streetMic:
Welcome 2 d Midwest...and the Saudi Arabians here in US also Remind me of how comfortable i should be as a Nigerian if not for corruption. dose Folks d BALL

No be lie my brother... Those Saudis for here sef get chedders die... Oil money things...

imperiouxx:
Which state are you at? It's good to hear that you're fast becoming stable in the new environment.

I am in Illinois. Macomb to be précis; it is 3 hours outside of Chicago by train.

MsNas, thanks for the message my surest sister. Those people ask me to start work on Monday, but I am here to see the student coordinator for clarifications because Monday is Labor Day holiday. I will update you as regards the other one later today.

Imperiouxx and BigFrancis, I agree with you concerning the Indians forming a closely-knit unit. It places them in a vantage and advantageous position almost always. Here in my school, I have met about a dozen guys and around 10 girls and we are all like one family. I just submitted the form for my lease today since I got here. Some Naija guys accommodated and have been feeding me since I came. They won't even let me spend my own money, yet I get to eat what I want- especially African delicacies. Also, they have been helping out on the academic front too. This is like home away from home. 90% of them get GA and TA in their second year and I am working towards that too. I hope to help someone the way they have helped me sooner rather than later... I hear the cold here and Chicago in the winter is something else...

Thanks BigFrancis! MsNas, I am starting that stuff you gave me today. I have applied to quite a number of places on campus and I am expecting to hear from them before this week runs out. Love you guys....

MsNas, BigFrancis and others, please what qualifies one to fill the I-765 form?

MsNas, Streetmic, Walspring and BigFrancis, thanks for everything. I went to school today to talk to the professor. He told me they had exhausted all the money they got for GA this semester, that I would be considered for next semester "If" they got funded. But I would definitely get a GA next session if my GPA is over 3.0. He brought out a book and showed me my name to indicate that he had already noted my name. Subsequently, he said I should try some places- already given to me by MsNas - for employment. He sounded optimistic that something would come up because school is yet to resume fully, and most places are looking for employees.
I achieved the following today:

I visited a cafeteria and they told me to come by 9 am tomorrow to pick employment form to fill and submit for interview.

I got my student ID

I got allocated a course adviser

I opened a bank account.

Tomorrow, I plan to register for courses, pick up and fill the employment form and look for more employment opportunities.

MsNas, I met Samson and Fidelia. I got to know the latter is a Nairalander with the moniker "Fideliajohn", she helped out with everything I did today.
Good luck guys!

Excuse my typos... I am so weak and tired...

BigFrancis, Yes, I took the Greyhound and we spent around 17 hours to get to Chicago with stop-overs in: Columbus, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio and Indiana. I later took the Amtrak train- 3 hours- to my school.

MsNas, thanks for the support sis! I am presently with a group of Nigeria guys in a Western Illinois as I am typing this. In fact, I was picked at the train station by 2 Naija girls. These are all wonderful people...
I sent an email to that prof 5 minutes ago and he replies immediately telling me to come and see him tomorrow by 1:30 pm. I will update you in due course.

decreamaster: snap send joor

MsNas & BigFrancis, presently in the Greyhound in NY enroute Chicago. Thanks for everything. I shall update you when I reach school tomorrow. House, I salute and wish you all God's mercy in all your endeavors.

streetMic: Tor, I actually will pick a dictionary to comprehend all you'v said.

My Oga why you dey tease me now? I was only speaking from the depth of my mind because I love both MsNas and BigFrancis for what they have done on this thread. How your side bro?

Topiipii, how is life treating you?

BigFrancis & MsNas, I beg you guys to put a stop to this needless arguments. A preponderance of the people here have learned from, and still stand to benefit from your wealth of knowledge. Having said that, let's all learn to imbibe a culture of debate, tolerance for divergent view and constructive criticism. Sometimes I wonder if we can't have an intellectual interlocution and concern ourselves with the substance of the other person's submission without resorting to darts-throwing. More importantly, I think the default mode of the human mind/psychology is predatorial and egotistic, it is up to us as an educated bunch to work on this. Once again, I admire and respect you guys a lot. Please let it go....

BigFrancis, I got quoted $110 by gotobus.com, and the bus does not even leave NY until Wednesday evening. I tried using Greyhound so that I can compare prices and go for the cheaper of the two, but their website is malfunctioning . What do you think? My friend here is willing to give me her bank card to do it and I want to book the bus today so I can leave for Chicago ASAP.

