Hello,

So I had the same experience and below is what happened to me just this Monday:

- My request was approved within 48hrs.

- So when it is approved, you will be able to "Continue' to pick a date from the range of available dates in the calendar that pops up as we were able to before this new process.

- Well, the only available dates from what popped up for me was from May 2025. So I had to pick a date in May Next Year. To be honest, it's a leisure visit visa so it's fine by me. What has to happen is to make sure you update your application forms and profile before then if you still wish to attend the interviews at a later date plus travel at a later date.

I hope I helped in my little way

soprano008:
Hello,

I just filled out my Ds-160, I haven't submitted yet thou, but I am trying to secure a visa date for B2 visa appointment. I got this message after. "Your request to schedule an appointment has been received and will be reviewed. You will receive an email once your request is approved."

1. My question is how long before my request would be approved?
2. Does it mean that once it is approved, I will have dates pop up and I can select from a range of dates?
3. Do anyone have a timeline or how many weeks, month or year do I wait?

Thank you.

Hello Fam,

Great to see people still helping out her. To God be the glory, I'm back in Naija aka hustle unlimited after enjoying the serenity of El Paso with my 3 weeks old baby.

I can remember when I opened this thread as I had no clue of what to do until I did a google search and it showed up.

I'm trying to settle down now. I know I still owe gist of childbirth experience at El Paso. I will combine it with gist about getting docs, zero balance etc by tomorrow.

God bless us all. The Almighty will continue to perfect our plans. Amen.

Hello All,

I had my baby girl on Tuesday at Del Sol Medical Centre, El Paso.

Thanks be to God. Excellent service too.

For now, I'm recovering and trying to help baby breast feed. Will update later.

God bless us all.

Holla!

@All, I dey here at ELP, waiting for Baby to pop.

Good to read all the lovely POE and birthing stories. God will perfect all our plans IJN.

@IyawoToBe, I used their letter and will be using their hospital as well. The hospital is Del So Medical centre.

@IyawoToBe, yes. I used the Doctores Para Ti letter.

Rodolf revised it, gave me a Dr. and signed it. So it's no longer a vague letter.

Make sure you get all that cos they will read it all at POE.

Lol @bloggerina. That groundnut is very important. If you see the way we packed them, you go think say na commercial quantity. Lol

@Genomi, thanks. They just wanted to be sure they are letting upright people into their country. I don't blame them. Na only my rice pain me pass cos I no know where to get Naija rice now. Lol.

For now, I'm chilling for Baby to show up. May God reward us with good news everyday.

Thanks people. I just woke up after a long day. It's still 3am ish here so my sleep clock never set.

Any ways, here's all that happened.

So we boarded Delta from Nigeria and no issue at all. I was 33-34weeks and no one gave me any problems. The flight was smooth and lovely, even though it was a long journey of 12hrs. But when I think I'm doing all these for my health and my lovely baby, I simply just say "thank God" I can do it.

So we got to ATL quite early, myself and MIL. And when we were called by the first border officer, he asked and we answered:

Officer: Hello, what brings you to the US.
Me: I'm having my first baby.
Officer: who is this woman to you.
Me: she's my MIL and I'm her DIL
Officer: and why is she here?
MIL: I'm coming to support and take care of her.
Officer: Ok. You have an hospital already and a doctor?
Me: Yes. Hospital is xxxx and doctor is xxxxx
Officer: Ok. Where did you hear about the hospital/doctor? Your friend told you?
Me: No friend told me, I did my research myself and got the hospital amongst other.
Officer: And why did you pick this particular hospital?
Me: Because I was eventually able to talk to the Ob/gyn and he understood what exactly I'm coming to do.
Officer: Have you been to the US before?
Me: No
Officer: Where are you staying?
Me: Extended Stay facility near the hospital.
Officer: So it's like and hotel.
Me: It's not an hotel exactly, it's modeled for long stay guests.
Officer: how much do you have on you?
Me: xxxxx
Officer: what of your MIL
Me: xxxxx
Officer: Is the money for her or you gave her some to keep.
Me: No, it's entirely hers. I don't know anything about her money. You can ask her.
Officer: How long are you staying
Me: 3 months.
Officer: That means you will be spending xxxx totally on accommodation alone.
Me: Yes.
Officer: Ok. Finger prints please.......

And he stamps both of us in for 6 months.

Then we went to pick our luggage and while we were happy it didn't last long so we can relax, eat at the airport before connecting to El Paso, na so them stop us at the exit gate where we go finally exit before we comot.

Officer: Hello Ma'ams, do you have any foodstuffs in your bags?
Me: Yes we do.
Officer: Did you pack the bags yourselves.
Me: Yes we did.
Officer: Ok, can I have your passports please.

