Rukween:
Good day

Please I'm scheduled for an interview 12th January and I got a mail from my school today that they can't give extension letter that it's better I defer

I would like to reschedule my appointment to a later date but I can't see "RESCHEDULE" on my CGI portal. Should I click on "cancel appointment"?

Please, don't cancel

January dates
Abuja

Afesdiddy:
I want to say a big thank you to nairaland and everyone who posted their various transcript,
This platform have finally helped me fulfilled my dreams of traveling to America.

I got admitted into bowling Green state University

Applied for an emergency interview

Got Dec 17th

Went for the interview

And got my Visa approved


As I speak to you all now am in

Roosford Ohio

I will post my interview soonest

But I want to say thank you so much nairaland for all you do, you guys are the best.

Moreso to all those wanting to come over, this year it's your year

Please any one around ohio, I do love us to connect

Hearty congratulations
I'm about 4hrs away from you
How's the weather o'er there?

ojaigbo:
Hello everyone. I will be travelling soon and I need dollars. Pls where can one change naira to dollar in Abuja??

If you're on the F1 Category, you can approach any bank with the right documents for FX at CBN rate... PTA limit per quarter is $4,000.
BTA is $5,000 per quarter as well.

Different Travelers have different requirements.

However, you'll be required to provide a return ticket (originating from Nigeria and ending in Nigeria) among other documents (like your international passport).
For more information, walk-in to any bank of your choice and ask the FX Officer.

Kelvinson4Grace:
Good day all
Please any one who had his or her interview in Abuja… are there places to keep your gadgets ??

No specific place per say... though I was directed to handover to the security. After my approval, I picked up.

Hallelujahvoice:
Good afternoon fam, hope all's going well?
Please, a quick question...

For those that have arrived the US for Fall '21 session and those that arrived earlier (say this year), how did you handle PTA at the bank (not Form A for school fees payment)?

Getting dollars at the black market is a killer.


Kindly share your experience so everyone else can learn and follow.
Thank you.

Good afternoon fam, hope all's going well?
Please, a quick question...

For those that have arrived the US for Fall '21 session and those that arrived earlier (say this year), how did you handle PTA at the bank (not Form A for school fees payment)?

Getting dollars at the black market is a killer.


Kindly share your experience so everyone else can learn and follow.
Thank you.

Hycent007:
Good after house, please I will be having my interview in two days time, please I just want to be certain, what documents am I supposed to take along. Thank you.

I-20
Passport photograph (2in x 2in)
International passport
DS-160 confirmation page

Receipts (MRV, SEVIS)
Visa Appointment confirmation page
Admission letter
Educational Documents
Financial documents (statement, sponsor letter)
Employment letter and/or study leave


You'll mostly need the first 4 but it's important to carry all along and only present a document to the VO when required.



I wish you a successful interview sir/ma.
Celebrate grace

ifeanyimoses:


Hi Pefuele, am bit unsure, what is the U.S. Embassy email in Nigeria, is it support@ustraveldocs.com or supportnigeria@ustraveldocs.com as I have sent a mail to the former for a week now with no replies?

Thank you

support-nigeria@ustraveldocs.com
I also saw there was a response from support@ustraveldocs.com

JavanElsevier41:
Please oo I need suggestions
Any affordable hotel close to the embassy at Abuja.
If I can get 2-3 or 4 self so I can view them before I book
Any suggestions
Biko �

Xcence Guest House by Emeka Anyaoku Street, Area 11, Garki is great. #500 to the Embassy via bolt. Close to the popular Ojuelegba restaurant if you don't want hotel food.
From personal experience, there's light 24/7.

ebbie9ja:
What is the limit?

You'll be notified

LeviAckerman:

You have to keep checking
Check at intervals 12am and 3am

Just to add, please be careful as you check so you don't get locked out when you exceed your page visit limit.

Please, I need recommendations for Approved Covid testing centres really close to Lagos Airport.
Thank you

Pace6:


Big congratulations!!! Grace indeed... can I PM please?

Thank you.
Please, if you have questions concerning the NIV Application, kindly ask them here. I can make my contributions as well as more experienced peeps...to the benefit of others readers.

Also, I no longer have access to my email.

Approvalll:
Congratulations did you reschedule your appointment to get a closer date?

Thank you.
I rescheduled when closer dates popped up

[quote author=Ehizy007 post=103752731]Wow! So you mean you only answered "Yes, that's right ". This is actually less than 60seconds. Grace indeed! Congratulations!

Of course not

Pefuele:


Congrats but doest it means you just kept quiet while the VO asked those questions. This is indeed a miracle. Best transcripts I have seen in 7 years.

Thank you.
Well, my responses were pretty straightforward. I believe they made sense to her and or sounded convincing.

