ace101:
Hello all,

My wife's visit visa was approved in Abuja after 10 weeks and one paid email in week 9. She was called by TLS to submit her passport last week Thursday as it was keep my passport option.

How long does it take to hear back after passport submission?

Thanks.

This should take about 5 working days. This was how long it took in my husbands case.

Cashmadam:


Try Qatar, Turkish, Emirates...

BA and Virgin will be very expensive

You need transit visa for KLM and Air France - if you have a Nigerian Passport.

Getting a ticket if you are travelling this August is not cheap and this is for all airlines.

You can adjust your dates to 2nd week in September for a seemingly fair rate.
For E.g this august, to get a ticket for a family of 4 (husband, wife and 2 kids below 12) is from 3,800,000 to 4,200,000 and this isn't a direct flight.

The likes of virgin and BA are off the roof.

PipSurgeon:
Quick question guy to help me with this anxiety.

Do people get Visa Denial without a mail from UKVI?

I want to book ticket right away before the courier get to me because the rates i am seeing are outrageous.

So, for me i booked tickets before my husband and I received our passports. This was after my paid mail that decision has been made. Also, this was our 4th renewal, so we just went ahead and booked tickets, but we gave like 3 weeks lead time to ensure we receive out passports (which we have).

PS - This is not a recommendation, just sharing what we did as the prices of tickets for summer are off the roof right now.

kod161:


Sure yours wills drop this week as well, I am optimistic. My decision mail and collection mail dropped the same day after waiting for almost 3 months (May 24th).
Please my mum chose the option that the passport to be delivered to her as she can’t stand the VI stress again. Who knows if the courier can be tracked or how soon they will deliver.
Do they give tracking ID when such option is chosen pls.

If she choose the option of delivery, then dhl will pick this up and deliver within 24hrs.
You will receive a tracking mail once the passport is with dhl and track this yourself. Just ensure she is home to receive it.

temodent:


Naira cards are no longer working you either use a dorm card if you've got one, or simply ask someone outside o help you with the payment. It costs just £2.70.

All the best.

Is this recent?
I used stanbic Ibtc Naira master card on the 2nd of August for a paid mail and it went through.

geolan:


Can someone assist the poster with this cos I remember during my application, I used several cards from GTBank naira Mastercard to my dom cards but it still failed

If you have a stanbic Naira master card, this should work. Used this recently for myself and husband in the last 2 weeks.

Meziea:

Or is any body on the same page like mine

I advise you send a paid mail to know the status. However, they kind of have a surge right now so that's what is slowing this down.
My personal experience: Did my biometrics on the 29th of June and received mail for passport dispatch/collection on the 1st of August. DHL delivered the following day.

Akayani:
Good evening house and a happy weekend. For a woman who is married and has a change of name already, can she use an account in her former name for proof of funds at the UK embassy?
I would really appreciate it if I get a very good explanation

Hello

I believe you can. Just make sure you have your marriage certificate attached as well. I have tried this in the past.

Edithbako:
June 10th biometric sent a paid mail y/day response is still awaiting decision.hv an exam next week ...in really unhappy didn't know uk visa process is so stressful

So sorry about this. I will advise to find an alternative to writing your exam. If it can be postponed, please start that process.
If they are yet to make a decision, the chances of getting your passport before the exam is quite slim.

dirolad:
he should go and submit his passport to the VAC showing them the decision mail and explain to them he optioned for keep my passport. They will collect it and contact him back when it's ready for collection. Do that quickly tho

Thank you for this tip. My husband went to submit his passport at the TLS Ikeja office today. He printed a copy of the response from the paid mail, and it was helpful. What i don't understand is why no mail was sent to him to bring his passport even after a decision has been made.

Please has anyone been in this situation or gone the route of keep my passport. Any idea how long it would take from when passport is submitted to collection.

