₦airaland Forum

Yeah, no knowledge is wasted because it could be the difference between entry or deportation.

cerezo:
Hmm..I hope thats not the case. Perhaps I need to shed more light. I got the visa since last year and I mentioned I was going to Orlando for 2 weeks. I couldn't go last year as planned because of projects I was involved in. This year I decided to review the planned holiday and felt going to a friend's place in Boston might just be cheaper due to prevailing economic condition. And thats what I did, though I am convinced that the friend is a citizen. I was skeptical about this change initially but my friend kept reassuring me it's not an issue. To my utmost surprise, I was not asked anything wrt this at the POE. Knowing and being convinced of your host's circumstances in the US is very key.

Hint: the number of days filled in your form / stated at your interview, should be number of days/weeks you should be in the US. I think its a plan to see what people will do.

cerezo:
Hi Folks,
I came in through Logan Intl Airport, Boston just yesterday and it was a breeze. No serious interview other than how long are u staying, what food items do you have on you etc. I flew Qatar Airways, i should say it was indeed a long flight. I just want to thank everyone who's share their experience here. Though I wanna check with you guys, the CBP stamped our passport but the 6months deadline wasn't specified, infact the "until" date was blank. Is that the new trend?

One of these questions tripped you.
1. Vo- how long have you been saving for this trip
Me- since beginning of the year
2. Vo- walk me through what you do when you resume at your place of work
Me- explained to him what I do at my place of work

My opinion:
1. This is a trick question, you earn approx 346,000. If you saved from the beginning of this year for a trip, you are setting aside 8 months of your 12 month salary, leaving 4 months salary for whatever else you need to do.
2. It seems this question was to fulfil all righteousness, does the VO really want to know what you do when you get to work for example, I sign in with the biometrics, check my email for messages. Or are VO's interested in your roles and responsibilities in your organization.

olystic:
My interview goes


Vo- Good morning
Me- Good morning
Vo- you going for vacation
Me- Yes
Vo- where in the us are you going
Me- New York
Vo- do you know anybody there
Me- no
Vo- Have you travelled out of the country
Me- Yes,I told him during my last leave holiday I travelled to South Africa, Kenya
Vo- Where do you work
Me- told him where I work and my job position
Vo- how much do you earn in a month
Me- 345504 NGN
Vo- how long have you been saving for this trip
Me- since beginning of the year
Vo- how long have you been working
Me- 4 years
Vo- walk me through what you do when you resume at your place of work
Me- explained to him what I do at my place of work
The next thing he hands me the blue paper saying on the paper explained why I do not qualify for a visa at this time.
Could someone explain to me where I got it wrong

Nothing funny should be on your phone.
- No child porn
- No farewells to friends and family, and prayers on making the US your new home
- No downloaded copies of credentials
- Of course, no terror plans
- No US Contacts, especially if you said you don't know anyone in the US.
Etc.

xest:
Goodluck bro.
But my question now is this, what exactly are they looking for in your phone. Is it part of the checking too? And what will happen if they find something funny? Thank you

1. Is this your first time applying?

muyico0le:
No travel history, but married with a kid and reasonable salary 325,190 and my employer is also responsible for the trip...He didn't even ask all that m still shock!

"To conserve money, I bought ticket for flight to New York with Etihad. I have also bought a Greyhound bus ticket from New York to Delaware..."

THIS SOUNDS REASONABLE.

topexavier:
Hello @seyewest and crew
Nice job your doing here.
I've asked the VOs at the NIV forum but their response is late in coming.
First, my wife and kids are LPRs and I just got a B1/B2 visa to visit them. The airport indicated on the ds160 is Phily but air fares to the place are sometimes double what you get for JFK, which i didn't know at the time of filling the form. To conserve money, I bought ticket for flight to New York with Etihad. I have also bought a Greyhound bus ticket from New York to Delaware. Will this be a serious issue?

Also, I've not seen my kids in over a year, the two of them requested that I come a little earlier than I mentioned on the ds 160. How does one explain all these to the CBP officers?