Thank God for His grace

VISA APPROVED!
F1 (Fall 2021)
Abuja
July 2021
COA: 32K
First attempt
No GA or TA
Lasted not more than 2 minutes
Long post, short transcript


Little background...
It was a battle getting an interview date.
When I first booked, the earliest date was 2 months later than my school's resumption. Had to book anyway and requested for an expedited interview.
This was approved after 2 hours, thankfully.

Even after the Approval, there were no closer dates available. I did an email and got the usual response "...Please be advised that the availability of slots is at the sole discretion of the US Embassy."

God was still working.
After a few days, I checked and saw a date few days after my resumption date. I was happy knowing we're getting somewhere even if we were not there yet.

At this point, I felt I had exhausted all options. I was considering switching to Lagos (thank God I didn't). I didn't lose hope. I was working with faith.

Next thing, I saw someone make a post here in the afternoon about open dates in June ending and first week of July.
I hurriedly logged in to my account. Lo and behold, I could see those dates and quickly rescheduled to a more suitable and earlier date.

Guess what? In the middle of rejoicing and celebrating, I got 3 texts messages in 3 hours from a +1 number tagged 'US Visa Collection' on Truecaller. It read:
Your B1/B2 visa appointment at the US Embassy has been cancelled. Please check your email for more details.
Checked my email and saw the same mail from an address that had a semblance with the official email the Embassy uses for correspondence.

Oh boy! I hurriedly logged in to my dashboard and saw my appointment was still "scheduled". No shaking.

Mind you, I applied for an F1 not B1/B2.
Mischief makers at work.


Next was to prepare for my interview proper.
Through prayers and fasting, I prepared. Reached out to few people to join in prayers and prep. me. I had friends review my transcript and I had several video mock interview sessions.
S/O to Uche, @kemlaughs (for the several zoom mock sessions), Ekong, Mag. for y'alls commitment.

Long story short...
Arrived Abuja few days before to get used to the environment (lodged at Xcence Guest House by Emeka Anyaoku Street, Garki Abuja). 'Twas affordable and #500 away (bolt) from the Embassy and Close to a pharmacy/supermarket and big and affordable restaurant (Ojuelegba).

The big day came... arrived 2 hours before time. Of course I met with the mandem: "Bros staple your passport", "You don print this and that? You go come back meet us oo"... thanks to those that shared their experience and the guidance from Uche and @kemlaughs, I came prepared with necessary documents and didn't pay attention to them.

While waiting, I spoke in tongues, sang songs of praise and worship. It boosted my confidence.
Next we were asked to queue up at the gate, searched by the security then ushered into the Embassy.

After few minutes, those for 7:00am were called up to queue. The Embassy staff arranged our Int'l passport, signed I-20, passport photograph and DS-160 confirmation page accordingly.
Next we went through another round of check (airport standard) before we went to the next part of the building.

There, we queued up and went along with the documents sorted out (int'l passport, signed i-20, passport photograph and DS-160 confirmation page). We went to the interviewing section twice.
First was the final scan/verification of our documents, next was for the interview proper.

In there, it felt like it was judgement day
People rejoicing (I saw a man legit screaming "Jesus loves me" very expressively while the guy walking next to him was really disappointed and sad).
Mixed feelings, tension building up but I had to maintain beauty
Thankfully, the security started singing Obinasom by Mercy Chinwo and I joined in. It boosted my faith in God for a great outcome.

I kept declaring "My case is different".

In my very before, people were approved and denied.
Please, don't lose focus or let any of what you see mess up your psych. Don't even try to profile any VO.
Que sera sera...what will be will be.


Interview proper:
After exchanging pleasantries and biometric verification:
VO: I see you're going to Ohio University.
Me: Yes, that's right.

VO:Why Ohio University?
VO: What is your concentration?
VO: Who will be sponsoring your education?


VO: I will be approving your Visa (while handing me the white paper). And she talked about the covid protocol and all.

It felt like a dream. Had to shake myself to confirm this was real.


I return all the glory to God for doing what only Him could do...for taking the glory.
Big S/O to Uche for encouraging me right from the start in 2018/2019 till date. For reviewing my transcript and guiding me every step of the way. God bless you.
Big S/O to @kemlaughs for preparing me... gave me a lotta tips and prayer points and encouraged me to always stand in front of the mirror. Thanks for the mock-up sessions
S/O to Ekong and Mag.

Remember, the heart of a king (in this case, the VOs) is like the rivers of waters which God directs and He orders them to go whichever way He pleases.

Prepare and pray.
Trust God.
Celebrate grace.
#mytestimony

richieboy1994:
I was thinking we team up and bombard them with mails so that they respond fast

Lol
That's not how they work sir/ma

Omoxrist:
Hello Everyone,


I got a mail two days ago stating that the B1/B2 visa appointment has been cancelled; but on checking my account with CGI online account, I realized the appointment was still showing scheduled on my dashboard, even till the time I'm typing this, the appointment is still very active and scheduled.
Has anyone gotten a similar email but still seeing "scheduled" online? Should I cancel the former appointment myself and reschedule or just go for the interview as scheduled?

