess they were taking the biometrics to reduce the queue. Then as soon as there was no one else for biometrics. They resumed their VO duties.

There was an elderly VO, I was hoping he would interview me, he was not denying based on sentiments. He would analyze your case well and let you defend yourself and speak. He approved people that were able to speak well and defend themselves and denied those that were beating around the bush.

He had just finished interviewing someone, and it was my time to be interviewed, his window was vacant, but Unfortunately, as I approached, he left his desk, he was going for a short recess I think.

I was ushered to a young VO. One of those who were taking biometrics earlier.

VO: Pass your passport and I-20

Me: passed it

VO: What is taking you to the United States ?

Me: *talking boldly and with a loud voice* ...I am going to Stevens Institute of Technology, the third most prestigious University in the state of New Jersey for my Masters in CyberSecurity.

VO cuts in and says: I don’t need to know that information.

*insinuating that I shouldn’t have told him my school is the third most prestigious institution in NJ

*My heart started beating fast and I became nervous, that I have messed up.

VO: What would this degree do for you?

Me: This course of study has concentrations in Network security and data Protection and it pertains to what I currently need in my workplace for career growth. I work in an IT company.

*due to the fact that I was already nervous. I blurted the above out so fast.

VO tells me. Hold up. Take a deep breath. Now continue.

I continued...the course would also assist me to get the much needed promotion I have been working so hard for in my company.

VO: How many schools did you apply to?

Me: I also applied to Bowling Green State University, Bowie University Maryland and Kennesaw State University.

VO: How many admitted you?

Me: Stevens, BGSU and KSU admitted me, while I’m waiting a response from Bowie.

VO: Who’s paying for this?

Me: My mother ...then I added, I have her account statement here.

VO: What does she do?

Me: She is a real estate developer, she acquires hectares of land and develops it into estates. She also builds houses and sells. And develops for people too.

VO: How many staffs does she have ?

Me: About 15-20

VO: What is her monthly income

Me: 3.6 million.

*Now this was where I messed up. My mom does not have a fixed monthly income. She is a businesswoman and her money comes in steadily. I don’t know what made me say 3.6 million. I was already nervous and feeling dizzy. I’m sure my mother earns more than that monthly.

VO: Who does she live with ?

Me: She lives with my younger sister

*Honestly I don’t understand why he asked me this question

VO: Who do you live with ?

Me: I live alone, then I added with my fiancée

*I actually live with my fiancée, I don’t know why I said I live alone in the first place. Maybe because my fiancée is not currently around and I have been alone for 2 months.

VO: You live alone, with your fiancée. Okay

He types on his system for about a minute.

*I feel they type in the questions they ask us and our responses for record purposes.

VO reaches to the stack of letters, picks out a denial letter and hands to me. Then says “you don’t have the funding requirement for this program”

He didn’t even bother checking my moms account statement. It had a very good balance

1.You didn't do your home work well. And trust me, I have seen cases where overconfidence kill the chances of approval.
First, you disgusted the VO with saying it is a prestigious school. No need for that. I always tell my students, don't give unnecessary information. In fact, it is useless to start bragging about a school. It doesn't had any chance to getting approved.

2, Can you take a look at other schools you applied to? The right school on that chart would be other tier 2 schools, top ranking universities.

3, You were going for a school with a cost of attendance of $60K. I always say it here, always consider the reality of things when selecting a school. Unfortunately, you overlooked that reality. Your school is way too expensive, especially because it is a blank admission without scholarship or assistantship. More so, we are in a pandemic, with people source of income significantly affected and unable to make as much as they were making before the pandemic. What happened to other schools that are well-ranked but not as much as expensive? $60K a year, in my opinion and based on reality, is too much. If you had asked on this thread whether or not you should use this admission, I would have advised you against it.

4, Did you say you Mum makes 3.6 Million every month? Okay, let us be realistic. 3.6 X 12 (in a year) is 43M, less that your total cost of attendance for 9 months, one academic year! So, even if your Mum pumps in her anual income, it still can't pay your COA. She has responsibilities, other family members, etc. Come on. Someone that can confidently pay $60k in nine month to fund her daughter should make more than 3.6, except she has been saving over the years for you. I am sharing this because this is the angle the VO that interviewed you looked at things from. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked who does live with (wanted to know other family members your Mum support from that 3.6million). When the VO asked who your Mum lives with, you left out mentioning your Dad, giving impression she may be seperated or divorce.

5, You live alone but with your fiance, meaning there's a plan to get married soon.

I know your interview was less than 5 minutes or so, but you see those questions you were asked and the way you answered says a lot about your credibility for the F-1 Visa. He sense lies.

I see in your other post that you are disgruntled by the way the VO handled your interview. It is not the VO's fault; you caused it and you should take responsibility and go back to your drawing board and repackage yourself. You caused the instability and nervousness with your overconfidence with saying you're going to a top school, and the VO responded accordingly. The VO was not discriminatory at all; you gave him the sense of unbelief by your answers. You showed indirectly that your sponsor can't afford the school you are going, and on that ground, he refused you. He did what he was trained to do.

