₦airaland Forum

TFLASHOGEE:
congratulation on your victory

Thanks.

LadyGuinivere:
Chai.
Waiting for season 2 episode 1 KDK films...

Lolzz...enjoy...this one will be inline with zee world series

I may have to repeat all these in the giving birth in USA thread as some mothers may not even visit here.

I proceeded with prayers to God almighty asking for Grace of God because this VO na one chance. I remembered the guy thatshared his transcript here after he was denied. He said he went to one buka to eat good food and step it down with a cold malt (he broke his fast or so). I was already thinking of where I can do same because with this kind of VO, only GOD can help your case.
Here is the transcript.
Me: Good morning Sir.
VO: Please, can I have your passport?
Me: Yes, you can but before you do, I need to update you on some information on my DS-160 form(since the guy didn’t smile, I wiped off my smile too)
VO: Okay, I am listening but pass me your passport.
Me: (Handing over the passport) The initial plan was for me to travel with my family for holidays in August so we did a drop box but whilst the passport was at the embassy, my organisation informed me that I have to attend an urgent meeting in Texas. I immediately informed the embassy but got no replies to several mails I sent (VO nodded as though in agreement as he gazed at the screen). I even tried getting an expedited date to no avail. Based on this and future planned office itinerary , I will no longer be travelling with my family for the holidays as earlier planned.
VO: (Keeping a straight face) Okay. What was your reason for traveling to the states the last time.
Me: To witness the birth of my child and accompany my family back to Nigeria just the way I escorted them when they left Nigeria.
VO: And your wife stayed for 4 months?
Me: Noooooo , she stayed 3 months (counting on my fingers).
VO: How much did you spend?
Me: $.......... (I tried bringing out the proof of payments, zero balance, etc)
VO: (Seeing my big folder) No need to show me.
Me: Okay (But I still brought it out and mentioned the cents to the earlier amount I quoted)
VO: What is the DOB of your child?
Me: DD MM YYYY
VO: What do you do?
Me: I am a …….professional with ABC company (well known organisation).
VO: How much do you earn?
Me: I earn NXXXXXX but before tax
VO: Before tax ? (looking slightly surprised but regained his straight face)
Me: Yes but after tax it comes to (VO cuts in)
VO: No need. (still not smiling. I think he doesn’t have the muscle for smiling)
VO: How long do you intend to stay during the Visit to the states?
Me: Meeting is for DD & DD of June but my office policy requires a day’s rest before the meeting and before return travel for proper rest so I will stay a maximum of 6days. Arrive on Monday and return on Saturday.
VO: Typed for about a minute (I expected to hear : I am sorry, bla bla)
VO: (Not smiling) Your visa has been approved, this paper explains……
Me: (Straight face) Thank you. (but inside me, I was dancing a mixture of awilo, makossa, shoki and dabbing. Infact I was doing back flips). As Ieft I could see the expression of shock on the face of the guards and those on the queue.(Sorry to say but that VO na complete error)
So I went to meet wifey who was on the queue outside and gave her a quick coaching on how to answer the VO. I told her to ensure she passes the message of me and her not travelling together as it is key to the success if the interview.
I really thank God because if not for God, with that kind of VO, forget it.

My precedents:
1. My travel history is very solid, my former job had to do with international travel so I have been to atleast 5 countries on every continent except Australia. A globe trotter with an average of over 12 international travels annually.
2. My last US visa was for child birth and was declared at that interview. Although I had previous US visas meant for professionals.
3. I have had no international travel after my trip to USA.
4. I am well articulated and was very composed (This one means nothing to the VO although I suspect a stammerer may be misconstrued to be lieing or thinking of lieing).

I wrote my precedents so you may understand the background behind the approval.

Thanks to all the information on this thread and those on sister threads. I appreciate all contributors and information. God bless you all.

peng4:
Bet why are you like this naa?

Why are you releasing this thing like seasons film

Please don't be offended, I am an employee of a company and this is office hours. I am applying wisdom.

