Someone called the customer service number on FMJfee.com, and they said they had some downtime last week. Apparently, that created issues with account numbers generated during that period.

They advised that this person generate a new coupon.

That may be the problem; it may not be. I'd advice you send them an email to verify what may have happened in your case.

sandraigho:
Hello everyone

Pls I'm trying to help someone pay his SEVIS fee from here in the US but on getting to the western union place with all the information the applicant sent to me, I was told the account is invalid.

Pls is there anyone who has faced such challenge and how do I go about it.

Thanks

Tylerbaby:
Someone, please help!

Contact SevisAfrica on Nairaland. They make payments within 24 hours.

Plus, you can also send them an email (info@sevisafrica.com).

Hope this helps.

EncephalonPikin:


Make I join you swear for them

Lol! We're plenty doing this.

EncephalonPikin:



Lol, I have the same story. I later bought an adapter from Best Buy I think. Still stuck with my infinix

If you see how I was abusing Infinix and Techno ehhn.

Ifesinachi22:


I will reach out to you to pay SEVIS for me when the time comes.

I quoted you so it will be easier for me to see you through my comments.

Thanks in advance.

How's US?

Do they understand your accent or they usually ask you to repeat?

Hi, Ifesinachi22.

Thanks for responding.

Let's just start with the fact that It's cold. I would give anything for sweat right now.

When we got to our shared apartment, the other Nigerian guy and I spent the first two days shivering until we realized that something must be off with the heating system. I dragged us down to the reception catering to our complex, and they found the issue. Apparently, the battery for regulating something had run down. As we kukuma did not know what was happening, it took the grace of God and blankets to save us. Our (mis)adventures these past few days will enter a blog or book one day. Lol!

Well, I once worked in customer service and lived in a Nordic country, so I know how to position my mouth to sound neutral. Plus, wahala for who no dey watch American series!

Can't wait to have you here! Holla when you're ready.

Moderators, please let me know if I'm going against the rules and I'll delete this post. For now, here goes nothing:

So, I encountered loads of difficulties when I was leaving Nigeria. With the limits on Nigerian bank cards, I and the guy attending the same school (Miami University, Oxford, Ohio) could not pay for many things, even within that $50/$100 CBN-imposed limit. We spent days trying to pay for a hotel/Airbnb, GreyHound services, and whatnot. I've not been that stressed in years.

Let me not even go into how AirBnB canceled a booking when we were at the airport, an hour to getting on our flight. Why did they do that? Our booking was tagged as fraudulent. So, the booking came from Nigeria and payment from a virtual card with a US address. Also, because Airbnb refused to verify our Nigerian phone numbers for reasons known to them, we used one belonging to a friend in the UK. It was extremely complicated, and we'd tried all we knew, but that's the only option we had before we found someone who helped at the last minute. Let's just say that we ended up rooming in a hotel (read: motel) in a Nigerian-like neighborhood in New York.

Lol. Don't ask why the UK friend didn't just pay and do everything from his end. As I said, things were super-complicated.

The thing is that things could have been easier if someone helped facilitate everyone from one spot, with one card.

Based on this experience (and several more), I would like to help anyone who needs to pay for buses, accommodation, semester dues, and anything that they can't do from Nigeria. I've seen people who can't access US websites, people whose cards are not working, and people who are faced with using a third-party offering ridiculous over-N515 (naira) exchange rates.

I understand that everyone's being careful and that you don't want to get scammed. But I am genuinely doing this because I can imagine the kind of stress people are going through right now.

Please send a message if you would like me to help. When you reach out, I can share details about myself, and you can Google me, too, for credibility purposes.

At this point, the stress in the world (read: Nigeria) is too much to add difficulties when japa-ing.

I sincerely hope this helps someone. Again: Moderators, if this is way off, please let me know and I'll delete this.

Thank you.

chibertha:
For pepper go to walmart and other stores and look for habanero pepper it is the pepper called ata rodo, Cameron pepper or scent pepper.

Thanks a mill, Chiberta! I checked and found it at Walmart.

