₦airaland Forum

alabi565:
Good afternoon my fellow N/landers; I ve an important question running through my mind, I ve been expecting my SEVIS form I-20 since I receive the admission massage on 11th of July. My question is how long will it take to reach me cos there is no time again. Thnx help me out so that I will kn wat to do nxt.
Thanks looking forward for an answer

Have you paid the shipping fee? I'll suggest you call or send an mail to the international student office to ask about the I-20. Act fast because there is really no time. You can also ask for your SEVIS ID and school code so you can pay your SEVIS fee and book an appointment.

Nahum777:
Your visa is in final processing. If you have not received it in more than 10 working days, please see the webpage for contact information of the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application.

How many days do I have to wait?

It is possible that it would be ready for pickup today, since the embassy and the collection Centre are in the same state. I got my visa less than 24hrs after it was issued. It took that long because it was issued in Abuja and collected in Lagos since the password will have to be sent to Lagos. Like I said, it is possible you will receive a pickup email today but the latest time will be tomorrow. Remember to keep tracking your passport. Congratulations on your approval!

Tadexpreccy:
Please guys, I want to ask a question.. who knows any “not so expensive” hotels around the embassy, which is not more than 10mins away from the embassy. Thanks. Got an appointment August 4 please.

You didn't put the location. Lagos or Abuja?

dan5loriel:
Please good people,

having been previously denied, the first available appointment i am seeing now is 21 sept which is way past my resumption august 25 but is it possible that after booking for this appointment date I can then reschedule for an emergency appointment date being that I was previously denied ?

Don't know how this emergency stuff work

Yes it is.

Enasdan:
thanks, but when an applicant have been refused a visa before, when reapplying in his new DS-160 form, in asking the question have you denied an US visa, what should be answer,

The answer is quite obvious. If you are planning to fill in NO, I strongly advise you not to do so because you will be denied again for lying. Just fill in YES and it is very possible the consular officer will not ask you about the previous denial during the new interview.

I just checked my application status on the CEAC website and the status reads 'Issued'. I am so happy!!!!! I Thank God and I also thank everyone on his nairaland thread for assisting me on way or the other.
My profile:
First of all, I'm 17 years old.
Graduated High school last year as 3rd best graduating student and I had the best WAEC result last year in my high school( 5 A1s, 2 B2s, and 2 B3s). I took the SAT three times( in JSS2- 1210/2400, in SS2- 1190/1600, and in SS3 1310/1600). No TOEFL.
I got a full ride to attend McNeese State University and a  $10,300 out of about $18,000 to attend UTPB.
I already sent my SAT scores to other schools too but I did not complete the application because I was accepted to McNeese State very early with a scholarship.
My visa application was denied earlier this year. I have to say it was my fault, I was not prepared and I was nervous. I did not give up, I refused to allow a scholarship of over #9,000,000 to go to waste because of a visa. I reapplied and got a date, July 17th, in Abuja. I was the last person to be interviewed that day and trust me almost everybody got denied. A guy that had his undergraduate degree in the US and was going for a master degree at I think Baylor University was even denied. Most Nigerians that even go to the embassy just waste their money applying because they don't even know why they want to travel. I saw a guy that told the consular officer that he does construction work in Nigeria and he wants to go to California for construction ( his explanation didn't make sense at all). The consular officer gave him a second chance but he made matters worse by saying the same thing he said before so he was denied. I was called to window 9, I went with my Dad. I saw a female consular officer with black hair and maybe another consular officer undergoing training.

My interview:
Vo: How old are you?
Me: 17
Vo: Why did you choose McNeese State University?
Me: Aside the fact that I was awarded a full ride scholarship and a spot in the honors college because of my good SAT score, McNeese State University became my first choice after I had a one on one conversation with the director of international programs, Preble Girard ...
Vo:Cuts in... What will you do with this degree?
Me: With this degree, I will be employable at certain industries in Nigeria like the automobile, aerospace, manufacturing and oil and gas industry.
Vo: What is your SAT score?
Me? 1310. It is 92nd percentile score. I got 700/800 in math, 340/400 in writing and 270/400 in reading.
Vo: Is this the only school you applied to?
Me: No, I started applying to 5 schools but I completed the application to 2 of them.
Vo: Why did you not complete the application to the other schools?
My admission decision and scholarship offer to McNeese State University came very early.
Vo: What is the other school?
Me: UTPB
Vo: Where you admitted?
Me: Yes also with a scholarship too.
Vo: Do you have family in the US?
Me: Not immediate
Vo: Okay, do you have any relative in the US?
Yes
Vo: Where does your relative stay?
Me: Houston
Vo: This scholarship, is it need based or competitive?
Me: Competitive and it is given to only 25 students every year.
Vo: So what did you do to get this scholarship?
Me: I submitted my SAT score, my transcript, WAEC results and I also wrote an ...
Vo: Cuts in... let me see your WAEC result.
Me: (I was looking for it but I  did not find it. She was about to say something then I found it and gave her)
Vo: Your Visa has been approved. Make sure you keep your I-20 with you at all times because you will need it to enter the US.
Me: Thank you very much.