Anyway, I observed that there was a guy standing behind them and they sometimes, switch off their mic so as to seek his opinion on some cases. However, in all these, I had to admit that even though these VO’s were not friendly, they seemingly only followed what the systems gives as a summation of all their inputs. Or atleast that is what I believe. It even reminded me of a discussion I had with some people whilst on the queue. We discussed the possibility of them already deciding your case but interviewing to know if that decision should stand or not (Speculations).
At a time, this supposed supervisor went to a window and requested the next person. Before the other people in the three other windows had completed their interviews, this guy had sent his interviewee with a refusal. I calculated and said thank God, I am not going to that guy. This guy was not smiling at all. The guy before me went to him, same short interview, didn’t even give room for long stories. Still before the other guys has finished their interview, he sent this second interviewee away with a refusal. Then he called for the next person on the queue. I wasthinking whether to say I declined to be interviewed today but when I thought of the trouble to get this interview date, I decided to proceed.

I proceeded with prayers to God almighty asking for Grace of God because this VO na one chance.

(Sorry, I amworking whilst doing this, it's still office hours )

seyewest:
Yea true because I have to go through his post again and he said he got an earlier date in June with his family.

You are right.

After much thought, I compounded my dilemma by adding the option of my wife not applying till when things die down (hopefully by November when the summer rush will be over). But in reality, do things ever get better with these embassies or do our people make things worse? Sighs.
Untill the morning of the interview, I was undecided but I told my wife to come along with me to the interview. On arrival, I told her to wait for at least 30 Minutes in the car, before coming in.
I armed myself with all that was needed for one who had put to bed in the states. I prepared for the worst. I got cleared by security and made my way to the queue. Kept hoping my wife won’t be just three persons from me.

Whilst on the queue, I observed there were three interview windows. Two males and one female. As I was on the queue, I was studying the interviews closely, forgetting my own interview. I was trying to understand the VO’s and how they respond to answers given. There was a bishop from the Anglican church who was was quizzed for a long time. He was going for a church conference , he had very good travel history and is being sponsored by his his church. I saw nothing wrong with all the answers he gave or how he gave them and it appeared he was going to be issued as the interview was going so well but I was shocked when he was told: “I am sorry but you do not qualify for a visa today.” The number of denials was so high when I was there.

OmoBendel24:
I'm thinking now, maybe the 221g interview is done already with his adopted strategy since he said he got a June date, he probably wants to shake some tables or do some suspense here and there game .... Lolz!

lol @ the bolded.

AfonjaBoston:
You cannot control the pattern/mode the interview will go. That is why it is called an "interview"

I would put my energy on how to be successful and answer questions more truthfully at the session

Best of luck

I have a problem with the bolded section of your comment. Lieing should not be an option. Needless say, more truthfully. Perhaps I am reading it wrongly but what I understand is that there are elements of lies but should be put more truthfully.

NothingDoMe, LadyGuinivere, OmoBendel24, justwise and the rest of the team.


Hello guys,
Thanks to all for your constructive information on this thread. I hope you can learn one or more things from my excerpt, so i will try to be as elaborate as possible.Here goes the preamble:

My wife’s , Kid’s and my visa expired at the beginning of the year. We made the visa fees payments but I dragged my foot because I knew I had close to one year to renew by drop box. There was no real reason for not renewing via drop box in January except for procrastination. So in May, I suddenly had an epiphany that it is good I get the visas.
So did drop box for three of us. I expected a feedback within 5 working days but Alas! Ten working days later, I was yet to receive my passport back. I tracked it and it was still at the embassy. To worsen matters, my office suddenly fixed a meeting in the USA and I must be there as I am a key stakeholder. So I called the embassy, to explain the situation but none of the customer care guys could be of help, all they said was that I have to wait it out unless I want to request that my passport be given to me without visa (No way). So I waited only for me to get a 221G mail. I was thrown into confusion, why will I be asked to appear for an interview?I immediately started regretting why I did not renew in January. I had all sorts of thoughts run through my mind. I finally concluded by putting one and one together and guessed it was because we had a child in the states and they want to see receipts. However, I was of the opinion that they should have just asked my wife to come rather than pour sand in my garri by asking me to appear. I got my passport 15th of May and the meeting was end of May. (I just became tired). I then came to this thread to see what has been happening with the US embassy interview (Something I should have done before doing the drop box). One action was to send a mail requesting an expedited date based on business emergency since the earliest date was July 16th in Abuja. My company wrote and faxed a letter to the embassy explaining the urgency but no reply. Considerably, the meeting was moved to mid June to accommodate my visa application with the hope I can get an earlier date. I was also advised to use agents and one agent even sent me a bill of 350k to assist with expedited date (She must have seen me as a maga). She has a good English accent and told me that she is in touch with their contacts at the embassy and they will get me a date before end of that week (bullocks!). Thankfully, I told her to get the date and I pay her. She couldn’t get me the date i am sure they sat on computers waiting for someone to cancel just like everyone else. I was blessed to get a date for early June along with my family (Same date, Same time). But I had to re-strategise if we are to be issued the visa as my reason has changed from tourism to business. So the question was should I ensure we are interviewed together or should we be interviewed separately? With the way those VO’s were vexing, there was no sure strategy because it appears their position on family vacation is dynamic.Dynamic in the sense that family vacation could be interpreted as you want to abscond to Canada since no strong ties left in Nigeria. And again going without her hubby could be an issue of why are you not vacationing together.This was therefore my dilemma and as such I had to re-strategize.

