ysteph:
Good morning people. Please can I use a fixed deposit certificate to go for student Visa interview at the US embassy? Secondly is Northeastern University, Boston a red flag school?

I submitted fixed deposit for mine and it was accepted though I added an account statement with it.

Treasury Bill certificate was rejected.

I flight is scheduled to arrive JFK 9 days into the 30 days that one can enter us. I intend spending a week in NYC then go to Missouri two weeks prior to the school resumption. So that is 9 + 7+ 14= 30days.

Is this okay pls?

I intend to also buy a ticket probably next week or two weeks time that would be taking me out of NYC to Missouri but the departure date would be a week after I arrived i.e let's say I arrive JFK July 29 the departure date from LGA to STL in Missouri would be 5th of August.

The ticket would be with me from Nigeria. Is this realistic please?

Brown2Green:



1)
JFK is known to be an escape route for people that want to use US to abscond to Canada because it is very close to the Canadian border so the officials there are very strict with immigrants.

Kindly book a hotel in Missouri to show you have no ulterior motive.
The rest of your questions are no issue.
Be very prepared for the POE at JFK.

Waow, thanks boss; nawa oh people absconding from us to Canada is quite funny to me.

What if I just tell the CPB officer I have someone who lives in New York legally and I just want to use a few days with him before proceeding to Missouri? What do you think?

sharwama:
Queens don't book space

Stop over is 1hour 30mins

seyewest:


1) Flying to New York instead of St Louis won't be an issue at all, Flight from LGA Airport to St Lousi is around N45K to N50k ( I can get it for you), bus is 14 hrs which to me is not advisable.

2) To be honest, Royal Air Maroc is moderate but don't expect out of the world service and I hope your stop over is less than 6 hours?

3) As much as you can bring but $1.5K is just not enough unless your sponsor is based in U.S (Hope you mentor migrated to U.S legally if not please don't include him in any discussion at POE)

4) You will find all likely question on this forum and visit the student forum on nairaland as well, please go with your bank statement just in case.

5) You can visit the Brooklyn bridge, Manhattan, Times Square, Statute of Liberty and lots more.

Hello guys, glad to be in part 15, lemme open the floor for questions.

1. My school is in Missouri but I already booked a flight to JFK from Lagos. Hope it wnt cause an issue, flights to JFK(215k airmaroc) were cheaper than flights to STL in missouri( about 600k on delta). I also intend to stay in New York for a few days with a mentor before going to missouri.

2. Also I know have already booked the airmaroc flight but is their services okay or at least moderate?

3. What is the range of amt of money I can bring in as a student .. I was advised 1k to 2k

4. Please what's the cheapest way to get to Missouri from newyork? Bus, flight, or train? I intend to travel to missouri after spending 3 to 5 days in NYC.

5. Any suggestion of a nice place to visit while in new york for a few days. .. my birthday would be two days after arrival

6. Also what are the likely questions I could be asked at the POE and should I bring a bank statement along. ?

Thanks, I love you all.

seyewest:


1) Flying to New York instead of St Louis won't be an issue at all, Flight from LGA Airport to St Lousi is around N45K to N50k ( I can get it for you), bus is 14 hrs which to me is not advisable.

2) To be honest, Royal Air Maroc is moderate but don't expect out of the world service and I hope your stop over is less than 6 hours?

3) As much as you can bring but $1.5K is just not enough unless your sponsor is based in U.S (Hope you mentor migrated to U.S legally if not please don't include him in any discussion at POE)

4) You will find all likely question on this forum and visit the student forum on nairaland as well, please go with your bank statement just in case.

5) You can visit the Brooklyn bridge, Manhattan, Times Square, Statute of Liberty and lots more.

Thanks Boss I will ask on the student forum. God bless you. I enjoyed the pics you posted of your emirate flight from dubai to US. It was cool.

Yes sir, thank you sir. I don't mind taking a flight from LGA to STL but that would be few days after I arrive JFK not the same day.

Hello house. . Good day to you all. I appreciate the work you are doing from 2017.
This is my first time travelling
Am an F1 visa student whose school is in Missouri. I have few questions to ask pls

1. My school is in Missouri but I already booked a flight to JFK from Lagos. Hope it wnt cause an issue, flights to JFK(215k airmaroc) were cheaper than flights to STL in missouri( about 600k on delta). I also intend to stay in New York for a few days with a mentor before going to missouri.