MY ADVISE FOR YOU
1. Do not reapply except you have funding or scholarship that reduces your cost of attendance. I am sure a remark must have been left on your profile.
2. Prepare to prove your credibility. If in your next interview question arise on your fiance, make sure you let the VO knows that you wanted to get this master's before you settle down and marry him, as you would not want to live apart doing your MS in the U.S once you get married.
3. Consider applying to other school that promises funding. In your other post, you said Stevenson graduate students get jobs upon graduation. That is correct, but so is the case for other school. Students who graduated in 400 nationally ranked universities also get jobs, especially since IT skills are in high demand. So, I advise you correct your belief. It doesn't have to be that school for you to get a good job. I have seen students from colleges in Florida get high paying internship with Microsoft, Google, and all.
4. In life, overconfidence can cheat us of what we want. Find balance in how you see things. I can sense you irritated the VO from the way the interview started. But that happens. I advise you find a balance in your next interview. Confidence can be negative if not checked. Find balance.
5. It is not the end. Strategize and go back.

All the best!

Congratulations again!

Koskos95:

Visa Approved.
Us Embassy in Abuja. 5th May, 7:45 am
If I say only one person helped me... I lie..
I thankgod for Fairheart, we met sometime early this year and it was funny. I thank everyone, I have gleaned things from everyone.. I ThankGod Almighty.
Most importantly, fast and pray..
Me : Good morning to you Madam
Consular : Please pass me your documents.
Consular: I see you'll be going to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for a masters degree in Civil engineering.
Me: Yes, madam
Consular : How did you hear about this school?
Me: I first learnt about this university in an online research paper that is on the production of biogas from the anaerobic degradation of food wastes. So I explored the program website, learnt about the professor and I added the school to my list and applied.
Consular: Did you apply to any other schools.
Me: Yes, I did. I applied to 2 other universities, nanely: old dominion university and the University of South Carolina.
(Consular was quite while she typed)
So I added, I received two admits, one from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the other from Old dominion university, while I had one reject from the university of South Carolina. So I had 2 admits and 1 reject.
Consular: What do you plan to do after graduation?
Me: with this masters degree, I hope to apply for a position in academia at my Alma mater,; Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu university, where I currently work as a research assistant at the Civil Engineering department. I want to pass on the world class knowledge I'd be acquiring to the new generations of Engineers in Nigeria,and also it will help me in achieving my long term goals of liasing with professors in my Alma mater ,as well as professors in other universities here in Nigeria ,so as to help start similar researches here in Nigeria, just like what I will be working on which is on the production of biogas from the anaerobic degradation of food wastes.
Consular: What is your highest degree ?
Me : I have a bachelor's of Engineering degree certificate .
Consular : When did you acquire it?
Me : in 2017
Consular : what have you been doing since then?
Me: After graduation in 2017, I went for the compulsory NYSc program and it ended late 2018. In 2019, I started preparing and I wrote the Standardized tests such as the Gre and TOEFL examinations. Currently, I work as a research assistant at the Civil Engineering department in my Alma mater, Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu university, were I assist with the preparation, writing, and review of journal articles and manuscripts, and so far we have carried out a research that is on the seasonal variation of the surface water quality of Obizi Stream.

Consular: Is your program 3years ?
Me: it's 2 years plus 1 year OPT.( infact I emphasized that it was optional.. So basically 2years,because that's what I filled on ds160 application)
Consular : Have you traveled out of Nigeria before?
Me: Yes, I traveled to India in 2016 ,to have a left robotic pyloplasty surgery, because I was suffering from a pelvic ureteric junction obstruction.
Consular: do you have any relative in the USA?
Me: yes, I have a distant relative.
Consular : How will you be paying for the deficit?
Me : In addition to the graduate assistantship I received that covers my full tuition, my mother will be paying the deficit.. ( She didn't even allow me to continue). She cut in..
Consular : Do you have the bank statements to show for the available funds?
Me : yes, I do... Then I gave her the statements.
Consular: The sum of $ dollars was deposited last week
Me: I said yes, in addition to the money that was previously in the account...
Consular: so that makes it $?
Me : Yes, in addition to my mother's salary bank account in Naira bank statement and her pounds bank statement.
Consular : What does your Mother do?
Me: My mother is a medical radiographer at **** where she has been working for 17 years now, and currently holds the position of the manager of the radiography department.

She took few minutes typing, she withheld my international passport ,served me the white slip on directions to pick my passport...

She finally approvedy Visa. The I said God bless you Ma.

Simplyleo:
Based on the population of Nigeria, the size of the Nigerian Army and the ongoing insurgency across the country, that is grossly insufficient by any standard. Nigeria is indeed poor, forget the hype. The dominant source of national income is crude oil, nothing else.

Oil alone cannot sustain this country with a population hovering around 200m. Any idiot can do the simple arithmetic and tell me what every soul is entitled to from the gross earning.

Nigeria's annual budget is still less than 15 trillion, pls what will that amount do for over 200m people? Infact, let's assume 15t is to be shared physically, that is around 75k per head per annum.

US with a population of about 250m has annual budget in the excess of $2 trillion.

No one should quote me because I don't respond to bunkum from illiterates.

You don't know what you're saying! U.S population is 328.2 million!
More so, your assessment is grossly not in touch with the reality in Nigeria, considering that there's much corruption in the Nigerian army. Even our soldiers are saying it; government officials are aware as well. So, coming online to defend corruption is unacceptable.

Most of the 1trillion Naira must have been embezzled, mismanaged, and wasted on things that cannot help the Nigerian security agency win the war on terror. In addition, part of the money spent on weapons that are snatched by Boko Haram also make winning the war hard.

If that money has been well used, there'd have been significant improvement. Stop supporting corrupt NA