₦airaland Forum

Find Out!:
House.

Got my visa at the Abuja embassy today. After waiting in vain for dates in lagos, i decided to choose Abuja, i got 16th August, applied for emergeand was able to book 1st August.

Appointment was for 10:45am. Wanted to fly in early this morning, decided against it and went yesterday afternoon, good decision it turned out to be as both flights (yesterday's and this evening's return) were delayed by an hour each (20 & 30 minutes officially ).

Anyway, got to the embassy some minutes before 10, about 15 minutes later, the security guys announced that everyone for 10:30 and 10:45 should come in. We did security checks and all...e.t.c...

Fastforward...

Now, there were only 2 VOs interviewing, a man and a woman. Both were asking lots of questions, but the man was granting more than the woman even tho man denied a good number of people too.

For everybody who came for a student visa, his first two questions after you state the name of your school were: "What state is the school located in?" & "What part of the map is the state located, north, south, west east, where?"

As it turned out, only few got both questions right, especially the second. At a point, i couldn't supress giggles when a guy going to Ball State university (which is in Indiana) was asked what state his school is located and he confidently answered "Ball state" after a few seconds hesitation. He was asked a few questions later before he was denied.

My turn:
VO: Good morning,pass your passport and application
Me: Good morning.
VO: Why are you going to the US? *typing on his computer*
Me: I'm going for my masters degree in Safety management
VO: What school?
me: Indiana University Bloomington
VO: *stops typing on his computer and looks at me* What state is your school located in?
Me: The state of Indiana.
VO: And where is Indiana located on the map? east, north, south, where?
Me: *with a smile* It is located in the mid-west
VO: *says audibly but almost to himself* Good job. *resumes typing, then asks loudly now* And what other schools did you apply to?
Me: Kent state University Ohio and Pennsylvania State university
VO: So why did you choose Indiana University over the others? *Both VOs asked this question too from other student visa applicants who applied to more than one school*
Me: Well, aside from the fact that i got a Graduate Assistantship.....
VO: (cuts in) *darts a glance at I-20 on his table then continues typing* Oh really, good. So what are your plans on your return to Nigeria after competing this course?
Me: *with a smile again* Well, I intend to spend about 6 months at a safety management consulting firm which I've already contacted about my plans before i launch my own consulting practice. I intend to start small but I'm confident things will surely pick up over time.
VO: So who's going to pay the balance of your fees? (my GA plus benefits covers about 82% of first year expenses, not 100%)
Me: My dad
VO: What does he do?
Me: Told him.
VO: *hands over the white paper and talkin at the same time* Your visa wil be ready for pick up by monday at the adress here.. *didnt hear the rest of what he said tho I heard "an hour delay", "point of entry" & "enjoy your studies in the US"
Me: Thank you sir


No single document was asked of me, i didnt even get to flaunt my GRE score.lol. Big thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I knew i won the VO's heart when i answered that map question, tho i believe my other answers may have counted as well. Plus, prayer is important. I had some terrible cattarh right from the time I woke up this morning in my fam friend's house till even after biometrics. I just kept sneezing, a new handkerchief and face towel given to me by my hosts were already wet! People seated next to me were just telling me sorry. I was praying that this cattarh should go o, so my composure in front of the VO won't be affected. But by the time it was my turn to go back in and wait for the VO to call, my nose just became dry and is still dry even as I type this. No kidding.
God answers prayers. I wish everyone all the best and I hope those already preparing for Spring 2014 will learn from these interview experiences posted and be well prepared.

Cheers

Congrats bro,

Was so scared of the guy cos of the north, east, south question... Its basically his reason for denying a lot of people on my interview day. Also, scared of the lady because the guy was issuing more VISA than her. I didn't know which of them to pray for buh I ended up in the lady's counter and my interview was smooth.

Note: I'm not a guru in the house but I think this should help. Always make your plan of coming back to your country show automatically in your responses. I must say Findout is lucky for the guy to have asked him, some VO may consider it waste of time while some may not even ask before they make their decisions.

Read my interview transcript and you will get what I'm saying, the lady was asking lot of questions and even had more denial than the guy but I think I knocked her out as she could not even ask further questions.

Findout: you said we are gonna book flight together, oya make it happen o.