Predstan:


Habanero is so great to me ooo... the equivalent of rodo. Just a few can make you go nut if not calculated well.

Ah, I had no idea. I will look for it during the next shopping trip. Gracias!

Also, If you're coming in within a few days and looking for 24hr COVID tests, you can head to AfriGlobal Medicare at 8 Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja. I got my test there around 1 pm on a Saturday, and I picked it on Sunday.

It's expensive (about N50,400 as of December 2020), but my decision to get a test was a last-minute decision, so I went for it.

Predstan:


If not Samsung, LG, Nokia or IPhone, It’s not supported. Better to buy one in Nigeria if you not willing to buy in the US...

Buy those nice looking jacket in Nigeria before coming. They are fucking expensive here especially for a naira-oriented fellow.

If you don’t want to go eat some Taco Bell, check Fil-A or some Chinese food in your first few months, better you drop some clothes and load some food stuff instead.

Fish!! Fish!! Fish!!! Dry ofcourse might be helpful since you will be eating more of Walmart’s turkey and chicken as you integrate into the system.
Ofcourse there are African Resturants but my fellow Nigerians , that poundo yam cost like 25dollars and the cray fish cost even more. So you get some idea of what to load??

There is Garri ijebu also, even Nigerian indomie but you know what that means?? Some more dollars to spend. You don’t want to spend your first few months calculating dollar to naira(it’s now even more expensive).

Charger! Charger!! Get an adaptor with 2 mouth socket. Your laptop, your phone that comes with 3 mouth plug can be converted in Nigeria with just 500 naira. It can cost you up to 30dollars in the US. Are you calculating that now? If yes, then save yourself of that calculation when you get here...

Connect! connect!! Connect!!! You need a place to stay for the first few months and someone to drive you to class. It’s so cold out there. Well, you can win that. I also walked to school everyday in January(spring semester).

Lastly, bring forth your brain, that’s the only way to survive. The land of opportunities offers it to not only the hard worker but to the intelligent workers. Intelligence often does not translate to Sabi Book. So man let’s hip this and grab those opportunities together...

You're right oh! I was so sorry for myself when I arrived with an Infinix phone and three-mouth charger. I finally had to get a new phone and a new SIM + two-mouth adapter thingy.

Thanks for the great advice. I have one last addition: if you like pepper, please just buy loads of pepper, and save it in a Ziplock bag. If not, you will have to look for "effective" pepper.

I wish everyone arriving soon a safe trip!

Friedpotato:
Visa Approved
Undergraduate
Funding: Full ride
Graduated high school 2013
Second attempt.
Abuja Embassy
White V.O

Noticed from transcripts posted on here that the white V.O usually comes early and the black V.O starts later, so I decided to go very early even though my appointment was 8:15. I got there by 6:20 but the interview started few minutes to 9.

Me: Good morning
V.O: Good morning

Me: Before we start, I'd like to say that I'm very nervous and when I'm nervous, my talking is fast and distorted so if you don't hear what I'm saying just tell me to repeat it.
V.O: Don't worry, no reason to be nervous. So why are you going to the United States.

Me: I would be going to continue by undergraduate degree in biology at Edward Waters college in Florida. I started taking classes for the fall semester in Nigeria because of the pandemic and ended with a 4.0 GPA, I have my result with me.
V.O: wow, 4.0, that's great. (Then, Takes a look at my I-20), oh I can see you have a full ride, that's great.

V.O: (looks at me and sees that I'm kind of nervous) no need to be nervous.

V.O: so what will this degree do for you?
Me: I love biology, it's like my favourite subject in high school but most importantly I plan to pursue a career in biomedical research and biology would be a great foundational course for me. Also, this degree would enable me work at the Centre for excellence in reproductive health initiative where my uncle works.

V.O: Good, so where is this place you say your uncle works? Lagos or Abuja?
Me: Benin.

V.O: I intended to issue you your visa, this form contains information on how to pick your passport.

I'm really very happy and I thank everyone on NL. I started this journey in 2018 and I'm glad that God has crowned it with success. I paid MRV four times between November and now. Thankfully all the money I've used since I got admitted from SEVIS to MRV four times to samsung tablet, data and feeding while I was taking online class were external scholarships I got while taking classes this fall. Nothing is too much for God to do at all.

