Hello house! Long time. Got back to naija last weekend with my American princess!

So I promised to post the process of getting naija passport.

Naija passport is gotten from only three states in the US - Washington DC, Atlanta and New York.

Please note that baby has to be physically present at their office for photo capture unlike the naija visa that can be posted by mail.

I got my baby's passport in DC. First,you have to go to their website (https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/passport/epassport) to fill an application form and pay $77. Make sure u select the right country and state where u want it processed. You can only pay online with a card that has the same surname with your baby. I haven't done change of name on my accounts so couldn't pay online. It's written on the website payment can only be made online but it's not true. Just fill the application form and print it out. Then buy two separate money orders of $77 and $30 each. Then go to their office with baby's birth cert(original and fotocopy), two passport fotos of baby, copy of both parents datapage,online application form printout and money order of $77 and $30. You do not need 2 book an appointment b4 going.

Wen u get to the office,if you went with money order(didnt pay online),they will collect additional $35 from you and say it is to associate the money order to your application form(in my opinion,it was jst a way 2 get extra money *hisss*).

Then you submit all the documents and wait for baby's turn to capture. They say it takes 2weeks for it to be ready but you can get it same day(expedited). It cost $90 for expedited and it will be paid to their supervisor. They will try to form that it's legal but na lie. No receipt for it and you pay codedly. Naija pple are the same anywhere in the world! Smh. Wait for 30mins or an hour max for the passport to be ready.

There's a business centre at their office where fotocopy is done for $10 per page and they can also fill the application form for you there but don't know how much. It's best you fill the form and print from home and go with all you documents to save cost and time.

Please note that this procedure is for DC office as that's where I did my baby's own.

Congrats to all new mums and safe delivery to expectant mums.

This marks the end of this journey for first baby. Will still be here reading(and laughing at funny posts and fights) quietly. I'm also available to ans any questions.

Hello house?

Please those who have used ARik airline back to Nigeria with baby, please what travel documents do I need to hold for baby to enable us checkin. I will hold her international passports (America and Nigeria). Do I need to hold any other document like birth certificate etc?

Please assist. Urgent please.

Thank you.

Car seat is very compulsory so pas take your car seat along to the hospital cos you will not be discharged without it.

isysleek:
Hello house,
Gave birth to my precious baby girl on the 3rd of May 2015 at Del Sol Medical center,El Paso Texas.

The care at the hospital was totally amazing!

My bills(normal delivery):
Doctor's fee $2500
Hospital $2200
Epidural $500 (I'm sure I wuld have died of pain if I didn't use it)
Paediatrician $210
Hearing test $326(I wonder wat made me do it. Total waste).
Birth cert $23 per copy. BC came out two weeks after I gave birth. It can come out earlier or later.jst keep checking the website daily.
US passport $165 for expedited. Did it on Wednesday,went for pickup on Friday.
I am doing Naija passport not visa(no details yet as i'm in the process of doing it. I will update once I'm done).

I stayed at his grace lodge and the owners are totally amazing! If you are looking for a place like home,this is the right place for you. I paid 1500 for seven weeks and it was worth every penny! The amount can be less or more depending on the room you choose. PM me if you need more details. Biko Justwise,i'm not a marketer o!

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Wen going to the hospital to give birth,take only clothes you and baby will wear home after you are dicharged. No need to take anything else(weda cs or normal delivery) the hospital will give you evrything-baby food,diapers,toileteries,breast pad,nipple cream etc. They even gave my baby a big fully baked and iced cake!

After you are discharged from the hospital,the paediatrician will ask you to book an appointment at his office. Do not book unless baby has a problem and needs to see the doctor cos every visit is 65. Just go to his office and pay the $210 for checking the baby at the hospital,get you receipt and leave sharply biko!

If you want to do hearing test,be ready to get thru hell to pay for it. They do not collect cash. You will have to wait for a week or two after baby is born for them to send you a bill and address for you to mail money order which is outside Texas. You will wait for about a week for them acknowledge payment den btw one week to a month to get receipt except you call and harrass them to send it within a week.

Zero balance from hospital will be ready at the admin office of the hospital10-14days after delivery.

Make sure you request receipt showing zero balance for every payment made from the different service providers eg doc,hospital,paediatrician,hearing test etc.

I can't remember anything else but will update if I missed anything out.

Thanks to Shagaman and everyone that helped me thruout this process. You are all too much!

Dami! Where have you been? Tried forever to reach you before I left el paso. In Maryland now.

Congrats on your baby.

