₦airaland Forum

veegurl:
Sorry i dont understand, i have been reading the thread and almost everybody that had visa before and intent to go for childbirth later present their correspondence letter from the embassy at POE. So please help me understand wht you meant by waste of time. That i dont need it? I already have my own visa, just going to apply for toddler son since i didnt travel with him initially.

FrontPageLawyer:
@Twoods.

Please stop misleading people. I just came back from the US leaving my wife behind to have our baby.

My firsthand expereince;

Before the trip, I sent a letter of intent to the US Consulate and got the usual response.

At JFK POE; once the CBP officer took my wife's finger print. He told my wife that it was a good thing she already sent a letter of intent to the US consulate notifying them about her intention to give birth in the US. He was very pleased and stamped us in without further questions.

We were both surprised the information was actually recorded in the system.

We are all adults. Please leave people alone to do what suits them and what they can defend. You live in the US and don't know what travellers encounter just to cross the US border.

Do you really have problem with people coming to the US?

Abuleoshi:
Three weeks to your departure date and you got a ticket for less than 400k to Yankee... This one na miracle ooh

Shawbabe:
Not like I care for yall suckers

But ma yellow baby landed almost a month now. Had a wonderful labour and delivery with the hubby by my side cheering me on. Got all ma baby's US documents, took a week and a half for all that. Now na to go face Nigerian embassy in the A. I hear na only 64 pages dey available

Miarose:
Well, I just came back yesterday from California with my baby,normal delivery.
The city I stayed in is riverside. The cost breakdown is below;
Doctor fee is 2000$. Fee is same for either normal delivery or cs.
Hospital fee is 1650$ for a day stay for normal delivery. Cs is 4400 for 3 day stay. Extra $500 comes in for extra baby ( twins).
Epidural is 550.
Induction is 300.
Hospital is parkview community hospital riverside. The other hospital riverside community hospital has the same rate too for cash payment.
I spent a total of 3950$ for giving birth there.
The ped I used cost me only 100$. Visit to the hospital to discharge baby is free. The 100$ comes when you visit his office on baby first appointment.
Hepatitis b vaccine is 35$ with him.

Riverside county is about 1 hr from LA. You will have to make more enquiries on the cost of accommodation and transportation. I stayed with a relative so didn't spend on those two.

EndiaSami:
more coming...

Chirolechick:
you can't take annual and maternity leave in a year, but if you do, it will be deductible from your maternity leave, therefore take 5days leave go for the vacay, when applying for maternity leave, they can deduct it from your maternity, 5days isn't that much. This is assuming your company operates this way o

Shawbabe:
Lol...I don't know why, but I always advise people to stay away from Nigerian airlines when flying international...at least till we get our act together. We have a way of messing passengers up without remorse. And when you complain, they say abi you want cheap flight.

dtush:
My in-law, congrats. Abeg how did the total bill amount to 7000. i remember we paid 1800 for doc, 2300 for hospital, 800 for epidural, i paid extra 500 for my false alarm stay in hospital, 500 for NICU and about 500 for pediatric visits a and tests. 80 dollars fro brown n associates, making it all about 6480. my visa will expire soon and i dont want to be saying anythg from other pple dat we used the same hospital

Mum2ShaEly:
The price has changed, confirm with them again before forwarding the information.

nefertitiram:
Collect 1 carton of Orijin! Tell them to bill my hotel room

freshdad:
Kindly enlighten me on the bolded. Thanks

Austine2020:
Just dont waste your energy on him.I have said it that he must be a US embassy official,because all his answers to peoples questions are always harsh and mean, i know for sure that this Birthing something is breaking his heart and if he has the opportunity, he will put an end to it,.. He is neither a woman going on a birthing mission to the USA ,nor is he living in Nigeria as he said,but he is always on this forum trying to attack people in the name of "i too know" or due process. He can never jump & pass,He has quarrelled with almost every member of this forum and yet he keeps on coming back on the forum on daily basis.

nefertitiram:
TWoods is very partial. That is how he didn't come and help us answer that aunty that is 31 weeks gone and has zeroed her mind she must give birth in US by faya by force and is still asking us how she can circumvent the process.

She wanted urgent and useful advice if not I would have directed her to Favour that is on duty only in US POE

munah123457:
Ok I'm a new member and I have been following this thread. My case goes like this
Myself, dad and younger sister attended US interview on the 8th of March 2017, and we were all granted Visa.

Actually I am 31weeks gone when we went for the interview and I went with my dad and younger sister, and my mum has a valid visa. But my husband didn't apply.

I know if I use the visa to birth, it might create problems for me in the future as my DS160 form states that I am a student, so have zeroed my mind for using it to birth.

I need advice on how I can effectively use my visa without creating any suspicion that will lead to refusal or ban. I've decided that I should apply with my baby after his one year. Then I'm thinking won't the VO start calculating and say I was pregnant while I applied and refuse me or should I travel first b4 I reapply with my baby?

