₦airaland Forum

librangyps:
I meant is Frankfurt safe as per the European countries we were warned not to transit through

papijulah:
Thank you. Does the admission require getting 3 references?

papijulah:
Please, anyone with list of schools I can apply to for masters in US as a 2.2 graduate.

AnamegeNzube95:
How will ur Sponsor be at Chicago at Illinois and u r schooling in same Illinois is that not an indication u r a migrant

Taal17:
She cant force the school to open physically, what fees dd she pay? i doubt it was school fees because I dont think school will let her pay whens school ahsnt resumed
Does she even have her visa?

Chyjoey:
This question is for people who have interviewed recently.

Were you required to wear a mask during the interview?
And if so, did you find that the mask muffled your speech?

jerry8243:
Congratulations, was it the white paper he gave you he said you should take to the POE?

Mercydale143:
Congratulations, I also got mine approved in Lagos today.

Pefuele:
Congrats. So your sponsor has fully paid your tuition for a year prior to your interview?

Hallelujahvoice:
VISA APPROVED!
F1 (Fall 2021)
Abuja
July 2021
COA: 32K
First attempt
No GA or TA
Lasted not more than 2 minutes
Long post, short transcript


Little background...
It was a battle getting an interview date.
When I first booked, the earliest date was 2 months later than my school's resumption. Had to book anyway and requested for an expedited interview.
This was approved after 2 hours, thankfully.

Even after the Approval, there were no closer dates available. I did an email and got the usual response "...Please be advised that the availability of slots is at the sole discretion of the US Embassy."

God was still working.
After a few days, I checked and saw a date few days after my resumption date. I was happy knowing we're getting somewhere even if we were not there yet.

At this point, I felt I had exhausted all options. I was considering switching to Lagos (thank God I didn't). I didn't lose hope. I was working with faith.

Next thing, I saw someone make a post here in the afternoon about open dates in June ending and first week of July.
I hurriedly logged in to my account. Lo and behold, I could see those dates and quickly rescheduled to a more suitable and earlier date.

Guess what? In the middle of rejoicing and celebrating, I got 3 texts messages in 3 hours from a +1 number tagged 'US Visa Collection' on Truecaller. It read:
Your B1/B2 visa appointment at the US Embassy has been cancelled. Please check your email for more details.
Checked my email and saw the same mail from an address that had a semblance with the official email the Embassy uses for correspondence.

Oh boy! I hurriedly logged in to my dashboard and saw my appointment was still "scheduled". No shaking.

Mind you, I applied for an F1 not B1/B2.
Mischief makers at work.


Next was to prepare for my interview proper.
Through prayers and fasting, I prepared. Reached out to few people to join in prayers and prep. me. I had friends review my transcript and I had several video mock interview sessions.
S/O to Uche, @kemlaughs (for the several zoom mock sessions), Ekong, Mag. for y'alls commitment.

Long story short...
Arrived Abuja few days before to get used to the environment (lodged at Xcence Guest House by Emeka Anyaoku Street, Garki Abuja). 'Twas affordable and #500 away (bolt) from the Embassy and Close to a pharmacy/supermarket and big and affordable restaurant (Ojuelegba).

The big day came... arrived 2 hours before time. Of course I met with the mandem: "Bros staple your passport", "You don print this and that? You go come back meet us oo"... thanks to those that shared their experience and the guidance from Uche and @kemlaughs, I came prepared with necessary documents and didn't pay attention to them.

While waiting, I spoke in tongues, sang songs of praise and worship. It boosted my confidence.
Next we were asked to queue up at the gate, searched by the security then ushered into the Embassy.

After few minutes, those for 7:00am were called up to queue. The Embassy staff arranged our Int'l passport, signed I-20, passport photograph and DS-160 confirmation page accordingly.
Next we went through another round of check (airport standard) before we went to the next part of the building.