Lastly, don't wait for any text or e-mail saying your passport is ready in abuja as I didn't get any. Thank God I listened to someone here that told me samething I'm telling you. Just go at COB for monday and your passport with VISA would be there. Was still sending an e-mail to track my passport while I was in DHL and the response still says my passport wasn't ready.

Again, congrats!

vivysparkles: 18th...ph to miami, lufthansa

Safe dear, I don't I have control over my flight because its the scholarship agency that would book the flight for me and I'm heading to chicago. Should be leaving on 18th too cos orientation is on the 20th in my school.

Hello house,

You can snap 4 copies of passport photograph with embassy requirements (2"X2", or 5cmX5cm) at just 200 naira at new star photo in lagos.

I thought it would be rejected was why I didn't share earlier but its what I used and was accepted and its what I even have on my sexy VISA.

Hope that help.

vivysparkles: Naija politics self! No b two days dem carry stamp dis one? How come all of a sudden they can't promise when a restamping would be ready

You they mind them? When are you traveling?

vivysparkles: Kai...I made sure I detached my expired passport. U should leave the passport with DHL. They usually ask for errors on the visa, they should be able to give u d best advice in this situation. they most likely will return it n tell u if ill need to pay or do anything.

Thanks jare. I actually wanted to drop it with them but they called the embassy and they referred me to website that people can travel with expired or canceled passport with valid VISA. They said if I'm not comfortable with it, I can send to the embassy to issue on my new passport buh they can't promise when it will be ready and my orientation program commence on 20th of this month. So, I just collect am like that since they said I can travel with it.

vivysparkles: Abuja people don't send u emails or text o...go at d end of two working days or on the morning of the third day ie end of today or early tmr morning...if u keep checking that status thing, I'll never go just like odowetalu who waited for ten days Before going .lol

You are correct, my passport is actually ready.

There is an issue here o. My vsa was stamped on my passport that's cancelled. I attached the 2 passports because a customer representative told me I have to go with the 2 passports because I used the old one for my application simply because the one wasn't ready.

I guess I can't travel with that or is it possible to travel with a passport that has been cancelled?

yomisley: is it a must that nigerian must do english test before someone can study abroad. i believe nigeria is an english speaking country . pls advice me nairalander

Apparently, YES!!!

I must let you know I envy some schools in USA that waive english test for Nigerians because even University of Ibadan conducts test of english for all post graduate admissions. So, how much more native speaking countries? They surely can't do otherwise...

UK that don't require the test of english from Nigerians now integrate it in the UK border agency rule. So, even if the school do not require english from Nigerians, you would be forced to write english test to satisfy embassy requirements.

It is a pity anyways.

vivysparkles: Abuja people don't send u emails or text o...go at d end of two working days or on the morning of the third day ie end of today or early tmr morning...if u keep checking that status thing, I'll never go just like odowetalu who waited for ten days Before going .lol

Oh... Ok!

I will go later in the day then. Thanks

Ms Nas: That means its not ready. But you can still send the email to be double sure. When was your interview?

The message was the outcome of the e-mail.. My interview was tuesday 10.30

@MsNas..

Here is what I got: There is no status update available for the passport number submitted.

Ms Nas: You can track the status of you passport by sending you passport book number to passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com, or send them an email on support-Nigeria@ustraveldocs.com. I think I heard it somewhere that you can arrange with DHL to deliver the passport to your location for a fee, I dunno how its done or how much you have to pay though

Thanks dear,

Read about the dhl arrangement too on the thread and would have helped me a lot with my tight schedule but I need the VISA page to do some payment processing with the sponsor agency before I leave Abuja. However, would send the e.mail as advised. Thanks.

Hello house,

Please I was told my passport will be ready on thursday for pick up which is today. Do I have to wait to receive e-mail or sms before I'd go to the pick up address or I can just go there with the pick up slip given to me by the VO as I need to leave Abuja asap to return to work.

Pls advise.

Ms Nas: Mr Foohard hun , need I say that we aren't talking about Nigerian schools (which most people can count offhead?) But American schools (over 4000 of them o) And need I say, overall university rankings and individual program ranking are different parameters? A school ranked 650 overall could have a program ranked 5th among other schools offering that course?
Also, these VOs are trained, no doubt about that. But I assure you, if you were a VO, with the sheer amount of applicants you have to deal with, per day, I'm very sure checking the rankings of each and every school will be the furthest thing from your mind (except for some schools that raise very BIG red flags). They have an uphill task plowing through the crowd sef.

