BloodyMitch:
Please who knows how much gtbank is changing for atm withdrawal?

Source: http://desiopt.com/news/896/Hillary%E2%80%99s-Automatic-Green-Card-proposal-to-benefit-Indian-students.html

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has promised automatic ‘green card’ or permanent residency to students who complete a master’s degree or a PhD from a U.S university.

Looking for a shared room with females near McDonough, GA

There are 1,32,888 Indian students in the U.S currently, second only to the Chinese, and most of them are in the STEM category.

Indian science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students in the U.S could be the biggest beneficiaries of a proposal in Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s ‘Initiative on Technology and Innovation’ released this week.

OPT/CPT Blast Resume to 1000+ employers

Ms. Clinton has promised automatic ‘green card’ or permanent residency to students who complete a master’s degree or a PhD from a U.S university

Indian students mostly in STEM

There are 1,32,888 Indian students in the U.S currently, second only to the Chinese. There are 3,04,040 Chinese students. Indian students are mostly graduate students, and mostly in the STEM category. Of all the international undergraduate students, 30 per cent are Chinese, where as Indians make only three per cent of the pool.

Immigration experts who are familiar with the trends approximate that as high as 80 per cent of the Indian students could be in the STEM category and therefore in a position to benefit from Ms. Clinton’s policy.

Proposal around for a while

Automatic green card for STEM graduates has been a proposal that has been around for a while, and Republican Mitt Romney promised it during his presidential campaign in 2012.

For decades, foreign students who come to the U.S on F-1 visas could be employed in the country under what is called the Optional Practical Training (OPT). In 2008 the Bush administration allowed STEM students to stay as long as 29 months, and in 2015, the Obama administration extended it to 36 months.

“Indian students stand to benefit a lot if this policy [Ms. Clinton’s] comes through. As of now, a STEM graduate can continue to stay in the U.S. for a maximum of three years after the course. If they have not got an H-1B visa by then, they either go back to India or go back to a student visa. This uncertainty leaves them in a state of flux immediately after graduation,” said Aparna Dave, an immigration lawyer based in Washington.

Always in demand

Applications for H-1B visas exceed the stipulated quota by several times every year. For several years now, annually, there are 65,000 H-1B visas that are in the general category and an additional 20,000 meant for STEM graduates from American universities under the category ‘advanced degree exemption.’

Ms. Dave pointed out that while IT companies are aggressive in using the H-1B visas, companies in other sectors are usually lukewarm to the programme. “Many companies that are not primarily in IT are averse to getting involved in the immigration process,” she said. As a result, a mechanical, chemical or environmental engineering graduate has lesser chances to continue in the U.S, even if a corresponding job may be available with a company. If STEM graduates are automatically eligible for a green card, they could compete in the open job market and companies will find it easier to fill vacancies or expand with fresh talent, said Ms. Dave.

Move to tap top talent

Ms. Clinton explains her policy proposal as a move to “attract and retain the top talent from around the world.”

“As part of comprehensive immigration reform, Hillary would “staple” a green card to STEM masters and PhDs from accredited institutions, and support visas that allow top entrepreneurs from abroad to come to the U.S., build companies, and create jobs for American workers,” the document said.

Controversial topics, in poll year

But OPT and the number of extra STEM talent that the American job market requires every year remain controversial topics, more so in an election year. Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has made vague remarks about retaining international students who come to the U.S, but his politics remain anti-immigration.

“The STEM OPT extension program masquerades as a mentoring and training program for foreign graduates with STEM degrees from U.S. universities; in practice it is a large temporary work-visa program for foreign workers with virtually no rules …There are no enforceable wage standards or protections for the foreign students in the OPT program or for the U.S. workers with whom the OPT workers compete. Employers are permitted to deeply undercut locally prevailing wages for jobs in STEM fields. Employers are not required to first recruit U.S. workers or even publicly advertise jobs to them before hiring OPT workers, meaning that employers do not have to establish the existence of a labour shortage before hiring workers through OPT,” Ronil Hira, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Howard University, Washington DC told the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year. Automatic green cards to STEM graduates is not a proposal that will go unchallenged.

aydebbie:
My visa was approved today 6:30. was the second on the line but the first to receive an approval. A silent follower.

Here's My transcript.

Vo is a fine, calm ,sweet voice lady at window 7--twas just a chat all through, I was really relaxed with her asif I had met her.before ...