Please urgent and useful reply

Maymum:
@Debby516: Thanks, very very helpful.

My dear, not only Phones. My purse, handbag and even up to prescribed drugs have been searched and questioned. Once, the airline was called to send down my luggage for further search.

Its best to leave out anything that might be easily misunderstood.

debby516:
So i made some notes before i travel, more of tips sha. I hope the new mama find them useful.

1. Delete all implicating emails/bbm/whatsaapp chats/texts from your phone before boarding cos of POE, including contacts saved with Nairaland (NL)
2.Fly before 36 weeks (i.e. 35 weeks + 1 day = 36 weeks). Pls note i went with Emirates.
3. Get Fit to fly from Doctor signed 2 days to trip and also signed copy of the medif form downloaded from Emirates website. Make 4 copies and keep the original signed forms. Always present the duplicate
4. Weigh your luggage before you leave the house.
5. For return journey, carry your change of clothes and basic needs in your hand luggage because of the layover in Dubai. You wont have access to your luggage until you get to Lagos.
6. For hospital bag, just take yours and baby's change of clothes to return home, charger, earpiece and few toiletries, every other thing will be given to you in the hospital.
7. Take a mid-size box to the hosp to be able to pack all the gifts and takeaways you will get in the hosp.
8. For food stuffs, pack each item in a ziploc bag and clearly mark them.
9. Freeze your palmoil, locust beans and pap and put them in a cooler bag before putting it in your check-in luggage.
10. Some basic things you can buy from Nigeria that will save you cost - blueseal vaseline, cottonwool, methylated spirit etc. these things are less than $1 here and not entirely different from what you will buy for $5 or more in the US.
11. Limited purchase of newborn and 0-3 mths clothes, more of 3- 6mths, 6-9mths and so on.
12. Ask for coupons when you buy stuffs in store or even online. Look out for sales/deals.
13. If you want to bring diapers/wipes from the US, take along a thick ghana must go bag (biggest size) to carry them. the bag has no weight and can carry more unlike a box.
14. Have all documents in your carry-on bag for POE.
15. When going out within the US, always have 1 or 2 bottles of water in your bag, cheaper than buying for about a $1 wen u go out. A pack of 24 bottle is $2.5.
16. Discharge the uber driver when you go out and google stores that are all in the same vicinity/shopping mall to save transportation cost.
17. Do not throw away the receipts of goods purchased until you are safely in Nigeria. You cant say, you may need to return some items in the US or luggage may get missing in transit.
18. Take pics of your luggage before you check them in, you cant say when it may be needed.
19. Once baby arrives, start documentation process immediately. Correctly fill the forms in the hosp and make inquiries on timelines. Let them also know you are traveling soon.
20. Also make efforts to pay your bills within the week you put to bed so that all documentations can be concluded before you leave the US.
21. In the event that you are sent to secondary inspection, please get a book to read to wait out the time and do not panic. Dont be seen pressing your phone, keep your phone out of sight if possible and remain calm.

I hope this is helpful.

shawlar:
If you read that statement very well, you'll see where she said that the advisory became necessary because about 4 or 5 Nigerians were refused entry into the US in the last 2weeks. I was like just 5..... , That is a normal number. Instead of issuing such advisory because of five people, she should have investigated and found out why those 5 were turned back as against the hundreds (if not thousands) that were granted entry in the same time frame.

Do not allow the statement to alarm/scare you in anyway. Carry on with your plans and make sure you do the right thing always.

drafrican:
Goood evening my people
thinking of switching base to (henrico womwns hospital)
But I have a few challenges
the bill estimate the hospital sent me is much higher than what mothers said they paid.would be grateful if I can get a quote with epidural though .my pain threshold is super small
pls who is the dr w.f ulio was refering to not been able to get the name
how did you go about negotiating the price with the hospital maybe am following the wrong channel.
pls I havent come across accomodation details in virginia and best transport route would be glad if some ine can hekp out
thanks

Miracletwinee:
@Twood. In as much as I appreciate your concern about people doing the right thing I take exception to you labeling an average Nigerian a scammer.fradulent and " corner cutter" you would be surprised that many of us had the opportunity of being a GC holder but we chose not to be one because we have better things doing here. Let me also advice you to be very careful the way you bring God into your banters and quote scriptures while calling yourselves names. Me and you no be mate ooo.so please don't come for me and if you do...........

debby516:
What is wrong remain wrong, no matter how you choose to paint it.

However, I noted a point which i dont think it applies to all, not all of us see a better life in US and i dont think i would ever leave my life in naija to struggle to live under falsehood in the US or begin again, some of us are enjoying life in naija.

Back to my waka pass mode.

Shawbabe:
Lmao @ stupid idiot. That's probably the only thing that caught my eye. We Nigerians can't have a healthy argument without being sentimental about it. This was exactly why there was a round 2 some days back.

You think you are having a healthy debate with someone, next thing they call you names like idiot . And you're like wtf? Where did that come from?

nefertitiram:
Austin and Tpako. Oya sheath your swords. Biko its too early.