2. Also I know have already booked the airmaroc flight but is their services okay or at least moderate?

3. What is the range of amt of money I can bring in as a student .. am thinking of holding around 1k to 1.5k

4. Please what's the cheapest way to get to Missouri from newyork? Bus, flight, or train?

5. Any suggestion of a nice place to visit while in new your for a few days. .. my birthday would be two days after arrival

6. Also what are the likely questions I could be asked at the POE and should I bring a bank statement along. ?

Thanks sirs/ma's

LagosismyHome:


Once you get there, also check other departments as well for GA and mention it loudly to anybody within the school faculty who cares to listen that you need funding

Congrats .... May God bless your new journey.

Okay. I will definitely do that. Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. Of a truth this platform has really helped me.
To the new guys seeking admission, please don't be discouraged, denial can be disheartening at times, try to ask why you where refused; all will be well.

Anyone going to or already in University of Missouri should please chat me up, let's walk this journey together.

God Bless you all.

Hmmmmmm. Where will I start from? God was really involved in my admission process and visa.
I was initially denied by the school I picked (University of Missouri, Columbia). I wrote to the graduate coordinator and asked why I was denied they said my overall Gp was low, so I told them that on the school site it was said that the Gp would be based on the last two years. They said they would review my application again, and behold I was accepted.
My profile
CGPA: 3.01/5
GRE: 303
IELTS: 7.5

The interview(Tuesday Lagos 7.45)

After My thumbprinting I turned to my left to wait for where to be directed to by the CGI because 5 windows were open. As I turned to wait for the CGI a female VO (Young lady, she was quite beautiful she should be in her mid twenties) directly opposite me just gestured with her hand that I should come forward, I was still arranging the other documents from my thumbprinting.

V.O: before I arrive pass me your I-20 ( I guess she saw the Ups envelope with me so she knew I was a student)
ME: okay am coming(while looking for it, she requested my passport since it was in my hand)
VO: Where are you going to (She started typing, I didn't hear her properly)
ME: I didn't get you ma (I moved my ear closer to the glass cos she was speaking Very fast)
VO: She repeated the question
ME: University of Missouri Columbia
VO: What are you going to study?
ME: Mechanical Engineering, sorry Master Mechanical Engineering (I handed her my I-20)(My program was actually Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering but only M.E was written on my I-20)
VO: what have you been doing
ME: I finished my Bsc August 2017, went for my service January to Dec 2018 (cuts in)
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
ME: 5 Schools
VO: Mention them
ME: California State University
VO: She muttered something
ME: ehn, come again ma, ( I put my ear closer to the window)
VO: which of the CSU
ME: oh the one at Fullerton, CSUF
VO: were you admitted?
ME: Yes, am with the admission letter should I bring it out?
VO:No, continue... (as I was mentioning them she was asking and typing)
ME: Southern Illinois University Carbondale(Admit), Missouri(Admit), University of Idaho (Reject), Mississippi State University (Reject)
VO: Did you write any Standardised Test?
ME: Yes (GRE, 303 and IELTS 7.5)
VO: why didn't they give you scholarship, Missouri is a Big school and the test scores are okay
ME: I contacted my supervisor for RA but he said he had no space at this time
VO: I know what an assistantships is, am asking about scholarship, why didn't they give you scholarship with these your test scores? (She was speaking affirmative and authoritatively)
ME: (I didn't reply I was just looking, I didn't know what to say again)
VO: where are your parents?
ME: Nigeria
VO: have you been to the US before
ME: no ma. , I have not had a reason to go
VO: they should have given you at least a scholarship (I was just looking)
VO: what will do after your studies
ME: I will come back to Nigeria and work with an Energy firm
VO: who is your sponsor
ME:My uncle
VO: What does he do?
ME: he is into clearing and forwarding
VO: do you have any financial document
ME: Yes ma (As I was bringing the one page treasury bill paper out, she said no no no)
VO: I need bank statements, about 5 to 6 pages
ME: it's a Nigerian treasury Bill ma of 70M
VO: I need bank statement (She was raising her voice now)
ME: My uncle deposited it last year November so that it would have generated an interest of (V.O cuts in angrily)
VO: shut up!, I said shut up! I need bank statement (She was now typing very fast)
I was just looking on my own speechless( My mind was like he done happen lemme be packing my documents)
VO: (she muttered something but I didn't listen I was just packing and arranging my document inside my file)
She gave me my passport and a white paper while she circled the second part of additional document required
ME: I don't understand ma( I was expecting a blue paper or yellow paper)
VO: Listen, I was talking and you were not listening, listen, listen ( She was speaking like a Boss and somehow angry)
ME: am sorry ma (I dropped my documents and drew closer to the window fixing my gaze on her)
VO: Take this white paper with you and drop it with your passport at the DHL drop off point. You are to include a bank statement or liquid funds that shows $36,783. Liquid funds pls.
ME: Okay ma(I continued putting my documents in my Ups envelope they were spread/scattered on the tile b4)
VO: Please leave this place, go and arrange your file outside, there is a table outside pls( Authoritative and harsh yet somehow polite)
ME:OKAY