Xanderlex:
This delay is worrisome. Applied for a 6months visitor's visa for my mum. Biometrics - 14th June. No response. Tried sending paid mail, was debited but it says error processing.

The number of people applying for the UK visa (either visit or study) is alarming. I am sure they have not experienced this kind of surge before.
My sister was at TLS Ikeja yesterday with her family (family of 5). Her appointment was for 12 noon. She didn't get in till 3:30pm.
Guess what guys, she didn't leave there till 10pm, that was when she eventually captured and had to beg to get captured because she had 3 kids with her. The youngest in 2years. She said a lot of people were still there when she was leaving.

I gave TLS a review yesterday and i really hope the look into it (they sent a link to share my experience after my application). This is the worst i have experienced in years since i started applying for UK visas. Its either they employ more hands to speed up the biometrics capture or put a hold for a few weeks and work on clearing the backlog. How do you hold someone's passport for 11 weeks? They just keep collecting money with poor service.

dirolad:
he should go and submit his passport to the VAC showing them the decision mail and explain to them he optioned for keep my passport. They will collect it and contact him back when it's ready for collection. Do that quickly tho

Thanks for the response. Will do that and share the outcome.

Also, for anyone that has opted for keep my passport where you sent a mail to return your passport for visa issuance at any point in time.
Appreciate more feedbacks on this.

Hello All

I just received my passport with my visa approved. This is a renewal.

Biometrics at Ikeja - 29th June 2022
Application transferred and received by DMC - 6th July 2022.
sent a paid mail and received a response on the 26th of July. The response was decision has been made and i should await receipt of my passport within 10 working days.
Application transferred and received by VAC - 1st of August 2022
Passport picked up by DHL - 1st of August 2022
Passport delivered by DHL - 2nd August 2022.

Documents submitted
Letter of introduction from my office
offer letter from my employer
6 months' pay-slip
6 months bank statement (about 1m balance).
Also had joint bank statement for me and my husband (57m and $30k)
flight and hotel reservation
marriage certificate

Surprisingly, i applied together with my husband but no update at all on his. He also opted for keep my passport.
i sent a paid mail on his behalf and the response was that a decision has been taken. Not sure when they will request for his passport.
Has anyone experienced this before? We always apply together for our previous visas and received back on the same day. This renewal is quite different.

MarryWhiteasap:
Sup?

No response at the moment. still awaiting since my last paid mail.

Omooooooo:


2.74pounds

If you have a Stanbic Naira master card, this should work.
I used this in sending a paid mail this week and it went through. I was charged roughly N1,700 for GBP2.74

askari01:



This must be skilled worker visa..init?

No.
Visitors visa.
But this is my 4th renewal.

doctore212:
Good evening all.
I did my biometrics on 6th June (Abuja) and I sent a paid mail yesterday.

They replied , stating that a decision has been made . I should wait for 10 working days.

My question is this : Do they keep to thier words because I have an exam on the 11th of August.

Thanks

Hello Guys,
Received a response on the paid mail i sent last night.
Biometric date was June 29.
The response - Decision has been made. wait 10 working days to get a response from the VAC to review your passport or have it delivered to you.

Has anyone had this kind of mail? How long did it take to receive one's passport? Will this exceed the 10 working days they have stated?

Any idea will be appreciated.

babyfaiz:
Hello house,
Please, what else does a US citizen traveling to the UK on visitation need, besides their passport? I have two US born children traveling with me from Nigeria to the UK. I want to be very sure, I don’t need to fill any form online. I haven’t seen much informations besides just having a passport. Anybody here with informations?

I do not know if anything has changed since my last trip.
My kids are US citizens, and the last time we were in London was 2019. Just their US passport provided it's not a long stay. Our stay on each trip to the UK is usually a maximum of 2 weeks.
Hope they have Nigerian passport because you will require that for their return back to the country (Nigeria).

