Sowie my congratulatory message is coming rather late, haven't checked in here for over two weeks due to work. May the Almighty God that has made the journey this smooth be praised, may God in HIS abundance grace and favour continue to prosper your ways.

Obatide: Good day my people, thank you all for your prayers, encouragements, supports and every other thing I can’t mention because of space. I was overwhelmed with the encomium and the way you celebrated us, May ALMIGHTY GOD repay you in many folds beyond your imaginations. On the thread here, my whatsapp, BBM, series of phone calls, I know it’s only God that can appreciate you, you gave me and every other members (now and future), reasons to do more.
On behalf of my family, we say a big thank you
Merry Xmas and happy New Year

Appreciation
To God ALMIGHTY, whose Glory cannot be shared with anybody, we say thank you sir
Im specially grateful to the following people (Batch one):
Sendtodeji, Malcolm28, okeymen, seubis, ItyRoyal, Kevwe-flex, baba-ajala, femishow2005, G2Glory, Roodboy, timimoyegun, candytos, XYZZ, odewenwa, TCPonly, buklan4real@yah, lagbabe, lagdude, mr-Rule, Apex555, justdre, kaybaba65, firewami, fancywendy, Madu77, daudsmart, komakan, bamidelealayo, gokman4u,adeboy007, temmytanny and friend - Gentiger, olutola1, amedino, atandaishola794, rantileye, Godsspeed, westcodes, akingenge, onye-baresi, Adesojiaderemi, Leripa, agbeke17, darmhee, chinny2014, akiayo, kennex89, coop, sayonara01, geogec, bukiemma, samolaniyi, penielnig, elena22, Leripa, doublegold, thuyahky, gius idowu, pipsland78, jollywin, ukemeglitter, justwise(the moderator) God bless you all.

Very special thanks to The Visa Officer on https://www.nairaland.com/1359935/u.s-consular-officer-ask-me and seun osewa (the brain behind Nairaland) God bless you the more

The making of our America Project:
It all started on October 23, 2012 when the four of us in the family as of then, entered for the lottery.
I checked mine on May 1, 2013 and was not selected, and then on May 4th, I checked my lovely First Lady’s status and discovered we have been selected for further processing.
At this point, we had no idea of the processes; hence, I started searching Google for resources and later found NAIRALAND 2013 & 2014 threads, which signified the new era.
Twice in that Month of May, I mailed KCC, requesting for additional information and medium of submission of our documents, they replied that both hard and soft copy are acceptable (detail posted sometime ago in one of my responses)
On June 4, 2013, we finally sent our forms via e-mail to kccdv@state.gov (note that we updated twice after this). We were current in November’s bulletin for interview on December 23, 2013 for 7am.
We received our 2nd NL on October 18, a day after birth of our new baby-Princess. We notified the embassy and invited them for naming, to my greatest surprise, replies received in both my mail and VO’s thread were word for words, then the waiting game continues as I always pray for easiest interview which came to pass on the 23rd.

Documentations:
I practiced what I always advice on the thread, we secured all documents before October, except for the new baby that was done after her birth in that month. Medicals and Police Certificate (#2500) were done on December 12th, this enable us to relax a bit.

The ‘D’ Day.
We lodged in a 20minutes drive location close to the embassy, got to the embassy around 5:40am.
Did all necessary security check as you are all aware of, paid the total sum of #272,500.00 being processing fee.
Window 17 called for documentations, to my surprise, the woman seeing us for the first time asked a familiar question/statement which Looks like those people are spy on NL (can’t ascertain though,so don’t quote me)
Then around 9am, the white Lady called us at window 14 for the real thing
CO: Good morning ma’am
We: Good morning and how was your night?
Co: very ….., thank you
We: Merry Xmas and she responded as well
Then Finger prints for both of us.
CO: raise your right hand and …………(swearing)
We: we do
After this, I lifted my first son (whose name is of one of America president’s name, to say Good morning to her) she called his name, and the laughing began, then the second son did the same and I was joking with her that, the new baby want to say Hi too, then laugh again.
CO: turned to my wife and asked, what’s your highest qualification?
My first Lady: AAAAAAA
CO: when did u finished
My first Lady: AAAAAAA
CO: She’s typing and was explaining that she think my wifey does not performed to her best in her first result, that’s why she submitted the second one
My first Lady: Yes
Me: I said ‘As if you know’ and she laughs again.
While I was trying to carry my children, who are playing around, she said your VISA is approved smiling and the rest of pick up infos. & we say thank you and God bless America
That’s it oooooooooooooooooooo, it was just like a chat

