₦airaland Forum

Hi all,

I always enjoy reading POE and Interview stories, so this is mine.

My flight was on the 1st of July, Emirates - Lagos - Dubai - Los Angeles. I flew at 35weeks6days.

I got to the airport barely 2 hours before my flight time, thank God I checked-in online. MMIA is really messed up, everyone wanted a tip, from the immigrations guys that search my bag (I had a lot of food items, they guy said he will send me to the food inspection unit if i don't corporate, i asked him what he wanted and he wanted 4k, at the end I gave him 1k5, in all I spent like 3k in the airport). Then my Fit to Fly, I told my doctor to write it in my format but he insisted the hospital had a format. the immigration guy was asking me why it didn't state that I am fit to fly by air and called his boss, his boss then told him but the letter is titled Fitness to Fly so its good. After everything I was given my boarding pass and told to go to the other end of the airport. I got there and was turned back to go check my temperature at the other end. Na so me and my hubby begin waka .....

So I got to Dubai in 7 hours, used the wheel chair in Dubai, got on board. stopover was like 55minutes. Mehn the flight to LA was so so so so long. did I say the flight was very very long. The flight was for 16 hours, my legs were swollen, they weren't swollen throughout this pregnancy. Good thing the flight was so on point and on time.

So I arrived LAX, finally, was wheeled to Immigrations, since i was on the wheel chair I was wheeled to a guy there was no queue, the guy at the Border and Customs Protection. I greeted him with a smile and he was a really nice looking dude #winks. After my biometrics, he asked me;
what are you here for? to have my baby and vacation
oh okay, how long are you here for? 10 weeks.
He stamps my passport and signs and says I could go.

So I left and checked my passport, was stamped to January 1, 2016.

I was like is that it, I was expecting more, so I went downstairs picked my stuff and viola I was out of the airport.

I couldn't believe it, all my burden of proof was not checked, nothing I just spent like 3 minutes with the guy.

Na so I take enter LA with my big belle, I was so prepared, had all my documents but I didn't need them.

In all I thank God, I am rested now and the swelling s coming down, my first appointment with my Obgyn is on the 6th and my brother tells me most stores will have independent sales tomorrow so I plan to knock myself off.

Waiting for baby to come...ciao

woaini:
This is not a form but a letter both parents have to write and send to the Nigerian embassy in addition to other documents to secure a visa for their child. Even if you are using an agent to get the visa you still have to write the letter, both parents. And no, it is not going to be notorised

@ Woaini, can both parents sign the same letter and do you have a format of the letter used to apply for Nigerian Visa.

Hawttattoo:
Thank you Modath for this life saving information....I opened account with fidelity yesterday and today I'm smiling with my $4k PTA at 199.50..... I don't know where diamond,zenith and Uba in my state got their restriction from...

@ Hawttattoo, which Fidelity branch in Lagos did you buy your PTA, I went to their Bode Thomas branch and they said i must run my account for 6 months, even to reactivate my dormant account that was my NYSC account they said i should activate and run the account for 6 months too.

dyout:
Please what is PTA? i thought it is BTA?

PTA - Personal Travel Allowance - $4,000 - For Individual accounts
BTA - Business Travel Allowance - $5,000 - for Corporates accounts

Thats the major difference, if you have an account in your business name you can access the BTA but if its a personal account then you go for the PTA.

@Akindolz, na wah oh, I thought Chicago was more lenient. Well we thank God it ended well...

A quick one, I am also using Emirates to LA, was your fit to fly from a govt or private hospital?

:-XNa wah oh, una don turn this place to boxing ring...

where una dey when people where fighting in Las Vegas and made loads of though, una for go join them...

@ Phema, please which of this consent forms did you use, was it the DS-11 09-2013 or DS-3053 08-2013.

Also for those that notarized theirs in Nigeria, which of the forms did you use?

Dear all,

I attached 2 Consent forms, please which of them is used for applying for Baby's passport? I am kinda confused.

demiiii:
YOur need to hold cash. You can be denied entry at the POE for not holding cash.if u eventually get in for every withdrawal you make. You will be charged 400naira each.

$7,000 is cash nah which I plan to travel with, I don't plan to make any withdrawal.

Hi Moms, Moms to be and few papas in the house,

I have roughly 6 weeks to port, although i have started feeling home sick cause i have never been apart from my hubby and I am not traveling with my son (he will shuttle between my mom and my mother inlaw, he will be on holidas then).

My main question, I have since bought my PTA $4,000 @ N200 and I also have some other funds. In all I have a total of $6,975 in my dorm account. I plan to buy $25 to make it up to $7000 for POE. I dey fear to buy dollar a@ N222. Also I plan to pay my hospital bill using InterBank (Form A using Medical Travel Allowance) they exchange rate is about N197 - N200

1. Is $7,000 enough for POE?
2. I also plan to print my statement in my naira account and also go with both my VISA and Master cards
3. Has anyone paid their medical bills using Medical Travel Allowance? I plan using this oh, then open a BOA account and save my $7,000 also I plan to shop with my cards.

