₦airaland Forum

hopefulme:
Please,if you are a mom who gave birth to triplet and used dr FF,kindly please contact tanko ASAP,your Nigerian visas are ready but there is no return envelope to send the back to you.

AyaSho:
Pls how many preggies have flown bA.
Pls what's the experience like and is there 34weeks reliabe?

Thank you

Annonn:
My hubby came to houston so we notarized at a UPS office near us. I paid the $165 fee in cash.

Annonn:
Hi,

I'm a silent reader who used NL info to get to the US (Houston) and have my baby. Baby is a month old and I'm leaving this weekend.

Call the agency again and tell them you need to get a visa for your baby's trip to Nigeria and that their rule says "within four weeks of your departure date if you need to apply for a visa".

Better still, just use the automated scheduling number. It has less drama and i used it. Check for it on-line.

good luck.

sayoberry:
Update:
Called passport office on Sunday and got an appointment for yesterday, so I went there and they asked me to com today... I met a nairalander too.
Fast forward to today I'm currently smiling at two shining navy blue pali

Meanwhile I collected my zero balance from Dr Fagbohun today. My babies blew my cover in his office NL people recognized me one time and one mama said my mouth big pass my body infact I need to gather weight, height and old face small.

For the Nigerian visa in blue Biro, I'm thinking of doing it myself since I still have a long time till I go home. Though I've called the tanko man already just incase.

Has anyone done visa by himself?

BussieAj:
Congratulations on the birth of your baby. Am also having mine at oakbend next month..I would like to know if you visited the hospital before you fell into labour to make payments or after delivery ?

beepearl03:
please what is the hospital charges

feddy27:
Congrats MrsMo ! God bless and keep you and your lil one!

Airpure:
Hi Mabel. I don't think u need to change doc. I m using him too n my appointments r just fine. Really if u don't ve any complications that needs sorting out what else do u want to discuss. If u ve questions of cos u can ask him n he will gladly answer. On my first appointment with him we even talked n joked about Naija n he explained why he doesn't like using Methodist. Even gave me directions to d hospital.

Peeps if u ve questions feel free to ask ur Doc wit all d money paid they owe u that much.

Airpure:
Hello guys. Pls what is the cheapest phone network provider to use in the US especially Houston .the last time I was there I spent like $100 bi weekly on a TMobile line where I was charged to make n receive calls now m hoping for a mobile plan with Data n all . Will appreciate advice.

mrsshen:
@ Tvegas and any other NairaLander that has used Dr Fagbohun at Oakbend, does the 2,200usd he charges does he have a registration fee? I read from here that there is an initial visit fee of 150usd? Is dis included in the 2,200usd for normal delivery or is it separate? I am still reading through the 35c pages of this thread..i'm not yet done but I need this info pls...Pls I await ur answers...thank you fam

Good morning and happy new month. Reporting from Houston. Tot to share my POE experience. Left naija with my toddler on Friday night on British Airways to Houston. Both legs of the trip was okay. Though i booked for a wheel chair but didn't bother to use it. We arrived Houston IAH around 2.30 pm. The queue was very long and spent close to 2hours to go round the maze cos like three planes landed at the same time.

While on the queue dealing with my toddler I was also busy praying to God for a successful experience. Interview with first officer went this way:

Officer: good afternoon
Me: good afternoon. I passed the passports to him. And my landing card
Officer: what's that? When he heard my little madam cry-miming.
Me: oh! My daughter. Lifted her up do he could see her
Officer: if you are no here on business, what brings u to the states
Me: holiday and to have my baby
Officer: how far gone are you?
Me: 33 weeks
Officer: any family.
Me: no. Staying with a friend
Officer: did you bring in any food?
Me: yes. Showed him the back of the landing card
Officer: I really do not know all u have listed. How long do you intend to stay?
Me:.3 months
Officer: okay madam. He went ahead to take my prints and photo. Signed my daughter and I in for 6 months. He then gave me my daughters passport.
Officer: what about your husband. I said he will join us later when I put to bed.
Officer: madam please step over here, an officer would be with you shortly.
In two to three minutes, an officer came around picked my passport and asked me to follow him. It was to the secondary inspection office. Met like 10 people there, all white (Chinco and others). Within five minutes an officer called me into an interview room.

Thank God for this forum and pple that shared their experiences. I was not bothered a bit when I was asked to go for secondary inspection, but was rather prepared and composed.

Officer: good afternoon ma'am
Me: good afternoon
Officer: what's the purpose of ur visit?
Me: rest, have my baby and rest
Officer: how far gone are you and when are you due.
Me: 33 weeks and March
Officer:have u gotten an hospital, made an appointment and made payment.
Me: said oak bend and Dr. F but insisted no appointment or payment until I arrive into Houston
Officer: okay. How do you intend to pay.
Me: cash of $9781 on me ( Naira, dollar and pounds all join)
Officer: why come to the US to have this baby when you had your firs in naija
Me: it was ivf, didnt want to be flying around, was csection and didn't like the experience. So my friends asked me to come down.
Officer: no family? I said no cos have always stated dt much in all my applications
officer: what's ivf. I explained
Officer: what do you do back home. Where do you work. How much is ur monthly pay.
Me: legal practitioner, insurance coy, roughly $1.3k
Officer: asked same question about my husband. Does he have a visa.when is he coming.
Officer: so how long did it take u to save for this trip.
Me: knowing he had started calculating for me. Told him I didn't have to save cos apart from my monthly pay allowances are paid quarterly. So started planning for this trip in September. So two quarter payments was sufficient to buy tickets and part of the forex. Told him that this January alone my housing allowance was $5k.
Officer: okay. So how much do you have in your credit card.
Me: $10kbplus
Officer: asked to see the cash on me and counted the dollars. Sighted the Naira and pounds
Officer: entered the info onto the computer and said "madam you have more thn enough to pay ur bills. Make sure you do and keep ur receipt" cos when next you one they are going to bring you back into this room to verify that you did pay all ur bills. Also if you husband is travelling own alone back to the states after returning to naija with the baby, he must one along with the receipts. Originals and not photocopy.
Me: okay. Will ensure that
Officer: when is ur return date.
Me: mid April. Gave a date which he also entered into the system. Asked if I could leav earlier that that date. He said of course.mno bother to ask if could leave later before his mood changes from super nice to mean. Lol
Officer: ma'am take care of ur self. I cannot stamp clear on ur landing form cos u have declared to have agricultural stuffs in ur luggage so. Will need to go through checks.
Me: okay