Mspapi had lied and she acknowledged her lie and regrets it. TWoods had given a sensible advise from the get go, that she should go on holiday and come back then go and have her baby, so why go on and on and on?

The reason for this forum is not to encourage things like this because it is giving a dog a bad name and hanging it. The average Nigerian has no idea you can apply for a medical visa and have a baby in the US. The urban legend is hide your pregnancy, if not they will deny you. The op shared that school of thought until she came across this forum and that is what we should be known for, not using one lie to cover up another lie.

TWoods, you need to understand nairaland is a Nigerian thread and we are deeply religious about everything albeit for some wrong reasons but you need to be tolerant about that. We believe oluwa is involved in every facet of our lives including visa application and poe, and you can't change that. So please be a little more tolerant.

QUEENBIZ:
HNM to you all and I really appreciate each and everyone response towards my visa issue I posted earlier. I was able to arrange an impromptu trip as advised but I was stopped at Lagos airport from boarding that I need to contact the embassy. I called abuja embassy to notify them and was told to send an email. I sent a mail and they responded that I should schedule an appointment to visit the embassy so that the issue can be looked into into. So I visited as advised and they requested all d medical bills I paid when I had my baby in 2015. I presented all with detailed explanation & the guy stamped cancelled on my visa page that I no longer have a valid visa to travel. I tried to know the actual reason for cancellation and he said my DH applied and told them I paid $3k for the hospital bill and that the hospital charges me $20k, I disputed that and showed him the agreed itemized bill I signed with the hospital,my corresponding bill payment receipt,zero balance statement, letter of non indebtedness and obstetrics package price list the hospital sent to me via mail. He asked me to reapply. I reapply for a new visa in Lagos and it was approved without requesting to see any documents. I got a call from Lagos consulate 2 days after my interview to scan and send all the payment receipts to them and I responded immediately and I got a mail notification few hours later that my documents have been collected at the consulate. Interview was feb 22, approved and I picked it up Feb 27, flew delta on 28th and Poe was Atlanta where just 3 questions was as asked:
Why are you here?
How much do you have on you?
What do you do for a living?
After responding to all that, was sent in to go and declare my cash and was stamped in for 6 months with no further question. I guess misunderstanding in the bill was the major issue in my case. All in all,truthfulness and doing the right thing when one is opportuned matter most. I'm glad I didn't abuse the privilege given to me. Join me and thank God for a successful end story. Reporting live from El Paso.

MsPapi:
Also will the notification of intent work in my case?

MsPapi:
Thank you @twoods @justwise @mimimum @austine2020 .

But what are my chances if I go along with cash and all possible evidence? I am just looking for a way out to enable me have my baby there. I can't travel now and return again in june. If I go earlier than I should and I am allowed in based on a vacation only, can I just request for an extension with a doctors report or something? Or if my passport is stamped with 6 months validity, can I just stay since I will have enough time and then i can show all my receipts when leaving?

OMG, I have erred and I really regret this.

It is well sha. Favour will find me.

Chanbaby:
Good day everyone, pls this is for those who have traveled recently. Is travelex or any other bureau d change at the airport selling dollar? Also, how much is dollar to naira now?My friend is traveling sat and she wants to know. Thanks in advance

MsPapi:
Morning All.

I'm new here and I must say I've learnt a lot. I've been trying to summarise info from the first thread and gradually I'm getting it.

Thanks to all those who make efforts to provide answers and constructive criticisms.

Here goes my issue.

My son and I have just been issued a B1 / B2 for the purpose of vacation only. My interview went thus

VO: Good Morning, how are you today
Me: I'm good thank you

VO: so why do you wanna go to the US
Me: My cousin whom I haven't seen in over 15 years is inviting us and my husband was there last year, he had a good time and he's promised taking us on a family vac.

VO: tell me about your job
Me: I work as a sales consultant with a travel company in the holidays dept. My core is building travel packages and making travel arrangements for both corporate and individual clients.

VO: How about your husbands job:
Me: he is a banker. He works with x bank in lagos

VO: Have you travelled with your son before:
Me: yes, we were in dubai for vacation last year

VO: Do you intend seeing a doc for any reason: NO

The issue is obvious. ( wish I had been on this forum earlier).

How do I now state at the POE that I wanna give birth in the US since I was issued a visa for vacation purpose only? Will my cash and card and upfront payment be enough as evidence of payments? My cousin/ host is in chicago but the Chicago poe stories I'm hearing are not for the fainthearted at all.

What lifelines do I have? I'm expecting by mid July and I intend leaving at the end of May. Any July moms can also be in touch so we can relate.

Thank you.

TWoods:
There is such a thing as honesty and trustworthiness. If those were in ample supply amongst Nigerians, this thread would not exist. Ask yourselves why you have to constantly suffer through the indignity of explaining every detail of your childbirth when the average Norwegian does not? QED