Got the argument.

Ms Nas: You're the one that I should smh for! Shessh! How many Universities are in America? The VOs are walking encylopaedia abi? For them to know the rankings of each and everyone of those over 400 institutions? . Oookayyy, I concur. Stop spreading false rumors jare. I know, not less than 5 peeps who got admitted into schools that are not "stellar" like you put it and still go there visas.so, wetin you dey yarn?
Or you think everybody on this thread that got their visas are going to top-notch schools? I-Laugh!!!
Go to the American embassy and see people naming schools that'll make you be like "Which Kain School be this?" And these people still get their visa.
As they say on this thread, once your school is a public funded institution, you're good
Go check Imperiouxx's responce up there.

Ms nas dear, you could be wrong. That's what VOs does everyday of their live, and I'm sure you know the level of their competence. I can assure you its not difficult to know the ranking of schools. Also, I'm not saying only top notch schools' student get VISA. I got my VISA with Loyola which is ranked 106 among national universities in USA which I think is awful when placing beside University of Chicago, Uni of Michigan etc.

Personally, I'm very good with numbers and ranking is one of the things I find easy to place in my head. I check results of my friends in school cos their matric no seize to leave my head.

Finally, if you don't know 1st best 10 schools in Nigeria doesn't mean you can't figure that University of Ibadan is better than OSU... So, VOs don't even have to stress themselves knowing the figures.

eedrism: Okay ok ok!!!! I will re apply again then ! M just tired because itz getting too much.

My candid advise for you is to chill a lil bit. Yesterday I guess was the 3rd denial in less than 6months I suppose. How do you intend to convice the VO when nothing has really changed in the information you have provided... No change of school, no SAT result still and stuffs. I Believe three denials is alreeady a red flag even if you get interviewed by a naked(sexy) female VO.

Kindly sort your SAT issues and get an awesome TOEFL/IELTS score then probably take Ms nas suggestion and then reapply. I don't think Spring 2014 is too late for you if you use your time judiciously in Nigeria.

Please do not pick offense, I'm not saying its impossible for you to get the VISA if you applied immediately as advised by some gurus in the house cos I'm neither a VISA officer nor a guru in the house. I'm just scared of you ruining your chances of getting USA visa in future.

imperiouxx: Just got time to check online since 8am, head sef dey hot


To foohard,

https://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/party/party0016.gif Cheers bro!

Thanks boss...

Mike-Will:
congrats@ foohard. Dont worry we are going to book our flight together wen i share my testimony next time i visit NL # no more agent

best of luck plus I await your success story.

bigfrancis21: He's the one. Despite his pending immigrant visa filing, he still got his visa. God is wonderful. He almost lost hope few weeks back when he first posted on this thread.

Yeah... I almost lost hope but you people in nairaland revived it for me.

Again, thank you all.

idalex: congrats man, wish u success in d US.

Replied.

Find Out!:
Congrats Foohard. The icing on the admission cake is getting a scholarship to go with it. Visa don come seal everythn join All the best bro

Thank you bro.. Wish you well too.

webstradamus: I know you have the result else you wouldn't have earned the scholarship . I looked at the curriculum and it looks pretty good (I like the IA track!). And you're right about the top 10 schools being more tilted towards CS and SE. You can't blame them really, that's what the market requires. But since you're obviously not interested in the US job market, no shaking for you, carry go!

Enjoy your stay in Chicago and remember to go back home to contribute your quota to the development of IT services in Nigeria.

I will by God's grace...

webstradamus: I think the admission was actually the icing on the scholarship ... lol. Cos I believe he got the admission after securing the scholarship. Foohard, no?

Yes bro... Worked on the admission after the scholarship

webstradamus: IKR!



Wow ... I'm really so excited for you cos you will definitely enjoy your stay here, trust me I guess you made a 1st to have been eligible in the first place. Congrats once again!!! But why Loyola [size=4pt](with all due respect)[/size] though? I mean with that kinda money you could easily have attended a top 10 IT program here.

