₦airaland Forum

RashidT3Y:
Good morning everyone, I am a J1 visa applicant and had my interview on the 12th of August 2025. The VO directed me to submit my original transcript to the document collection center of which I did so, since then I have placed under administrative processing. Today is 19th October, 2025 and I haven't gotten any message. I sent an email but no response. What should I do, is there possibility it would be approved?

After 60 days, you can send an email in a specified format as they won't respond to normal emails. I was also on AP from June to August and they responded after I sent the email using the format specified by them, my wife also went through the same process. The Abuja visa navigation page: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1wt8xb3LubFFSlvlLUNi3HOnIcZxquaZyClg3Y3HxlSWbXQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Answer as it fits your situation and they'll tell you the format down to the subject title. Good luck

I did dropbox

Otelsmyg:
Were you interviewed when you submitted for renewal in June?

For those still wondering what F1 visa is being given, it's single entry with 3 months validity. I submitted for renewal in June before they passed the new rules and was put on AP.

Abuja consulate. I've noticed most of the delayed APs are from Abuja. Lagos processes AP faster I think. Congratulations

Timshin:
Which consulate is this exactly. Because I had my own interview at the Lagos embassy yesterday morning, August 20th, and my visa was issued this morning August 21st, on my caec portal. Exactly 24hrs after my interview. Infact I was called to come and collect my passport today.

The updated date on my AP changed to yesterday but everything is still the same showing refused. I sent them an email using the format they set for emailing after 60 days for update yesterday after which it changed. Has anyone had this experience?

PS: I did dropbox mid June

The consulate discourages applicants from emailing for updates until 60 days. I'm on 54 days now.

[quote author=Chemist4life post=136426392][/quote]

No simply just confirm they are set to public. They'll respond quickly to confirm receipt of your mail.

Loboski:
For guys on AP, please is there a specific format for sending the notification email that you've updated your socials?

I've been on AP since June 17 and mine is renewal which I did through Dropbox. They sent me an update email 2 weeks ago to ensure all my social media accounts are set to public before they proceed with social media vetting. I don tire sef.

Akpusky:
I am worried. A friend of mine did her interview since June 13 in Abuja but still placed on AP. Her school will be resuming on the 18th. What do you advise she do?

I am also in the same situation, F1 renewal too. I've been on AP since June 17th and only got an update email from them last week saying all social media accounts should be set to public. I'll start emailing them once the 60 days window is up.

fof4:
Hello, I'm in the same camp. Submitted on May 28th and CEAC still shows " Application Received". No change for the last 10 weeks.
F1 visa renewal. Class resumption is fast approaching. Really in mental distress now.
I really don't know if any F1 visas have been issued since the policy change back in June. My last status update was July 2nd.

Otunba1960:
Good evening.

Is there anyone that the situation above applies to?

Hi Otunba,
I'm in the same situation. I did dropbox last month for F1 renewal and I got AP as well, which has not been updated.

Quick question to the group, I've been on AP since mid June and my wife's interview is next week. Does it make sense for her to proceed?

No it's not required since you have a US visa

Muyiwa774:
Please is a transit visa required from Nigeria to USA using KLM Airline? The layover will be at Amsterdam.

Congratulations!! I'm happy with how you responded to the setups the VO was setting. Good luck to those yet to do. Quick question to the house, aside COVID testing before leaving, are there any other tests one has to do?

TenaciousOrphan:
My Visa Interview Transcripts (Caveat Long Read) Sorry for posting it now, I wanted to see how my visa looks like first. Accept my apology.

I started applying to schools since 2019 but I promised myself that I won’t go to the embassy until I get full funding. I have been making application mistakes since that time until I discovered what I was doing wrong. So I applied in 2019, 2021 but was not successful. In 2022 applications I applied to 11 Schools and got 5 Fully Funded PhD Admissions.
My Interview Profile and Transcripts is below:
NB: This white VO on earpiece was denying plenty people, so I was always pretending to use the toilet. 3 times I left the queue but was still sent back by the CGI official.
Profile:
School: Florida State University
Program: PhD in Sociology
Funding: Fully Funded ($52, 211)
Interview Location: Lagos
Interview Date: July 7th 2023.
Interviewed by: The dreaded VO on earpiece.
First Time.
Status: Visa Approved
VO: He signal me to come forward.
Me: Good Morning but he didn’t respond.
VO: Where do you work and what do you currently do?
Me: I work at xyz University as a Research and Administrative Assistant and my duties includes…VO cuts in
VO: Are you married?
Me: Yes, with a son.
VO: Why are you applying alone without your family?
Me: My wife is currently busy at her work place and her annual leave was not granted.
VO: So are you saying you will be staying in the US for 5 to 6years without your family? It is better you guys go together for this period of your study, are you processing hers already? -set up question 1.
Me: My wife wanted to accompany me to settle down and return to resume her work but her annual leave was not approved…..because she’s currently very busy in her place of work.
VO: So you mean they will never come to the US throughout your program?
Me: She will visit when she is free at her work place. She also needs to develop her career too as I am doing mine. I will also be visiting when I have the time.
VO. Since you are going for a PhD, will it not make sense to get a job in the US after your graduation? Because you will earn more money in the US and so many universities will be looking for your service. - set up question 2.
Me: That will not be possible because I am signing a bond with my University in Nigeria and if I disappoint on that bond, they will report me to all the universities in Nigeria and the school I am attending in the US. And this will seriously affect my career. So even though it would have been better it’s not possible.
VO: Where do you work again and what do you do?
Me: I work as a Research and Administrative Assistant at XYZ university. At this point he checked my Linked profile and search google to confirm. I saw his computer reflection in his glass window.
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
Me: 11 schools and 5 gave me fully funded PhD admissions
VO: I will be approving your visa.
Me: Thank you and I did not hear any other thing he said. I just left the hall very fast. Though I later came back because the applicant before me mistakenly packed my documents.

