₦airaland Forum

mmercy43: hey house, i want to ask a hypothetical question. can someone change course of study after gainin admission, for example from arts course to a science course say when you are already in the u. s.?

Yes you can. I have seen Humanity to Science before. The person was subjected to many pre-requisites (about 5 undergraduate courses) before starting the Masters Program.

Hmmmm..Let's think of a way out for him but no computer training story

Ricky Rozay: Exactly bro, the VOs DON'T buy the Computer story anymore... They believe NO computer Training last more than a year.

It is even becoming too common at the Embassy...

And you will see some people telling the VO that they did computer training for 4 years just to fill the Gap..

steve4ever: pls i need help from house, i finish sec sch 2005, and i want to use d result for my interview. pls what and what document can i use to backup the years i spent at home? although am in sch already butt dnt want to include it in my document that am in sch in case of anytin. am waitin please....

You need to be able to fill in the gap perfectly...Computer training is now boring to the VO..Let's think..

doctor234: Had my interview this morning at V.I, 10.30 appointment. I was anxious as I had been refused Immigrant visa before as a 12 year old. I was also going it with a substantial amount of loan from the school and a little scholarship, no personsal or family funding!
Inteview went like------

Me (with a well practiced smile):- Good morning madam
VO:- Hello good morning. Could you pass your documents?
Me:- Here they are. She suddenly starts scrolling through the computer for what looked like eternity and I was scared she was checking the details of the previous application.
Vo:- So what are you going to do in the US
Me:- To pursue a masters degree in Public health at Harvard University
Vo:- That's good. so why Public Health.
Me:- (I smiled as I had memorised one answer I saw on nairaland) It is the science and art of preventing disease, blah blah. As a Doctor I dont want to cure patients alone, I want to help in disease prevention in Nigeria blah blah
Vo:- (Lookin impressed with my last answer) So how did you come across the school?
Me:- I did a lot of my research on the internet and also my school professor (the dean of public health) who is also my mentor helped in finding the right schools (formatting!!!)
Vo:- did you apply to any other schools
Me:- Yes I did, Was accepted at John Hopkins, Emory, UNC, Harvard
Vo:- So how did you choose, never mind, ( with a wide grin! ) I guess you chose the best school
Me:- (Smiling back) Yes, I did
Vo:- Did you write GRE
Me:- I wrote GRE (Trying to bring it out)
Vo:- Dont worry, I dont need it. So how do you intend to pay for your school fees (packing my documents together)
Me:- I got full funding from the university in forms of loans and scholarship
Vo:- (Picking the popular white paper I've been hoping to get) You can pick up your visa and other documents at Ikeja on friday.
Me:- Thank you ma
Vo:- You're welcome. Have fun at Harvard!
I packed my sack of documents and left ( Of all the people that came today I probably brought the biggest load of documents because of my past denial record but wasnt ask for any except the regular 4/5)
I heaved a sigh of relief and said Thank you Jesus.

Lessons learned:
1) God's time is the best, keep comitting your plans to him, if you are meant to travel out, you'll go at the right time. If not try and make sense in 9ja
2) There is a bias towards Popular and highly ranked schools, even though they wont admit it, pls choose your schools wisely
3) If you're computer literate, dont use an agent for your school runs and application process, learn on the job with the help of anybody that has gone through the process. A guy didnt even know abt the sevis receipt because agent just pack everything give am! ( He was denied, reasons unknown though)
4) Prepare for the interview, nairaland was very helpful. There wasnt a question asked that i hadnt prepare to answer, even the stance, the smiles, the confident look. Just give it your best, because he no easy to spend one year preapare make dem come go deny you visa in 5mins.

Dats all!!!!:-)

Congrats Doc.