Just like I said, I love the curriculum, you may wish to check the curriculum. I have the funding and the results to make to top ten schools but their curriculum doesn't appeal to me. The are too technical. I want a curriculum that integrates technology with business which loyola has. Most of the top school have the business in Information Systems which more of business than technology where you would learn financial accounting and some marketing courses. Asides that, what you will see in top schools is Computer Science and Software engineering programs which I'm tired of now.

Also, I'm glad that the prof I mentioned is willing to guide the project I will do when I return to Nigeria.

webstradamus: Congrats man!!! I'm just curious ... did you really get a govt scholarship worth 46K USD per annum? What scheme is that?

Yes... I did win a scholarship worth the amount.

lisadem: Congrats Foohard. I must confess I love and learnt from the reason you gave on why you wanna further your study in Information technology . Wait o! Were you not the one that said your wife filed for you in the US and was doubting your chances?

Exactly!!! Till the time of the interview, I still doubted my chances, I just put my trust in GOD and did pray about it.

the VO didnt even ask about my wife.

Spanishmario: Congrats bro

Thanks alot

[quote author=babsharon][/quote]Thanks bash

Glory be to GOD. VISA approved at 11.45am today.

Got there about 10.10am. did all the security and fingerprints as required. was told to join the interview queue. Finally reached my turn and was interviewed by the lady on counter 6.
I was on black suit, low cut, medicated glass and my office ID card on.

Me: Good morning 'smile'
VO: Good afternoon

Me; it is still morning
VO; smile

VO: Your documents pls,
Me: Here

VO: What is the purpose of your trip to the US?
Me: Going for masters degree in Information Technology

VO: At Loyola University Chicago
Me: Yes ma'am

VO: Why Loyola?
Me: Asides the fact that the curriculum of the course in Loyola is of high quality, Prof. William Honig shown interest in the project i intend to do on return to Nigeria after my program. So, going to Loyola would give me the opportunity to work closely with him.

VO: Nod and typed
VO; did you write GRE?
Me: No, I was exempted because of my work experience, short trainings office have sent me and my professional certifications. I wrote IELTS

VO; Did you apply to other schools?
Me; Yes ma'am

VO; Which schools with big smile
Me; Lancaster university, University of ST Andrews, The university of Melbourne and The university of Sydney, all accept.

VO: Why would you further your education in the field of Information Technology?
Me: 'big smile' have got several reasons...

VO: 'nod'
Me: After having acquired some skills as an IT worker, and a computer science graduate, Information Technology became the next logical step to me because: More than ever, here in Nigeria, organisations depends on Information Technology to help them be more productive, Number of IT jobs continues to grow, IT career is a very promising career in Nigeria and I foresee it to be same in decades to come because Nigeria is yet to appropriately explore Information Technology.

VO; 'nod' who will sponsor your study in the US?
Me: I won a merit-based scholarship from Federal Government of Nigeria, The Agency in charge is bla bla bla and the scholarship is worth $46,000 oer annum

VO: 'nod' Picked up a slip and passed to me, your VISA will be ready by thursday.
Me: Thank you with smile

VO; You are welcome with smile


No documents was required, I know God did it all for me and I'm grateful...

Thank you all my people on Nairaland, you people indeed helped built my confidence and prepared me well for the interview.. Bigfrancis, This is the outcome of all the disturbances on the bbm. really appreciate your time and all you did for me.. I await your success story too..

Imperoux, alawalay, ricky and all gurus in the house, I salute you all and thank you.

Again, I'm grateful to you all and I say a big thank you to GOD

@eedrism.. Sorry about your denial. Like somebody suggested, kindly brainstorm and check all the information you have dropped with them in your previous interviews and figure what could the repeated denials.

God's time is the best, dont let them tag you as desperado.

eedrism: Good morning,my fellow NL family,today is d day,on my way to the embassy now,I know I have tried my best nd have donemy par now---ohh lord see me through this interview nd be with me !!!NL family pls don't forget me in prayer this morning !iwill share my testimony insha allah.

Fear not brother. today will be good for all that would be interviewed. Inn'Sha'Allah. Enogh success stories will come soon.

eedrism: Now @ Abuja now,Thank God for the 12hours journey Mercy NL Famly plss assist me in pryer 2morrow is dday for d interview Thanks

Thank God for journey mercies... Good testimony for tomorrow will be much more than today's own by God's grace.

Favour is for us all... Ameen!!!

Congrats to you all that got your VISA approved today...