Thanks in anticipation of your counsel.

I get.
But then there is also a case, where the VO may or may not tell the applicant that his or her credibility is at stake. So applications are there after rejected based on 'credibility issues', that's a ban by another name.

OmoBendel24:
If banned, you will expressly be told, the VOs have said so severally too.

1. Loool. I am not saying you are banned. But the fact is most VO's never tell you, that you are banned. So you keep coming again and again.

2. Even if you are not banned and the issue is credibility, they never tell you 'you have a credibility issue, so we advise you don't apply again.'
On a lighter note, I wonder what's the difference between rejecting an application due to credibility issues vs banning an applicant...

olulumdp:
Banned Ke? Please can you tell me why you reasoned the Ban situation?
Is it likely i could have been banned?
I must have been refused based on my ties or other things and not because of stating I have an uncle in the US and the Ghana and Togo travel history (I didn't have fake stamp or so on passport) - which was the lies in the form... and there is no way the VO would have known.

I decided to come clean now because im not comfortable with the lies. So I believe they will be knowing about the lies just during the new interview.

No one is going to do your research for you. If you want to go to the US, set aside sometime to do a little research on this forum and if your question is still not answered, you can ask. See, doing your own research on this forum will make the difference in an interview, it gives you confidence, besides most of the questions asked, have been 'over-answered'. I don't want to believe Nigerian applicants are too lazy to research, that's a bad generalization.

zolapower:
I have purchased an application form via an agent last Oct and later didnt use it due to some issues I have with the agent regarding the amount charged after I must have obtain the visa .
However, I have decided not to use the agent again. But after reading this thread I decided to do it on my own . I need you to furnish me with requirement as I'm a first time applicant . Thank u sir / ma.

No one is going to do your research for you. If you want to go to the US, set aside sometime to do a little research on this forum and if your question is still not answered, you can ask. See, doing your own research on this forum will make the difference in an interview, most of the questions asked, have been 'over-answered'. I don't want to believe Nigerian applicants are too lazy to research, that's a bad generalization.

zolapower:
most of u guys needs to have ur brain check before mention others . U just dabble in to a comment and the next is just to stsrt insulting . Besides ,u ain't the owner of the thread ,so why running bunkers for my head ache ?
I would rather u stop it already.mind ur business okay . I may insult ur parents if u have any that is truth . Because going by your response above it shows u are a little kid. Please mind ur business ,after all u did not see me mention anyone let alone u. So why are u getting mad about my question ?

NNA MEHN. YOU ARE A WALKING EMBODIMENT OF 'STRONG TIES'. I GET THE FEELING THE VO WAS IN A RUSH TO JUST GIVE YOU THE VISA, BUT HAD TO FULFIL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS. CONGRATULATIONS!

benolala:
Hi guys, I had my interview today in Abuja 7:30am... VO was very professional... My dress code was black suite with pink shirt no tie...

I was called to counter 8 then with a smile the VO first greeted.

VO: Good morning
Me: Morning, how you doing?
VO: I am fine, thanks (smile)
Please can you put your left four fingers, then right four fingers then both fingers (with little difficulty I did)
VO: why are you going to Florida?
Me; for holidays to attend the Bleep conference and visit some tourist sites.
VO; how did you hear about this conference?
Me: I am a professional member of Bleep orginasing the conference so I have been following updates. I was to attend last year but due to work couldn't make it so now I have 20 days holiday approved by my company.
Vo: Who is paying for the conference?
Me: I am responsible for the trip.
VO; what do you do?
Me: I am a Business Analyst with Bleep company
VO: what is your montly salary
Me: 270,000
VO; Is it a big company? Like how many staffs
Me: yes it's a big company with 27 staffs (I was surprised because our company is a multinational hospitality franchise)
VO; do you own the company?
Me; No it's own by my elder brother and like a family business
VO: Did you say you are paying for the trip?
Me: Yes I am
Vo: Do you have any relative in Florida?
Me: No I don't nit even in the US
VO: I see you have been to Ireland?
Me: Yes, for studies.
Vo: what did you study?
Me: Electronics and Computer Systems Engineering from DIT and Masters in Business Management from AIB
VO: Apart from Ireland which other countries have you visited?
Me: Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Macua
Vo: Are you married?
Me: No, but I have a daughter
Vo: Your x wife where is she?
Me: She is here in Nigeria with my daughter
VO: Ok here is a guide on how to get your passport. Do have a nice day.
ME: You too... thanks (smile)

