₦airaland Forum

nefertitiram:
As for receipts, it's likely her profile has been flagged to show receipts on her way OUT of US, just like Modath, so she has to have all receipts in her handbag!

I thought so too. Thanks for pointing it out.

Now to our Houston POE story. But before I start, I implore you guys to pray against every obstacle before you travel. We were busy praying against the principalities at IAH that we totally forgot about Heathrow where my DW was almost turned back because she flew at 34+weeks even though the policy on BA clearly states 36 weeks, we even called to confirm. Anyway God was working and the plane waited for her for 15 minutes after all other passengers had boarded.

At Houston, CBP sent my DW straight for secondary inspection:

SI: Why are you here?
DW: To have my baby
SI: How far are you?
DW: 34 weeks
SI: Why did you lie about your pregnancy during your first interview?
Wifey would have been stunned at this point if we hadn't prepared for this line of questioning
DW: I was scared because I didn't know at the time that it isn't illegal to give birth in USA. I later found out and told the truth during my subsequent interviews.
The truth is, we found out the stupidity of that initial action on this thread
SI: Is that why you applied 3 times in 5 months?
DW: I was willing to show that barring my initial indiscretion, I am fully prepared with proof that I will pay all fees and I shouldn't have denied in the first place.
SI: Can I see your correspondence with the doctor?
DW handed doctor's correspondence, quotes and budget sheet to the lady.
SI: How much do you have?
DW: $4,600. and the remaining is on my debit card.
SI: Make sure you pay all your bills and collect all your receipts because you may be in another trouble on your way out if you don't. Don't just collect one receipt, ensure you get for every bill that you paid.

That was it.. customs did not even tough her luggage.

Lesson's learnt: If we had come across this thread earlier, maybe it wouldn't take 4 attempts to finally get a "Yes". Secondly, I doubt that the "I didn't know I was pregnant" story works much. Maybe it did/does for some people but that has to be a small percentage. So my 2 cents is, except you really didn't know you were pregnant, be open about your error and show readiness. And pray that you come across a VO or CBP who will not penalize you for telling the truth.

DW is now chilling and sending selfies from Intown suites. Gosh I love that woman

My DW slayed Houston POE today. Thanks to all our "encouragers". Full gist coming up in a bit.

Someone just told me you have to have a Current account to get PTA. How true is this? I am sceptical about opening another current account.

If I may ask, when did you apply?

DipoDee:
Hello, I need your help.
I went through my mail now just to see a msg from LagosNIV reading that my immigrant Visa is ready for pickup since October 2nd . I plan on going there tomorrow, pls do you know if there's a time limit to Visa pick up? Will I still be able to pick it up tomorrow?.

Go to ustraveldocs.com/ng. There is a link there with instructions on how to request emergency appointment.

All the best

LME2614:
Hello NL, please u need help, this is quiet urgent, am trying to book a new interview date for myself and son at the U.S. Embassy, but the earliest date am seeing is the 16th of Nov, and am due mid November, please any help with getting a closer date? Please HELP. I keep checking the page almost every 30 minutes, but no earlier date.
Please HELP

I made it to part 3. Yaay

@missusadey @firsttymum

It's there on Arik's website http://www.arikair.com/health-matters that you can fly locally with them up till you're 34 weeks and that was why we printed a copy of that policy in addition to the fit to fly from port health.

I would rather go with an airline that has a published policy that you can hold them to than one with no clear information on their policy for pregnant flyers. But that's just me, what do I know?

missusadey:
Congrats LI...did arik ask for fit to fly for your wife?

We had out fit-to-fly from Port Health ready when Arik asked for it. We also had print out of the Pregnancy policy from the Arik website but there was no need to show this since they let us fly without any drama while of course warning my DW sternly that they would not welcome her on their flight again throughout the pregnancy.

After two visa refusals; one each for my DW and I when we went together, and then another for her when she went alone, we finally got our visas approved today in Abuja during the 10:15 am appointment by the gentleman on window 9.

The first interview was before we came across this beautiful thread on NL. In fact, after that first refusal and upon discovering this thread, my DW and I were quite glad we were refused because the horror of getting turned back at POE because you didn't declare you were pregnant terrified us. But then she went again, told the truth and was denied. Now we panicked. I gave up at that point thinking that maybe we were put on a 10 year ban until my jewel of inestimable value convinced me to let us try one more time and this time we chose Abuja. Everything worked in our favour because we boarded the 7am Arik flight by 6:30. I have gone on that route a few times and this is the first time that happened. I knew at this point that God was in control.

We finally got our chance with the VO around 12:15pm. See transcript below.