They rarely deny students going to top schools or students who got funding.. Even it happens when you go job interview in the USA.. They interview Graduate from low-rank schools but chat with Graduate from top schools. To be candid, this is not discrimination/bias. Guys from top schools know their onions. They are making things happening in the world..Even, their dropouts are fires.

theDonBee: Hi guys, has anyone here applied or been admitted to Illinois State University. would love to share info

I have a friend their..What do you need to know about the school?

bigass: Ïf you defer an admission from fall 2012 to fall 2013 can you defer again to spring 2014

Sure, you can ..

Just inform your school and explain why you want to defer again.

ets.org

The only problem is that they don't accept any payment method from Nigeria.

Someone in US must help you to pay. If you can't get anyone, you can use FirstLogic.

idalex: Hello house,

pls how can someone register for GRE exams, I'll appreciate all contributions.

fidelia.john:
Please I need correct answer to this question 'Will you work in the USAa after MS? If you are offered job in Microsoft, USA'

No .. You got a dream of changing Nigeria's IT industry and you are coming back to help your father's land ..

Study leave letter from where you work could firmly support this.

It could also be yes if you can prove this .. But, never give the VO any sense of a desperate move to America.

Square65: Absolutely not!

You are right Square65..Marriage should be a plus. It's a great tie.

The VO believe you can't just leave your family without thinking of them.And it's true. A single guy can forget himself abroad without looking back. A responsible married man can't do that. Bigass, don't trouble yourself too much. You were denied base on financial standing. It's glaring..Forget a guy that got his VISA self-sponsored. there are always exceptional. Square6 shared a story of someone that got his VISA with mistakes on his I-20. That was exceptional.I could even call it a miracle. The VO is even putting his job on the line. Cos, according to US law, student can't enter US 30days before resumption. The student got a wrong resumption date on the I-20. Which means he just believed the word of mouth from the guy and he could be wrong.

I want you to believe this fact. Find a backup sponsor and go for Spring..

valentijay: Hey peeps. My I-20 arrived today only for me to detect that there is an error in the sponsorship. Personal funds was filled for me instead of funds from father. My interview is next week. It is too late to request for a new I-20. What do you suggest that i do? Someone said I should tell the school to send a mail that I can print and take to the embassy stating that it was an error from them. Others said I should reschedule. Pls help out a brother here

I will suggest you re-schedule ur appointment..

I-20 is a sensitive document. If at all a backup letter will be written, it won't be from your school.The back letter will be given by US department of Justice/USCIS that issued your I-20.

vivysparkles: Guys, if I update a new ds160 after I have already scheduled an appointment, would I need to reschedule a new date?

Since your confirmation number did not change, you don't need to update ur appointment on usatraveldoc. But, if you fill a new ds160, your confirmation number would have changed then you need to update it on your profile (usatravedoc). If you are changing your ds160 confirmation number, you don't need to reschedule appointment. Update it on your profile (usatravedoc) and re-print your confirmation. The new printout will reflect your new ds160.

daminho: House I nid you guyz advice...April dis year I was given a scholarship to study environmental engring at university of Oulu, Finland (10,500euros/yr) ....and just dis month I was accepted by Missouri uni of sci Nd tech to study my prefered geology and geophysics come fall...no assistantship or wateva...I don't even have 1million in my acct. And have already started my residence permit processing with Finland embassy which takes two month.....note: am a civil servant and I can get a sponsor acct but no money when I get to the states....pls advice

I think you are going for Masters ... If yes, my points below will be valid.

People I know in Finland want to find there way out. Though in Finland, you gonna have smooth academic runs but if you are seeking for greener pasture after your education, it may not be the best option.

First of all, You are admitted for what you really want in the USA. Nowadays USA worth coming and it will be much more profitable whenever the immigration reform law is approved by the senate. After the approval, student VISA may be a little bit stricter.