So guys that was it... I hope someone can also learn one or two things from my experience. Thanks

Step 1: Read through this forum.

smithsydny:
Big people of God i great.. my friend wants to apply for usa visa.. its family of 5.. the husband is a contractor and she a stay home mum.. but doing little business also..

Edakun whats the first to take..

Thanks..

And also let us know how it went. There are a lot of people like you, who made this mistake and are hoping for some way of rectifying their mistake.

olulumdp:
Thank you so much. Yes, I get your point. That's what I said in my first post, I don't mind been refused - i just want to clear things up.

QUESTION
Do you suggest I start the conversation about the false information in my previous application during the interview? Or I should let the VO point it out since I would have stated in the form.

Some kind people like you gave me advices but I want to weigh all and make a good decision.

I appreciate!

1. Fill the appropriate section, when filling your form (I don't which one it is)

2. Be honest when answering the questions.

3. If the VO mentions something like (I heard this during my 1st interview), for example; last time you said X, but now you are saying Y. COME CLEAN , DO NOT USE "THE AGENT DID IT" AS AN EXCUSE , BE HONEST ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THAT THOUGH YOU KNEW IT WAS A LIE , YOU STILL WENT ALONG WITH IT , AND THAT YOU HAVE LEARNT YOUR LESSON AND WISH TO THROW YOURSELF AT THE MERCY OF THE VO.
It might or might not work.

4. If you have been banned, the VO will let you know. I DONT KNOW THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR A WAIVER.

olulumdp:
Thank you so much. Yes, I get your point. That's what I said in my first post, I don't mind been refused - i just want to clear things up.

QUESTION
Do you suggest I start the conversation about the false information in my previous application during the interview? Or I should let the VO point it out since I would have stated in the form.

Some kind people like you gave me advices but I want to weigh all and make a good decision.

I appreciate!

1. Put your mind off getting a visa. This is an interview to come clean, for future applications.
2. In the space for why were you refused a visa or in the space for did you misrepresent; write out the truth of what happened.

olulumdp:
Good Evening Everyone...

Firstly I know I made a mistake, pls I need urgent advice..

I applied for visiting visa with my wife in 2015 and we were refused (An agent helped us). He told us he knows someone in the US that I should claim he is my uncle which I did and he changed my business name while filling the form to his preferred one (I think he did all this to justify the money he collected from us) and I have a good business with good earnings.

I have a good travelling history, I have been travelling to the UK on visiting for the past 10yrs, I did my masters there aswell and I lived there on work permit for 2yrs plus. I currently have a UK visiting Visa and I have been to Spain before which I planned renewing soon.

I want to apply again and I don't feel comfortable lieing about having an uncle in the US and using the business he used for me in the past


MY QUESTION: please can I come out clean to the consular about the false information in my previous application? And explained the situation and make him understand information in my new form is the real me.

I don't mind if I am refused, I just want to clear the false information up.

Thank you for reading and look forward to your advice

You were very lucky. To everyone with a relative in the US, try knowing things about them. Bro you were lucky - you don't know where your brother works, or the name of his fiancée...that CBP officer is an angel in disguise.