VO: Hello. How are you?
ME: Excellent. And you?
VO: I'm great. Can I have your passports and confirmation page?
I hand them over.
VO: So what brings you here today?
ME: I'm travelling to San Francisco to attend to company event (I go into more details on the event) and will be joining my wife in Texas a week later to witness the birth of our baby.
VO: Oh I see. Can I see what you have from the doctor?
I hand over to him a stack of paper containing the famous budget sheet, doctor's correspondence and bills. He glances over the documents and returns to the first page; the budget sheet.
VO: There is no way this is the actual cost of...My heartbeat increased by 100 beats/second at this point...
VO: Oh sorry, I was looking at the wrong amount. I see you have budgeted 13,000
ME: And 15,000 for in case we have to schedule a CS. I try to explain the other documents he was holding
and the VO waved me off. My DW is a better judge of body language because she thinks it wasn't a "wave off" at all but more like an "I feel you" signal
VO: So tell me about *** (this is where I work)
I go into a 15-20 secs introduction of my office and what we do.
VO: And what do you do for them?
ME: My responsibility includes blah, blah, blah
VO: How much do you earn?
ME: I tell him
VO: What does you wife do?
ME: She's a *** but I'm the one sponsoring her trip
VO: That's okay
VO: Where have you travelled to previously?
ME: I have travelled as recently as July when I went to UK on a company sponsored training
VO: How about you ma'am? He addresses my DW for the first time throughout the interview
DW: I have travelled to Dubai and Kenya?
VO: And what? I don't know whether it was that he didn't hear her or he just wasn't impressed.
DW: Kenya.
VO: Ok
VO: Do you have any professional qualifications.
ME: I tell him
VO: Are you guys travelling together.
ME: No. She will be going straight to Texas while I will be joining her from San Francisco.
VO: That's fine
VO: Now let's get on to some processing. And he starts typing for like 2 minutes but it felt like 2 hours. All this while, my heart was pounding and the fella didn't help matters, there was zero expression on his face. He starts scanning through the pages of our passport and continues typing for another forever. And then the moment of truth.

The VO reached for our passports and motions in our direction like he was about to return them to us. But no he didn't, he slotted them among the array of lucky applicants instead and picked that adorable white paper.

Everything he said afterward evaporated as I just latched on to our voluminous burden of proof, held my DW with the other hand and danced shakiti bobo in my mind

I got a lot of learning from this thread reading every page right from part one but at the end of the day, God chose to be on our side today.

Now we're looking for PTA and need to book airline. DW is hitting on 35 weeks but I know say, no shaking. God will finish what he started.

Congrats on the success. Looks like God is really on your side

happymum213:
My Dear, the interview long oooooooo. Well when i got there, there was this lady that was busy denying people like she is deriving pleasure from it. I was just praying that i shouldn't be sent to her. It was like a shock when i was called next to her post, fortunately for me, as i got there, she closed her post and ask me to use the next available VO. That was when it became obvious to me, God is in control.

Quick question please:

For those who had their interview in Abuja, is there any place to keep your personal belongings, phone etc? We are going straight to the embassi from the airport

twingirls:
Pls can you tell us what happened at your first interview? Are you sure it's not linked to dis denial? I never knew vo do demand for doctors report in Nigeria. This visa application do take the grace of God o. Perhaps you can hear the gurus opinion and re apply seriously praying for favour.

The first interview was before we can across this wonderful thread. So we stated that we were going on vacation and didn't vonlunteer the information on the pregnancy status of my DW. I think we even denied it when asked. The second interview was musch different. We prepared my DW to mention that she was pregnant and armed her with burden of proof.

Could the second refusal be linked to our first interview?

My DW went for an interview in Lagos and was refused, see transcript below

VO: Why are you going to the US?
DW: I am going to deliver my baby
VO: Where are you going in the US?
DW: I am travelling to Strafford, Texas
VO: Can I see your Doctor's report in Nigeria?
DW: Yes please, you can have it. (she hands stapled documents that consist budget sheet, correspondence with Dr F, Doctor's bill, Hospital bill and report from Doctor in Nigeria
VO: Have you contacted any hospital in the US?
DW: Yes I have it all in the paper with you and the doctor's report you asked for is on the last page
VO: What do you do?
DW: I am a ---
VO: What does your husband do?
DW: My husband is a ---

While this was going on, the VO never looked beyond page 3 of the set of documents. On page 1 was the budget sheet (15k), page 2 was correspondence with Dr F and page 3 was Dr F's bill. He didn't look at the Doctor's report. Next thing, he seemed to type for eternity and from no where, he gave the usual rhetoric and next thing, hands over the dreaded blue paper.

Pundits in the house should please enlighten on what may have gone wrong as my wife and I both think she did well based on the transcript above.

N.B: I was not with her during the interview, I am financially responsible for the medical bills and logistics and work with a reputable organization. Our first application was refused, we were together and this time, we seemed to think it would boost chances if she applies alone.