This is amazing. And that GPA, too! More grease to your elbow. Congratulations!

Platox:
Visa Approved at abt 7.45am today!

Transcript shortly.

Congratulations, Platox! Can't wait to hear about it.

Lethhhgooo:
Has anyone here recently traveled to the USA? I would like to know if there were any COVID-19 test requirements before your flight or on arrival and how you went about it. Please indicate cost implications also.

Hi,

I got here about two weeks ago. I left via Turkish Airlines, and there was no requirement then. However, I recently learned that the US will start requesting for it from January 26, 2021.

Here's a link to an official document: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html

Hope this helps.

Ifesinachi22:



What a writer. You presented it just like a novel. Like Chinua Achebe.

Congratulations babe.

Thank you!!!

Hah! Achebe Sha.

I tap into that anointing jare.

Now I have to find a way to make money from this writing.

Please, if you're going don't let them scam you like me ohh.

jhidey08:

Wow! Those guys Sha... thanks once again for the clarifications.

You're welcome, Jhidey.

I wish you the best!

solastar2:


They actually scammed you. The always provide wrong information so as to confuse you. Almost everything they told me as I was passing was false. I told them they should let the CGI guy turn me back first.

I suspected this was happening while it was going on, but I did not want to take chances, especially as I kept seeing people walking back from the line. Now, I know they did. Anyway, that's over now.

Others reading will be more careful and can learn from these experiences. That's the good thing.

jhidey08:

Alright, thanks for the detailed information, I’ll find a way to go about it.

You are welcome. Another Nairalander said this is the correct one ohh.

Please go with this one. It's okay.

solastar2:


This is ok. That's what I used and no issue at all.

Chai! I suspected they were scamming me. Anyway, thanks for providing an accurate answer.

God bless you!

smithval:


CONGRATS.
Your transcript indeed mirrors your creative writing skills.
Best of luck in the states.

Lol! Na so we see am ohh. Thank you!

Sharon8:


Congratulations dear. I really enjoyed reading your transcript.

Thank you!!!!

Hollyholy:


Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Please is this the correct receipt for gtb visa fee payment?

Thank you!

That's the one I went with. They entered info from it and my passport and gave me the CGI one. I saw some people holding only the GT receipt (but it's possible the CGI one was in their folder). Also, the CGI document was missing from my stack of documents after the interview. So, I think the lady that took my payment receipts kept that. I can't say for certain, but I think it's important you have this other receipt, just in case.

And, I don't know the website the cybercafe guys went to get out that other receipt.

jhidey08:

Congratulations, and best wishes in your studies.
Please you talked about a payment receipt which should carry CGI logo, the payment receipt (visa fee) generated from my GTWorld app doesn’t have the logo, do you have any idea how yours was generated by the embassy guys? Thanks.

Thank you!

I'm so sorry, but I have no idea how they got the one they gave me.

I just followed the guy to an office, he logged into a website, entered info from my passport and GTWorld receipt, and gave me the CGI paper.

I saw some people holding just the GT receipts and began assuming that I'd been scammed, but when I checked my papers after the interview, the CGI sheet was gone. It was then I realized that the lady collecting payment receipts took it along with the GT confirmation receipt.

Without that, I would have advised that you ignore it, but I'm guessing someone does need to see it.

Dont forget to commit everything to God!

missuzoma:
Good News!!!! My daughter just called to say, "Visa Approved." She'll later find a way to post her transcript.
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, Creative Writing. She said it was a friendly chat and is wondering whether it'll sound like a 'normal' transcript.
God bless all of you for answering my numerous questions! Good luck to everyone.

-

I am the daughter ohh!

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for the transcripts, advice, and encouragement here. You were extremely helpful. God bless you all.
-

I think I got there at some minutes to 6. There was a crowd already. I had to register my bag for N2,000. Then, I learned that I was not with the correct copy of one payment receipt (the one paid to GT). They said that I needed something with a CGI logo.