Ask your Graduate Coordinator or your friends in that school ((if any)) how easy it is to get a Graduate Assistantship after first semester. If it's easy, I will advise you come to USA, pay for first semester and fight for assistantship for your remaining semesters. If you can do well in first semesters (4.0), with God on your side and mounting pressure on your Graduate Coordinator, they must get you an Assistantship. Also, as you step in to the US, you will start applying to other schools as a fresh in-take or transfer. Assistantship is easy to search when you are around here than from Nigeria.
Your first semester fee may not be more than $6k. Most Schools here don't collect tuition immediately. There policy is that you can't register for the coming semester if you have not offset your previous semester bill. So, you have time to search for the money. If you have GOOD family/friends here who are permanent resident, they can consign a loan for you to offset first semester.

Think about this.

If eventually you are going to Finland, you can consider US for your P.hD (if at all you want to study reach that height)

Congratulations...I think there is something about Purdue..If it's Purdue (Hammond Indianna), you will meet successgreat overthere. Successgreat was an old time contributor here. Successgreat too never spent 2mins with the VO. Immediately he mentioned Purdue University, the interview stopped..Though, they are highly ranked in Engineering and they gat great alumni like Neil Armstrong (the first human being to step on the moon)

wabi_wabi_91: Good evening. My visa was approved this afternoon. I went to the lagos embassy. The interview was less than 2 mins and I was not asked to present any documents. (Lucky me- my bank statement had only 2 million, required amount is 8 million).

Here is how the dialogue went.

VO: good morning, please pass me your documents
Me: good morning *i pass documents*
VO: where are you going?
Me: Purdue University, Indiana
VO: *looks at my passport and notices I have 2 I-20s* are you are you a renewal applicant?
Me: something like that. I studied at Purdue from 2008 till 2010, and now I'm going to complete my bachelor's degree.
VO: why did you stop in 2010?
Me: my mother, who was my sponsor passed away.
VO: I'm sorry
Me: its ok
VO: who is paying for your studies?
Me: my godfather
VO: does he live here in Nigeria or in the US
Me: here in Nigeria
VO: how long have you been in nigeria since you came back?
Me: 3 years
VO: *looking through my passport and checking out previous visas I have been issued* how many countries have you visited?
Me: 2, the US and the UK
VO: *looks at old student visa* how old were you when you started at Purdue University
Me: 15
VO: really? That's crazy!
Me: *smile* I try, I try
VO: *smiles* ok, your visa has been approved. You can pick it up on tuesday.
Me: thanks. *walk away*


No documents were requested. I think this is because I am pretty well traveled (4 prior US visas, 5 prior UK visas) and because I've studied in the US previously. It was pretty cool. Oh and I saw Tony Tetuila at the embassy.

The strange thing is that I didn't get the green slip, just the pick up information letter. I hope this won't be a problem. Anyhow, that's it. Best of luck to all the others.

Bigass,
Nobody is too old to be sponsored ..You are even a Doctor..You gat this.. Please, search for someone even if the person does not have many millions..You can use transfer strategy. Deposit what you got into his account to build it up. You can do this in the span of 2months. Don't just transfer all the money in a day.

Please, search for someone. US embassy can deny 10 times if one has not corrected his mistakes. It was very glaring that you were denied base on financial standing.

Take time to find someone and wait till Spring ... Cos several denials bring confidence down and I don't want this to happen to you.

bigass: I'm not young. I am a doctor and had this business as an inheritance. No other person will sponsor me what can I do.

There are always exceptions but self-sponsored is not a good option ... you are denied based on this. You gat good profile; Coming here for public health (lucrative) , you are doing fine in Nigeria, you also got a good tie to Nigeria..

bigass: The guy next to me too was self sponsored and he got his visa approved

fidelia.john:
Please House, how Poor is this GRE Result:
Verbal: 141
Quatitative: 144.
Am thinking is too low to tender at the embassy.

GRE conversion
Verbal: 330
Quantitative: 500
Total: 644 / 1600.