Hello there,

What's your advice regarding correcting a mistake made in filling the DS 160. While filling the form, California was mistakenly selected instead of New Jersey. The address now reads, Newark, California, instead of Newark, New Jersey.

Kindly note that an appointment has already been scheduled and canceling same appointment is not an option.

Thanks for you advice.

My landlord's son who's probably in his 30s likes to watch most football matches in my apartment. While his actions may not cause problems, there is a major situation whenever he visits; this guy has an immense body odour. It's so bad I'm sometimes forced to leave the sitting room just because I can't stand his smell. His rare condition is obviously oblivious to him because he doesn't seem like he knows it. I've even sprayed air freshener into the room while he's present just to make him aware but dude doesn't get it. I'm not particularly okay with a confrontation for obvious reasons and apart from living in the same house, we have no real relationship otherwise I would have told him.

Since all my subtle approach to get this guy to know I feel uncomfortable whenever he's around haven't worked, I need suggestions to resolve this matter.

Please advise.

Can we conclude that this thread is dead? That would be worrisome

Hello house, what is the chance of getting a visa if you don't know anyone in Canada? I notice in the application, they asked for letter of invitation.

xyzabcuo:
Do you have any relatives in the US?-yes i do.my uncle lives in NC,Have you ever traveled out of Nigeria?-yes UAE-dubai /abu dhabi, i see you were refused a UK visa why?..i said bla bla bla...okay. she typed a few things and said unfortunately ma'am i don't think you qualify for the visa but you can re apply again anytime.I asked why?she says unfortunately i cannot tell you here and now but here is a letter.please read it.she handed me that general refusal letter under section 214b on a blue paper...( i may have forgotten one or two questions sha cos she drilled me in a short time)lol.aha she asked when are you due i said September and how long i intended to stay-i said 2 months..

Hi Xyzabcuo, So sorry about the refusal. From my perspective, you did nothing wrong and I suggest you re-apply immediately. However I will let the vets in the house give professional advice.

One question from me though, kindly permit me to ask, How did the VO know you were refused a UK visa in the past?

I wish I had discovered this thread before applying for my US Visa and maybe I would not have been refused. But knowing all these I know now, I am raring to go.

I read the entire 401 pages of the first part and all 149 pages of Part 2.

Looking forward to sharing my testimony soon

Lovely thread. I'm surprised that it's nearly empty though.

My wife and I are considering having our first baby in Canada and will be submitting our application next week. Unfortunately, we still don't have any information on affordable hospitals to birth in. Anyone good suggestion will be appreciated.

Sincerely grateful

FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced his resignation on Tuesday amid the corruption scandal that has rocked FIFA's world governing body.

Speaking at a news conference in Zurich, Blatter said a special election would be held shortly to appoint his successor.

Blatter was just re-elected to a fifth term as president at the FIFA Congress on Friday.

Source: http://www.espnfc.com.ng/fifa-world-cup/story/2476623/fifa-president-sepp-blatter-resigns-amid-corruption-scandal

It is well with the baby

If your doctor says, do not eat beef, does that mean you cannot eat the intestines of a cow? If you mother says, do not drive my car, does that mean you cannot wash the same car?

You guys saying Oboabona has ego problems are just deluded. If you have considerate number of years of work experience and one company like that invites you to write an aptitude test, would you go? He who stands for nothing falls for everything

My boss wants me to participate in Forever Living Products business. It's really not my thing and I've refused numerous request in the past. To be honest. I'm not very informed about the business, I just reject them at face value. How do I decline my boss' invitation without getting myself in trouble considering that she's a very vindictive person. Secondly, are the rewards really as juicy as they claim?

I thought it was just me. I noticed this a while back. I think the switch to Nigeria Info really brought out the real her. By the way, I unfollowed her on twitter for the same reason.

I am someone that you can describe as the, "boss's baby" and this has made me gain more enemies than friends at the office. In all honesty, the manager takes extra interest in me and this is very evident to my peers. Even though, I try to hide from it or pretend that I don't get it when my colleagues get all confrontational, I completely empathize with them. My boss doesn't make it any easier since he calls me out, and make a comparison between me and them. He also confides in me and takes a natural interest in my job.

I would not care much about this if it wasn't getting me in trouble. Now my peers talk all sort of stuff about me behind my back. What can I do? This is really important

I can see why your boss hates you. Not everyone is reading your post from a blackberry so better disable auto text and be clearer

Say you're a young worker at a multinational company going out on a business meeting with your boss in her car. Considering that she is quite senior and a female too, where do you seat? The passenger side, or beside her at the back?

I have the option of getting a PRINCE2 or PMP certification, which should I go for? Please give your suggestions with reasons?