About the hearing test, now I want to cry for paying the whole 326. Wish your number was accessible.

Dammiehar:
Isysleek, its me Dammy, how are you doing? As per the hearing test, I also had it done and I was sent the bill by mail. I didn't receive it on time, so I called their office and the lady I spoke with told me to wait for the mail. I decided to go to their office on Oregon Street, and I was able to pay cash immediately, I was even given a discount for early payment, so I paid 167 instead of 326. Hope this helps someone.

@bj2012golf, thanks a lot. Long time. How are you and family.

[quote author=bj2012golf post=34202919][/quote]

@slimwendy85, oga shagaman and Nogen, thanks a lot. God bless.

@Nogen, trust you are one of the pple Shade said will be going to the lodge soon.

Hello house,
Gave birth to my precious baby girl on the 3rd of May 2015 at Del Sol Medical center,El Paso Texas.

The care at the hospital was totally amazing!

My bills(normal delivery):
Doctor's fee $2500
Hospital $2200
Epidural $500 (I'm sure I wuld have died of pain if I didn't use it)
Paediatrician $210
Hearing test $326(I wonder wat made me do it. Total waste).
Birth cert $23 per copy. BC came out two weeks after I gave birth. It can come out earlier or later.jst keep checking the website daily.
US passport $165 for expedited. Did it on Wednesday,went for pickup on Friday.
I am doing Naija passport not visa(no details yet as i'm in the process of doing it. I will update once I'm done).

I stayed at his grace lodge

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Wen going to the hospital to give birth,take only clothes you and baby will wear home after you are dicharged. No need to take anything else(weda cs or normal delivery) the hospital will give you evrything-baby food,diapers,toileteries,breast pad,nipple cream etc. They even gave my baby a big fully baked and iced cake!

After you are discharged from the hospital,the paediatrician will ask you to book an appointment at his office. Do not book unless baby has a problem and needs to see the doctor cos every visit is 65. Just go to his office and pay the $210 for checking the baby at the hospital,get you receipt and leave sharply biko!

If you want to do hearing test,be ready to get thru hell to pay for it. They do not collect cash. You will have to wait for a week or two after baby is born for them to send you a bill and address for you to mail money order which is outside Texas. You will wait for about a week for them acknowledge payment den btw one week to a month to get receipt except you call and harrass them to send it within a week.

Zero balance from hospital will be ready at the admin office of the hospital10-14days after delivery.

Make sure you request receipt showing zero balance for every payment made from the different service providers eg doc,hospital,paediatrician,hearing test etc.

I can't remember anything else but will update if I missed anything out.

Thanks to Shagaman and everyone that helped me thruout this process. You are all too much!

Hi. Please where in nail a did you get this cot and how much?

abcv657:
Good day all...it's been a while since I posted here before the tsunami... Had my baby in naijja over seven months ago (story for another day) one thing I ovserved thou is they try n keep u long enough before cs is the option I was d one that ended up shouting for it after 10hrs at 2cm....

Anyways re baby cot n car seat my infant has been sleeping in her own cot since day one even when the grandparents came I made sure they let her sleep on her cot so it works for me too...

I actually got a really good wooden cot in naijja n the price was extremely reasonsable so I guess u find wat u look for ...,

@stinux and zeezahbee, thanks.

zeezahbee:
Nop, unless you plan to enter UK

Hello house,

Please for someone travelling to new York thru Virginia Atlantic airline, the route is Lagos to London to New York. Will the person need a UK transit visa?

Thanks a lot Phema.

Phema:


A thick paper with a perforated detachable part, the size of a complimentary card, with the SSN clearly written on it.

Hello house, please about the social security number for our babies, please what does it look like? Does it come like a paper or does it come like a card?

Please assist. Very urgent. Thank you

No....This is wrong.

The $300 limit is only for CASH withdrawal from an ATM.

You can buy/pay as much as you want online and via POS as long as you don't exceed $50,000 in a year. So if you spend $50,000 in day for example online or via POS, then you can't do an transaction online or via POS again for the rest of this year.

Hope you understand now.

DeeandGLady:


Yeah but you can't pay a bill that is over $300 online or via POS per day that is the main problem its just annoying, Imagine you go to shop and just an item cost $400 how do you want to pay for that, that of the don't exceed $50,000 a year is fine by me. Any way my plan is hold cash and go with like 3 master cards simple.

You can pay your bills/shop online and via pos as long as you don't exceed $50,000 a year.