Na so he carry us enter secondary inspection. After them don stamp us in for 6 months and we don claim luggage o. We were delayed for close to an 1hr at this point. They later called our names.

Officer: Hello, what are you here for.
Me: I'm here to have my baby.
Officer: Was that what you told the VO at the embassy to get a Visa.
Me: Yes.
Officer: You went alone or with someone?
Me: I went with my hubby and MIL and we got the visas.
Officer: So you got pregnant before you applied to the embassy?
Me: Yes please.
Officer: Ok, how far gone are you?
Me: 33 weeks.
Officer: When did you apply?
Me: Late July.
Officer: When did you get the visa?
Me: In September.
Officer: Can I see documentary evidence of your pregnancy?

I handed all my doctors correspondence, doctors report from Nigeria, result of 1st scan etc.

Officer: I see you have travelled a lot. Where and when did you do all these travels.
Me: I've been to SA 4 times, UK, Dubai, Ghana and they are mostly work related.
Officer: Where do you work and what do you do.
Me: I'm a xxxxx at xxxxx
Officer: Give me a minute.....

Officer took my passport in and came out later.

Officer: How much do you have on you?
Me: xxxxxx
Officer: And your MIL?
Me: xxxxx
Office: Did you give her some to hold for you?
Me: No.
Officer: Can I see the monies please.

She counted them, then went through the numbers of my notes and MIL's notes. I'm suspecting she wanted to know if they followed each other.

Officer: Please bring your bags.

We brought our luggage and they scanned it and told us rice was prohibited but they left our beans, fish, dry pepper, groundnut.

Officer: Ok, you can take this way out. Enjoy your stay.

I really don't know what they wanted to know but it's clear they wanted to be sure you have enough money for your bills, you declared your pregnancy at the embassy. Let your embassy story be equal to your POE story cos he be like say they can read transcripts of your visa interview once they scan your passport/visa.

So people, if you are coming through ATL. I wish you the very best

Phew!
I got into El Paso today via Atlanta.

Mnnnn, POE isn't smiling o. I will gist "you guys" later.

Lol

I still dey here dey throway salute! God bless everyone.

Mnnnn. He who had ears, let him hear. I've been a victim of the "family decisions" before. I will not put my story in public but the only thing I will say if "FLY THIS BRO OUT".

My widow's mite!

Mnnnn. The way the VO said the people at the border are not nice and will not let you pass is chilling.

dayum!

*Now sharing bottles of groundnut and cans of coke.

It's official, dem don detain @Tvegas for POE at Houston

Hehehehehehehehe. As we no hear from him again.

Where is @Tvegas? Abi he don dey POE ni?

LOl.

All join.

LOL.

So VISA no dey guarantee entry again and to make it worse, awon promo tickets don help them direct their traffic to Houston for proper check. This people will not kill somebody with laughter.

Please, again, if you are yet to apply, declare your pregnancy. If you have applied before getting preggos, inform the embassy and get a response.

If we do everything right, God will sort the rest.

This deportation is real o. My MIL's friend just buzzed to tell us how preggys on her flight were turned back. Houston POE too. Abeg, make una do the needful o. These guys are taking no prisoners.

All sorts. I don tire to dey read all these POE harassment abeg.

@Phema, be nice joooooor.

Even if people didn't declare and faced issues at POE, deportation is a big punishment. Cry small and show sympathy for them

@Phema, ahan. *straight face

@raii !!!! *hugs

@Airpure, negatively ke. You have spoken well. I'm adopting your strategies mehn. I'm on my bed rolling like an egg, then I will go and face one stress like that at POE. Noooooo. All strategies are welcome.

Good morning everyone. God bless you all and may we continue to be fruitful in our individual families. Amen

But wait. Even if your visa was issued for birth purposes, would they still harass at POE like this?

Dear @tenic09 bring that 500k. I will get visa for you to any part of the world

It is well. So why give Visas if no entry at POE? Ha!

@anonymousmum, abeg abeg abeg. Na me you dey sub. Hian!

I still have my groundnut here, pop corn and coke to go with it.

But mehn, this story wants to make me sit my small bum bum in Nigeria. Kai!

It is well. If it were me, I would just sit down on the custom office floor and start crying. Tears no dey too slow comot for my eyes.

Ahan! @PetMe13, this obviously wasn't a lovely experience.

Pele

Please, avoid anything Doctors Para Ti for now until all their issues is sorted. Refill hour ds 160 and get new hospitals. I don't want anyone to go through that interview and go home depressed afterwards. Depression in pregnancy is bad for your health. I love you

@Flowers, you fall under no. 7 in your post

Prayer point for the thread tonight - That we will find peace in the midst of chaos, that we will be humble in our own strength and we will find joy in all things. Amen.