Vo: Where are you going
me:im going to Ferris State University for my masters in information technology with concentration in information Security and intelligence
vo: who will be sponsoring you
Me:My dad
vo: what is your dad doing
Me: He is a computer engineer and a major distributor of HP laptops and he sets up Network for IT companies and banks( then she looked direct into my eyes and I did also with confidence)
Vo: where did you study for your under graduate program
Me: in Ghana at valley View University
Vo:Program and when did you finish
Me:Bsc information Technology , ended 2014,july 6th
Vo:what have you been doing after your program
Me:Did my one year youth service and started working with ethos consultant limited and resign to focus more on processing my admission
Vo: Did you write any examz
Me: yes I wrote toefl and gre
Vo: How was your score
Me: it was fair
Vo: what was your gre scores
Me: sorry you said
Vo:she repeated herself
Me:Oh 136,136 respectively
Vo:just looking at me with a face I can't describe
Me: sharply said 272
Vo:okay returned my i20 you will be needing this at the entry point and blah blah.....
Mehn I no hear again o was just looking at her and smiling till she circled Wat she needed to and gave me my white paper.
No documents was asked.
Words can't express how grateful I am to God and how happy I am to be among the people sharing their transcript



Just PRAY, have FAITH, believe in yourself, be humble and remember this journey na by grace. thanks everyone @dickoflife only i knows you're the best.
@buddy014real thanks for leading me here and standing by me

Walspring:


I assume the guy is still confused and shocked with the outcome of his interview and he can't recollect fully what actually went wrong and how the questions were asked..

To those who were first delayed in their first interview will understand the kind of mood and feeling that will over shadow them and for hours it will be like Hollywood and Nollywood film trick and they will forget some of the questions but later remember 95% of the question

Same thing and feelings applicable to those who got their visa as well.

daaz001:
Good day everyone,

Please i want to help someone pay his application fee to one of the US schools, i need to know which of the Bank's Debit card that is still working to make the payment.
Thanks for your prompt response...

Bussy123:
[font=Lucida Sans Unicode][size=8pt][s]
Hi Everyone,
I promised to share my transcript here earlier today.
I got to the embassy 5.30am for 6.30am appointment on Wednesday. Cleared at the security, got in to the building at about 6am. VO showed up 6.20 am and the show started.
I was interviewed at Window 5 and I had 3 guys in front of me. The first two guys were denied and the 3rd guy visa was approved. He is very young man; he was accompanied by his mum
Now my turn;
Vo: Pass me your passport
Me: gave him my passport with 1-20, service fee receipt in the middle
VO: What are you going to do in the United States
Me: I want to pursue my PhD degree in Chemistry specializing in Organic Medicinal Chemistry
at UTD
VO: Tell me about the University
Me: UTD is a is a public research university that offers great research opportunities in the field of
Organic medicinal chemistry, especially in drug designing and development. ............. (added other information about the univ data)
VO: What course will you be taking?
Me: At my first year, I will take CHEM 5308: determination of molecular structure to physical
methods, CHEM 5309: Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 5310: Organic Chemistry II, CHEM 5312:
Advance Organic Synthesis, Separation technique
VO: Your Visa is approved, pick up your visa in the next 2 days and gave me info about Form I-20
Me: I smile and said thank you, he smiled back.
I was only asked 3 questions; the whole interview was about 1.30 mins (less than 2 mins) and no document was asked apart from my passport, though I gave him form 1-20 and servic confirmation with my passport

Advice:
Be yourself, be natural and be truthful especially at your interview and when filling your visa application form
Speak up and clearly
Don’t over stress yourself but be prepare for any question, a question may lead to others

Angelapinkytoes:
Am willing to sell dollars to interested thread members from next month. If any is interested,send me a PM.

Holudarey01:

They mailed me.
I wanted to apply there for fall but couldn't meet up.
Application to their chemistry department is free.
It's a nice school.

TheTransformer:
Hello, do you know if GTB has stopped their Savings Account ATM/Debit Cards from making international payments/forex transactions? I have a Corporate Account, and they have stopped my Debit cards from making international payments/forex transactions since last year. I am thinking of opening a GTB savings account.

aadeyi:


Have you authorized your bank to activate your card for transaction in the US? Cos CBN authorized all banks to block all cards from intl transaction since last year. So you need to call your bank and tell them to authorize it if you have not done so.

Also because of the current dollar crisis some banks have started stopping the cards from intl transaction. Fidelity bank am very sure of. So just call your bank ask.

dellapi2 post=4641088anks 5:
Hello guys. Got my visa approval today at the Lagos consulate, 6.30am batch. My interview was very very short. . Met the female V.O in window 3.
Got to the consulate by 5.45am and met a lot of people outside. Joined the queue for the nonimmigrant visas. Got inside and did my biometric verification. Subsequently joined the queue for the V.Os as we waited for them. They eventually arrived at 7.30ish. I was the second person to be interviewed by the V.O. A lot of F1 visas were issued before my turn.
Our conversation was as follows:
VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning ma'am
Asked me to pass her my passport, i20 and sevis receipt which I did

VO: What are you going to the US for ( started typing and glancing through my I 20 intermittently)
Me: I am going to the University of North Texas Health SC for my masters in public health and will be majoring in environmental health (she nodded as she kept typing)
VO: What would you do when you return?
Me: I intend to work for the ministry of health in order to reduce the disease burden in Nigeria. Our country is ranked among the highest with the incidences of diseases of public health significance such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/aids.
VO: Where do you work currently?
Me: Told her my current job as a medical officer under the dept of public health.
VO: Who will be sponsoring you?
Me: My mom. Told her my mom's job. Also told her I have some personal savings. (She nodded and kept typing all the while)

VO: Your visa has been approved... Hands me the white paper and my I 20 and sevis receipt.
I thanked her and left.

