₦airaland Forum

Hello people. A principal applicant (in US already) is covering the Cost of living of the F2- dependent (spouse and kid). The i-20 reads PERSONAL FUND, i.e. personal fund of the principal applicant. When filling DS-160 of the spouse and kid, what should be answered to the question who is sponsoring? Is the option SELF appropriate?

Does this involve any fast track payment?

Foxie:
I think
Alausa Passport is very fast in issuing passports. My child captured last week Monday and as at yesterday it's been produced/issued. 32/5 fresh passport, DIY.

First Attempt: (expedited appointment) Tuesday, Aug 31, 2021
Lagos Consulate
Status: Approved, later...denied (Program start date was Aug 30, 2021 had extension till Sept 6. Went with the letter but didn't present it because it was not asked for)

Around 10am, I met with the VO, a very black lady in her 50s (VO Valerie).



VO: Good morning

She collected i20 and passport, started typing, looking carefully.


Said to us please wait while she typed on.

Finally
VO: tell me why you are going to study this course and why this University. And she gave us a full attention

Me:
I spoke about how I have good background in Deaf Education field, my first degree in special education (hearing impairment focus), my masters degree in Deaf Education. I have taken leadership position in Nigerian Deaf community which I have used all to contribute towards Development of Deaf Education. I mentioned that I am Education Officer under ministry of education. (At this point I realized I have blown myself enough and needed to proceed to the relationship with the current which I intended to do, I wondered if she wouldn't have started wondering if I understood her question) so I continued
I want to study this course because I want to acquire adequate knowledge, experience and build up my skill in research, advocacy and innovation as a tool for contributing to the development of Deaf Education in Nigeria.

I chose Gallaudet University because it is the only University all over the world promoting bilingual and bicultural education, known for its excellence in teaching pedagogy, where Deaf students from all over the world find a sense of belonging , the needed learning resources, supportive faculty, student and staff. It will help me to achieve my aim (I stopped there, I momentarily lost what to continue with but immediately realized it was worth ending there)

Then she *signed* thank you while I blushed. She typed briefly.

VO: You said you work under ministry, tell me what exactly you do there.
Me: I have been an education officer under ministry of education since (my thought was to continue explaining the duties I carry out at different stations I've worked)

VO: cuts, Ok, since 2014?
Me: responded positive (she typed)

VO: I can see that you have school scholarship that covers $26k+, tell me how you will pay the deficit of $23k+.

Me: I will be co-sponsored by my sister and my friend. My sister is Mrs xyz, she works as accountant under KPMG, abroad , she also has landed and rented properties back here in Nigeria. My friend is Mr abc, he works as , Tennessee.

VO: Have you traveled out of Nigeria before?
Me: No, because I've not had a reason to.

VO: Where do you say your sister works?
Me: she works as accountant in audit region at KPMG,

VO: Typed... Do you have any document to prove that your sister works at KPMG?

Me: Yes. (Reached for my file and brought out document her employment letter, Bank statement and Sponsorship affidavit filled because I stapled the three together)

VO: Looked thoroughly and calmly . Typed, then put up her hand to get a white paper, took my I-20 and placed it where I should pick it and said Be careful about covid-19...


Three days after I got called to send an update i20 because I attended the interview postdated. I sent documents required within the hour... And later rejected.

In my Ds160, I noticed minor error and corrected the error.
Also when I was explaining under yes to previously denied, I added that I have convincing and compelling socioeconomic ties. I stated that I have a permanent and pensionable appointment as... And also I talked about my achievements in community service in Nigeria etc then ended that I am a credible Student . ( I practicalized FAIRHEART theory, lol, because I went back to read this Nairaland page from page 1, lol).

I got date through surge appointment after so much stress trying to get date.
I did more prep and talked to some mock VOs (Carter, Francess and Jake who i met on GraithF1 visa whatsapp group ) who expressed concern about a friend as sponsor and was advised to find a way around it.
Note, sister was my major sponsor covering 85% of the deficit and it's her detail I input into Ds 160.


Second attempt
Wed 24th, November, 2021 (surge appointment, 7am)
Lagos Consulate
Status: Approved
Vo was a black lady, probably in her 30s, at extreme window.



Interview proper around 8.35am , can't say..by 8.55am, I was out!