MarryWhiteasap:

It was actually for people that are waiting, plus they keep changing policy within these periods

Hello, i am sorry but is there a difference from people who applied for Visa and have done biometrics and people that are waiting.
Honestly not clear. My understanding is that once biometrics have been done, then one waits for a response for the visa application.
Kindly help clarify my understanding.

MarryWhiteasap:

All may/june Applicant's both New/Renewal will receive a feedback latest September 31st... (Some may fall in July/August/Sept) all depend on were your application was sent for consideration. Embassy staffs does not have power on the decision making so as DMC varies.
Be patient , go about your businesses and stay awoke.

I think this varies. Not sure how they are doing this.
Just to share though.
My brother did his biometrics in Lagos (VI) on the 26th of May 2022.
He got an email to pick up his passport on the 20th of June 2022.
He paid for the standard visa application, and this was a 6 months renewal. The last time he was in London was in 2015.
PS - Visa was granted.

Hello Guys, please i have a quick question.
When you send the paid mail, how long does it take. I just sent one and the email says 5 working days to respond.
For those who have sent paid mail, does it really take 5 working days or can it be shorter.
Appreciate anyone that can respond to this.

Desire12:
Congrats on your smooth POE entry Favouredmum.
Which hospital and doc are you using in Chicago?

I've tried contacting hospitals in Chicago to get correspondence to no avail.... please help if you have any info

Thanks.

I actually got correspondence from 2 hospitals in Chicago before travelling. Kindly pick ur fone and keep calling. It took me about a month to do this. It's really sad when people don't wanna do any research at all but wanna be spoon fed. I couldn't have gone thru Chicago without having a correspondence. I actually had two which I showed at POE. (St Bernards, mercy hospital and mount sinia will give correspondence. Jst be persistent and keep calling till you get what you want).

As for someone who asked for accommodation, pls sit with Airbnb and check. I met some mums on nairaland and we were able to get a 3 bedroom apartment for a good deal in the heart of town thru Airbnb. This took almost 6 weeks before we got what we wanted. You can also contact the hosts once you see what you like for further discount because the long stay actually pays Dem.

This trip costs a lot of money and we should be willing to invest time into what we wanna put millions into.

OnJosh1:


Hello Favouredmum, How are you doing? I'm a FTM and was searching for cost of Rhogam shot and saw your 2015 post about it being included in the bill for Oakbend. By GOD'S Grace I'm a Jan 2018 Mum and I intend using Oakbend and Dr E. Pls I need to send you a pm. Thanks

Hi, I saw ur pm and tried responding but it bounced back. Kindly follow me or ask ur question here.

Thank you

Good afternoon all,

Left Nigeria on Monday via Turkish airlines with my daughter. Everything went well in Nigeria and my fit to fly from the hospital was accepted. Had an 8hrs layover in instanbul and was given a bed in the resting room for that period.

Fast forward the 8hrs waiting period, we boarded our flight from Istanbul to Chicago and I was the only pregnant lady on board. By the way, I didn't like the service from the Turkish airlines hostesses. We arrived Chicago at 5pm and I headed to join the queue. It was really fast and I was directed to the front. Met the cbp i was directed to and handed our passports to him.

Cbp 1 - hi
Me - hi
Cbp 1 - why are you here and how long are you staying
Me - I am here to have a baby and would be here for 2 months
Cbp 1 - oh, you are pregnant and can see you had ur daughter here in 2015
Me - Yes
Cbp 1 - how much do you have with you
Me - $xxxxx,£xxxxx and €xxxxx. In total, a lil over 9k
Cbp 1 - oops, my system is hanging, I will have to direct you somewhere else where the system is ok
Me - not a problem