Oludare23:
I think its 24 - 48 hours, and you will be asked to choose from available dates.

Hi, How much does it cost to apply for emergency date?

It has no additional cost. It will cost you about #58,000 to schedule a regular appointment and nothing extra to make it expedited.

Sorelee:
Give it some time or were you told that you would be placed on AP yesterday if No then give it some time

Is it a normal procedure? I was told that my visa is approved.

I just checked my visa application status on the CEAC website and it is showing Administrative Processing and it was updated today. My visa was approved yesterday, the consular officer told me that my visa was approved. She gave me the pickup letter and did not circle any location ( I think she didn't circle the pickup location because I think she was rushing because I was the last person to be interviewed yesterday in Abuja). I hope there is no problem because the status showed Application received earlier today.

Visa approved at Abuja today!!!� I'll post my transcript soon.

Francolisa65:
Vo: Goodmorning
Me: (didn't reply)
Vo: can I have your i20 and passport
Me: gave him
Vo: so what school will you be attending?
Me: UTPB
vo: okay, how many schools did you apply to?
Me: 5
Vo: how many were you admitted into?
Me: 3
Vo: which ones?
Me: I told him
Vo: why did you choose this school?
Me: it is a small fast growing university, registered as an official texas university. It has a good engineering program. It has a student teacher ratio of 24:1. It's located in a competitive city where 23 schools are in top 100 by usnews .
Vo: what course will you be taking?
Me: told him
Vo: tell me about the program?
Me: told him
Vo: what courses will you be taking in your first year?
Me: told him.
Vo: who is your sponsor ?
Me: told him
Vo: asked for bank statement
Me: gave him
Vo: I will be approving your visa. Don't forget your i20, you'll need it when you arrive the us.

I got admitted to UTPB too did you get the presidential scholarship? Was the interview in Lagos or Abuja?

Scholastica16:
All these super stories of fully funded people who got rejected. You guys must really think these VOs are fools. The simple fact is I genuinely do not believe any transcript with that information because I know the value that is attached to being fully funded.

Are you telling me, the US govt was willing to cough out hundred s of thousands of dollars for a student and another member of the same US govt will reject that person's visa appeal? I can't relate.

Nairaland is a faceless forum and as time has shown, people can type just about anything sometimes to invoke a reaction. Being fully funded, IMHO, is the surest bet of getting a visa. It may not be 100% foolproof but the situations extenuating such a circumstance will have to be something really shocking on the appellants part (like showing sympathy to extremist religious views on the DS160). I will even say 95% of people who are fully funded get their visas...once.

After this, you can now look at the quality of school, financial capacity of sponsor, presentation by the applicant, serendipity etc.

Full funding does not guarantee a visa but it definitely makes getting one easier. I have heard a consular officer in the Lagos consulate general say it is rare and surprising for someone on a full scholarship to get denied.

NefT:
Good day all! Who knows the phone contact of the US consulate. I tried calling using 14406218 and 1-460-3400 but is telling me number does not exist. Haz anyone called them recently, if so kindly provide with the number.

US embassy Abuja +(234)-9-461-4000
US consulate general Lagos +(234)-1-460-3400

teehey:
pls how did you check it. i dont want to waste the visa fee. How can i check date for abuja as well as lagos.

Just login, select Lagos or Abuja then f1 visa, you will see it boldly written on the left part of the screen.

teehey:
Good evening all, please what is the current appointment visa date for Lagos and Abuja as I want to schedule appointment for F1 visa

August 1st in Lagos
June 30th in Abuja

elkiddo:
Hey guys I need your help. A friend of mine got denied this morning because he didn’t show strong ties to Nigeria. He applied to Troy university Alabama, computer science, fall semester 2018.

Please how can he improve to better his chances for his next interview. Here’s his transcript

1.)i was asked how many universities I apply to

And I replied saying just Troy

2.) she asked me why I applied to just Troy

And I told her that I considered the fact that I wanted to enter school by this
summer and by the time I had done all the required exams most of the colleges admission portal has been closed so Troy was recommended to me by my dad and I did a little bit of home work on the school and found out that it was a great fit for me

3)she asked me if I took the required exams

And then asked for my sat result

4) then she asked me why I chose computer science to be my major

And I told her that ever since I was little I’ve always had passion for computers and innovative technology,and over the years as I grew older so did my passion for technology
Also,computer science is a vast area of opportunity. I can either become a tech preneur father my computer science education,specialization,certifications and gaining some work experience through internships

Or I can work for some of the top tech companies in Nigeria like ibm,google,Microsoft

Lastly I feel Nigeria is going to be a technology power houses someday through hard work determination and talent and I personally want to be one of the major contributors to Nigeria’s technological advancements

5.)she asked me what courses I’ll be doing in the university and how that will help me reach my goal
And I said I’ll be doing the General courses line math English and my main courses like physics computer science and programming then I said it would be a huge advantage to me if I study them in the USA given that the USA is the leading tech country in the world

6.) she asked me if I had any relatives in the USA or in Canada

And I said no

Then she told me the reason why she won’t issue the visa to which is because I didn’t show enough ties to my country.