Ignore as long as you didn't apply for a B1/B2
I've received reports about same email. The address has a resemblance with the original email of ustraveldocs

I know some that received an SMS even though they never applied for a B1/B2 and their F1 appointment is still active.

Mischief makers at work

marcojnr:
VISA APPROVED !

This is my transcript as promised .Let me give a little background.I contacted an immigration lawyer who advised I cancel my appointment at the lagos embassy and apply in Accra,Ghana instead.Ive lived in Ghana for a while and only moved back recently and I hold both passports(Main reason I contacted a lawyer for the sakes of home ties).My sponsor also lives in Ghana and I’ve had my education and some work there.
I’m just grateful to God because it’s been 2 years working on this.


The embassy in Ghana is very very calm and no anyhowness like you’ll see at Walter carrington before entering and nobody outside asking to arrange your papers .The embassy is currently prioritizing only students so all the folks I saw there were students


Only 3 V.O available and no sitting from entering the visa hall until you leave so process was very fast

Stood in line for biometrics and continued to interview area

When it was my turn
Me:Good morning
V.O: Good morning.Please pass me your documents

V.O : Please put your hand on the scanner

V.O : What are your travel plans
Me: I’m traveling to the USA for my masters in information systems and business analytics

V.O: Who is paying for your trip
Me: My father

V.O : (Looks up at me)What does he do?
Me: (V.O Kept making eye contact from time to time)He’s a wholesale importer of clothes from South Korea ,China and the UK.He owns and runs a hotel and has rental residential and commercial properties some of which are occupied by banks

V.O : (After typing and looking at his screen for a long time)Are you married ?
Me: No

V.O : Do you have any children
Me: No please

V.O : (sticks a sticker behind my passport gives me a small piece of white paper )You can follow the instructions on there to pick up your passport at the circled time tomorrow .Come with a government issued ID
Me:Thank you

Just like that no document asked even though other before me were asked to show transcripts and school certificates.SEVIS receipt was not a requirement for the interview here but I had it .

All in all I only witnessed two denials,one from a lady who had a G.A but had been denied before and another guy who claimed his aunt will pay his $60k deficit .Another lady who claimed her friend in the USA will help her pay a deficit of $50k was approved.What they say about making eye contact is true.Look them straight in the eye even when they’re not paying attention to you.
Be confident in your answers (Practice in a mirror with your mask on)and go very well prepared and practice speaking audibly if your voice is low tone.Dress in a way that’ll help your confidence but don’t over do it.
Don’t offer any documents or unwanted information unless you’re asked .Fill your DS-160 yourself and go over it multiple times and know exactly what you’ve put down.
Don’t worry about denials before you ,your case is different and pray if you believe in it.

Congratulations! So happy for you

Rayraydray:


Yeah I took up a job in my uncle’s school to teacher primary school students! But in 2018 I started attending uni lag studying bsc in chem engr but the death of my bro played a big part in me dropping out and also inspired me to choose nursing as a course! I initially didn’t put it in my ds-160 cos I didn’t get a degree from unilag

I can make a guess... you're currently teaching in your uncle's school and goin' for a nursing undergraduate degree in the US.
The death of your brother prompted you to study nursing.

To convince the VO when/if asked, you'll need to state exactly what led to your brother's death, how that condition is what you're going to be studying, what you plan to do after the degree (study plans during and after your stay in the US) and of what use this degree will be.


About the gap years, you need to state in clear terms what you've been doing. If you still have time, you can post a proposed transcript for the mandem to review.


Teaching is quite flexible... there's a lot one can make out of your experience, I believe.


Always remember, don't contradict yourself.
Pray for God's leading.


Wish you God's grace and success.

Rayraydray:
Hello guys! Please I need your help on this one! My interview is tomorrow and I’m in the dark about something! I started working in may2016 then in 2018 I gained admission into the uni of Lagos to study chemical engr but I due to some personal issue I dropped out in my first semester 2nd year! But I didn’t state it in my ds-160 cos I didn’t graduate! Can’t I take my admission later I used in getting into the unilag so the VO believes me or I shouldn’t bother about talking bout it

There's a lot of information you've not provided...your question is kinda confusing!
This begs a lot of questions.

To start with, you started working long before you got admitted to UNILAG.
This employment was based on what? Academic qualification or job experience? What's your job description? Is it related to Chemical Engineering? Do you still work there currently?
The admission at UNILAG was for an undergraduate degree?

Now, what degree are you pursuing in the US? Undergrad. or graduate?
What's the actual problem? Gap years?
This admission letter you're asking about...what role will it play? What will you be convincing the VO about since you did not even mention your school in your DS-160?
Come out plain, please.