MarieSucre:
She was not used and dumped. So somebody cannot have a contrary opinion to the government without Nigerians accusing them of being used? Na wa. If she was really used by them why does she continue to campaign against bad governance irrespective of the government ruling?

It's obviously because she was not given an appointment like her partner that is now the boss in NPA. Did you see that one campaigning? Did you ask yourself why she didn't protest against Jonathan when she was a cabinet member? I will let you tell the rest.

ekpotek:
Fine. Don’t forget to explain in your cover letter, that due to the ongoing school term, you did not apply for his visa then and now that he has competed the school term, it safe for him to come to the UK to continue his school. Good luck.

Very apt.

Jaydee11:
Thanks Mr Ekpotek for your prompt response, I am very grateful. His name was included on our tier 2 application and we have his original birth certificate (national population commission), marriage certificate, receipts of school fees in Nigeria, letter of introduction from his present school. We will be sending our coloured copies of brp, visa pages and our biodata pages too. I intend to go and pick him when d visa is granted.

You don't need to go pick him unless you have other more important things to do. He can fly unaccompanied (but use a non stop flight). Airlines have provision for that. Infact, he will be treated like a VIP as it's the airline staff that will see him through immigration at both ends which makes things even easier for you. Just be at the airport to pick him. Like i said earlier, unless you have more important things and money to spend on such a trip, it is not necessary you accompany him.

OZAOEKPE:
Ugly thing, they used her to fight Jonathan. They appointed their own while she was dumped

Useless old hag

Interesting but seems correct (in terms of being used and dumped). As for her looks, everyone is beautiful

The so called born again are the meanest. Especially the no ear rings old school born-agains. I am sometimes ashamed to even be associated with them as christians.

dammi:
Thank you so much KDK. Here is it
Hubby: good morning
Vo: good morning. why are you going to the us
Hubby: I'm having a family vacation and visiting tourist destinations
Vo: you said family vacation? What of your family
Hubby: they were turned back(show her the paper given to us)
Vo: oh ok. where are you going in the us
Hubby. Oklahoma and Oklahoma city
Vo do you have any relative in the us
Hubby: yes. A first cousin
Vo: where does he stay
Hubby: Denver Colorado
Vo: have you travelled out of Nigeria before
Hubby. Yes I've been to Holland and dubai
Go: what do you do
Hubby: I'm an accountant with xyz. ( told her his duties)
Vo: (types for like a minute) I won't be approving your visa
Handed him a blue paper.

A little bit about my profile.
I will be going with my kids for the interview. I'm an aquaculture farmer. I'm the owner of my farm. In which I established over five years now. I've been to the Gambia and Senegal before I got married. Now I have to shift our vacation to December for Christmas and new year vacation. Because on the ds160 we filled earlier, our vacation was slated for August when my kids will be on vacation. Will my husband denial affect ours? Thanks

Thank you very much for sharing. Let us await comments from Gurus in the house.

Obinoscopy:
I'm sure you meant to write Greek. Also a fanatic myself so couldn't waka pass, even it was a little typo

Good one. Saw it too but felt correcting will seem i am trying to punch whilst no pun was intended (atleast that was how i saw it).

NothingDoMe:
As the one true fanatic of the Greek mythology and mysteries, I am here to declare that it is spelled Achilles.

*Runs out of thread*

lolz...i like dis....thanks, I have decided to search for the true spelling and you are correct! It has been truely corrected.

vista411:
It will have been more apt for your hubby to have gone back with the family rather than being interviewed alone. They wont fuss over him because it was meant to be a family interview.
Post the transcript

I totally agree with you and your points are all very valid. Nevertheless, what is their travel history? They seem to frown (not against) family travel these days (due to the canada scandal). They need to leave someone behind. e.g only mother and kids going alone and hubby find another time to travel with one of the kids. People need to plan their trips such that there are good reasons to return. If she can post transcripts, we will advise better.