Vo: Good morning
Me: good morning

Vo: where are you going to?
Me: I am going to Gallaudet University, Washington, DC to pursue a doctorate degree in CSEDL which is under SEVIS category of Education/ Teaching

Vo: What do you do?
Me: I work as Education officer under ministry of and my current post is at Federal Education... -----state where I ensure quality service delivery at schools through monitoring,and inspection of school, curriculum and pedagogy. Also I provide recommendations and reports for the Education of children with disabilities, also I supervise the library service of the department (*she fixed her eyes to the computer reading my job section to ensure it is a match)

Vo: You have scholarship of $26000+ and your sister is sponsoring you. What does your sister do?
Me: she works as accountant at KPMG , and she also has rented and land properties in Nigeria. She has been supporting me in my undergraduate when I was best faculty student.

Vo: how much does she earn?
Me: about $45000 annually

Vo: do you have any document to show me regarding your sister's job?

Me: nodded, searched and gave her recent appointment letter dated Nov 23rd, together with her recent bonus letter.

Vo: went through it.

Vo: there is Mr abc here who is covering the deficit, who is he to you?
Me: He is someone that has known me before I became Deaf and after I became Deaf and who knows about my academic and community achievements despite been Deaf and he is willing to support me.

Vo: How long have you known him?
Me: I have known him since , before I became deaf and after I became Deaf and he knows about my academic achievement and community contributions.

Vo: When did your sister started working at
Me: 2019

Vo: when did she arrived
Me: 2018

Vo: when did Mr abc leave for the US?
Me: was saying 2016/17 (not sure, though my disposition indicated I wasn't sure I was unruffled. It was as if I was answering to a normal conversation)

VO: When last did you see him?
Me: since..., ha I can't remember, since... (my mien was truly like trying to recollect something while having an informal conversation)
Vo then helped me add that ok since a long time.

Me: yes a long time.

Vo: has he ever come to Nigeria since he left?
Me: Noooo, but his wife and children have visited when they came for burial of his in-law.
Vo: asked about his job
Me: said it


vo: when did you start working under ministry of ?
Me: 20**, I was first posted to Federal bla bla bla (one of the federal unity colleges), where I taught chemistry to students.. and ... and ....

Vo: ok

Vo: where is Mr abc in the US?
Me: Tennessee


Vo: Do you have any family or friends in the US?
Me: Family? Family? (I wanna be sure what interpreter signed, because the 'friend' looked dicey to me) Nooooooo


Vo: Where will you be staying in the US
Me: On campus. The school encourages her international student to reside on campus so as to learn culture (deaf culture)...

Vo: brought white paper.. I will be approving your visa.

Me: thank you ma. God bless you ma.

Exit

(Visa issued next business day)



PS: At both my first and second interview, I was very confident and even more relaxed or settled at the second..hmmm. I said more than I wrote to the first question in my first interview because I recall I hinted about my proposed thesis interest too.

Visa interview is exam, take it as one! Let your profile be rich. Bank on the areas where you are loaded, academic? Career experience/achievement? Community contribution/volunteer experience? Financial capacity? Travel experience etc. And wherever ur application gives you fear (weak), find your way around it.

Note that VOs are not doing giveaway with visa approvals and they are there doing their job while they also have their own constraints too. The onus lies on you to do your part and do it well. Seek help, study and practice. Before my first interview too, I had my transcript vetted by friends schooling abroad too and I started following Nairaland page two months prior the interview.

If anyone has a denial, especially after a meaningful interview, look inward to see what you can do better, study, seek help, take advices and do your best. Don't just get angry at the VO.

Ensure you have a copy of your DS 160 which you must review over and over as interview approaches and if you see anything to change, kindly retrieve and fill another one latest before 72hours to your interview (I made that mistake with my first interview)

The God factor still remain a sure factor, trust Him too and honour him.

I'm very grateful to everyone who has helped me on this journey, some of whom I have mentioned earlier. I wish everyone the very best.

Very risky. They already have record of all that transpired in your last interview, so you can't contradict it. What you should spend your energy on now is how to convince the VO that you are coming back and not going to join your sister. Many have succeeded at that as longas the person is not illegal. Know every details about the sister too

Rawly111:
Answers needed urgently
Hello guys please I have a sister in the US and I filled that I have a relative in the US on my already submitted DS160
And I've seen cases where people say they have relatives and they were denied
Even in my last interview I mentioned that I gave a sister there and I guess that's one of the reasons I was denied
Now I'm thinking of filling another ds160 and saying that I don't have anyone there and updating it on cgi
Hope it's not risky?? ��

Yes that is acceptable. That is what I did. Go with both confirmation pages and showed them the latest one for your interview.

floyo001:
Hello All,
Please help with advise.

I already secured a surge date for next week. Is it possible and advisable to complete a new DS 160 and update it in CGI?

I need to update a critical info on the DS160.

please advise.
Thanks

Your school is the best ti ask to explain it to you. Email your DSO

Renashelly:
Pls someone should say something.