If you want to use atm to withdraw cash, den you can only withdraw $300 in a day.

It's the new cbn directive for all banks.

DeeandGLady:


Dollar black market is 205 as of today I just confirmed it, so annoying to get a mail from GTB saying, daily cash withdrawal limit for the Naira MasterCard has also been reduced to $300 per day. The new limits for both spending using Naira MasterCard and cash withdrawal abroad has been reduced from $2,500 to $300 per day. This is crazy, this is not good at all, imagine one has to pay her medical bills, GTB ATM won't work anymore. Please can anyone confirm this new development on GTBank Mastercard or any other bank Mastercards heard is CBN new policy. If this is true it means we are better off traveling with cash and means we have to start looking for dollar to buy.

Please dies anyone know about shippers in El Paso?

The great guy shagaman. Thanks alot. How are you, madam and baby doing? Not started moving around yet. I will be contacting you anytime I'm stuck.. Hope you don't mind?

shagaman:
@isysleek nice to read that you now in Elpaso.....hope you don dey enjoy the place.

Wen arik decided to change their rule without notifying anyone or changing their website info nko . God knew I had no budget for new ticket so it was Him at work!

Hopesprings:


Hmm God at work to confirm falsehood, don't think so, but glad it all went well for you

Hello house!

Congrats to all the new mums.

Arrived El Paso yesterday, Monday.

POE was JFK and I flew Arik.

Wen I booked my flight, arik website said 34wks max. Bt I hrd they don't accept more than 28wks. I am 34wks so I got fit to fly showing 27wks.

I got to checkin counter and showed my fit to fly. They said they don't want to see it that I shuld go 2 port health and they will examine me and give a fit to fly cert. My hrt started beating o!

Wen I got there, d woman asked me hw mny wks I am,i said 27wks. She said that means I will be 36wks. That she will examine me now and find out d truth. So I lay down and she measured and behold she got 27wks. Another woman,came and measured me and got the same thing. They were both shocked for reasons I do not know *eyesrolling*

I was shocked myself cos my doc measured me on Wednesday and got 33wks. God at work o! They sha gave me d cert with 27wks on it,paid a fee of 2k and I left.

Flight was ok. There were some empty seats on the flight so just went there,lay down and slept wella. Food wasn't so bad.

At POE,only two questions were asked: "wat are u here for", "have u been to any African country recently". Finish! No sec inspection.

I declared I had food so was sent to agriculture‎. D guy jst asked if I had yam,vegetables or fruits. Said no and that was all. Told me I can go.

I carried enof food...even palmoil, indomie onion chicken bt to God be the glory,non was seen.

God is,and has always been awesome.

I'm at El Paso now.

Just tot to share my experience.

Thanks.

mom2015:


Nope, I flew us airways at 36 weeks from Houston to Raleigh, i had a stopover and I wasn't asked any questions. In fact the fact that I was pregnant was ignored sef.

Hello house, pls those that have used US airways within America(eg from new York to maryland), do they ask for fit to fly?

Secondly,my passport expires November 2015 but I will be travelling in April and be back to naija in June 2015. Do I have to renew before I leave naija?

Gurus in the house,pls assist.

Thanks.

http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/US_Distance_Calculator.asp

This link helps to calculate distance between two places in the US only. Type the places and it will bring out a dropdown of options,chose one. Den click on get distance & direction.

Thanks. Sent u a pm. Pls respond.

demi2000:


Yes that was what I did, but like I said I am long gone but not showing and I went with my doctor own but she demanded for govt hospital. So try go with govt hospital. I believe they don't want to carry after 28 weeks. I was looking like 4 or 5 months but was 8 months. So wishing u good luck dear

Thanks. So I shuld just go to the airport on the day of my departure right? And at the point of check in,present the fit to fly.

demi2000:



Go to the airport with the report but try and let it be from a govt hospital and it should be dated not more than 2 days before your intended travel date

Oh stroller! Thanks.

drafrican:

Pls which step down transformer did you buy
That's a buggie

Pls what is this buggy/buggie?

damsell:
The Medela freestyle advanced double electric was my saving grace when I couldn't directly breastfeed my son due to severe latching issues(severely cracked, painful and bleeding nips, forgive my tmi). It was specifically recommended to me by the lactation consultant at Del Sol Medical where I had my baby. I got it for about $270 at babies r us. I also ordered extra accessories (it has quite a number of them)b4 I left the U.S. and since I've been back, I've used it with a step down transformer and no issues. I also use the battery pack quite frequently as per NAija power issues and also use the car pack when I go to work and have to pump. In my opinion, no other pump can survive the rigors through which I've put my Medela cos imagine that ure exclusively pumping from when baby was 3weeks till now at 4months.
As per the buggy, it was extremely useful for my airport waka and connecting flights ish apart from my waka in us of course. Since I've been back, I use it for a very bumpy walk only on those days(mostly weekends) when the weather inside was extremely hot and baby is just too cranky.