LadyGuinivere:
Archilles'heel
Hercules was strong...
Sorry but I'm a green mythology fanatic and I couldn't waka pass. Good morning

Thanks! I was already sleepy. Corrected!

Good morrning!

I doubt if you remember me, my lady. I have got a story to tell. Just give me 5 more days.

Anie007:
Hi, I'm 20 a year old fashion designer/tailor(i sew and sell clothes)
i'm also a 100 level student in a government Uni, i don't have a fat or regular income bank statement.

I'm invited to the US by a friend (he's from Jamaica but works in Cayman Islands, currently he's in US)
after staying few weeks in the US we'll be traveling to Cayman Islands (he is working in the US currently, he's a chef and that's what he does in Cayman Islands too)

Note: I wish to apply for visa by July and i have not traveled out of Nigeria before!!!

He's the one paying (sending me money) for everything (my visa, flight ticket and accommodation)

I need help
1: what should be the contents of the invitation letter and how should it be written and sent to me here in Nigeria?

2: when asked what i want to go there for, what should be my genuine reply (note the above stated information are all true)


3: What should i do or start doing before then to increase my chances of getting my visa approved?

i have gone through previous posts, but I'm still not ok with them

cc: seyewest,Twoods
please help me thanks

Please don't try it. Atleast not now that the the VO's are not smilling. Let him sponsor you to cayman islands first. Establish ur tie with him by the trip, Then make another trip to a West African country or shengen. Then you can face the US. Otherwise you stand a great chance of starting ur visa application history with a refusal. You don't have good ties in Nigeria which really weakens whatever case you have. If I were to be the VO, I will see you as a potential abscondee. My little advise. Be smart.

abnot:
Going through these posts I thought I had shared a summary of my interview transcript earlier in the year . I woke up one morning and figured that I hadnt been to USA since 2013 and talked my sister into spending this years vacation in the US. I completed the form, payed the fee online and reserved an interview slot. On the eve of the interview I worked overnight and left the office at 5am to my house. Took a bath and headed to the consulate.First turn off was when I was directed to a parking lot a few meters into Walter Carrington crescent and was told its 1,000 to park. I grudgingly attested and walked to towards the US consulate at about 6:20am for a 7am interview. The crowd was amazingly huge with most people in their best behavior. Patiently queued up and waited for my turn. In the course of queuing up a female police rank & file asked me for 1,000 naira to hold my token as I wont be allowed in with it but I rejected her offer and kept the token on an opening above the transparent shade under which we queued. Slowly completed formalities with CGI and proceeded to the main embassy building across the road. Went through a queue, enrolled my finger print and queued up for the interview: As soon as I was called I walked to the window and passed my passport along with a DS160 confirmation page

ME: Good Morning
VO: Morning
VO:Why are you going to the US?
ME: To spend part of my annual vacation
VO: WHere in the US are you going to ?
ME: New YOrk City
VO:Why New York?
ME:Because I love spending my vacations in big cities
VO types for a while
VO:What do you do for Bleep XXXX PLC
ME: I design and develop software solutions for their FinTech division
VO: Tell me more about that
ME: I summarized what I do for my employer.
VO types for a while and starts to flip through my passport
VO: I see you studied in the US a while ago. What did you study
ME: Software Engineering (I wonder how he knew cuz I left USA 7 years ago after my studies and didnt have the passport I used back then with me)
VO: I can also see you studied in the UK. Was it software engineering you studied also
Me: No I studied for a general graduate degree IT
VO: What did you go to Do in Netherlands in 2015
ME: I went on vacation
VO: Was that while you were studying in the UK ?
Me: YEa
VO: When last were you in Europe
ME: Three weeks ago
VO types a bit
VO: YOur visa is approved and you will be sent a tect message when your passport is ready to pick up (he circles the DHL collection centre address) and passes me the white paper with the address
Me: THank you


Interview as too long. I expected a 2 - 3 minutes interview
Last 5 years travel history: Been to UAE twice, Bahrain once, Ghana (4 times), Togo (once), SA (once), Netherland (Twice) SPain (thrice), France(twice) , Italy (once), UK (eleven times),

For those of you asking about travel history, this is why travel history is good. It gives gives you about 50% pass mark unless you Bleep up with other questions or the VO believes you are trying to trick him/her or does not just like you or is in a bad mood. Pray for grace but do a little bit of ground work by not submitting a Virgin passport.

