₦airaland Forum

AlphaMaximus:
US F1 Visa Interview Transcript

Program: PhD Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame (Fully-funded)

Date: March-20-2024

Venue: US Consulate in Lagos

Outcome: Visa Approved ✅

Dialogue

VO: Window 3, white man with glasses and white earphones

VO: reading my I-20 I see that you're going to The University of Notre Dame du Lac (full name of University of Notre Dame) and you'll be pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering. And you're also fully-funded! Wow! It seems all the big brains came today! Great!

Me: cracks a smile

VO: So tell me about your research.

Me: Alright. For this PhD degree, my research will be focusing on computational catalysis....

VO: cuts in and squints eyes in curiosity Catalysis? What's that?

Me: Alright. So catalysis is the use of special substances called catalysts to expedite the rate of chemical or industrial processes and also a means of reducing their energy expenditure. This research is relevant because as a process manager at The Heineken Company, we have challenges with reducing our energy expenditure and carbon dioxide emissions.

These challenges are largely due to a technical knowledge gap not just in The Heineken Company, but in Nigeria at large. Therefore, this PhD degree will imbue me with the technical expertise I need to take on a senior process management role in energy sustainability at The Heineken Company when I return to Nigeria (return fire).

VO: That's fantastic work! Do you have a bachelor's degree sir? (Sir bawo?)

Me: Yes. I have a first-class in Petroleum and Gas Engineering from The University of Lagos.

VO: Okay. So tell me sir, focuses gaze on me, have you ever applied for a student visa?

Me: Yes, I applied for a student visa in 2020 but I did not attend the interview.

VO: VO aggressively types and scrolls through his screen while silently complaining about the network Alriiiiiighttt. VO continues this aggressive action on his laptop for 1 minute

VO: Congratulations sir. reaches for the white paper of salvation This explains bla bla bla, your I-20 is like a part of your visa, bla bla bla. It sounds like you're going on to do incredible work in The United States. I wish you the best.

Me: Thank you.

Fall 2024 is a go!😎

Congratulations to you sir.

Good evening everyone!
I did applied to a University in the USA for MSC and I was given. To cut the long story short, I have personally followed the process up to the level of entering my Visa application, however I have some few clarifications before entering some information on my DS-160 form online.
For the purpose of visa interview and consideration for approval;
1. Would it be proper for me to fill that I have record of been trained in fire arm and that I am retired from the military service?
2. Would it be proper to choose "Retired" where the question in respect of where I currently work comes up since I am truly retired but still developing myself academically and doing some remote work. Would it not be a red flag that I am retired and not currently working in my country home.
3. Is it proper to indicate that I have relatives in the US since I have close relatives there?
4. Moreso,I got loan approval to cover my tuition and living expenses for a session including a supporting statement of account from a sponsor. My question is which of the two is more appropriate to fill in as the person paying for my trip?

Contributions from experienced individuals on this subject is highly needed.

Thanks for your responses in advance.