Immediately I called my uncle and explained what happened, he told me come immediately, went to the bank and Got his two fixed deposits of 10M and 15M plus his bank statement balance of 1.4M my fee requirement was 13.5M.

I called time2win and asked him if fixed deposit was a liquid fund because the Bank Manager said the F.D was Open Market, I said yes that F.D was accepted but he wasn't too sure if it was a liquid fund. I used it like that anyways submitting the documents the same day.

I was placed on A.P when I checked my status on Tuesday. This afternoon my status changed to ISSUED!

Na God do am oh.
Help me shout 7 hallaluyah to the Most High God!!!

TokeOlawunmi:
Dear All,

Thank you so much for your support always

Please can I go with Treasury bills certificates as part of proof of adequate funds for the program. The treasury bills are maturing January 2020. What do you think, even though semester begins august 19.

Best regards.

My treasury bill was not accepted on Tuesday, that was why I was placed on A.P.

The V.O stated that she wanted Liquid funds or bank statement.

Special Thanks to @Time2win helping me with a mock interview Sunday night. @Fairheart and @faybom you guys are amazing. I love you all. Cheers.

I had my interview on Tuesday morning, I was placed on administrative processing, I checked my status just now and it was issued. No funding or scholarship. I would share my transcript soon.

I actually think it's the home ties. You have been working in U.A.E for like 2 years with no member of your family there. You are moving to another country, the V.O is probably thinking that there is actually a good probability of you staying over after studies or even going there to work.

You can reapply and work on better responses to home ties. My thoughts anyway.

drelicx:
My F1 Visa was denied today in Dubai. My interview transcript goes thus:
VO- Goodmoring
Me- Goodmoring sir,
VO- pass me your passport, where are you going in US
Me- I am going to university of Minnesota crookston to study accounting.
VO- Speak up
Me- I repeated the same in louder voice.
VO- Why this school
Me- I considered three things firstly, being an account student, student qualifies for CPA ........... VO cut in ok
Meanwhile this VO is in kind of rush because of the way he was bombarding with questions.
Vo- I can see you are working as an accountant in this company. What are you studying?
Me- accounting
Vo- ok ok ok I can can see undergraduate?
Me- yes
Vo- who did you know in Minnesota?
Me- I don't know of anybody in the US
Vo- How long have you been in UAE?
Me- since 2017.... VO cut in said 2years right?
Me- yes
Vo- what is your salary?
Me- answered
Vo- did u have family in UAE?
Me- No sir
Vo- who is paying for my fee?
Me- My uncle who ........ VO cut
Vo- sorry your visa is not approve this time you this white paper will explain you can try again next time.
Note: the Vo is not always waiting for my response before he ask another even at a point he was the one answering the question he wants to ask and I also noted that during our conversation, he was sniffing his nose and shaking his head frequently to the left side as if he needs he needs an urgent attention because he wasn't giving me a breathing space.

Congrats Bro!

Javanian:
Visa approved today, Lagos Consulate. Fully funded, Ph.D in Computer science. UNT.