Pipedreams:
Nawa o must someone have travel history? These US guys are begining to irritate me. This guy suppose get visa now. Me Don dey fear o. Mine is in 11days. Haba now

Yes, travel history is an important check on their box unless you are going for studies,a business meeting, medical, etc. But for tourism? . No way, get atleast one european holiday plus one African country.

Anie007:
Hi, I have not traveled out of Nigeria before, i plan to travel to the US by July (i'm invited by a friend). I wish to apply for a visit visa, 1:can i start applying now ?
2:how do i go about it ?, i need to be guided
3:how long does it take ?
thaks in advance!!!

You might be lucky to get the visa but I strongly advise you not to try it.
And if you want to try it, you need to apply now but you may find it difficult getting an interview date before ur travel date.
All the best

Jumoby1:
Hmmmmmmm.....
after learning so much here .... i was out today for my interview session.
session goes thus;

MY INTERVIEW
VO: good morning
ME: good morning to you
VO: where in US are you going?
ME: Atlanta
VO: what are you going to do in US
ME: i'm invited for an entrepreneurship Award due to my works here in Nigeria
VO: how long are you staying
ME: 7 days
VO: are you married
ME: yes
VO: have children
ME: yes... 2
VO: what do you do
ME: i run an IT/Entertainment company (movies production, digital marketing etc)
VO: digital marketing...
ME: yes
VO: what does your wife do
ME: she's a co-founder, we run the biz together
VO: ooh good
ME: yeah
VO: how long have you been running your company
ME: 6 years
VO: how many movies do you produce per year
ME: well, i produce my first movie in 2016 which was premiered at silverbird cinemas, then another short film last and the coming up this year
VO: have you travelled out of nigeria before
ME: no, but travelling next to liberia and ghana for a conference (true)
VO: sorry we can not offer you US visa now.... blabla re-apply later
ME: thanks

got blue paper still.... but nothing spoil sha.
i',m replying... share any new tip please.

NP: VO's REALLY DONT CHECKK ANY DOCUMENTS YOU CARRY IN. NONE TODAY WAS CHECKED FOR MY KOROKORO EYES O.
SO, THINK BEYOND CARRY PLENTY PAPERS OOOOOO


GOOD LUCK TO OTHERS MATCHING IN ...

You had a good interview but the Archilles' heel was ur travel history. US do not like you starting your international travel with the USA. Do one west african country and one shengen/uk. Then reapply.
My little advise.

[quote author=Ezechinwa post=68153865][/quote]Thanks for sharing!

Ezechinwa:
to be fair, these people sometimes understand that humans make errors so they might ignore this. but during submission there is a document given to you by the office who scanned your application, is contains a list of all documents you submitted. please check if your has it cause mine has . if you need a screen shoot of what am taking about kindly reply this post asap.. cheers

Please share, so some of us can learn .

Thanks.

Brandagencies:
CBP: Now very Angry, don’t thank me, looking at u disgusts me, just leave my sight before I puke.

This is where I drop my pen.

That was a very terrible experience. I sincerely wish you a safe delivery.

I believe there are more than one Assistant G.O. Although he seems to be the most senior (rank and not age) amongst them. Kindly post pictures of the other A.G.O's as well.

Thank you.

But on another note, what has me knowing him got to do with making heaven? . All I need to know is Jesus. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death". Phil 3:10

raheemkeji:
Option for that is not available.

It is available please.

Dear ABUJANIV /LAGOSNIV,

It is so nice to have you back.

Please what is the use in meeting the criteria for Expedited Visa Appointment and not able to book an earlier date than what is shown on the profile? I have urgent business travel and have all the required documentation both from the US company and Nigeria Company affirming the opportunity to be lost. However, I am unable to book an appointment that can enable meet up with this travel.

I had earlier done drop box and expected my passport earlier but was invited for interview (most likely to see my zero balance and other documentation because i had a child in the states). But this is dealing a heavy blow on my business travel which came up after i had submitted my passport (along with passports of other members of the family) for a planned family vacation in August.

What is the way forward?


Thank you in advance for your response.

Good day ABUJANIV / LAGOSNIV,

Thank you for a job well done.