Bawo4199:
. Bro, finally am in America and my POE interview goes thus
Interviewer= good afternoon
Me: good afternoon sir
Interviewer : where u from and where are u going
Me : Nigeria to atlanta
Interviewer :why are u here
Me : to attend my cousins wedding and family vacation
Interviewer : how much do u have on you for the family
Me : $10120
Interviewer : is ur brother a green card holder
Me : yes
Interviewer : how long has he been staying here?
Me : 5 years
Interviewer : where does he work
Me : honestly I don't know
Interviewer : pls u will have to come with me before u processed
then he ask a young lady to take me to another office for secondary screening.
The second Interviewer a young black man who ask me to sit in a cold room for about 20 minutes before calling me.
Interviewer : whn last do u see ur brother
Me: last December
Interviewer : what's the name of his fiancee
Me: I don't know
Interviewer : have u met ur brother fiancee
Me : no
Interviewer : you have a very bad bro..... Tell him I say so. Where do u work
Me: I work with the government
Interviewer : what about your wife
Me : she's a Banker, works with access bank
Interviewer : but in ur visa application forms u said ur wife works with delta state government
Me: no... Am the one that works with delta state government.
Interviewer : sorry I can't allow u into America
Me : sir you don't expect me to know everything about my brother because this is my first time here, I have his number so pls call him to ask more about him
Interviewer : OK give me his number and go back to ur seat.
After about 20 minutes he call me and say welcome to America.

Now this is a caring wife!

1. How long did she say, she was going to stay in the US, on her form and at her interview?
2. Depending on her age, they could overlook her staying that long, so long as it does enter into 'overstay' zone. IMHO.
3. The other's is best answered by the VO (@AbujaNIV) and resolved by the airline.

efavour:
My mum was stamped in for 6 months, I don't want her to overstay her visa cos I have plans for her to visit again next year. However,I want to milk this her stay very well, please my people if she leaves few days to the end of her six months will cause problems for her when she wants to come back a couple of months later? And again, how can I change her return ticket date with Qatar.Thanks

You may stammer and get the visa.
You may murder english and get the visa.
You may speak coherent, queens english and still be denied.
But whatever you say and how you say it, let it make sense to you first, and it will probably make sense to the VO.

pushy8:
Thanks. I have no intention of lying,I just wanted to be sure of the proper choice of words and relative perception.

Wait. You just told us the following:
1. You filled that you have no relatives in your first application;
2. Now in the second application, you are going to tick 'yes' to the question 'do you have relatives in the US';
3. I am not a VO, but your credibility is damaged. It pays to be honest, even if you don't get the visa.
4. MY FELLOW NIGERIANS, THE US IS NOT LIKE NIGERIA, WHERE WE DON'T CARE ABOUT KEEPING RECORDS. I ATTENDED MY FIRST INTERVIEW IN ABUJA, AND THERE WAS A MAN WHO WAS TOLD ABOUT A CREDIT-CARD FRAUD, HE COMMITTED IN 1975!

lizzyfash27:
Good evening everyone, please I need your advice I was denied Visa in May
I was supposed to attend a conference so the agent I used filled my form which she filled wrongly - she wrote that I don't have relatives in US, that there's no need writing I have relatives there since I am going for a conference
My uncle wants to invite my family and I for Christmas
please I need to know if this can stand against us

Any deviation from what filled in the form and said in the interview, will attract greater scrutiny.

westo2017:
Good morning. I was recently granted a B1/B2 visa and I'm planning my travel for September. Now my worries is that I filled in my application form that my expected stay in the US is 3 weeks but now I booked a ticket for one month. And also I have not booked a connecting flight from my POE to the city i intend to stay. Thirdly I filled in my application that I will be staying with my cousin for the period of stay in the US, do I still need to do a hotel booking? Thank you.

This one that burst inside Daniella Okeke's nyash.

Best response is to tell the truth.

pushy8:
Dear Gurus in the house, Please what is the 'best' response to the question ; Why are you visiting the US? Particularly when one is not travelling with the whole family. I remember reading on this thread that vacation is not the right answer.Because the Americans percieve vacation to be like 'family time'. Is Tourism and sight seeing okay? I have perused the thread but i just need further clarification on this.