Source: http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/concordance_information.pdf

Well, it's low but if the VO asked if you have any standardized test, I will advise you say yes...Why is it low, prepare a good reply. may be you are sick on the exam day or no time for preparation cos u r working, etc.. tell the VO, you decided not to shift the exam (he will ask why you didn't shift it) cos it's not even a requirement.. Just tell the VO the factor that affected you .. Some, just ask and not check. If the results are requested, put toefl on top and GRE below.

bigass: *** This is my wife's handle

I was DENied at Abuja this morning
Hello House what do you think I did wrong??


VO your documents pls
Me I handed over my documents. He started looking at my I20.
VO how did know about this school
Me through Sophas I further. explained its an application service for public health.
VO okay did u apply to any other school?
ME yes university of Texas and pttsburgh I was admitted in Pitt but not in Texas
VO how do you intend to pay for this
ME I'm sponsoring myself. I have a job and I am also into business
VO okay.Any document to back this?
ME yes I handed him my bank statement
VO how long have you been into this business
ME 4 yrs
VO So who will manage your business when you are gone?
ME my wife will oversee it.
VO does your wife work?
ME yes at MTN
VO what does she do in MTN
ME she works at costumer care as a team lead.
VO do you have any children
ME no but expecting.
VO How long have you been married
ME 2yrs
VO you live in Lagos why did u come to abuja
ME I couldn't find a suitable date in Lagos
VO have you traveled out before
ME NO
VO why
ME I have been busy
VO What will this programme do for you
ME public health will give me the necessary tools to affect my community at larger level better than I am doing.

denied!!
Pls house help me

Financial standing .....

Self-sponsor is not encouraged. The VO prefer an account of 5m of someone in Nigeria than account of 15m of someone traveling.. But, you can use your account as support...The are not believing in the balance but believe it's an active account that money will keep coming in and out. Even, the requirement is just to have a balance of your first year tuition. Though, people like to overshoot this to prove they are capable..Why are they asking for just one year tuition when they know you are spending 2/4yrs? Cos they believe money will surely come into the account later. That's why they will ask what your sponsor is doing couple with the statement.

I will advise you wait till January .... The VO belief is that financial standing doesn't change overnight. ..By January, you will support the statement with uncle/father/mother and change your I-20. or can you get a sponsor and change the I-20 now before your school resumes. Though, the best option is to wait.

bigass: I was denied today at Abuja
My school resumes by August

Sorry brother...Share your experience and let the whole house analyse.

After the analysis, d house will suggest if you should try again or wait till Spring. For example, if you are denied base on financial standing, wait till Spring cos VO does not believe that a miracle would have happened on your financial standing between now and may be next month you are trying again. So, it may result in another denial. But, if you are denied base on minor stuffs or it wasn't just your day, go again.

We are waiting for your post.

Ricky Rozay: My school resumes on the 20 August..

I don't want to Exhaust my expedited appoinment yet, because I heard it's Only valid for Once.. You can't get it twice

And I will make use of it Only when my state his crucial and Resumption is drawing very close..

Ok no problem..Why do you think you will need Expedited Appointment twice? I think I know your fear..I learnt you can't even use expedited appointment to book again if you are denied once.I'm not sure if this is still right, pls Confirm this at usatraveldoc.

Well, today is June 20 and your school resumes August 20, I believe d window will still open.

Ricky Rozay: Hello guys, Pls where can someone make a standard Passport Photograph in Lagos..

I intend using the passport photograph for the
Embassy, because it is required for the Interview.

I will like to know how much it will cost me for the
passport Photograph?

Pls does who got their visas I guess your Passport
photograpgh was ACCEPTED, pls where did you take yours if in Lagos?

Because I heard the Embassy DENY some applicants with WRONG passport size.

Pls I need help on this. Thnx guys

I like your request.."those who got their VISAs"..lol...Why are you not requesting from those that were denied..Well, Passport photograph shouldn't be a big deal. Just know the standard recommended by US embassy and take it anywhere.

I could sense fear. Pls, don't be afraid and take ur interview lightly (not with levity).

idalex: Hello house, pls I need more info on how to
secure an admission with a 3rd class degree
into Masters program. What are the required
steps, exams to write, etc. I will appreciate
all ur contributions.
Thanks.

