₦airaland Forum

Good day sir,

Please I have two shares certificates which I got many years ago. I didn't have CSCS account then. I just opened a stock brokerage and CSCS account recently. How do I go about getting my previous shares onboard the CSCS system and my brokerage account?

emmasoft:
Ok. You are welcome on board. When placing a trade, if you pick market price, it means you are buying the stock at any available price in the market you are most likely to buy at the highest offer price, on the other hand picking limit option enables you to choose your own price you feel the stock is worth in that case your order can only be fill at that price or lower. However the price you pick must be within +10% or - 10% of the opening price.

If you don't mind, chat me up so that we can do the trading together during market session by Monday or any trading day. I'm sure after about two tradings you will understand better.
By the way it's commendable you already have your investment objective. It's a good way to start stock investment.

You can also visit the stock thread to learn from others.

Fair enough, I would say.

One more Bulletin to go in 2024. I hope we can escape any retrogression in the September Bulletin. If we can escape that, maybe 2025 FY would be better. 🤔 🤔

TinFoil100:
AUGUST Visa bulletin 2024 Same as July.
FAD (Final Action date)
EB1 ROW- Current
EB2ROW - 15 MARCH 2023
EB3 ROW - 01 DEC 2021

DOF (Date of Filing)
EB1 ROW Current
EB2 ROW 22 MAR 2023
EB3 ROW. 1 Feb 2023

VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED THIRD (EB-3) PREFERENCE CATEGORY

As readers were informed in Item D of the July 2024 Visa Bulletin, demand and number use has remained high in the EB-3 visa category. Although retrogression has not been necessary for August, it will likely be necessary to either retrogress the final action date or make the category “Unavailable” in September. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly


Addendum: unofficial countdown to IL for Lagos embassy T minus (50 or 80) days. Enjoy everyone.

I am curious about the sentiments surrounding the reduction of minimum investment amount in the Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund.

The minimum is $100. But their account is Standard Chattered Bank, New York. Will most of the minimum ($100) not deducted as charges and commission while transferring the money? 🤔

Noted!
Thanks

toyeoye:
Yes very possible, I have done it severally. Just get all the details of the other bank account and your request will be processed...but the charges are annoying

Please, can one now transfer dollar from one bank to another? I mean, from Bank A to bank B.

This seems nice.
For withdrawal and/liquidation, will they pay in dollars or convert back to the naira equivalent?

emmasoft:
Normally, the investor source for the dollar but currently like a sort of promo, Norrenberger can source for dollar for you but the conversion will be at their own rate on the very day of the investment. So you come with the naira and they invest the equivalent of $550 or more in the dollar fund. Chat me up if you want to invest.

On the DQ

I think I now understand a bit better.

I would conclude that DQ is a function of being current. It seems one can not be DQ without being current. One can only receive the acknowledgement email.

Also, I think the acknowledgement of the "receipt of the fee and all required documents needed for the scheduling of an interview" is the last important thing that an applicant needs to achieve on his/her own (that is, within his/her power). The rest are based on the movement of dates.

I have received the acknowledgement email in November 2023. I was also partly wondering if that was the DQ. But now I know.

Anyway, to me, the most important thing is the content of the email which says I "have everything in order, and awaiting interview". That was why I didn't bother. And I know I'm not current yet.

adedammy009:
Congratulations on your DQ. Ti be honest, I do not think DQ would take this long after delivery of documents.
Were you asked to provide other documents after NVC documents acknowledgement?

Stanbic IBTC Minimum investable Dollar Fund now $100.

This is not absolutely true.
I was involved in the calculation and compiling claims for Lecturers in a federal university. This was not in official capacity as I was not employed by them or any government agency. Just a voluntary help, so, no reason to be bias.

There is a clear and unambiguous formula for it. Probably you are not aware of what actually birth the earn allowance. It was simply because of excess workload (Lecturers are overworked). Many Lecturers left the system many years back, without government replacing them. Coupled with increase in number of enrolment. So, the available Lecturers have to eventually do all the work. At a point, they complained, and proposed that at least, there should be some sort of compensations for that. The government opted in because they don't want to recruit. That was the foundation of it.

For instance, a lecturer (based on cadre/level) is supposed to receive a certain amount for each project/thesis/dissertation supervised. Is that not clear enough? Which other formula do they want?
For courses where the student to lecturer ratio exceed the normal (recommended), there would be compensation for that. And for excess units(workload) done by each lecturer, they would be compensated also, based on the agreed amount for compensations in each case. E.g. for a Lecturer to supervise a masters thesis, the compensation is 15,000 naira for one year. I.e. 15,000 for each student supervised in a year. Is 15k a year too much?