Was the very first person to arrive there. Not based in Lagos so I passed the night with my brother that stays at Ajah. He advised we leave early to beat the traffic so we left as early 3 a.m. despite my 7 a.m. appointment time and we got there around 4 a.m. Suffice to say, the stress of the previous days journey from Port Harcourt coupled with getting little sleep wore me out before the time for my scheduled appointment. 7 a.m finally came and we were ushered in. I was interviewed by an African American lady, probably the "notorious" one I hear about on this thread. Something funny happened before it got to my turn, the guy in front of me tried to run away from her. He tried to skip the line and move to the line adjacent to ours that had a middle aged white man as VO. The VO (middle aged white man) caught him, got up and went to report him to the African American lady and she asked that the guy be sent back to her.

It got to my turn.

VO: Good morning, Pass me your passport and I-20

Me: Passed it to her and her eyes went to the estimated costs part of the I-20, she glanced at the I-20 for about a minute and started typing

VO: So how did you find out about this school?

Me: I was looking for schools that had research labs in....(she cuts me off)

VO: So you found it online?

Me: Yes.

VO: what kind of research would you be working on?

Me: Educational Technologies for developing countries. Most of Today's breakthrough in Educational Technology were designed and built for developed countries with reliable and adequate power supply, stable internet connection and a very educated populace in mind. These advances in educational technology while very impressive are sometimes too expensive or not effective in developing countries that still face challenges of erratic power supply, slow and unreliable internet connections and lack of technical support. I am interested in researching ways in which education technology can be built to work effectively in developing countries by taking the challenges already existing technologies face in such countries into consideration and researching solutions that can surmount those challenges. The part in italics is the first paragraph of my SOP. I did NOT say it to her exactly like that but what I said was something similar. I didn't memorize it, I just said it the best I could.

She looked quite impressed

VO: So this schools does research in this area?

Me: yes, I would be working with professor X who already does some research in this area using Artificial Intelligence

VO: What would be your responsibilities as a research assistant?

Me: Write code for ongoing projects, simulation of software programs.....

VO: How many other schools did you apply to?

Me: 6

VO: Name them

Me: University of Saskatchewan, ETSU, BGSU, FSU, Stanford, Auburn University

VO: How many other American Universities accepted you?

Me: 3

VO: Name them

Me: Auburn, ETSU and BGSU

VO: What's your highest educational qualification?

Me: Bachelor's Degree

Vo; Have you traveled out of Nigeria before?

Me: No.

Vo: Do you have any relatives in the USA?

Me: No

VO: I will be approving your VISA, Pick up your passport at X location, bring your I-20 to the point of Entry...., We have a program in EducationUSA....Congratulations.

Rollitout:


You are very smart and intelligent, I respect the wisdom you applied to those questions... God bless you

Thanks boss. More suggestions guys. , what should I add or what is unnecessary or anything I should tweak?

Somebody has posted the transcript now oh , Ejo e dakun. Please Biko.

handoffire:
Hello everyone, Excellent morning to you all.
My interview is next week, roughly a week from now.

Would appreciate it if my proposed transcript can be reviewed and scrutinised genuinely; should I post it or send it to you guys individually?

@Time2win @Oludare01 @lagosismyhome @fairheart @bracelum @walspring @texrem @TheZed and everyone I didn't mention here also

Thanks Fam.