All this was like 10mins. He didn't ask to see any documents or letter. Just counted the money.

Off to checks: officer checked my card and was about to sign when I said av got food iin it. He said oh sorry. Put the on the machine. I guess he wanted to save me the stree cos of my tummy and little madm running around.
All my luggages were scanned. Madam you are good. No chicken and no beef. Please take ur luggages. Said thank you.

So my noodles, pepper, egusi, pap, frozen palm oil (idea from this forum), chinchin, groundnuts, garri, gurundi, ogbona, wheat and semi flour, elubo and shredded okazi leaves in five yellow and black nylon( my friend ordered it) cruised in with me.

5 mins there and am out.

The longest wait was the queue. The activities with the officers at IAH was fast. I was the only preggy on my flight. Though saw another lady on the queue fom another airline.

Another lesson is to be truthful in making your declaration. The worst is for dem to seize the stuffs. Once I concluded dt way i stated everything wey I carry. And didn't want to be bothered by some people's bad experience in IAH. Was just positive and that also helped. Also attitude is another. One need to be humble cos when we act otherwise cos we have the money I guess dts what pisses them off.

Thanks to all those that contributed to this forum. Resting for now. To call Dr. F and Dr. Z tomo before I decide who to use. Need A doctor that will have my time. Lol

PrinceAdeAde:
Hello Bloggerina,

She would be re-apply by Nov ending/ Just wanted to give it some time. Was also thinking of her using abuja than lagos as it seems that the abj VOs dem dey more logical in granting visas.
Thanks for checking,hope to definitely share the good news

nefertitiram:
It's mostly for citizens! I am heading to chicago today, so I will most def shop for cheap delivery options while I am there, will need the info for my next pregnancy, so I will share with the house!
I am sure it is not all that expensive everywhere in chicago jare!

nefertitiram:
My cousin in chicago I was going to stay with when I was preggers stressed I shouldn't come in through chicago dat they gave a lot of her pregnant friends issues but I should go through new york.
I think chicago is a haven for pregnant women because they have mother baby friendly packages that are very affordable or payment free, so that's why they stress people, thinking you want to come and take advantage of their system. As for NY, u must be a multimillionaire to consider birthing there o!

bloggerina:
Hello, first I just want to say that this is a wonderful thread, lots of useful info. Its a pity I found out about this thread AFTER I had my baby in the US earlier this year. lol
Anyways, I just want to provide helpful info for the person who asked about another doctor in West Houston Medical Centre. I had my Son there in Feb this year, my doctor was Dr Jeanie Huynh. Fantastic doctor! A friend's sis-in-law had used her before so I went to her and I must say, i'm glad I did. She also did my son's circumcision and it was fantastic. I had emailed the doc's office and also faxed my medical report in advance. They didnt accept payment in advance anyway, had to pay everyth when I got there. So here's what I spent a few months ago:

Dr Huynh's Fee - $2,000
Additional OBtests @ Doc's office - $270 (please do as many of the tests as you can do in Naija)
Circumcision - $255
Hospital Fee - $4,000 (I ended up having a C-Section coz I developed PIH when I arrived in the US)
Epidural - $1,200
Paediatrician - $93 (Dr Huynh's office suggested a paediatrician to me that also gives discount to Dr Huynh's patients so this was quite cheap. Otherwise I would have spent $800 if I had used WHMC's Paed).

. I understand that having a baby in the US can be daunting, esp if you havent done it before so it pays to have people assitst with first-hand info, questions, clarifications etc. Am available to help sha.
I wish everyone a success in this quest and all the blessings of parenthood!!! May our investments in our children's future by having them in the US be fruitful in Jesus Name!

jaysmom:
Congrats to all the new mamas and papas, congrats too on visa approvals. I'm back to Naija and I'm fully settled now. Had my baby at Oakbend Medical Centre and I used Dr Fagbohun. Thanks to all that made me discover this wonderful hospital/doctor. The cost I incurred where as follows: doctor - $1920, hospital - $2150, labs - $220, reg/scan - $300, pediatrician - $380, epidural - $800. The nurses were very professional and nice and the environment was superb. I had my personal labour room and post natal room (non shared). I stayed with a friend in Sugarland and when my hubby joined me we moved to his cousin's at Katy. Both locations were less than 30 minutes drive from the hospital and the doctors office. Baby's birth certificate was ready in 2 days, SSN in 8 days and passport in 13 days. I flew Delta and I had the worst experience anyone could think of. From delays in obtaining a sky-rocketed priced return ticket for my baby to almost running into my connecting flight in Atlanta and then to carrying my baby in my arms throughout the journey (please don't depend on their bassinet as only 2 moms on some special seat can have it). As if that was not enough, on arrival, 2 of my boxes didn't arrive with me. I was told to come back the following day meanwhile I had an Owerri flight to catch that day. To cut a long story short, Delta is not it o for nursing moms so be warned.