1. ALL AGENTS ARE EVIL!
2. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS FILLED IN YOUR FORM, WHETHER SOMEONE FILLED IT FOR YOU OR NOT.

1. I like the response you gave. I think you should put in any response to any question you are asked in the future.
"Nebraska is the Heartland of America park, henry doorly zoo, doharm museum, and the popular Strategic air command and aerospace museum."
2. Everyone who goes for vacation, usually does some shopping, so there's no need to mention shopping, stick to vacation and mention the things I referred to in Number 1.
3. When the VO looks at you, look back at them, its psychology.
4. Don't take any documents to prove anything, if they are required, you will be put in administrative processing and given a chance to bring them to the embassy later.
Hope this helps?

Habisoye:
Nebraska is not a strange place for vacation nah.

dont forget that's where we have Heartland of America park, henry doorly zoo, doharm museum, and the popular Strategic air command and aerospace museum.

@KaptainAfrika, kindly advice me, give me a suggestion how i can explain tourism rather than sightseeing and do shoppings.

Your respond will be highly appreciated.

1. In a nice way, I think she just told you 'you don't know why you are going to the US, when you do, reapply'
2. You are free to reapply at any time.
3. Nebraska is a strange place for vacation, do you have anyone there?

Habisoye:
MY FUNNY INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE AT LAGOS CONSULATE

[b]Got interviewed lastweek thursday, 7:am. decided to be on my native dress after fasting for 3-days.

A lady in the 1st cubicle closest to the entrance door

Transcript as follows:

ME: Good morning how're you doing today?
VO: No respond to greeting- Please pass your Passport
VO: Why are you going to the US?
ME: For Tourism Purpose
VO: What do you mean by Tourism purpose
ME: Yes, for Tourism purpose (was kind of nervous, voice was shaking, cos she was looking straight into my eyes and continue focusing on my eyes
VO: Can you please explain further
ME: I will be visiting Nebraska city for sight seeing and also to do some shopping for my wife and kids (with voice shaking a lil bit)
ME: (I know she has concluded the result right on that spot)
VO: Are you married
ME: Yes
VO: Do you have kids?
ME: Yes, 2-boys now
VO: Sorry, you are not eligible for US visiting visa at this time, you can always try again when you're ready to demonstrate your purpose of visit.
Pass the blue paper and i left.

Please nairalanders when can i re-apply, I'm thinking of re-applying 2-weeks time since my annual leave is still intact.
By then i would've learn how to explain visitation very well. because i think that's the cause of my denial+voice shaking[/b]

1. How do you know this?
2. No documents are checked this was stated by a VO here, himself.
3. Calls, when the interviews are 2 minutes and plenty applicants are on the queue.

legrande69:
You're right ... Some V.Os made up their mind to reject you right from the time they see your face.. They don't even ask for supporting documents or confirmation calls.
Sorry bro. Better luck next time
Got denied only yesterday too

1. No one looks at documents.
2. You were really lucky to meet a VO, who asked you for your ties...that's a probably a hint, that you have weak ties...work on that.
3. No matter how many times you apply, if your circumstances haven't changed or your ties haven't become stronger, you will likely get the same result.
4. Maybe you should have waited to apply when your company wants to send you for training, you have already appeared before the US embassy for the purpose of vacation, and now you are coming back for the purpose of training by your company - you will probably look desperate, and you don't need that note on your profile.

Justiceuphold:
Hi everyone, mine goes like this;
VO: next please
Me: Goodmorning, handing over my passport
VO: Goodmorning how are you
Me: fine thank you
VO: so where re you going to
Me: Texas and Florida
visiting and sightseeing
VO: asked me questions in my form,
which I answered exactly because I went through over and over.
VO: what do you do
Me: I am an engineer with XYZ company
VO: tell a bit of you job
Me: I started explaining from scratch, though I was about nervous at first, but got relaxed while talking. First timer syndrome.
VO: Have you been to any other country outside the united state,
Me: sorry
VO: I mean Nigeria,
Me: yes , but Africa countries , ghana, Cameroon, its indicated in my passport
She did even bother checking more like "I know that"
The next thing she closed that hole for passing over documents
VO: are you married?
Me: Single
VO: why US
Me: I have an invite and I have some places in particular I intend to visit in Florida, about to bring out my IV
VO: I don't need to see that.
VO: what are my ties
Me: asides from my job, I have a land I acquired but don't have the documentation with me here.
Next
VO:it's unfortunate, you don't show enough ties , she passes over the blue copy

