₦airaland Forum

Thank you so so much to everyone who has replied this post. I’ll go ahead and start filling her DS160 and choose a date closer to April next year. I really appreciate all the responses.

VisaZest:
Hello,

I can understand your frustration after multiple denials.

A few things I would recommend:
1. Fill her DS-160 and book her appointment for a date that is closer to the wedding date. An interview date that is too early means visa validity will expire before the wedding. Too late means you run the risk of being unable to find interview dates close to your wedding.
2. She needs more interview prep. The interview is just as important, if not more important than the DS 160. Those 3-5 minutes at the window make a significant impact on your visa decision. Your invitation letter and all supporting documents may not be checked. Prepare as if you don't have documents and speak as if you don't have documents (to communicate the merits of your case). Do mock interviews using likely questions to assess and improve your mum's responses.
3. A number of people have mentioned immigration intent. This is 100% true- the US assumes all applicants want to immigrate and it is your responsibility in that interview to prove you have more reasons to return home to Nigeria than to stay in the US. That said, no matter the question asked, her responses must point back to her home ties. For example if ask why she is traveling, she should mention the wedding then the fact that she can only take 2 weeks off from her business because she has pending client jobs to deliver or she needs to return to Naija to care for her husband and other children (use whatever ties applies in her case). This also brings the question- what's the length of trip you filled in the DS-160?
3. Be proactive about volunteering the right information especially what is not in your DS-160. While you do not want to overtalk, the goal is to give them the necessary information to help them see you as someone who has more to do in Nigeria than to be stuck abroad illegally. For example, if asked about how she makes a living- I run a hair salon which I launched 10 years ago that has 15 staff and serves 300 customers monthly with an annual revenue of 100m. This answer shows the magnitude of your work and the fact that your economic circumstances in Nigeria are great and you do not need to run away from home. This is a much stronger response than responding with "I am a business owner, I run a salon".
4. Create a list of key highlights she needs to communicate and help her weave that into any question she is asked.
5. Given her history of 3 denials, she may need to start her next interview with a statement about what has changed since her last application. There may not be any significant changes but she can politely mention that she believes she didnt communicate "1,2,3" well at her last application and would like to opportunity to share them better today. This helps the new visa officer give her at least a chance because someone who has been denied multiple times would struggle to overcome those denials and the visa officer would trust the decision of his/her colleagues who decided before.

All the best!

crownfame012:
I just checked ur profile and saw u started the processing for mama Dec last yr
And she was denied 3 times in less than 10 months

Can you provide a summary of how the interview went
Or a question they asked her that might have looked like the reason for the denial

And does it mean all her children aren't in Nigeria

And what efe said about how you guys immigrated



One more thing if the wedding is next yr April as you said and her purpose of going to the US was for your wedding (her third interview). Isn't that too far. Cos the consular might think if you have a 3 months visa and the occasion isn't till next yr why are you going now.



Or maybe the wedding was postponed

The wedding was postponed when she couldn’t get it. 3 denials was over 3 years, not 10 months. The first two times, she was trying to come for graduation. Her children, one is a permanent resident and two are students. All legal, no issue with status. Questions were is she traveling with anyone? Why is she traveling? Where is she going? If she has travelled anywhere else before. She answered all truthfully. She has only been to Tanzania and Morocco

Hello all,

Thank you in advance for your responses.

I have my wedding coming up in the US in April and I really want my mom to attend. She has been denied 3 times already. The third time she mentioned she was going for my wedding and tourism. The problem is she has 3 children here and we believe it’s one of the reasons they’ve denied her. She still works as a teacher in Nigeria and she has a business too. Please any advise on what we can do differently? I plan on adding wedding invitation card and a letter of invitation as part of the documents for her to take there.


2. If I start the DS160 now, can I choose a date in maybe Feb or March next year, so that the 3 months start on time for the wedding? Or should I wait until closer to that date to start DS160? I’ve seen people saying they got October dates. Or should I try to get an early date now and if she gets it, just do a renewal later on?

Please help. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Please I have one more question can someone please share the difference in passport pickup options. I’m trying to find info on how many days on average for each method but can’t find anything online. I think it used to be 3 - 5 days for the free pickup. What about premium?

Thank you!

Zeni06:
You're on the right path. Your visa interview will most likely take three (3) minutes, or even less. The consular will most likely not look at any of the documents you came with as that's time consuming for them.
Simply pay attention to what you filled on your DS-160 form and be very bold and assertive.
You'll be interviewed in front of everyone and your fate will be decided in front of you, if you're rejected a blueish green paper is given to you stating the reason for the rejection, and if the visa is approved a white paper containing your passport pick up information is given to you whilst your passport is collected for the visa issuing.
You're not dropping any document with them and everything you go with will return with you.
Ps: Whilst you're there don't get scared by the number of rejections you see/hear. It's a strategy to throw you off balance before it gets to your turn and it works most times.
All the best.

Hello. Thank you all for all the information. I’d like to clarify that this is the current process for B1/B2. Please let me know if I missed anything.

1. Fill DS-160 (done)
2. Go on avitz, pay and choose interview date (done)
3. Go for visa interview - include ds160 confirmation, visa appointment confirmation , intl passport, passport photograph, supporting documents like bank statement, proof of job, proof of family etc.
4. Hold documents in hand during interview. ( no need to upload anywhere). Do you need to leave documents there?
5. If visa approved, will they tell you there immediately at the interview? Or you know after by checking the portal?
6. Pick up passport or have it shipped to you.


Thank you all.