The problem is that, government has defaulted in the payment for a very long time (decades). Now it has accumulated and has become "too much". You will now hear billions of naira involved. As if it is for one lecturer or it is for one year. Is like owing people 10,000 naira per month for 12 years. When they now say ASUU is demanding *******billion naira, people will shout. They why not pay each staff the 10,000 naira each month.

Olumayor0rigina:
Earned academic allowance negotiation has been considered a fraud based agreement that disfavors the paying party. There were no specific formulas for determining how much each deserving Lecturers should collect. This creates a lot of bureaucracies which have led to unwillingness and delay in the payment of the allowance. Even though it was ASUU that birth it, its payment ought to be done without involving any unions to all deserving Lecturers in all universities.
An estimated figure should be arrived at for each academic cadre as presumed earned academic allowance. Responsibility allowance should be ceded to the governing council of each university.

Every investment or "not investment" comes with its own risk. However, MMF is rated low risk (that does not indicate no risk anyway). It invest in stable/reliable/low risk assets. But no matter how reliable one might think the likes of Treasury bills, commercial papers, etc are, eventualities can still happen; war, natural disaster, etc. Which would put the fund, nation and everything at risk. No one can tell exactly what would happen to the fund if those eventualities that could put the fund at risk happen. The same way no one can tell exactly what would happen if him/her sleep without waking up. Although, MMF is unlikely to enter complete liquidation, unlike high risk/high yield funds.

More so, I don't think Mutual funds are not even issured by NDIC likes banks. If they do, I don't know the amount issued. Technically, the absolute "security" is the part/percentage of the funds invested in reliable assets like Treasury bills, etc.

I don't know if I am absolutely right or wrong anyways.

Solution101:
Is there any possibility of the uneventful event of HERITAGE BANK befall any of the MMF MANAGERS ?

If yes will NDIC 5M benchmark apply too and if No how will redemption of fund happen.?

Thank you for the detailed information.

freeman67:
For me, Morgan has been very ok and I have never hesitated to recommend it to anybody that needs it. Their fees/charges is about the cheapest among brokers here. You can connect to NGX live feed through the Morgan itrade webportal and make realtime transactions yourself without recourse to them. With them, your account is credited when you pay and email notification will be sent you instantly. So long as you rightly indicate your account number no need to call them. If you request for withdrawal through their automated channels on the web portal it you mandated account will be credited in no distant time. The only complaints you can get is sometimes when the NGX platform is down you may not be able to access. Also, once in a while people complain about their customer care but I have not encountered it like that.

I experienced same thing with Stanbic IBTC Stock brokers. I got frustrated and left them alone. The most annoying thing is that they started responding after I have gotten myself sorted out.

Like you have been told, the efficiency of the parent body has nothing with subsidiaries ooo.

If may say, not minding the fact that the have frustrated me of recent and am very angry with them, the most accessible Asset Management firm through their parent bank is SIAML . In any Stanbic IBTC Bank, the customer care can handle your issues, relate them with their asset management wing and you will get your desired response immediately.

The first time I tried to open FBNQUEST Account. I went to the main FBN (Commassie) branch in Abuja. I was only told that they used to be here but have moved out to Mataima. You can open a Stanbic MMF Account in any Stanbic IBTC Bank branch.

Brands like United Capital Asset Management are doing very well on their without recourse to UBA. Also, to me as a customer I prefer the services of Coronation to that of Access Bank their parent.

I get your point.
The fact that I said I prefer those with parent/affiliated banks does mean that is the criteria I use in chosing them. That is why I didn't mention any other brokers with affiliated banks. IBTC is no doubt a major player when it comes to Stock and Pension.

By the way, my reasons are; (1) the integrity of the group/brand, (2) accessibility, (3) if I run into serious troubles, I can still enter the bank and will at least be directed to the appropriate section or get contacts (though I don't like entering banks). Most others have branches in major cities only and no one have clue in smaller cities (I am a village boy).

More so, trust me, anyone can refer anything in Nigeria. So I wouldn't also base my preference on referrals. It is good, but I would sill double check".

So many are investment managers and brockes are easier to access, yet one can still blame himself if transact with them. Therefore, online presence and accessibility should also not be the only yardstick.

Customer relation is highly important. But sometimes, it is difficult to draw the line. As good as IBTC is, if I would judge them bashed on there response and resolution alone, I would have forget about them. I kept pushing because of the brand, track record, integrity, stability...

emmasoft:
@Olig the bolded should not be criteria to choose an investment partner as in fund managers or stockbrokers. Their efficiency has nothing to do with the parent body. It's true they are in the same group I can tell you it's just for financial reporting, in terms of operations and every other thing they have their interest. Banking and fund management are almost opposite as per the interest of the institution. Your first concern for any firm in the capital market should be whether the firm is SEC-regulated and its efficiency in handling customers. Having a bank affiliate doesn't translate to good customer service or the safety of your funds.