This is the part4 of this thread. Kindly study this thread from part1 and you will get all the basic information in detail.But, in summary;

first of all, I won't discourage you that 3rd class can't get admission cos one of my friends got admission with 2.41 but he's going to do many prequisite course (4 undergrads). These 4 undergrads courses will extend his stay for one more semester. 2.41 is 2.2 but very close to third class..Your transcript will be converted to American format. So, sometimes 2.1/2.2/3rd class does not matter but the CGPA does.

Write toefl
Write GRE/GMAT
Search for four low-end universities. Applying to four schools will brighten your chances of getting admission.
Fill your application online.
Send all required documents (basically transcripts)
If you are admitted, get ur I-20 by sending bank statement to the school.
Go for VISA interview.

thanks

fidelia.john:
Please house, I need your help. My sponsor bears a yoruba and a muslim name and my parent's name is not close to a yoruba name on the DS-160 form and the name is stated on the I-20 and as my Uncle. Please wat will I call the tie between us.

Fidelia, this is simple. Who is an uncle?

According to Wikipedia: Uncle (from Latin: avunculus "little grandfather", the diminutive of avus "grandfather" is a family relationship or kinship, between a person and his or her parent's brother, parent's brother-in-law or parent's cousin.

Another simple definition: An uncle is the brother of your mother or father. He can also be the man who marries your mother or father's sister.

That is
a.The brother of one's mother or father.
b.The husband of one's aunt.

Analysis: Your dad is an Igbo chukwudi Uzor, he has a sister who is Felicia Uzor (ur aunt). His sister married a yoruba man, Olukayode Arivisayo.

Olukayode Arivisayo is ur uncle.

The VO know all these facts, so they don't ask such question.

Ricky Rozay: Hello guys, I have FILLED and SUBMITTED my Online Ds 160 form.

I printed the Application after I Submitted it for Reference purposes and I also Printed the Confirmation page.

But I have NOT booked an appointment because I tried booking appointment today but No available date in Lagos.

Pls Whoever Sees Available Date in Lagos, Pls endeavor to let me know..

Abeg.. Na Beg I dey ooo...

Try expedited appointment .. When is your school resuming?

yomifowe: Im going for smtin similar to his o, a 2yr college. House,pls what do u advise me to do?

Since you have no choice, go with faith. Cos, I think it's late now to embark on Fall University admission. This house has said this several times that college is not a good option. That does not mean I have not seen people granted VISA through college admission.

Go with faith.

If your faith can't take this, wait till Spring for University admission. Spring is just less than 7months..God forbid, if you are denied now, next time you are appearing at the embassy, you have to be able to prove beyond this planet why you switch from College to University..The VO like consistency.

I guess what push guys for college is requirements.Sometimes tuition. I'll advise guys to do thorough search for Universities with low requirements for B.Sc admission. After stepping in, a transfer can be done to college.

Super Eagles beat a country that have just one full time player. Other players have their daily jobs..bankers, accountant, information technologist, etc.. They represent the countries on the Island. 14/15 countries. The population of Tahiti is less than 200k.

So, they should not use Tahiti as yardstick.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahiti

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/sports/soccer/a-soccer-win-for-tahiti-a-goal-would-be-terrific.html?pagewanted=all

Ope-Thanks:
Here is the interview.

Since we are married and I am already in the US, we could not think of an stronger tie than to just be consistent with what we have on both DS-160.