Pls house help me out. It’s urgent.
I applied for associate of science but on my I-20, I see English proficiency.

When I get to the embassy and am asked the program I am going to study , pls what will I say.

Google about surge visa interview dates 2021, it will lead you to their link abeg

Tyleet:
So does this mean I don’t have to submit the emergency application on us travel docs, I should just contact the email you mentioned, right?

Don't wait to know how it goes... Nov 24 was the first surge day in Lagos.. hurry and grab the opportunity

neurosci:
@tyleet, pls let’s know how it goes cos I’m thinking about doing this for someone else too.

Seems you have not been following events...apply for surge in Lagos please. Grab the opportunity while you can. And if surge has opened in Abuja too, find out

Tyleet:
Hey guys, so I got denied on July 20 this year. Now, I'm trying to book another appointment but it gave me September 22. I wanted to apply for emergency appointment but it said it is only limited to students who have not been denied a visa within the last six months. My school resumes on January 13, so even if I wait until January 13, it still isn't up to six months (from July 20). Please what do I do? I see some reapplicant transcripts here showing they went back for another visa interview not up to six months after their first denial, how do you do it pls?

As long as you can defend your relationship with the person..and better if not in the same state with your school..and when vo is drilling you around the person you ensure you don't give impression that you are going to join the person. Then know every single detail about the person, the year he enters the state, his iterinary therefrom, if he has visited Nigeria , how many times, when last, his job information, year started, emolument, job position, company etc. And the person is very legal too... his status in the state...

Shalom152:
Good morning all, please if your sponsor is in the US already does this ruin my chances of getting approval?

Check EducationUSA Lagos page on Facebook. They held two visa orientations recently, Oct and Nov. You will be blessed. .

mojolajesu:
Please does anyone has link to VO listens for Student VISA?

Kindly refer me please

No, it's not necessary!

Many have gotten surge days without having a date booked previously on their cgi portal.

Greatajo:
Hello, house. Is it necessary to book an appointment first on the CGI portal before applying for the surge or how does it works cos I've sent a mail since yesterday and yet to get an approval

Dear sir/ma,
Greetings.
I write to request for .... to enable me attend F1 visa interview on a date that favours my program start date......... I currently have ...... date for my appointment....

Bla bla blabla....


Attach i20, SeVis fee receipt, D's 160 confirmation page...

Dunzg:
Please guys I would like to request for an EA and I need a good format on how to explain my reasons….what documents should I upload alongside to boost the request
I need suggestions please
Help a sister please

If your initial location is in the same location where you want to request for surge, no need to fill another ds 160. Just use it like that

Success2022:
I need clarification , i have filled DS -160 earlier and submitted , i have my confirmation page but i have not use it, now i want to apply for visa through this surge will i fil another DS-160 or i will use the confirmation page like that

As long as that is what you have and you can successfully defend it.

TeeGbee:
Please advice, can I use two sponsors, i.e. my uncles?

You add a brief email joor. Don't make them feel like English is hard for the applicant

Pio123:
No You don't need to write anything just send all your scanned documents to the mail and make sure it is in Pdf format

If you want to change to Lagos, you will fill another day 160 and use lagodnas its location before you apply to Lagos for surge

hardeyswaggz:
Mine is Abuja too...when I called and asked them if I can request for surge date in Lagos today, the lady said since my initial application is in Abuja, I should not apply to Lagos.

You will go with both old and new and show to them on interview day. But point the new one to them for use for your interview. That's the response I got when I enquired the same.

Bidex2016:
Good morning everyone,

Please, can I edit my ds160 after have submitted it for surge date?

Note; have gotten a date but can I go ahead and edit it. And how will I do it after have edit?.

I will appreciate if someone can come to my aid. Have a nice day

Send to LagosNIV@state.gov if you are making enquiry

Leestan45:
I sent different mail to Lagos surge and I did not get any reply

What you are coming back to do is not related to your brother's business as you said in the reason why he is funding you.

Mirol:
My Visa interview transcript.
NOVEMBER 8th, 2021.
counter 9.

Exchange of Greetings

Consular; Have you had previous travels?
Me; No, I haven't had reasons to.

CONSULAR; Whats your current education...
Me;I  was saying  Civil Engineering while he intruded asked if Bsc and said yes.(I should have corrected him, as it a B.Eng.)
He immediately asked the a next question.

Consular; I see you're going for an MBA, Why this choice?
Me: Yes, I will actually be concentrating on Project management which is my major in my career, it very special to me because the cause integrates business analytics, Finance and accounting management in its course curriculum which I find very important to.my career prospect.
I also have a tuition scholarship of about 55% which makes the balance very affordable for me and my family.