@Demi2000 and goldenheart88

@Demi2000 and gratefulheart88, pls for arik, I read on the website that you have to bring your medical report to them at least 48hrs b4 your intended flight. Did you both do this or did you just go to the airport on the day of your trip and check in the normal way?

demi2000:


This guy was a racist. If you see the Nigerians he brought into the investigation room. You won't believe he actually said to his colleague" imagine this one's here to have a baby" and they both laughed. A beg I know what am saying.

Congrats!

Sent u a pm. I'm interested in the utensils. Thank you

[quote author=Virtuousdiva post=31459351]Thank God for safe delivery and for following my instincts irrespective of assorted critics .Doctoreperati ooo,Eastside women's clinic,Del Sol Medical Centre,Drs and Nurses all treated me well and I know that all the people who have used them will testify.I am going back to my motherly duties.

I don find taya, I no see my size. So the scope I use is, wear it like that without zipping it, wear a long top to cover the zip part and wear a jacket(to work if need be). U can try my style. I hope this helps. Don't worry,the trouser won't fall from ur waist..thanks to the big belle. hehehehehe

Newmum0615:
Hello e-family,

Biko my own issue is very different and it is the one that is bothering me now, Please where can I get good maternity trousers in Lagos. I thought I could rough it out till I born but all my trousers are refusing to zip or move up again. If anybody insult me ehn...
Thanks.

Lool @tvegas.

Tvegas:



How much are you paying shagaman for the download. Una too like awuff. Lol.
@ shagaman .....Weldone man.

Thank you!

beautyx5:


@isysleek it depends on how you intend to sleep with the baby. If the baby will sleep on the bed with you after he is born, them go for a 2 bed room. If you intend to get a cot or bassinet for the baby, then a one bed will work.

I got a bassinet for my baby and he slept on the bed occasionally. Some people get one bed and get an extra mattress or something to sleep on the floor with.

Hope this helps!

@Shagaman, thank you so much! God bless you. And you are so polite! Wow! Very cool dude you are!

shagaman:



isysleek Abeg no vex, just got back to Naija and was so tired to check my mails. I hope apologies accepted...oyaa smile abeg,ok to the main things requested

1) child Birth given on Docsperati website is correct no addition or subtraction.

2) Babies papers immediately after birth its best to tell the lady collecting documentations that you are in a hurry to return to nigeria so BC can come out with a week ours we made a mistake and just relaxed it came out after 3 weeks.

3) check www.epcounty.com for bc after like a week to start monitoring once name is out next is to go to the county office for birth certificate it would cost like $46 dollars to get 2,its safe to get 2...Bus fare is $1.50 but cab is like $30

4) After BC collection proceed to American passport office to get baby Blue Passport which cost $165 endure you take exact amount because they dont always have time to be looking for change for you. The location for bc collection and passport issuance are walking distance to each other

5) we got ours in 2 days submiited on frday and monday by 2 it was ready.

4) Expedited Nigerian visa cost us $350 ,one day and we used courier service of $79 because we did not want stories that touch also you would buy return envelop budget like $4 for that.

all my baby documentation was out withing 3 days after the bc came out but to be on safe sie plan a week after BC.

Money order for Naija passport was bought at walmart which is a walking distance from intown suites.

Rough estimate ----Hospital bill $5400

pediatician --------$60

we dint do hearing test w dont have hearing problem for my house...... ,if you accept budget like $200 for that

Baby piercing was like $100

Intown suites double bed is $239.00 per week,single is like $179 per week include tax of $40 for first payment.

All in all with $10k you are good to go just have like $3k misscellenous.

Once again apologies for late response.

This one people have started planning another return for birthing ...hmmmm let me think about it sha ...oyaaa let me ask madam if i can start jogging around for another duty ...

A special thank you to all members of this thread oooo,we learnt alot and decided Elpaso from here,May GOD replenish our pockets and give our wives strength,and for all expectant mothers ,we shall be here to rejoice with everyone...

Oga Tvegas i hail ooooo,Phema,Kisluv,Ogaa Ade,zeezahbee,