Till now, we are still thanking GOD

Congrats...

okeymen: Ok so this is how it goes... Obatide wakes me up at 4am to prepare, we dilly dally and lazy around till 6am before we leave the house and get there before 6.30am just as they started calling people so we we joined the queue and were last at the time and I said 'oh good so we can sit back and watch other interviews and have more to put on nairaland' but that was not to be. There was a couple that almost didn't show up with anything and said they just got a call to come that day. Well u know they can't be part of this forum so be grateful u are. We were just a few minutes on the line when the kids started complaining they wanted to sit down cos we had done so much the day before on quadbikes, jetskies and go karts (men Lag na fun place sha) so I cld not blame them. By the time we collected our blue tags to cross the road to the embassy proper, my son asked if we had finished .
The only person that wasn't so nice there was the lady we paid the $330 to. It was like nothing I had imagined. We were called to submit our documents and I saw the forms I had sent to KCC earlier right there. We ended up submitting 3 sets of passports instead of the 2 others are asked for but they returned all the ones we submitted to KCC. Please be sure u have up to 6 months validity before ur passport expires or u may have issues.
The kids and I were all asleep in the hall when our number showed...we didn't even know the interviews had started cos it turns out we were the first. When we did, we packed our stuff, carried the kids and staggered to window 16, where we met the famous pretty black american lady and after the oath and finger prints

Co: so u played the lottery urself
Me: yes I did
Co: highest bla bla
Me: bsc
Co: where?
Me: UI
Co: oh I love that school
Me: really? How nice
Co: its a good school
Co: where do u work, what sort of company and what is ur role
Me: blah blah
Co: ur wife?
Me: blah blah
Co: so when did u get married?
Wifey: blah blah
Co: any family photos?
Me: lots of them
Co: I just need a few...ok so pick up ur visa from blah blah on monday and don't forget there are holidays next week. Congrats and welcome to yankee and that was it Folks. Glory to God in the highest and thanks to my friends on nairaland who will commit their personal resources to ensure we all come out successful. So despite making a mistake as to when we got married (of course we corrected it at once) and looking sleepy and tired, God stood up for us!

seye4God: Our interview experience!!!

Praise God!!! Rejoice with my family. The LORD has done a wondrous thing once again.

It was on Wednesday, 23rd January 2013. We got to the Embassy some minutes passed 8am.

We waited under the tree rented a seat for my wife at the rate of N150. My younger brother was with us. I was told we would need Four Passports Photograph each. The requirement we met already. At exactly 5minutes to 10am, we were told to come in for our interview. We queued to verify our entry with other diversity visa lottery winners.

After our confirmation, we were ushered to the screening security machine where we put off our shoes, belts, wrist watch, etc.
In fact, we went with many luggages as if we were travelling to America that very day. I noticed we were the only applicant that came with many luggages. My wife named was called for submission of documents and instructed to pay for the VISA Fees at other cubicle. I paid for 5 people - my wife, three daughters and self (almost N280,000 non refundable).

Our documents were sorted and collated. Our submitted forms to Kentucky had been thoroughly and carefully reviewed by officers of the embassy and recommendation had been made. Just to submit your original and photocopied documents for verification and cross examination. Reviewing of one’s submitted form before the interview makes the task easier for the Consular Officer who will then use his/her discretion to check if truly one deserves the visa. Mind you, the internal officers would have suggested to the Consular Officer those errors and mistakes noted in conformable with the DV instruction as stated therein – click to read for your perusal and necessary action. (http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/DV_2013_instructions_ENGL.pdf).
Most of the applicants do not often read this instruction before applying. Most believe so much on “I heard and they said”. It is better we go through the DV instruction ourselves without falling victims.

At exactly 12noon, my wife number: (B-347) was called. We went to window 16 (a place where most Nigerians pray not to go). I see nothing difficult in that lady. She speaks clear and simple. Successful Applicants do not need to entertain any fear. Keep your receipt very well ooooooooooo. I could not find where I kept the receipt. Meanwhile, it was inside the envelope where I kept the balance of N280,000 (I later saw it when we got home). The lady said we should not bother to search we should just come for the interview. After we promise to say the truth by raising our right hands; she then requested to take our finger prints – both left and right.