I left the embassy after giving out some free Will gifts to the few beggars I saw on the way. When I got to my hotel I started playing a song by Edna Ogholi titled: ‘Okeoghene Omai woma’ in my language; which when translated means “God time is the best” and shared tears of joy.
Thanks a million to those who have contributed to my success in this Journey. Especially Mr
Firebreeze (a candle loses nothing by lighting another), Fairheart, Faith-my sister that got her Visa at the 11th time of asking amongst others. I am honored.

Your reason for choosing Umich is top notch I must say. I had similar reservations with the responses too, thank you so much.

mojolajesu:
So recently, I was in an argument with someone about this loan thing and he said he has had people who scaled through the loan. according to him, they even had less than 5 years work experince.

Sometimes, one might not be able to predict the reason for the denial however, from this transcript, I will advise the person to work on her confidence, if possible, don't use loan again, work on your responses too. they are too generic in my opinion.

for instance, the response to that Post Graduate plan is too plain. She should be able to precisely articulate how the course will help her return to 9ja to continue bleep for bleep reason and so on.

Then saying you chose a school because it is a top public university is not convincing enough in my opinion. for instance could say

"I chose umich because it came highly recommended from 2 top management staffs in my company who are alumni of the school and they also referred you to their professor who you have been in touch with for the past 2-3 months and he has been very responsive..."

Generally, she should work on her responses.

I hope this helps

Good day house, kindly analyze my friend's transcript. She got a blue slip this morning, your honest assessment and encouragement would be appreciated. Personally I feel it was the loan and post study plan part that didn't go well due to her nervousness.

Embassy: Lagos
Attempt: 1st
School: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Course: Masters in Accounting
Funding: Partially funded scholarship
Status: Unsuccessful
Date: 11th July, 2023

Vo-pass me your I-20 (She did)
Vo-what do you currently do
Me-i work as a transaction officer at access bank plc where I am saddled with the- (vo cuts in)
Vo-i can see you have a scholarship,how do you want to fund the deficit.
Me- I have a personal funds which came as a form of loan from MPOWER with a repayment plan of 134 months. Ist five month repayment plan is 284 starting September (note,she allowed me finished this explanation)
Vo-why did you choose umich
Me- I choose umich for 2reasons aside from the fact that it's a top public university in usa and 2 of my top management staff are alumni.(note she gave me listening ears ,but I started shaking)
1.umich curriculum offer me more than class room teaching,I have been scheduled for an expense paid trip to DC,where I will have a better understanding on how Accounting policies shapes business decisions(at this point ,she cuts me)
Vo-are you married
Me No,butt(vo cuts in)
Vo-Do you have anyone in the USA
Me-No
Vo-what is your post graduate plan
Me-upon the successful completion of my masters in accounting, it will equip me with the skil and experience for my long term success and also build an impressive and attractive profile (vo cuts in)
And the denial word came

vivashut:
Hello, pls can someone here help me in paying for the sevis fee? Thanks.

Use Pay4me app, it's straightforward and your best option or you can also have someone in the US pay for you. I recommend pay4me app

My friend isn't on nairaland, in total I know 3 people who had their EA request denied yesterday. I have a feeling hers was because it was outside the 60 days window to the resumption date on the i-20

yogun:
Are you talking about me? Because this is also my situation. I can't reschedule again because I had cancelled a few times during the covid when I didnt get favorable interview date to meet up with resumption.
I applied for EA yesterday and almost immediately received an email that it was denied. The embassy moved around my interview date again and was given an interview one month after my resumption, so now I dont know what next to do? is anyone going through the same? how do i get out of this situation?

Yes it was, my first date was Jan 2024. So I kept checking to reschedule my appointment

AZzoe:
Congratulations...and all the best in your studies...

Please, for the checking, was it after ur first schedule date? Like u then continue to click on the "reschedule appointment" before u saw your June date?