House, has the new directive/policy by CBN taken effect? My pal is sending me money tomorrow and I want him to use Western Union and not deposit into my GTBank account.

Zee, I don't know how the pm thing works... But I do know that if you pm me I get notified in my email and we can talk. Can you pm me instead? My school is Western Illinois and I would definitely love for you to hook me up with the Nigerian Student Rep, as I am going there tomorrow.

MsNas, you did mention you can get me introduced to some of the people you are acquainted with in my school. Can you pm me sis?

BigFrancis & MsNas, for the record, MsNas did not encourage me to look for an off-campus job. However, the good thing about the intense argument was that a few of us did learn some new things...

MsNas:
Wait, are you going to Western Illinois University?

Yes. Why did you ask?

streetMic: Do you have Cash in Ur GTB naira account? if yes select the master card payment option. they will debit ur account directly.

I emptied the account when I was coming last week, but I am expecting a deposit tomorrow morning.

MsNas, I am presently staying in Queens,NY. My school is in Macomb, 3:45 mins ride by car. There is a train service from Chicago to Macomb and I am exploring that option too.

BigFrancis, thanks for the info about Greyhound. How does one go about making the payment since I am booking online and I only have cash with me?

MsNas:
Feexo, check the trains too. Someone told me there are trains between NY and Chicago. It will get you there faster than greyhound buses who are notorious for their snail slow speed.
That being said, did you tell your prof about your plight? I mean, does he know about your present situation about fees? Because for him to tell you to come quickly to school, that means he's trying to arrange something for you. I'm hoping it's something big that means you won't have to defer your admission. Don't waste any extra second in New York biko. Go
to school.
I waiting for that day that I will wake up and hear good news about you on this thread. And it will be soon! Still keeping you in my prayers.

I will try and check out the train route and let you know. Yes, I explained everything to the Prof; from the demise of my mom to the financial incapacitation.

Decreamaster, I don't know how the PM thing works because I prefer to throw issues on the floor of the house to elicit myriad of responses from people, but if you insist on that, tell me how to go about it.
House, which is the cheapest way of receiving money from Nigeria using my GTBank debit card here? MsNas once said something about swiping card and buying money order- using Walmart or Kroger- but I can't seem to remember how she explained it.

MsNas & BigFrancis, thanks for the corrections. I am reporting to school this week, and the Prof, who is the graduate coordinator and my research supervisor told me to call him when I get in so that we can have a meeting regarding my situation. He told me to come asap so that I can increase my chances of getting an on-campus job.
I will keep you guys posted.
In the meantime. I am searching for how to get a Greyhound from NY to Chicago. I am presently marooned somewhere in Queens,NY.

MsNas, and the story of how I conquered the tempestuous weather when I first arrived in the U.S. Won't be complete if I did not tell my children about your much-needed moral cum psychological supports. I must tell you that I am making progress. God will reward you abundantly.

House, a friend in my school told me the following:
All registered students get student ID immediately.
All registered students get state ID in days.
All registered students automatically qualify for SSN, and they get allocated same in less than 2 months.
What do you make of all these?

NsNas, I think our prayers are already getting answered... 2 friends have promised to help me with some money by next-week in Texas and Arizona respectively. Also, I am pulling some strings in the UK to come up with some more money. If I can get things over with this 1st semester, I would be vying for a GA in subsequent ones- by maintain GPA of at least 3.0- as the prof said something to that effect to me sometimes back. If I did not get the GA until fall 2015, I am going to have to differ after the 1st semester...

Peep an excerpt from the email sent by the professor, who is my research supervisor and graduate co-ordinator regarding GA:

.....You will be considered in subsequent semesters, if your GPA in the graduate program is 3.0 or higher, and if we have any funds remaining (please understand that we may not have any more funds for 2014-15, and therefore you might not receive an assistantship until Fall 2015).

Please let me know if you have any questions.

MsNas, thanks a lot my sister! I am going to adhere strictly to your suggestions. I shall continue to update you as I proceed. I know it shall be well insha Allah...

On an unrelated note, your prayer for me in your last paragraph was exactly what my late mom used to say to me. I really appreciate it, and I am putting all my hope in God. May the almighty Allah make your joy and fulfillment in life be limitless...