Thanks for your help in advance

What did he score on the SAT?

I called the US consulate in Lagos today and was told that if denied a visa, you can reapply at any time and I also went to the consulate for the education USA orientation today and confirmed from a visa officer present during the orientation that appointments can be scheduled anytime after denial.

Sorelee:
Your proposed transcript is okay, but I think you should work on the bolded.I think it would be more convincing to the VO on why you chosed the school if you elaborate on what you would benefits being in the honors college . All in all I think your transcripts is okay.

My opinion.

Thank you, hope the answers are not too long?

I got accepted with a full ride scholarship to McNeese State University in Louisiana but my I was denied a visa during my first interview. My second visa interview will come up soon so I need you all to help me analyze the answers below. Thank you.

1). Why are you going to the US?
I am going for my bachelor of science degree in engineering with a concentration in mechanical engineering. This degree will enable me to be competitive enough in the Nigerian professional world.

2). Why US?
The United States has one of the best educational systems in the world and an academic experience gained from a US university is greatly valued in Nigeria by potential employers, so pursuing my higher degree from a well structured educational system will undoubtedly help me stand out and have an added advantage over my pairs once I return to Nigeria.

3). Why that school?
Aside the fact that I have been offered a place in the Honors college with a full ride scholarship due to my good test scores and application, McNeese State became my first choice after I had a one on one conversation with the director of international programs, Preble Girard, during the last college fair organized by education usa. There, I was told about the diversity in engineering degrees, small class sizes, hands on educational experience, and benefits of being in the honors college.

4). Why mechanical engineering?
I have a flair for mechanical engineering courses and I am also very good at it, so I believe a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering will bring out the potential in me and at the same time be beneficial to my country.

5). What has changed?
During my previous interview, I was quite nervous so I couldn't explain myself to her satisfaction.

6). Have you traveled out of Nigeria before?
No, I have never had a reason to. It's because of my education that I want to travel now.

7). When did you graduate from high school?
2017

. What courses will you be taking?
During the fall semester of my freshman year, I'll take courses in Calculus, Engineering graphics, General Chemistry, English Composition, Foundations for Engineering Freshman Success, and a History general education elective. All of which are 17 credit hours.

9). Why do you think you got the scholarship?
It's because of my good test scores, GPA, class rank, recommendation letters, and essay.

10). How many schools did you apply to?
I applied to 2 schools and I got admitted with scholarship offers from both of them.

I'm 17 years
Going for an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at McNeese State University in Louisiana.
I also got admitted to the honors college with a full ride scholarship.
My visa interview was for 6:45 in the US consulate in Lagos State.
The answers were not as good as what I wrote because I was very nervous. I'm not sure if question are in that particular order.

Me: Good Morning
VO: Good Morning, your passport please.
VO: And your I-20.
I passed all the documents.
VO: So why did you choose McNeese State University?
Me: (I can't really remember what I said but I said something about being admitted into the honors college and what the honors college has to offer.
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
Me: 2
VO: What Is the Other?
Me: UTPB
VO:Why mechanical engineering
Me: I've always had the passion to study mechanical engineering from a young age and I did well in my STEM subjects in high school.
VO: Who sponsoring you?
Me: I received a full ride scholarship from the school.
VO: You'll still need little money to cover some living expenses, who'll cover that?
Me: Ok, My Dad.
VO: What does he do?
Me: He's a licensed Chartered Accountant.
Vo: When did you graduate from secondary school?
Me: Last year, 2017.
VO: Have you traveled out of Nigeria before?
Me: No
VO: What courses will you be taking?
Me: I'll be taking courses in engineering graphics, Calculus 1 (I stopped talking because I taught she said something).
VO: I'm sorry I will not approve your visa today but you can apply later.

I don't know what to do but I'll apply soon. I also want to join Education USA is that a good idea?

Good day everybody, Please I'll need your assistance. I've seen the way you guys in nairaland have helped a lot of people to successfully get their visas approved after their interview. I'm a 17 year old boy with a full ride scholarship to McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana for the fall 2018 semester. During my previous interview on the 24th of April, I was denied but I'll apply again soon. I am also planning to join Education USA, do you think that would help?