The best-proven way to get a good financial institution in the capital market is through referrals from existing customers with unbiased feedback.

I get the point. It is still okay by me for now. Since my fund is save.

Please, how reliable is the Morgan Capital? Opening an account with Stanbic IBTC stock brokerage is tiring. I first spent many weeks before I could submit my application; it kept returning error. I contacted them and they said they will communicate with their IT. Many days passed, no response. I contacted them again, and again. I was only able to submit when I changed my Next of Kin address to the same address that I used. I wonder if it is a must for me and my next of kin to live in the same address.
After submission, I only got a notification that they will get back within 2 days. Many day passed, no response or confirmation of opening. I contacted them after like a week and they apologised and asked why I chose "others" in the source of investment. I explained to them and they said they will get back to me. The last communication was Friday last week. Since then, silence again.
I am getting tired of them. I just like them, but they are discouraging me now. I initially thought I will go with United Capital, because I just opened a MMF with them now.

I always prefer brockers and Fund Managers with parent bank or other affiliated financial institutions with good records.

freeman67:
About the online access, I asked them in July 2022 and they told me they were working on it. That it will soon be out and uptill now they are still working on it. That does not show any sign of seriousness. They must not even have an app just a web portal will do. I am using morgan capital as my broker and can confidently recommend it to anybody with just their itrade webportal.


About withdrawal maybe they can keep up with that 1-3 days promise. It's only when there is a trail that you will be convinced. Not to discourage you ooo because you are already with them but you have to know them and prepare your mind so you won't get frustrated. Also, having a better service will be a bonus for you.

Even more viable firms like Stanbic, FBNquest and United Capital most times do not treat it the unautomated request that fast as quoted. While, you will get your funds within 3 - 24 hours after withdrawal request through the automated route if everything is rightly done from your end, going through filling of liquidation form request takes longer time with back and forth. I tried it with InvestmentOne's Vantage Dollar Fund before it was moved to GT and it took me about 2 weeks with serious craze/display in their office before I could get my fund in my account. Maybe because is VDF sha. They might have changed now sha because it's a new management. Also, individual experience will definitely be different.

I have not withdrawn. I started 3 about months ago.

I asked them before now and I was told I need to fill the liquidation form and send to them. 1 to 3 days to process it (I think 🤔; i can't remember the exact).

VeeInsider:
How do you withdraw from them?

I see!
Although they have been responding very well with me, so far.

I have been with them before I discover this thread.

I asked them sometimes last week why no online monitoring platform, they told me they are currently working on it and will be out soon.

@NL1960
@freman 67
Thanks for your responses.

I discovered this thread after being with them. Since then, I have been curious (1) why nothing was mentioned about GT Fund here (2) why not live online. That was why I had to ask them.

Thank you everyone for your contributions here. They are really beneficial. I wish I discovered this many years ago. But is better late than never

ernie4life:
Their customer services is one of the worst right now.

Thank you very much for this.

I am interested in knowing more about "the why".

emmasoft:
Read from the link below:
https://nairametrics.com/2022/02/07/investment-one-financial-services-limited-sells-its-mutual-fund-and-pension-subsidiaries-to-guaranty-trust-holding-company-plc/

It will give you an idea.

When Investment One sold its mutual fund business to GTBank, GT fund managers came into being, as GTB decided to have a HOLDCo structure. What you have as GT MMF today, used to be called Abacus money market fund.

It would be ethically wrong to share other details about why you don't hear or see any posts about them here because it would amount to demarketing.

Yes!
Management fee is 1%
Then, Net should be 19.72%

toyeoye:
Confirm the Net. That's the actual percentage you want to know and compare.

Yes!
Limited information as most interesting parts are not online/live.

Though they send the weekly rates per email.

VeeInsider:
It is written as Gross on the image. There's limited information about them.

Investments can not be tracked online. That is not included on their website yet.
But one can request for his/statement (free of charge) at any time.

NOTE: I am not in any way affiliated with GT o.
Just curious why I have not seen anything on it from page 1 to this.

VeeInsider:
Is there a way to track one's investment when using GT?

Gross

toyeoye:
Gross or Net?

Please, how do one go about change of username on this platform?

olig:
@Seun
@oluwaseun osewa

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Thank you.

Please, how do one go about change of username on this platform?

olig:
@Seun
@oluwaseun osewa

XXXXX

Thank you.

Here is the recent GT Fund performance.

Why can't I find any information on GT Fund Managers on this thread? Does anyone else have experience with them?

emmahoney:
You must pay $300 as an asylum program fee. It is mandatory. The information in this screenshot was adapted from the USCIS website by my attorney when I asked about it sometime in April.

Thanks for this

Thank you for the information.

I don't know why they didn't mention anything on the fee when the return my friend's petition then.