Here comes my problem,
Personally my main motive was visitation and sight seeing and I have a monthly salary of around 400k before tax and close to 380kafter tax which can be more. Cannot place why I was denied the visa, I felt bad because
she blatantly refused to see any of my documentation, like she has made up her mind to deny me visa
I had to stand all day without food, was really dizzy while I was waiting for the guy infront of me to finish, I left the que to drink water which made me feel better

And now I need to reapply as soon asap because my company trains us in US and I don't want to have issues with Visa incase there is need for me to go for a training any time soon.

What should I do ? Should I go ahead and reapply immediately as many as advised or should I apply to another country and then try uS again.

Bear in mind, I did my interview on the 2nd of August 2017.
Thank You

1. Migration is as old as mankind, true; but now we have nations with well-defined borders, look at what is happening in Nigeria for example, look at what is happening in Europe too. Uncontrolled migration, is a security and socio-economic threat.

2. When the white man came, they were smart enough not to come with force because that would have unified the native cultures against them, instead they took advantage of our already divided people. They gave guns to one tribe and that tribe used it on the other tribe, and got the white man slaves to exchange for more goodies. They didn't come knocking empty-handed, they came knocking with mirror, salt, clothes, snuff and we africans, got our own fellow africans and sold them as slaves (mind you slavery was already practised in Africa, we just internationalised it in a joint venture with the white man) for more goodies. We are still doing it today, collecting loans that put the future generations in virtual slavery, to fund the welfare states of the west.

john20177:
Migration is as old as mankind. It's true everyone has different strategy of solving problems, but not in the cost of others peace. If you have sympathy, you'd prefer the Obama pattern of solving immigration issues than Trump's.
"YOU DON'T JUST LEAVE IT WIDE OPEN FOR EVERY ADAMU, BABATUNDE AND CHINEDU TO ENTER. DO YOU?!" your words.
Let me ask you, when the Westerners started flooding Africa, Asia and some part of South America for whatever reasons best not mention. Were they really invited ? Well, we choose to forget and ignore because history is violent.

THE US WELCOMES LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHO TO LET INTO THEIR COUNTRY. I AM VERY SURE YOU HAVE A DOOR THAT LEADS INTO YOUR HOUSE, BUT I AM ALSO SURE, YOU DON'T JUST LEAVE IT WIDE OPEN FOR EVERY ADAMU, BABATUNDE AND CHINEDU TO ENTER. DO YOU?!

john20177:
Since you're so sure to differentiate between legal and illegal migrants, is this how Obama administration handled the immigration issues? By claiming to build a wall and Mexico will pay for it, because he's the messiah the holy book promised. And if you care to check the news, it's not just a blog, Reuters and al jazera mentioned , that's if you read real news at all since you made it obvious you engage well with fake news. Sorry I had to modify the comment since I thought that if you didn't hear or see the news, then you don't even listen to news so why tame it fake

CNN is fake news. How many times have they had to apologise for reporting as genuine, things that turned out to be fake. I would leave the research to you, as I would die of laughter at the 'WE WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGISE FOR EARLIER REPORTS, THE ANONYMOUS SOURCES WE QUOTED TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE.'
Heck even Wolf Blizter, a veteran journalist with CNN, ON AIR, corrected a fellow presenter on presenting unconfirmed sources, as a legitimate source. GEEZ!

9jaStar:
Ahhh, you're one of. those who believe that yarn Trump has been spinning?
Tell me, have you kept count of the number of times Mr Trump has actually told THE TRUTH?