₦airaland Forum

Congratulations!

samibk:
He asked me for the official mascot of my school. What I forgot was the meaning of mascot at that moment.
Although I knew what he was referring to.

So let me share my transcript too.

VO: How are you? We are just here to chat.
ME: I'm fine and how are you too
VO: Pass me your passport
ME: I removed my document in between my passport and gave him
VO: No, put the document back and pass them to me. Don't be nervous, Okay?
ME: Actually I wasn't nervous (said this to myself).
VO: What is the name of your school
ME: University of
VO: What is the official mascot of your school
ME: (to myself, I can't remember what mascot means)
VO: He told me the answer and I confirm he was correct.
VO: Why are you going for PhD
ME; I discussed the project I will be working on briefly (less than 10 seconds)
VO: Are you married
ME: No
VO: Do you have children
ME: No
VO: Have you travelled before
ME: No
VO: go get your winter jacket and go pay your reciprocity fee.
Me: Thank you.

The interview was less than 2 minutes.

Congrats!

Anybodie:
Visa Approved
I'll be back with transcript

Interview was scheduled for Friday, 9th October at the Lagos Consulate.

Two windows (VO) were available to interview applicants, both white in their mid 30's - 40's.
My interview session was really brief and straight to the point.

VO: Good Morning, I will like to take your biometrics for verification.
Me: Good Morning Ok Placed my fingers on the scanner.
VO: Please take your mask off briefly for Identification.
Me: Ok
VO: So, where in the US are you going?
Me: The University of Southern Mississippi
VO: What are you going there for?
Me: To pursue a Masters degree in Hydrographic Science
VO: What did you call your course?
Me: repeats twice
VO: So why Southern Mississippi?
Me: The Hydrographic Science program at USM comes with another certification, the FIG/IHO CAT-A certification. It is an industry standard and widely accepted certification. I also want to take advantage of the quality research on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
VO: Ok, tell me about your course (at that time he stopped looking at me, started typing but kept smiling
Me: drops some sakamanje about AUVs and underwater gas seepages ..... I was sure he had little or no idea about my course so I confidently said what came to my head at the moment (I read my course description last night on the school's website, this was also helpful)
VO: Visibly impressed with my description, So who will be funding your study? Did you get an assistantship?
Me: Yes, My admission offer came with full tuition waiver and monthlyl stipends
VO: Ok, Are you married?
Me: No, I am still single
VO: Do you have Kids?
Me: (at this point, I was a bit worried because I thought he was trying to establish home ties) I smiled and replied calmly, NO sir
VO: Ok, Take this slip to the cashier and make your payments, Keep your I-20 well, it will be requested for at the POE.
Me: I was smiling anyhow already, but I used my nosemask as disguise. Thank You!


That's all..... no question on travel history, educational background or professional experience. Brief and straight to the point. I think it is best to answer the questions as brief as possible, and let your answers match what you filled in your DS-160. About three candidates were rejected while I was on the line waiting for my turn. I was able to eavesdrop on their interview session

Rejection 1: He claimed to have a funding offer but it wasn't reflecting on his I-20. He said it will only reflect upon admission(I guess he meant resumption). The wasn't having any of it, he insisted the guy was admitted already and any funding offer must reflect on his I-20, he said he would have approved him but no proof of funding.

Rejection 2: Baba claimed to be single on DS-160 but said he was married when asked during the interview. He started shalaye , According to him, he gave his babe belle and had to marry her . He said he did his traditional marriage on October 10th, but was yet to do the legal marriage. VO didn't but his alaye ....Rejected.

I can't recall the reason for the third rejection.

The second VO asked some funny questions for the other guys while I was been interviewed
1) What's the official mascot of your school? The guy didn't know, he was asking what a mascot was...... His visa was approved regardless
2) Pronounce the name of your school (University of Louisville). The guy tried but not so spot on, VO corrected him and granted the Visa .

Overall, today was a good day for most applicants at the Lagos Consulate. I would say about 80% approval (judging from my time in the waiting hall, i noticed only three rejections).
About 30 - 40 applicants were interviewed today, 7 am was the last time on the schedule according to the CGI official on ground, and the last person on the queue (from outside) was already in the waiting hall before I was done with my interview (around 9 a.m.).

Bottom-line, wear something you are comfortable in; It can be a long wait before it get to your turn. Trust me, you don't want to be sweating outside while standing for over two hours. I went in a simple native attire that was free on my body, so I was at ease all through.