NewAjala:


Cheers to your success! Bioanalytical Chem..Good one! Do you mind a pm?

No problem. Thanks

BIMestBabe:


Hello! Big congratulations!! Pls, I have some qstns. Does it mean you didn't put any work experience? Did you include your masters? Pls, kindly reply. Thanks a lot. Congrats again

My last work experience was in 2015. So I put that. I did not include any educational qualification because that section didn't show while I was filling my ds160. But I was asked during the interview. Sorry I forgot to include that question in my transcript.

Hello everyone! My visa has been approved. I have been trying to post my transcript here for almost a week now but to no avail. I keep getting banned by the anti-spam bot... Why? What do I have to do?

Hello everyone!
Visa approved in Lagos on June 13th, 2019 at the 6.30am appointment.

Ok, I was here over a month ago to ask about my chances of getting my visa approved since I planned to go with my spouse and child. Some strongly suggested I went alone while others said we should all go since I was fully funded and my case was subjective. Some said my chances were low since I had no work experience, can’t show home ties and my funds were solely from the school. Well, since I didn’t want to divide my home while pursuing my career, I decided to brave it anyway.

We arrived Walter Carrington by past 5am and went to join the queue by past 6am. My baby was all joyful, playing with everyone and everything that came her way. Immediately we got into the consulate, she became restless and started crying. We tried to pacify her and feed her but to no avail. And there was no way I could breastfeed her there! I became disoriented. The black lady at the first check point had pity on us and gave us an expedite slip. She called the security and asked him to take us to the front of the next queue where we met a white lady.

White lady: Pass me your passport
Me: (I did with the expedite slip)

White lady: Why do you have an expedite slip
Me: The lady gave it to me because of my baby

White lady: (angry) We don’t give expedite to babies! Why will she give you an expedite slip?! (she called the security)

White lady: Why will she give her an expedite slip?
Security: I don’t know. I am surprised myself.

She then went to confront the black lady. My baby was still crying. I made up my mind to join the queue since I wasn’t ready for any of that drama. When she came back, I started walking back to the queue.

White lady: Where are you going to? Who asked you to go? Pass me your passport.
After all the checks and biometrics she handed me the documents.

White lady: (clearly angry) I don’t know why you were given an expedite slip, but congrats.
My baby was still crying. I took her from my husband and tried to calm her down, but no way. I became more tensed. The security took us directly to a white guy for the interview and my husband took the baby from me.

VO: who is the applicant?
Me: I am, good morning (I tried to smile, and passed him our documents)

VO: What are you going for?
Me: to study for a PhD in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (this was actually my area of specialization not the course but I was so disoriented that I said that. He obviously didn’t see that on the I-20 so he asked for a repeat of my response.
Me: To study for a PhD in Chemistry with a specialization in analytical and bioanalytical chemistry.

VO: What University?
Me: The University of Alabama.

VO: Tell me about your research
Me: (I started to talk, but he cuts me off)

VO: I mean, what instrument would you use for your research?
Me: Mass Spectrometer and Bleep

VO: Do you have a supervisor to work with?
Me: Yes, Prof Bleep

VO: I can see your assistantship covers all your cost. Can you tell me about it?
Me: (I started to give him a breakdown of my benefits, but he cuts me off)

VO: I mean, what do you have to do as a graduate assistant?
Me: I have to teach, grade reports, make good progress towards the completion of my degree and maintain a good grade.

VO: Is he going with you? (referring to my spouse)
Me: yes

VO: What will you be doing in the US?
My spouse: for the first year I will help with the baby because it will be incredibly difficult for her to cope with the baby and then... (cuts him off)

VO: Have any of you travelled outside the country before?
My spouse: Yes, to the UK for my master’s degree (he wanted to mention other places but the VO seemed to be Ok with just that)

VO: what work do you do?
My spouse: Bleep

VO: Is that your only child?
Me: yes.

VO: (he gave me a pamphlet) read this and let me know if you don’t understand.
Immediately I started reading the pamphlet, I knew it meant that our visas were approved from the information it contained.

VO: Do you plan to receive any medical treatment in the US?
Me: (I didn’t get the question, so I asked for a repeat) No.

VO: Do you like American football
Me: (smiling) Yes. The school is well known for it (he happily agreed with me).

VO: I will be approving your visa…
He asked for our pick up location since he could not clearly see it on the passport.

VO: Enjoy your stay
Me: Thank you.

I packed our documents and we left. Immediately we came out of the consulate, my baby stopped crying. It was while the people outside were congratulating us that I looked at the top of my file and saw the white paper. I was so disoriented that I didn’t even know when he gave me the white paper. So Kudos to those here who said they saw both the white and pink paper even while interviewing. It shows the level of their composure. I didn’t have the luxury of that because of my crying baby. However I answered my questions confidently and tried to smile all the way.

So this is my transcript, unfiltered.
I will like to encourage everyone who sincerely want to pursue their career to go for it. Don’t let anything stop you. Work hard. Do everything you can and let God do the ones you can’t. Impossible is nothing!

Brown2Green:


How did you hear about the school?
Avoid that talk of saying your friend told you about the school to avoid stories that touch.

Otherwise, I think your responses are fine.

Why? What if you were contacted by the graduate recruiting officer of the school due to your high GRE score?

lalavita:
Congratulations on your admit and funding.
Your case is close to mine as I just got my F1 and spouse got his F2.
Posting transcript shortly.
However, my interview was straight forward. I believe filling your DS160 thoroughly and to highlight strong ties will go a long way.
For example, your husband’s job or business on his form etc...

Pray for the best outcome too.

Wow... Congratulations! �...I look forward to your transcript. It will really be of help to me

LagosismyHome:

your personal money or husband job is a much stronger position that my funding can take care, anyway

it is 50/50 . nobody can predict how it goes because your case is 100 percent subjective . One Vo /person might be ok with it another will not. So all you can do is prepare well and hope for the best

The fact that your husband wants to go with you and you have a little baby might actually work against you but you have no choice but to work with what you have and hope for the best . You might just meet a VO that will be awww cute baby , awww cute mother , awww even with new born wants to do a PHD , awww so nice . off you go . The only thing you can do is prepare well and present yourself well

Thank you

Brown2Green:


Lol

The VO might think this way...

That can only be an excuse to run because You can defer your admission till your baby is a year.

Your husband, what is he currently doing?
How much is his pay?
Why would he leave his paid job to follow you?
Or don't you know that he cannot work over there?
How would he survive?
What will he fall back to back here in Nigeria when you're back?
What will he be doing over there?

Oya Answer the questions.

* I have had too much gap in my career, hence I won't want to wait an additional year. I need to pursue my career as soon as I can.
* he is currently working at Bleep and paid Bleep. We both agreed that it won't be easy for me to cope in the first few months, so he agreed to support me as he has always done since he knows this has been my dream even before we got married.
* we know he can't work over there that's why he won't be staying all through. He just want to be able help me settle, then return to Nigeria and be free to visit anytime he wants.
* my funding can take care of the three of us while he is with us.

I hope this answers your questions?

Brown2Green:





No work experience
No family
No ties

The best option would have been your husband staying back with the kids.. So he can come see you afterwards.

But its your best shot .
Just believe in Grace.

.

There is no way I can leave my 6months old baby with him, and I will need help with her over there till I settle at least

Brown2Green:


Were you fully funded?

Yes... And it will cover for my dependants too

.