For those interested in the Medical Travel Allowance, the requirements are;
1. Duly completed Form A
2. Letter of reference from Specialist hospital in Nigeria
3. Ticket, Passport, Valid Visa (Travel documents)
4. Letter from Doctor overseas stating the cost of treatment and account number
5. Instruction letter to debit your account or a cheque.

Please note that the funds will be remitted to the Doctor or Hospitals account directly.

Happymum:
Gurus,please help a sister out

from what I have read on this thread, i doubt if you will be allowed to take in yam, the beans has to be free of weavils, the crayfish should be grounded and dried and the palmoil should be frozen and wrapped very well.

dear all,

Please can somene with experience postthe process of getting the canadian vise. I know it should be available on google but i am confused by what i am seeing online.

can some itemize the procedure step by step.

thanks alot.

Hello people,

How are you all doing?

Please a quick one, I know we have discussed this severally, shay the consent form for the application is the DS-11 09-2013 but my aunty sent me another form DS-3053 08-2013 and she says thats the form that needs to be notarized. Please who know about the second form (DS-3053 08-2013).

Also for those that gave birth in California without hubby around, did you notarize the form before travelling or did you notarize at the embasy after giving birth.

Also is there anyone going to California in July? will be there till mid September, please holla.

Na wah oh, there is nothing we wont hear. A married man sponsoring the birth of another man's baby, SMH.

I think we should all mind our business oh and let her try her luck.

[quote author=Shofas post=31072685]Thanks.

I am just confused now. Maybe I will just stick to Emirates oh, because I want Los Angeles to be my POE.

Thanks Chloe7 will explore the option.

Please I need more advise on travelling with Etihad to Los Angeles.

Hi all,

I am travelling to Los Angeles first week in July and the ticket prices are crazy. I was considering Emirates but Etihad is cheaper but I am scared of Etihad because I dont know anyone that has used them.

Please has anyone here used Etihad (when pregnant, I will be travelling at 35weeks plus) and what was the experience. I want to buy my ticket this week and need this info urgently.

Hello,

For those of us travelling in July. How we go do our flight ticket. Is there any promo or cheap ticket deals for July to return in Sept. Please help a sister out...

Congrats to Phema and Akelvin... May God bless and keep your baby.

Phema's story should be an eye opener for some of us planning to travel after 36 weeks. If she could have her baby at 36+5 then it can happen to anyone.

I must leave this country before the 36th week to avoid stories that touch, it will be sad to give birth in Nigeria after all the stress of getting visa not forgetting the fact that the tickets would have been bought.

I brought this up because a lot of us will read that story and not take note of the lessons. Please let's endeavour to travel before our 36th month. I will rather resume work with a 2 month old baby that have my baby in this country with all the uncertainties. Just my 2cents...

@MamaTobenna & dkbb, I haven't see your mails oh. Maybe you should re-initiate the mails from your end.

donbusky:
If you are travelling in July 2015, it is too early to book then, in my opinion. The sweet spot for best travel prices from personal experience and some limited online research is typically (a) 5 - 8 weeks before travel, and (b) choosing travel days of Tuesday - Thursday.

Cheers.

I thought the high price was because it will be summer then. I also chose Wednesday and Thursday as my travel dates and it was still high.

Also maybe its a little too early since July is in 7 months, but when do you think is the best time for me to book my Flight for July. I have to travel latest by first week of July and I plan to use either BA or Delta.

Please help a sister out with promos as you hear. God bless you all.

MamaTobenna:
. I think it worked. Thank you

I don't think it worked oh cause I am yet to get an email from you.....

[quote author=chochom post=28435282][/quote]I wrote to some hospitals in May and a few replied, didn't continue writing cos I wanted to get preggy first, will continue the search now. I hear Cali is expensive the attraction for me is just my family so I'm not spending on accomodation. I plan to travel with between $9k - $10k to avoid POE wahala. But my budget for medical bill is max $6.5k (normal delivery) could get something lower though. Do you have your visa already, I got mine in March so wud just send them the mail informing them of my change of plans. I sent you a PM so reply then we can take it up from there.
I'm sure there will be other July moms as most of them will just be finding out...

For those travelling in July, how we go do am. I just checked the price of a return ticket from Lagos to Los Angeles, travelling in July and returning in Septetmber. Omo na over N400,000 I dey see for Delta, BA and Emirate. Na only Ethihad and Ethiopian cheap small like 260k and 280k resp.
Please who has any ideas on how to get cheap tickets for July (I'm ready to book and pay for my ticket between now and January).
Has anyone used BA at say 36weeks5days?

Just found out I will be a late July mom so excited because we have been trying since May this year, I was just praying that it shouldnt be secondary infertility (I have a son and he was 2years in September).

@Chochom, we can plan together but I am looking at California because that is where i have very close relatives.

@MamaTobenna & dkbb, will be looking out for your posts as you guys are also looking at California.

Sorry for the long post, i am just super excited. My first post after the Tsunami.