Honestly I was prepared for a lot more than this. No documents asked. No travel history though I have a schengen visa in my passport. I feel those guys are really eager to issue visas to students.
Thank you so much guys for this thread. I really learnt a lot. And I also think the 6.30 am batch is really good. I had to reschedule from 11 to 6.30am when I saw other people's transcripts. Above all trust and believe God. It's all by His Grace.

don4ye:


Baba Na inside my shoe I hide my passport and my brother passport o.. Come see as dem de shot.. Omo fear grab me oo

Fortissimo:


Is $198.6 the total including taxes, fees and charges? The base fare for mine was $197.21 but after tacking on the taxes, fees and charges, it went up to $230.60

Fortissimo:


I got charged about 75k for that same booking a month ago. It's possible you don't have enough funds in the account.

Walspring:


Two reasons for the rejection

1, you don't have have enough fund/balance in your card to make the payment

2, maybe the banks doesn't allow naira MasterCard to be use online anymore

papyskinsy:


why not book directly at etihad website.. why pay wakanow.

gunther6:


Oya we need to hear all the details, I'm guessing its an August flight, July flights have gone wild, did you pay with your card? What exchange rate?

gunther6:



Bros the lowest flight is to Dallas Fort-Wort Airport at 255,069/for 1st August... Emirates does not do ATL you will be routed to Orlando MCO international airport... Houston is expensive on all carriers. Happy booking bro

meekandholy:
I got my visa today ... Praise the Lord !!!!
I booked a cab for from Unilag gate on Thursday night to pick me up by 4am today.
I got to the embassy around 4:30 am ( plz don't shout... I took it personal).

So I just waited till 5 am when they opened the main gate after which I waited till 6 am for them to call us.
Transcript proper,
So I was the first person to be interviewed on Windows 2 by one beautiful tall lady. At first I was fridgetting but later got composed.
V.o can I have your docs please?
me: sure, here it is ma'am.
v.o why are you going to the USA?
me: I'm going to the USA to acquire my masters degree in education with a concentration in cognitive science at the Minot state university in North Dakota.
V.O okay thank you.
VO: what will this degree do for you.(looks at me sternly).
Me: Well this degree will increase my insights into the student's learning psychology and help me to be more innovative in my teaching and will help me to be able to train other teachers in the mass literacy group which I belong to in Nigeria on my return back to my country Nigeria. I will also continue with my job at my alma mata. and will have the opportunity to work with my States ministry of education as a curriculum reform personal.
V.O. okay
VO are you single or married?
me : I'm single but engaged.
VO : where did you study for undergraduate
me : University of Lagos.
VO: what course did you study
me: integrated science education.
V.O : Do you teach now?
Me: yes I teach now.
V.O: what was your result?
me: second class upper 4.0/ 5
VO: what do you teach ?
Me: I teach sciences. SS1-2.
VO: okay I will be granting your visa pick up your visa at this location.
Dannybrown19 thanks for helping me pay my sevis fee and all the advice you gave to me ...I'm sorry for all those disturbances and silly questions... plz expect more silly questions. God bless you abundantly
Calfavour my pseudo VO thanks for your time and your credit. I really appreciate.
Yours is coming very soon
Hardeolah: my personal person, another pseudo VO of mine ..... my one and only bunk mate from Unilag. thanks so much for your time , I really appreciate. Texas woman's university mathematician the babe too sabi book sha........
Lacreame God will grant yours soon.
Slimmy2005: thanks for stopping me from applying for visa with that Concordia university I20 last year.
And to all the babas and mamas in the house .. I dare not salute you all.. you people rock .. you are the best..










Congrats

calfavour:
congratulations meekandholy, you needed to have seen the excitement down here.... mine is coming soon.

bukunmmy:



Congrats Bro........ Dat is real Birthday Gift from God........ God Favour Me in Sight of Men and Woman June is My Month of Testimony IJN

don4ye:
I arrived Lagos embassy 5:30am. Does street boys no carry last, I told them I am good and I don't need their service..
After all the security checking and finger biometrics, I joined line to canna land.. We waited about 30mins before VO's arrived. I am number 5 on the line..
I was directed to window 3 by the CGI gal.. She insisted I should stand on the number 3 written on d floor.