He hands me over to another cbp who was to lead me to secondary inspection and that was where the drama started
Cbp 2 - you had your baby here in 2015 and you are here to have another one
Me - yes
Cbp 2. - you Nigerians don't pay your bills
Me - pls don't say that again. I paid my bills and you can't speak that way for everyone. I have my receipts and zero balance to prove that.
Cbp 2 - how much did you pay
Me - I paid $5815
Cbp 2 - that's so small. An uncomplicated birth is a minimum is a minimum of $25k
Me - I didn't manufacture the bills and zero balance and paid exactly what I was billed. However, I am self pay and not insured

At this point, the guy was furious and started vibrating. He JST walked out on me but I made sure I didn't let him shut me up because that was what he tried to do. I went to seat waiting to be called. My daughter kept playing and after a while the same cbp officer asked for my documents and I gave him the envelope that contained doctors appointment, zero balance, leave letter from my office, consent letter from my husband with his data page, marriage certificate, budget estimate for the trip and Airbnb confirmation receipt.
After 2hrs my daughter got cranky and started shouting that she wanted to leave the place. I tried to pacify her hold on a lil longer till we get out passports but instead she started shouting I want to go Mummy, where is my mummy's passport. At this point, another lady brought juice and cookies for her to calm her down and then I was called again

Cbp 3 - hello ma'am, do you have a doctor's appointment
Me - yes I do
Cbp 3 - can I see it
Me - an officer has collected that Abt 2hrs ago
Cbp 3 - oh I am sorry about that let me confirm

She goes inside and comes out to say it wasn't with anyone inside. I insisted that it was collected from me and she should confirm from her colleagues. After a minute she comes out again with my documents and continues her questions

Cbp 3 - when is ur due date
Me - I responded
Cbp 3 - how much do you have with you
Me - I told her
Cbp 3 - can I see it
Me - sure and I bring it out

After this, she hands my documents to me and asks me to sit that another officer would be with me shortly. After 2 mins, another cbp officer calls me

Cbp 4 - ma'am, heres your passport. You are good to go
Me - thank you
Cbp 4 - by the way, I loved the way you arranged your documents. Well done and good luck
Me - thank you.

Carried my load and left. My bags were scanned at agriculture but notin was seized. Checked my passport when I got home and realized I was stamped in for 6 months.

That's my Chicago Poe experience.

Good morning all,

Got into the U.S on Tuesday for my second missionary journey with Turkish airline and my POE was CHICAGO. Will come back to share my experience at the Poe soon but it was not bad at all.

tamasweet1:


Sent you a mgail pls

Tried responding but it's bouncing back.

tamasweet1:
hi all,

please would like to link up with any oct/nov mums heading to chicago.

Hi,

I am an october mum heading to Chicago by the end of September.

Hi wintermom,

Jst saw ur pm and tried responding but the mail bounced back.

Kindly drop ur question here or ur email.

Thanks

Maggiespecial:
haaa, thank u. Pls hope houston is not far from long island because i dnt plan for hotel accomodation? Also kindly give me d details of the hospital u're goin to use in houston n price. Thank u.

Are you for real?.

The thread has a lot of information here. Please take out time to read.

Also note that Houston is in the state of Texas.

Hi dhejavu,

Tried responding to your pm but it bounced back. Kindly drop ur question here.

Thanks

amosadamu:
Hi All,
Can anyone help me with contact information for John H Stroger hospital in cook county Illinois. I have called and called, each time they keep transfering me from one person to another. The closest i have come is to one of the doctors and he said one has to be a resident.
Any good information would be appreciated.

J.h. stroger won't give you any correspondence until you get there in person. If you need one, pick up ur phone and start calling other hospitals in Chicago. Trust me you would get but might jst be difficult.

Wendy4fire:
Hello Favouredmum, October mum here.
Planning on coming in Sept.
Please do you mind sharing Hospital and accommodation info.

Would like to Share accommodation.

This is my email.

wendy4fire@gmail.com

Hi,

I tried responding to ur pm but it bounced back.

As per accommodation, I really can't help with that cos I got thru Airbnb.

You can check Airbnb out but note that accommodation in Chicago is really expensive.