A guy there showed me a sample of the correct document. Then, he said it would cost N10,000 to log in and print it. I didn't know when I told him he was wicked. Lol!

After bantering small, I started speaking pidgin/Igbo. I told them not to look at my clothes or smell my perfume, that I'm from the streets, and we're all here to hustle. All na packaging. Lol.

We later agreed on N4,000 for printing that paper and photocopying my passport data page. Photocopying costs N1000. If I hadn't argued, I would have paid N11,000 to print a sheet and photocopy a page.

I only agreed because I knew time was far spent. If you have time to argue or you don't have cash, please tell them you don't have the money. They'll drop the price.


Please, everyone going should ensure they're with the correct documents. The guys there are seriously looking for how to extort money from us. Someone behind me on the line said she paid N10,000 to print something.
-

After paying the N4,000, I ran to the line. My interview was for 8 a.m, and they'd already called that set when I was sweating/haggling over the price of printing. I lined up. It wasn't time yet, but they usually check documents first.

We stayed on that line for about three hours. No seats. Please wear comfortable clothes so you won't suffer more discomfort. Also, dress decently (like, nicely).

Your documents will be checked on the line. Carry your reciprocity fee, or you'll have to start looking for that.
-

At some minutes to/past ten, five of us entered the building. (We'd been entering in groups of five.)

We kept standing inside. We submitted the GT payments to someone, then joined the line for the interviews.
-

There was this terrorist at one window. He kept grilling people, and when he got to one boy that said he's studying Creative Writing or English (I'm not sure which), the boy was there for a while. I come dey sweat because I'm also going in for Creative Writing. He was grilling STEM-inclined people, and now, an art-based person was almost sleeping at his window. Jump and pass, na my prayer.

I started praying specifically to be sent to a friendly VO on the left (Window 10, I think). He occasionally asked people to stop sounding like robots, but from his demeanor, I could see that he was nice. Plus, people spent less time at his window.

Please try not to recite what you read online word-for-word. It shows when you're repeating it. Just pick valid points and mention them. Be confident.

Someone said you should smile (even behind your mask). I agree. A smile in your voice shows you're not intimidated.

When I got to the front, I saw that I'd either go to Mr. Terrorist or Mr. Nice Guy. They were delivering finishing speeches to the candidates in front of them. I prayed harder for the person in front of Nice Guy to pack his things and walk fast. Immediately he did that, I raced to Nice Guy. Two seconds more from the applicant, and it would have been too late.
-

TRANSCRIPT:

V.O: Good morning (smile).

ME: Good morning.

V.O: Please, pass your papers.

ME: (Passes papers.)

V.O: What school will you be attending?

ME: I'll be going to Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

V.O: (Laughs.) Not to be mistaken for University of Miami, Florida.

ME: Yes (laughs).

V.O: So, I see you're going to study Creative Writing. Why Creative Writing?

ME: Well, I'm an editor, so I understand the power of language and how stories can be a powerful tool for sharing information about and addressing issues in the society. (It was basically something like this I said).

V.O: So, you're an editor. Freelance?

ME: No. I co-founded an editing company with my mother.

V.O: What kind of editing?

ME: Fiction and creative non-fiction.

V.O: Have you published a book?

ME: (Laughs). Not yet, but I have stories and poems in literary journals.

V.O: (Smiles). Well, that has to change soon. (Taps on my 1-20, and I believe it's because he knows my final year project is going to be a book).

V.O: (Tikka Tikka Tikka on keyboard.) Are you married?

ME: No.

V.O: Do you have kids?

ME: No.

V.O: Have you ever traveled out of Nigeria?

ME: Yes, to Denmark.

V.O: (Surprised look). Denmark? That's an odd place to go. Why did you go there?

ME: Well, I gained admission into the Erasmus Mundus Journalism program. I did not get the scholarship, but since it was a subsidized program, I joined. In my second year, I was supposed to go to Swansea but could not make it due to financial issues. (NOTE: Some Erasmus programs let students school in different countries. Depending on your course, you can school in 2 to 4 universities before you're done. One school per academic year or one per semester. Something like that.)