Now the show begins

Me: good morning ma
VO : good morning.. Pls pass your international passport oh include your I 20 and servis fee.

Me : passed

VO: where are you going?
Me: I am going to university of Bridgeport in Connecticut to pursue ( she cut in)

VO: what course?
Me: Global development and Peace and to be train like Martin Luther King Jr. A renowned lecturer of peace.

VO: oh that is a great man.
Me smile

VO: who is your sponsor?
Me: my maternal uncle( I no stop there) he is a successful architect and he owns a company into sales of building materials, he supply Lagos state government and oyo state government and the reason why he is sponsoring me is that, he has been part of my success since my high school until my university days (VO cut in.. Me very fast)

VO: what did you said he do?
Me: I give same answer

VO: do you write any test?
Me: oh yes, I wrote ielts as you can see on my I20 student is proficient.

VO: why university of Bridgeport ?
Me because university of Bridgeport holds NGO status with United Nation ( VO stop typing and raised her head up looking at me) and is also part of united nation academic impact initiative and I am inspired by the on going research work at the department on the topic No sustainable development without peace a case study of Africa by prof. Justin Hume, this research work will help me in eradication of insurgency ( VO cut in)

VO: where did you do your bachelor degree?
Me: at national open university of Nigeria

VO: what courses will you be talking in your first semester?
Me: international issues, issues in economic development, socio political implication on the world religion, international conflict and negotiation and international development

VO: good
Me : smile

VO: do you apply to any other schools?
Me yes ma, I applied to 3 other schools.. UNI of Alabama, UNI of Oklahoma and Valparaiso uni.

VO: again where did you do your undergraduate?
Me National open university of Nigeria.

VO: when did you graduate?
Me January 2016

VO: oh this year ( eye communication)
Me: yes ma

VO : congratulations your visa is approved. She give sermon about port of entry and I should not forget to hold my i20 and my admission letter
Me: ok thank ok thank ok thank ok ma thank thank ok..

It's been God.. She is very calm and friendly..
Many thanks to everyone..

Singed
Don4ye..

BigBenoski:
I thank God almighty for my visa approval today. I'm also grateful to all posters on here for their contributions, and to rhemmie91 who took out time to always respond to my emails.

Appointment time: 9.00am
Time of arrival : 8:58 am
visa approval: 11......something (checking my watch was my least concern at that point)

Interview transcript
Me: Hi goodmorning (hands him my passport)
VO: Hi goodmorning, how are you?
Me: good
VO:Please hand me your 1-20 and sevis receipt
Me: hands him the requested documents
VO: tell me about your plans
me: I'm going to bla d bla university to study for a PhD in biology. I will be working on bat ecology.
VO: looks at me as if he's expecting me to continue
Me:Returns the look with my mouth shut
VO: biotechnology you say?
Me: nope! Bat ecology
VO: ok are there many bats in nigeria?
me: yeah. At the last IUCN count, abt 80+ but from our recent research, we've been able to discover about 10 new records. so we are currently updating the list.
VO: What genus are bats under?
Me: (hesitates) Did you mean order? because there are lots of genus under bats. (Gave him a basic lecture on binomial nomenclature). You understand?
vo: uhmmm yeah, I just wanted you to correct me
Me: Oh okay
VO: is there a name people studying bats are called?
Me: Nah! we just call ourselves bat biologist
VOgives me lecture about the right time to enter the US)

PS: sometimes applicants run into problems when they talk too much. I think its better to just keep your answers short, drive the discussion by subtly introducing a catchy word that would steer the interview to the path you feel comfortable talking about. In my case, I could have just stopped at 'I'm going to bla d bla university to study for a PhD in biology' but that'll blow the interview wide open. He could then ask you anything under the sun. To forestall that, I gently introduced him to bats (which I love talking about) and he took the bait.

When you talk too much, you unknowingly dish out too many "catchy" words, and may God help you if he/she chooses the one you are not comfortable talking about. A good example was this guy before me. Dude was reeling out words, and mentioned that he was going to the US to learn some innovative technologies in medical science. VO jumped at that part and asked him what kind of innovative technology. Dude was thrown off-balance. He stuttered and said 'autoclave'. that was when I knew he'd be denied. VO said, 'but autoclave has been around for decades'.... the rest is history.

Final shot: don't forget to pray before you go for your interview. All the best to everyone to to the white house soon.

Fortissimo:


Bro so na you be this!!

You need to also sort out your connecting flight ooo. So look at Atlanta (ATL), Houston(IAH), Dallas(DFW), Chicago(ORD). When you have decided on your PoE, then you need to book a connecting flight from there to Columbus Mississippi (GTR). For me, Chicago to Mississippi was the most suitable.

You can check emirates, wakanow or travelstart websites for the international flight, and priceline.com (or any other site from google search) for the regional connecting flight.

What's your plan for accommodation, immunizations and money (buying / transferring $$).