Good morning all,

Asking on behalf of a friend whose EA request was denied yesterday. She applied and was denied the same day. What can be done please? To the best of my knowledge, it's either she gets a reschedule date if she is lucky or pay another visa fee. Yesterday is outside the 60 days window to her resumption date but she called the embassy and was encouraged to proceed. Kindly help out

No I didn't put in EA, I was checking like thrice daily and luckily got my date when I checked around 4am around the first week of May

olabs201:
Congratulations and all the best. Please, how did you get an interview date in Abuja? Did you put in EA?

Embassy: Abuja
Attempt: 1st
School: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Course: Atmospheric sciences and Meteorology
Funding: Fully funded scholarship
Status: Approved✅✅
Date: 8th June, 2023

I've been a silent reader of this thread since March, big thanks and God bless everyone who has contributed positively to this thread with transcripts, tips and pointers. Glory be to God, I got my visa approved on my first attempt. I went to the embassy in Abuja at 6:30 a.m. on the 8th of June 2023.

Endeavor to go there early as everyone is let in irrespective of your time of appointment (mine was 8am but I did my interview close to 12noon). Please don't patronize the touts outside, whatever document arrangements will be done inside. Another thing of note is if you paid your visa fee with your GT Bank app, the receipts generated by the app is valid. Don't be deceived into paying money to print another type of receipt. I was interviewed by a bald slim white man at window 10. My Visa interview went as follows.

VO: Good morning,

Me : Good morning sir

VO: your passport and your I-20 please

Me: here they are

VO: Have you traveled outside the country before?

Me: No, I've not had a reason to

VO: I see you're going to Michigan

Me: Yes, I am going to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor for my PhD in Atmospheric sciences and Meteorology for a period of 5 years with a funding package of $xx,Bleep annually for the period of my study.

VO: I see, that's an impressive offer (looks at my I-20, becomes silent and was typing on the system)

Me: (To avoid the silence being awkward, I started talking) Yes it is, I submitted a competitive application package with a compelling SOP, I have excellent CGPAs in my Bsc in Physics (x .xx) from NSUK in 2016 and Msc in Space Physics (x.xx) as the best graduating student from AUST in 2021. (To my surprise, he didn't cut in so I continued) I have 5 years of relevant research experience in my proposed field of study with 3 publications in international peer reviewed journals.

VO: (smiles and nods) Tell me, what do you do?

Me: I am a research scientific officer at xxxxxx, deployed to the Bleep where I conduct active research in the department of lower atmospheric dynamics and modeling (VO types). I am currently the team lead for the Atmospheric monitoring equipment network group, deploying and installing 38 modular weather stations and air quality sensors across Nigeria.

VO: Do you have any relatives in the US?

Me: No I do not

VO: What are your plans after your PhD?

Me: With the technical depth and experience I would have acquired, I intend to return to my agency to take up a higher position as a Chief scientific officer with the added responsibility of heading a lab in my area of expertise in biosphere - atmosphere interactions and earth system modeling. My agency has been kind enough to grant me 5 years of study leave with pay and I am legally bonded to return upon completion of my PhD (Home ties!!)

VO: (types for a fair bit and looks attentively at the system, my heart cut small at this point tbh) did you apply for a US visa 10 years ago?

Me: No I did not

VO: Ok, just a similar first name (mumbles something) I have no reason to deny you a visa, I'll be approving your visa......(I became deaf at this point, I have read transcripts of people not hearing anything at this point and laughed but now I understand the state of trance one falls into upon approval)... please pick up your passport at this location (hands me white paper) in ......days.......will be sent to your email. Congratulations sir.

Me: (smiling) Thank you sir and have a lovely day.

In all honesty I was prepared but nervous scared thinking a simple "no" can destroy all my dreams. God was faithful and i became tranquil at the time of interview and maintained eye contact all through, please while it's an important interview remember it's just a chat and be fluid in answering don't cram. I hope this helps anyone preparing and I wish you success in your interview.

Yes they do, I got a PhD offer there but turned it down for Umich because you must conduct research to be paid during the summer. If you are a STEM student, the Atmospheric science department are waiving application fee.

damtan:
Anyone heard of University of Wyoming?? I hear they give funding and it can be 100% sometimes

Good morning house,

Please add me to the Abuja mock group (08054637227), my interview is on the 8th of June. Also I'd be glad to connect with anyone going to University of Michigan this Fall. Have a lovely day guys.

Love letters have started dropping for those who didn't get the test invite. I just got mine, I wish those writing the test success.

Success to those who have received their mails, has anyone with a Physics degree received their mail? On this forum and people I know, only chemistry among natural sciences has received.

Experienced hire is live

Alienist:
Lol this your mentality is a bad one. A very bad one. If it were to be the exact questions, I'd understand. But this? Nah

I don't know you personally but from what you wrote, I can picture the kind of person you are.

I mean, you wrote your own test years ago, at least from what I saw here. So why are you gatekeeping? Is there something you stand to lose or gain?

But it's fine sha. You've made your point.

Shalom!

Bro he was stating the obvious that someone in possession of such material is likely not willing to share. Life is not rosy and kumbaya, it's a cutthroat experience especially for an opportunity like this.