Thereafter, our interview went thus:

CO: What was the date of birth of the twins?

My wife: nnnnnnnnnn

CO: Where is your first child?

My wife/I: She was disturbing other applicants where they sat and I went to carry her

CO: Okay. She is the one.

CO: In your original entry you said you have only one child; but after you won you included the twins; that means they were born couple of months before entry for the DIVERSITY VISA.

My wife: YES

CO: According to the policies and law of the DV section so and so….. you application has been disqualified. Madam, I am very sorry. There is nothing I could do at this juncture. I did not make the law. I am very sorry.
My wife: I travelled when my husband played the lottery. The twins where delivered at home….nanana and nanananana

CO: Madam, I said I am sorry. I have many clients to attend to. Please leave now!

My wife/I: FATHER! (Immediately we heard her instruction to leave, we started praying at her presence) We thank you for this successful interview. We just want to thank you despite being denied. You are our GOD and we would continue to serve you more in respective of what must have happened today.

We saw, conquered and overcame the tricks of devil who thought we may be sick or died as a result of this disqualification rather many blessings were later discovered. Our GOD is a strong tower. He is our shield since we put our trust in Him. Proverb 30:5.

LESSON TO LEARN:
• Put your trust in GOD!!!
• Pray and fast
• Be yourself and speak confidently (God made my wife to speak confidently despite being denied)
• Read the instruction thoroughly
• Visit https://www.nairaland.com/927190/dv-2013-winners-meet-here/415 to follow detailed experience from Nigerians
• Be organized
• If you are successful, assist other applicants who know nothing about this
• It is by His grace that you won the VISA Lottery and your interview was successful; so, do not turn from GOD.
• American is a place of comfort i.e. a comfort zone. Do not go there to forget GOD.

OBSERVATIONS:
• Applicants should not be made to pay before interview. It is supposed to be after the interview since the fees is not refundable.
• I am sure many will be granted and still the number of people that would be denied will be more than those that will be granted. Multiply that money of those denied with the charging fees.
• Many families sold there belongings, properties, etc and even borrowed to pay for the visa fees (at least I know a family that did so)
• If you are not successful, please don’t kill yourself. God knows the best. The Christ in us is far better that the crisis of this world.
• Keep serving and worshiping God. My family and I have known God more!!!
• But still we were extremely glad after the rigorous interview. Today, we were denied; only GOD knows tomorrow. Americans may be begging for us to come there. There is nothing our GOD cannot do. I will encourage those that were denied to often share their testimonies and experiences for other Nigerians to be conscious of them.

We have learnt our lessons.
We know GOD more; during this struggle we knew those people that truly love us. We knew people that could only eat with you when the deal is done. We did what we thought we could not be able to do. AMERICA is our dream; ONE-DAY we shall be there by the special grace of GOD.

Best of luck to those applicants going for their interview.
If you are in America; endeavour to help the needy. Share your wealth with people that are less privileges. 1Samuel 2:5-8 (it is not your power that made you rich)
If you are not successful; share your experience with people that have not gone for their interview. Who knows? Your experience may be of help to other applicants.
Finally, even you make all requirements and obey the laws and policies of DV; if God says NO; it will still be NO. I am very sure many will still be denied and many will be surely granted; whichever way, remain with GOD and never stop serving and worshiping Him.

I wish you all the best!!!

I learnt many have pay many thousands to Visa Processing Agents before their interviews. Whereas, the agents have no say of granting one visa. DV is what you can play yourself. I played it freely for my family and few friends. It takes nothing from me.

You bad DV Agent that is exhorting money from Nigerians; you better change your mind before it is too late!!! Repent and turn a new leaf. May God forgive us!!!

If you need any advice or you want to make inquiry feel free to call me. It is purely FREE. Call me any time any day. I will share more of this stories with you. My wife can also pick the call to share same experience with you. Please learn from our testimony!!! May GOD continue to be with us all.

God bless you greatly sir for sharing this.

Daudsmart: Congratulations to those that have received their 2nl,ur interviews would be an easy one. The visas are urs already. Pls kindly let us know ur cn range and date u sent ur forms, it wud realy help those that are current alredy and haven't received their 2nl thanks. Congrats once again go get ur visas.

CN is 2014AF000029**, KCC received forms on August 6 and 2NL landed yesterday Nov. 20.