Note: She was interviewed by the Chinese Lady.

mw: Morning
vo: Morning. Your passport and documents please (already smiling).
vo: Where are you going in the US?
mw: Told her the Name of the school and the city.
vo: What course are you going to study? (focusing on the I-20).
mw: Masters in Public Health and .......
vo: what degree are you graduating with?
***( The course has a different name from the degree)
mw: M.Sc Health Sciences ......(At this point I think the Chinese lady was impressed and was nodding).
vo: How many schools did you apply to?
mw: Five (naming them).
vo: Why did you choose this one?
mf: I did for two reasons. (1). It's the only school that offered me a full funding.
vo: Wow, so you have a funding
mw: (2). My spouse is a current student in the school. (Should that be a red flag? Anyway, she just smiled the more nodding in agreement. This time I think she was looking at the filled DS-160).
vo: Did you write a standardized test?
mw: Yes. GRE and TOEFL.
vo: (Looking at the I-20) What does you sponsor do and how much does she earn annually?
mw: Told her
vo: Smiling.. (Chinese ladyooo) Your visa as been approved. Pick up at .....
mw: (Could not help smiling back. Said "Thank you" and left).

She did not request for any document too.

----- All I can say is that when God is for you, even "red flags" will turn in your favor.------

Congrats...Can't wait to see her..

I've returned after a long break ..

For all Mathematics Graduate student looking for Teaching Assitantship (two-third), I get a school for you. It's 90% sure.

Check the School Link:

This is really painful.. God will seek their blood from all the top officials in Nigeria that fail to make things work..None of them will be spared of God's wrath. I got disturbed when people are dieing of cheap death in Nigeria.

Make train works and let these tankers and Dangote trucks get off our roads.

First of all, OS is always a team work cos this involve thousands line of code, sometimes millions. Let me give u a strategy. Find ur way to a company that has developed free Operating System like CentOS, Fedora and co. U can get access to OpenSource software code edit it to suit ur purpose. Please, start learning UNIX. Microsoft is stingy with codes even though they released part of their code for Educational purposes but it's not really helping.

While working there, start forming your team and sharing ur dream with like minds. You can do this man. But, remember don't put money first. Let freedom be ur watchword. You want to free people from a secondclass OS.

Lastly, don't be scared about your present state of knowledge. It takes a determined man to get things done. Do you think Bill Gate writes all the codes? Do you think late Steve Jobs was d best programmer? The best programmers are in the lab, they are just team leaders. They thought of concept, gather a team and work it out. But, the concept man takes the Glory. Please, I'm not saying these guys are not brilliant.Team work, Team work, Team work................U will need a little management skills.

Watch this video about OS revolution.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw8K460vx1c

Game programming is more of Mathematics. Also, I won't agree that one area of Programming is more difficult than other area. It's about passion. For example, a typical American love game. So, most of them find any Graphics subject so easy. Not that they are better than a network script programmer or a database programmer but they love it so much and want to really know how it's working. I just understood that cos I'm taking a Graphics course in my Masters Program this semester. You have to think outside the box. Images seen in game are computer codes. They are made from simple triangles, quads and co. Game Programming is more of Mathematics. Cos, you do lot of Image Matrix Transformations to get an image animated.

OpenGL and DirectX are good for game programming.

_babyshaQ: Hello House!! been on this this thread for some time now and must admit that the success stories and challenges are truly inspiring.
About financial aid, do you apply for it after you gained admission or while applying and how long does it take (approx) to get a visa (from appointment booking date to award)

You can submit Assistantship application with your admission application. US embassy takes VISA decision instantly. So, you will know if it was approve or not on your interview date. If it was approved, they will ask you to come for collection after 2/3 days. If you are applying for fall, u need to be very fast.

olumide098: House, Please help on this...

How can i go about paying application fee from Niaja? any useful suggestion will be appreciated.. Thanks



How do i convert my GPA? I graduated from Unilag with 3.01 out of possible 5.0 .... How do i convert it to GPA on a 4.0 scale... Please help out so i can know my chances

There are many ways you can use to pay ur application fee. The school website should explain this better. But, almost all the schools collect credit/debit card, wire transfer, etc. GTB/Skye debit card should get through.

If you want to convert your GPA, you need evaluation. Try WES evaluation. 3.01 should get admission to most average schools in USA. Even 2.5 (very low 2.2) get admission in some Universities I know. So, try about 3 average schools.