V.O: (Nods like he could feel my pain). But I see you have a full scholarship now. (Happy smile on my behalf).

ME: (Happy smile back) Yes, I do!

V.O: Well, I'll be approving your Visa. (Story story story.) Miami University, huhn? It's a great school!

ME: I know, right! And it's public Ivy, too. (I laughed and said that because the school is on a list of public Ivy League schools. The guy slipped my passport and the yellow slip back to me. Told me to have a nice stay. I told him to enjoy the rest of his day, smiled, and ran to the reciprocity place.)

-

That's all.

The interview lasted about a minute. I was worried he'd ask complicated questions, but nothing like that. Seeing as they were grilling people doing super-complicated courses, the chit-chat for mine was just a miracle.

-

Lessons learned:

1. Carry extra cash. You never know the stuff you'd need it for.

2. Calm down. Confidence helps anywhere. Overthink it, but don't overthink it. I hope that makes sense. Overthinking will make you tense, but you still need to realize how important this is.

3. Know why you're going to study the course. Me, I just need a space to chill and write in peace while chopping life, but I gave a valid reason for why I'm going. And what I said about why I'm going down the writing path is true.

These guys have interviewed people long enough to know lying patterns and stuff. Plus, when you deal with humans, you'd learn to watch their faces and decipher speech patterns.


That's all, guys. I wish everyone going the best. Please stay safe. Also, let's just say they're happily giving out visas. Stay optimistic.

God bless you, and good luck!

(Forgive any grammatical and punctuation errors in the text. Don't use this to judge my editing skills ohh. Lol.)

OGAPEE:


I wrote to both of them some minutes ago, and Lagos have reply me with a form to fill "Lagos Emergency Visa Appointment Requests", but my fear the worry now is my I20 was mailed on Tuesday from my school, it has not arrived yet, also, I have not prepared at all the visa interview. So, I don't know if it is safe to go ahead and fill the form

Here's what a highlighted part of their email (sent this morning) says:

For emergency student visa appointments: Due to COVID-19, temporarily, we will accept electronically submitted I-20s from Designated School Officials. Applicants must print out the form electronically submitted to them, and bring this hard copy to the interview. If granted a visa, the visa holder will need to bring this hard copy with them to the border to present to Customer and Border Patrol.

I think this covers that. I have submitted my form.

Gracias! God bless you!

kastgeraldino:
You can give your school's address or an office in the school dedicated to int'l students

Thank you so much! I appreciate the response.

RemarkableMind:
Use your school official address, or the address of the graduate admissions.

Good evening,

Please I'm filling the DS 160 Form, and I'm not sure what to fill in the space where they asked where I'll be living in the US. Under normal circumstances, I should have paid for an apartment, but times are different. Right now, no one knows when we're going so paying for a place in advance is out of it.

Should I write NOT AVAILABLE in the space for address? How did you deal with this, please? Someone suggested that I enter the address of the International Office.

Please help!!!!!

Thank you.

Hi guys,

I need someone who can write fashion articles. Pay is N1 per word.

If you're interested, please send an email to andrerakell@gmail.com indicating interest.

A test will be given after which work commences if you pass.

Job deadline: 5:00 pm today (Sept. 12)

Thank you.

If you're interested in working as a manuscript editor, please see the info below:

-----

An editing company is looking to hire freelance (remote) editors who'd help work on fiction and creative non fiction manuscripts. Editors are needed for proofreading, line editing, and developmental editing jobs.  

If you're interested, these are the rates:

Proofreading: N0.70 per word. 
Line editing: N0.90 per word. 
Developmental editing: N2 per word. 

To apply, please send a short story (fiction or creative non fiction between 150 to 500 words) along with your CV to this email address --
the1960editor@yahoo.com.

If you'd like to ask questions, please send inquiries to the1960editor@yahoo.com. 

Please note that your story will be used to evaluate your editing skills and creativity. It will not be shared with anyone and will be deleted off our database once recruitment is done.

An editing test will be sent if you qualify for the next stage. 

All work will be done REMOTELY.  Application deadline is September 15, 2019.

---

Good luck.