V.O: Hello good morning
Me: good morning ma’am
V.O: Can I have your I-20 and passport
Me: here you go
V.O: why did you chose to study in the US instead of Nigeria
Me: Diversity, I will be joining a cadre of brilliant students from different countries and also study under world class professors who are well equipped with attractive research centers. I need the exposure so that I can be a world class engineer and not just a local champion.
V.O: what’s your academic background/ tell me about yourself
Me: I had my high school education at federal Science and technical college in 2011, had my bsc in Mechanical engineering in 2017, I went for nysc in 2018 jan to dec where I taught motor vehicle mechanics to year 2 students of Government Craft development centre.
V.O: how many schools did you apply to
Me: 5 schools, Mississippi state university, University of Idaho, California State University Fullerton, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and University of Missouri Columbia
V.O: how many admitted you
Me: 3 schools, CSUF, SIU and University of Missouri
V.O: why university of Missouri
Me: during my undergraduate research project my supervisor advised me to check researchgate, it’s a website for research professors and students, while on the site I read an article written by a professor tat perfectly aligns wit my research. The professor is a lecturer in Missouri and also the director of Midwest industrial assessment centre. I contacted him after my admission and he offered to be my academic adviser.
V.O: So what’s your research on
Me: Energy Efficiency of manufacturing industries, In Nigeria power as been unavailable, unreliable, and expensive hence making the cost of energy consumption and its efficiency very important to engineers in Nigeria
V.O: what’s your study plan?
Me: yea, it includes taking courses like mechanical maintenance, fluid mechanics, and energy technology of course. All this would make up my 30 units of courses that I would have done prior to completion of my Msc.
V.O; what will this course do for you/ what are your plans after graduation
Me: that’s an interesting question, everyone knows Nigeria’s foremost issue is power and energy, upon the completion of my studies I would have been equipped with knowledge and skills on how to reduce the operating cost of energy, better energy options like renewable energy and how the energy efficiency performance of machines or appliances can be improved to save cost to companies in Nigeria. Nigeria is just in a dire need of energy/power at the moment, I won’t be surprised if a generator is currently being used at the moment as source of power in the embassy.
V.O: who is sponsoring you?
ME: my uncle
V.O: what does he do?
ME: he is a businessman; he is into clearing and forwarding of goods like machines, furniture, appliances and fabrics
V.O: can I see your SOA
ME: yea sure(while passing it) It’s a Nigerian treasury Bill (of 70M, he fixed it last year November while I was applying to schools so that it would have yielded around 9.5M at 13.5% interest rate which is sufficient for my tuition, he only needs to add just 4M to balance it up.) Do I need to say what's in the bracket?
V.O: Did you write any standardized test
ME: Yes IELTS 7.5 and GRE 303
V.O: hands white paper, you will be needing your i-20 at the POE, your passport would be ready in 3 days for pickup
ME: Okay. Thanks, God bless you ma

Hello everyone, Excellent morning to you all.
My interview is next week, roughly a week from now.

Would appreciate it if my proposed transcript can be reviewed and scrutinised genuinely; should I post it or send it to you guys individually?

@Time2win @Oludare01 @lagosismyhome @fairheart @bracelum @walspring @texrem @TheZed and everyone I didn't mention here also

Thanks Fam.

dodaside:
I'll advice you to print a recent one, at least 1 week prior to your interview date.
Success in your interview!!!

Okay thanks, I will.
Amen �.

dodaside:
Yes, treasury bill is accepted as proof of financial documentation, but the bank also has to issue a letter stating that the money can be used/withdrawn at anytime.

I haven't gone for an interview yet, so I can't say if the embassy accepts it.

Thanks I used it to receive my I-20, I also plan to take it with me to the embassy for my Interview this month. It was printed March 29, I can I still use it for my interview on May 21st ?

Olalekank:

Congrats!

Did it come with funding?

Nope I wasn't given fund, a professor only agreed to be my academic advisor and said there is good chance of me working at the Industrial Assessment Center since he is the director.

Bricke:
Hi everyone. I was granted admission into Missouri state university. Is anyone going this fall? And I hope its not one of the so called red flag schools.

Thank you

I got admitted into University of Missouri, Columbia for Fall 2019

Hello guys, good evening

Pls is Nigerian Treasury Bill accepted as proof of financial documentation for the school to send the form I-20, is it also accepted at the embassy.?

I got the mail also

Hello

Time2win:


Do what he said first and see the result.

Yes I have, No response from him yet after that.

I also emailed the departmental secretary about two days ago about Graduate Assistantship opportunities. , but no response from her also , am thinking of sending the email again but I don't want to look desperate.

I emailed a Professor after being admitted into University of Missouri; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering for MS fall 2019 to be considered as an MS candidate under his supervision with consideration for assistanship: The professor replied that he would be happy to consider me as an advisee, that i should send him my Resume,
Transcript and any publications/project report.

What does he mean by consider me as an advisee and is there a chance of getting a GA from an academic advisor?".

I emailed a Professor after being admitted for MS fall 2019 to be considered as an MS candidate under his supervision with consideration for assistanship: The professor replied that he would be happy to consider me as an advisee, that i should send him my Resume,
Transcript and any publications/project report.

What does he mean by consider me as an advisee and is there a chance of getting a GA from an academic advisor?".

Hello guys I just got admitted into California State University Fullerton(Msc Mechanical Engineering) but without financial aid or scholarship (the school doesn't offer financial aid to international students).

Any advise for me?
And do you know any school that is still open and that give's financial aid in form of GA, TA or Research Assistantships