Ojap, Imperiouxx, BigFrancis, Msnas and others, I have been in NY for 5 days trying to raise money for my tuition- my school has a student-friendly payment plan- and I have started making progress. Registration for fall deadline is August 31st, and I plan to go by 20th-25th, because I am still expecting some money. A Nigerian I know in the school says I would get my: state ID, student ID and SSN like a month after registration. Ultimately, I plan to defer after 1 semester- assuming I will have gotten my SSN- and defer for another semester or a year, work with my SSN, make some money and return to complete the program before proceeding to doctorate. My research professor emailed me and did encourage and sympathize with me too....

I am still banking on God... What do you guys think of my plan? Is it feasible?

MsNas, thanks for the clarification.

Zee & Streetmic, thanks a bunch! I actually thought you needed SSN to get driver's license though.

Ojap, godG, streetmic, Graviton and Bigfrancis, thank you and God bless you all.

I plant to go with what Bigfrancis opined in his earlier post; I am going to try and know the cost of applying for a semester and schedule a payment plan of the minimum monthly amount payable, with a view to deferring after the 1st semester if I did not get funding- in the 2nd semester- until my second year. Consequently,I am sending an email to my school's payment department to ascertain the needfuls. I am also commencing the process of raising the funds NOW (There is nothing God can't do) Also, I plan on calling 2 Nigerians already in the school on phone to solicit their advice- Bigfrancis said networking is key...

On the other, if I am unable to raise the cost for 1st semester, Ojap, how is it possible for me to get: State ID "anyway/anyhow"?
Here is my email: sordicafis at yahoo dot com

Thank you guys!
#YoudontputGodfirstandfail

Ojap, Imperiouxx and everybody, I am in a very difficult situation and I need advice from everyone. I applied to a school as a graduate student in political science- I plan to lecture ultimately- and I got my visa. My mom was meant to sponsor me but she died in an auto crash last December. I had been speaking with a professor who indicated an interest in us working together on- International Peace-Keeping and Conflict Resolution in sub-Saharan Africa. I could not qualify for funding because I was 1.8 point short of the threshold. However, he said I would be considered for GA in my second semester if I maintain a GP of 3.0, and 'if' there were funds left. But, he was emphatic on my getting a GA in my second year. The school accepts a payment plan, and I am thinking of raising some money from some of my friends- I have less than $2k as I am typing this- to complete the first semester, and see how it pans out.
My mind is running wild... I have been staying with a female friend here in NY who is a citizen since Sunday. A friend who has a green card in Texas using a green-card said I should go to school, try and get my SSN and come to Texas. Another friend said I should just hop on the next plane and come over to Arizona, and work on getting my papers...

I am terrified of not going to school and falling out of status; my greatest ambition is getting a doctorate and lecturing

Should I send an email to the prof first?

Should I contact the appropriate person in school and ask for the least I can pay on a monthly basis for the first semester?

I don't want to stay in NY for too long. I don't wanna make a mistake and ruin the good relationship we have out of sheer desperation.

What do you guys think?

Landed in NY on Sunday with fellow Nairalanders: Juntod and Calmdown. May God continue to be with each and everyone of us, and grant our heart desires.

juntod:
1. It is not compulsory but it is just 500 naira (#Word)
2. Yes, you can check in 24 hours to departure date.
3. Once you sort out your excess luggage at point of departure, it covers you till your final destination. You won't even get to see your luggage at the stop over airports until POE.

Thanks bro!

zeezahbee: feexo, you mean 1.8 atfer evaluation. i doubt if he/she can get. if its 1.8/4 then you can buffer it with good gre score and sop but still i doubt if it can work. 1.8 is like a pass or letter of attendance

Zee & others, it is 1.8 on a 5. Point scale ooo. You are saying it is difficult with is very low GPA I suppose... On an unrelated note, I am traveling on Saturday with Qatar and I want to ask you some questions:

1) For the record, the immunization yellow card is not compulsory abi?
2) Can I do the online check-in on Friday morning since I am leaving on Saturday?
3) If one gets charged for excess luggage for a flight having stop-overs such as mine, does the fee cover the whole of the trip irrespective of the fact that there would be 2 stop-overs, or just the Lagos-Doha flight?

Timodam4real, congratulations bro. Welcome to the fold...

House, is it possible for someone with a GPA of 1.8 to further his studies in the USA?

Imperiouxx, I missed that your much-coveted shayo when I got my visa approved on July 2nd, and the thing pain me small. How is life treating you and the missus?