Generally, I suggest you be as truthful as possible to the VO and do not contradict yourself.
Selah

Nioj:
I'm in a dilemma, I'm torn between continuing with my low paying job which is not in line with my course of study or quitting to focus more on my graduate school application.

I'm also planning to apply for Canadian Express entry while preparing for my master's application. But the problem here is that I don't have up to 3 years experience yet, I have to wait till next year April.


For the graduate school application, I plan to take GRE and TOEFL and I need time to myself to prepare and also run around for my transcript and recommendation letters. Working won't give me the time I feel I need to do these things. I have about #700k saved up which I plan to use for this application.

What do you advice I do in such situation

Here is my profile
Undergraduate course: Pure and Applied Chemistry
CGPA: 4.3/5
No publication

Good morning.
Well, this is not a financial advice

Why do you have to choose between continuing with your low-paying job and quitting to focus on your graduate school application when you can combine both? There are a good number of successful applicants who have done same.

Here's what I suggest:
Find a way to convert your unrelated work experience to a relevant one which can boost your chances in getting admission and getting your visa approved at the embassy. It depends on your profile and intended degree field. I believe there is always a way to make your job experience relevant or package it to the school you are applying to and the embassy when it is time. Every company or business or organizations that give jobs have different units/departments. Find which is more related and get involved.
PS. I'm giving a general answer because i don't have the details of your job and intended field of study.

Speaking of the relatedness of your job to your intended field of study, I believe you've read transcripts of people that have switched fields. Just be ready to give cogent reasons when asked (e.g. new-found interest in this field, discovered a problem, going back to your passion, etc).

Wish you God's grace.

richieboy1994:
Hello nairalanders
Please How many month's to expiry does one's passport has to be, before applying for interview appointment?

My passport expires October next year, please what about that??

I learnt a minimum of six months validity is acceptable

jexpress:
Hello guys, Please anyone with the information as regards the cheapest hotel close to American Embassy in Abuja...Thank you

Check out Xcence Guest House and Optima Hotel.

chigozieduru:


Hey man, how did you get the MRV fee paid on your behalf? I'm also in the same predicament and want to schedule an appt before getting back to Nig. Thanks man.

I think for the emergency appointment, once it has been accepted they give you a calendar which shows interview date(s) that are open/available then you can pick from those dates. Please others can correct me as well.

The $160 MRV Fee for F1 Students can be paid at any GTBANK in Nigeria in naira using #420 to $1. Equivalent is #67,200.
Your Int'l passport will be required.


I hear you can also pay online via their mobile app.

harveygordon:
Hello everyone, I want to be sure of something. Is it a must my school send the Hard copy (original copy) to me for the purpose of visa interview? Or can I just print the emailed copy?

You mean i-20?
The embassy accepts electronic copies.

Make sure you sign in the column provided when you print

winnerola16:
Good day to u all,

I actually applied for B2 visa and and interview date was scheduled July 12, 2021, I received the below mail that my appointment has been cancelled

Dear Applicant,

Your regular B1/B2 visa appointment at the US Embassy has been cancelled. As of October 13, 2020, the United States Embassy in Abuja and the United States Consulate in Lagos resumed certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services, including immigrant visas in the IR1, CR1, IR2, CR2, and IR3 classes and nonimmigrant visas in the F, M, and J classes. While the Embassy and Consulate aim to process cases as soon as practicable, there is likely to be increased wait times for completing such services due to substantial backlogs. The MRV fee is valid and may be used to schedule an interview appointment in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/ng/ to request an emergency appointment.

Please note this appointment was cancelled by the US Embassy and cannot be reversed by call center agents. Students and Emergency applicants are not affected by this cancellation.

Sincerely,
Help Desk


Kindly advice me on wat to do please, do I need to pay for visa fee again, don't really know wat to do

Check your account to verify.
I have reports that some F-1 Applicants received same email and SMS too.
Note: they applied for F-1 not B1/B2.
The email address had a lot of resemblance with the original.


Please, check your account to confirm if your appointment is active.
Don't let this opportunity pass you by. Double check please

dapsalmy:
Please which hotels are very close to the US embassy in Abuja?

You can check my post for recommendations I got.
Some 4-5/6 pages back

ifeanyimoses:



Please guys, how do I pay for my servis and visa fee, as I have researched online and can’t get what I’m finding, thanks guys.

SEVIS FEE...You can't pay from Nigeria
People that have paid usually have a trusted friend or family in the US pay on their behalf.
Or you can contact @walspring
People have recommended him.

VISA FEE...Pay #67,200 at any GTBANK close to you. Ensure to go with your international passport
Make sure they pay for F-1 VISA

ifeanyimoses:



Wow, thanks a lot boss, my programs start date is August 23 2021

Okay