Consular: How do you intend to fund your study, I can see here you have a scholarship but it dosent cover all.
Me; The remaining cost will be funded my brother who is into car dealership, he is been active in this business for over 20yrs with an annual profit turnover of over a 100million naira.
His reasons for funding my studies is because he believes in my career prospect and and also my ability to give back with the skills I have acquired during my studies to his business and the community at large and lastly he is also very financially capable to take up the cost. thanks

Consular; What's your intentions after your studies.
Me; I [b]plan to work as a project manager and I also have a startup plan for a project management company that will be into consultancy services and training of young professionals in the industry back here in Nigeria knowing that with the skills and training I must have acquired during my studies, I will be able to deliver on [/b]this. thanks

Consular; keeps on typing and then gave me a  blue, reasons based on section 214b.

Huh. Very sorry about the delay. With that Feb 2023, it's obvious you are using Abuja. If you want to book another appointment, choose Lagos because I learnt it does not have that option of previously denied in two months and regular. So you should be able to see their regular dates. And perhaps you may get EA approved.
If however u want Abuja, wait to use the regular option (after two months, smile) because that two months option will bring you no favourable date.

Lovethchisom:
Good morning all

After Visa refusal, do I need to fill a new DS160 to be able to reschedule a new appointment?
I tried scheduling an appointment, I am seeing February 2023, Should i schedule and apply for EA?

NB: My visa was refused on 3rd of November 2021

Please do apply now and explain all of that. Attach it too

Abfey:
Good morning everyone

Pls I need a response ASAP

My start date is 10th Jan while earliest day is 11th dec. my regular appointment is September 2022, can I apply for emergency appointment now please?

Also, I need to resume school 3rd of Jan as written on my funding letter, can I also attached my assistantship letter to my EA application?

Looking forward to response��

Without other assistantship, No. But with scholarship and other 'tuitionship' (GA, TA, RA) that leaves you with minimal deficit ...

zuzman:
PLEASE IS 4M OKAY TO PURSUE STUDY IN THE US?

Wow, very sorry about that. Wish you success in your next trial. can you kindly share the transcript

Oofay:
This white woman denied me on my second attempt today o.
Congratulations to you.

Ensure to update your day 160 to reflect the new changes travel and resumption date.

Using uncle as sponsor should have been the best o since his account carries the bulk money , they will most likely reckon with the name on your i20

IvannahG:
Hello house, please my interview is coming up and I need some assistance. How do I fill a new Ds 160 and update on CGI without losing my current appointment date? I filled it before for fall but couldn’t get a date on time, so I had to defer my admission to Spring. Is it compulsory I now update the DS 160 to spring term or can I just leave it as it is and say I scheduled my interview earlier on but had to defer. Please I’ll appreciate a timely response.

Also my I-20 states personal funds but I’ll be going with mine & an uncle’s bank statement as a sponsor with the bulk of the funds from my uncle. Will this be ok? Please help

Wow! Administrative processing takes maximum of 60 days.. wish you all the best bro

deolubajo:
Please have you received your stamped passport yet? I got approved on the same day in Abuja but I am yet to get my passport back (Visa status still showing under administrative processing).

Apply now and don't wait. It seems they reckon with earliest arrival date as people have been applying since oct

Shanid:
Hello EVERYONE, PLEASE I DONT UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, DOES THE 60 DAYS RULE TO APPLY FOR AN EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT START FROM THE EARLY DATE OR CLASSES START DATE??

Is it the black lady (African American) vo?

Better post full transcript

ironmanmax:
She said I didn't state enough reasons why I'll be going to the US

EducationUSA Lagos visa orientation for spring 2022. Watch from the link and learn

https://m.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=399758071883824&_rdr

You can send email to them.

Davsidoo:
Hello guys

Why is it taking forever for emergency request to be granted?

Is there any way I can follow up or I just have to keep waiting for their response?

From what I know, no way! F2 can't work legally in the US
And it is not advisable he quits his job, infact VO must not hear that. What can be considered is he can obtain leave. Then madam, if the visa clicks through, it does not necessarily mean husband enters the plane with you and stay throughout your study period. He can be visiting...
Others can contribute sa

Chynwem:
Good day all, since its necessary I go with my husband as I'm pregnant , but we want to mail them to know if he can be given a temporary work permit in order not to be idle , coz he is going to resign from his work to go with me. My lectures are twice in a week and in the evening, then the assistantship (not daily also). Is it possible for them give him a work permit?

You will get it through communication with your program director and/or advisor

IvannahG:
Guys please where do you find courses you’ll be taking after you’ve been admitted. Was expecting it on the I - 20 but it’s not