DoubleNn:
Since April 1, the $300 has become part of the EB2 NIW fees. Apparently, petitioners that are not employers are also considered to be under those who employ 0-25.

So you have to select NO to question 5 (the non profit question) and YES to question 6 (the question about being an employer that employs 0-25)

Until you do this, and add the $300 as a seperate fee, they'll keep returning the petition.

As wild as it sounds, it's what it is.

The fee schedule is a bit confusing.
A friend of mine got his petition sent back a couple of weeks ago. It was stated that he has not fully completed his petition. They pointed to:

-Part I 501(c)(3) or government research nonprofit organizational
- Part I 25 or fewer full-time equivalent

Since the "Other information" (last part in Part I of form 1-140) was the only part left blank in Part I (because he thought it was not applicable), I told him to answer NO to the two "objective" questions (5 and 6 under other information in Part I), and send it back. He is till waiting to hear from them again.

Initially, when he told me, I thought it was regarding the fee; because he paid only the 715 for regular processing. But when he sent me the attached letter, nothing was mentioned about the fee not being appropriate. Only those issues mentioned above. To my understanding, they are still related to the fee anyway.

I believe, the new schedule is also confusing to some USCIS adjudicators. Probably, the NIW often skipped their minds. To my understanding, NIW has nothing to do with Asylum fee. Only for those who are already in the US. I-140 is applicable to many categories of people, that is why.

Anyone will recent successful filing story can guide on this please 🙏

DoubleNn:
Hi, I just joined NL. I'm self petitioning for EB2 NIW from Canada. I'm very happy to have stumbled upon this thread while looking for resources online.

These fees caught my attention because I filed for EB2 NIW on June 7 but got my entire application sent back to me for wrong fees. I did $715 for I-140 and $2805 for premium processing.

Apparently there's now a $300 Asylum fee. It's $600 for petitioners that employ more than 25 people. USCIS is transferring the cost of Asylum seekers to us. It started April 1.

It took me a while to wrap my head around it because I'm an individual not a company but the fee still applies unfortunately. You can Google form G-1055 to see the fee schedule. It was a pain reprinting almost 5lbs of docs. The returned petition was marked hence useless.

I'll be resubmitting next week with the additional $300.

So the current fees are:

$715 - I-140
$300 - Asylum fee
$2805 Premium processing (optional)

Thanks to everyone who started this thread. It's so useful 🙏🏽

Aku660:
You don't have to contact NVC after DQ. They will send your IL after scheduling interview.

Okay. Thank you

Good day all,

Please, after being documentarily qualified (DQ), are we expected to contact NVC after some time elapsed?

I can't remember clearly, I think read something related somewhere on the NVC website or so. I can't locate it again.
Can someone clarify this please 🙏

I am not absolutely sure about this. In which country are you doing your PhD?
But I think you should add it, especially if your petition is research/academic based. You might have presented parts of your research and/or written/submitted Manuscripts (even if not yet accepted/published), which will help to prove your case.

My friend is doing his PhD in the US and included it in his petition.

It can also help to show that you are active in your field. Especially if not doing any other job

koreanlord:
Hello guys, I am in the third year of my PHD...

Would it be necessary to also add the evaluated copy of my PhD transcript? Cos It seems as though uncompleted programs could be evaluated on the IEE portal

Should i just send only my masters documents to uscis?

Cc Adedammy009
NotsonewMary

Xxxxx

Xxxxxx

Congratulations 🎊
And thanks for the update.

Koldfuzhion:
The interview went well, I received the visa approval. I got to the Lagos consulate 30mins before the interview time. The CGI folks checked my appointment letter to ensure that I was scheduled for the day. Once confirmed, I was allowed in and told to arrange my documents in the order described in the interview invitation mail.

When I got into the visa hall. I was initially called for document verification at a window. All of my original documents were collected including my original school certificates. These were compared with the information that I submitted to NVC which had been mailed to them.

Once done, I was told to sit and wait till my number was called. There was no particular order to the way that applicants were called for the interview with the consular officers. After an hour, I was called by one of the officers.Below are some of the questions he asked:

Have you ever lived in any other country for more than 6 months?
Are you currently employed and where do you work?
How many years of experience do you have?
Where are you going to in the US and what are you going to do there?
Do you have any professional certifications along with your academic credentials?
Have you ever changed your name?
Do you have other dependents that aren't applying with you?

Once he was done with his notes, he mentioned that I had been approved and he gave me a white slip. He held on to my passport, but returned all my original documents that I had submitted during the initial screening.

The main takeaway is that even though the consular officer is not readjudicating the petition, they're validating the legitimacy of the application from an immigration perspective.

Most importantly, ensure that you're consistent in all of the information provided, as I saw a lot of people get entangled by providing inconsistent or incomplete information to the consular which led to the dreaded 221g refusal.

Wishing you all the best in your journey.