₦airaland Forum

Good day my fellow Nairalander. This is my 1st time of posting here, though I bumped on this forum through google in 2015. Then I was preparing my wife to go and give birth in the US. I couldn't get appointment for her before her due date so we forfeited the #32,000 visa fee we paid and saved the #2million we budgeted for the project.
Fast forward to 2018, I paid another Visa fee for myself and book an appointment for July 2018.
On the the day, I got to the US Lagos Embassy by 7:30(my appointment time) but ended up joining the 10am batch. I went through all the necessary procedures and eventually queue for the interview. I usually have this superstitious believe of avoiding women conducting interview for me. So my prayers was to be interviewed by a man. But alas when it was my turn I realised a white lady was going to interview me. I had 4 people in front of me and under 10 minutes she had refused all of them. ( the fastest was the lady before me -less than a minute, she was asked her destination 3 times but no response -though she was responding but she was not audible at all, due to fear). Then I heard Next! I move confidently to her cubicle.
Below is the excerpt:
Me: good morning ma.
Vo: morning... your passport
Me: handed it over
Vo: where are u traveling to in the US?
Me: Florida. Orlando Florida
Vo: why?
Me: for vacation & to check out so and so company( I mentioned 2 top companies in Orlando that do same biz I do in Nigeria) to see if we can do one or two things together
Vo: what do you mean by one or two things?
Me: I explained
....:Vo typing....
Vo: you worked for...(she mentioned my company)
Me: yes. I explain the company has a subsidiary and what each company does.
Vo: so which of the company do you work for?
Me: I owned both companies.
.......Vo continued typing....
Vo: the company u want to visit in Orlando, do u want to buy equipment from them?
Me: yes if I see any one I like.
......vo continue typing.....
Vo: how many staff do u have?
Me: 32 consisting of management staff, supervisors and operatives.
......vo typing......
Vo: are you married?
Me: yes with a son and I'm expecting another baby soon.
Vopicked up my passport from her table and flipped through )
Have you traveled before?
Me: yes to SA, Swaziland and Kenya.
Vo: continue typing for what looks like eternity and me I just rested on the cubicle for support... meanwhile people were just been refused left and right..
She paused and looked left and right...:the blue paper was at the right hand and white at the left hand...and picked the white paper and circle the address to pick up my visa. I wasn't hearing what she was saying cause I was overjoyed in my heart...just pick up the paper and thanked her.

This is my first time and I have always been praying that I should get the visa at my first attempt and God answered.

My advice are:
*One should followed this Nairaland properly, read through and digest.
*be organised and prepared.
*Dress well
*Be confident and polite
*and lastly be honest especially with your occupation.

Thank you.