There, we queued up and went along with the documents sorted out (int'l passport, signed i-20, passport photograph and DS-160 confirmation page). We went to the interviewing section twice.
First was the final scan/verification of our documents, next was for the interview proper.

In there, it felt like it was judgement day
People rejoicing (I saw a man legit screaming "Jesus loves me" very expressively while the guy walking next to him was really disappointed and sad).
Mixed feelings, tension building up but I had to maintain beauty
Thankfully, the security started singing Obinasom by Mercy Chinwo and I joined in. It boosted my faith in God for a great outcome.

I kept declaring "My case is different".

In my very before, people were approved and denied.
Please, don't lose focus or let any of what you see mess up your psych. Don't even try to profile any VO.
Que sera sera...what will be will be.


Interview proper:
After exchanging pleasantries and biometric verification:
VO: I see you're going to Ohio University.
Me: Yes, that's right.

VO:Why Ohio University?
VO: What is your concentration?
VO: Who will be sponsoring your education?


VO: I will be approving your Visa (while handing me the white paper). And she talked about the covid protocol and all.

It felt like a dream. Had to shake myself to confirm this was real.


I return all the glory to God for doing what only Him could do...for taking the glory.
Big S/O to Uche for encouraging me right from the start in 2018/2019 till date. For reviewing my transcript and guiding me every step of the way. God bless you.
Big S/O to @kemlaughs for preparing me... gave me a lotta tips and prayer points and encouraged me to always stand in front of the mirror. Thanks for the mock-up sessions
S/O to Ekong and Mag.

Remember, the heart of a king (in this case, the VOs) is like the rivers of waters which God directs and He orders them to go whichever way He pleases.

Prepare and pray.
Trust God.
Celebrate grace.
#mytestimony

Hemstone:
Please how best can I access my funds in the USA?
1. Domiciliary account with dollar card (which banks is the best considering services and daily limit)
2. Is there others means apart from the dollar card?
3. How much cash can I carry on me while travelling that won't be an issue at the airport or port of entry?

Also, how do I use my Nigerian sim card number for WhatsApp abroad?

Thanks a lot

Phaithy:
I also need clarification on this.
1-20 states 3 years maximum to finish program but the program is for two years. Should it be filled as 3 years on the DS 160 as it is on the 1-20?


Someone please advise.

Thank you

ebbie9ja:
Please advise on the following for DS-160 completion:

1. Intended Length of Stay in U.S: For a master's degree, should this be 2 Years or the 3 Years maximum duration indicated on I-20?
2. Person/Entity Paying for Your Trip (Travel Information): Is this for travel expenses alone or tuition inclusive? If the later, please advise if the best option for student with GA? Self, Other Company/Organization or Employer in the US?

walepepe21:
Look at your degrees can’t you see it aligns with one another at all in which the VO will even reason along with you that there is an alignment ? Why don’t you go for that Forestry (Agriculture Science ) now for your PhD degree since you had URP in your first degree & CVE in your Second Degree. Ask yourself that question at first. Can’t you see that both your degrees fall under Engineering & Environmental Sciences?

Check past transcripts and tell me how many that went to the embassy without have an aligned degree with what they studied in their UG or PG studies. Have you yourself see someone who studied chemistry talking Mathematics to the embassy? This is about morality and how well you’re informed.

However, It is better to take a wise counsel than to give a vague response or guess if you don’t have an idea about how it works. What most people are goofed about is that schools in USA can offer someone who had his UG degree in chemical Engineering an admit to come and study in Agricultural Science.

Finally, Sample many approval Transcripts here and look at both their 1st degree & 2nd degree is there is no alignment at all. This is one of the mistake many of you runs into as I do warn my students about this a lot every time.

Who told you course alignment has nothing to do with VISA Approval? Where did you listened/read about to that ? Chief get it right , admission requirements is TOTALLY different from the Embassy requirements okay !

Thank you and take care!

Ajibfo:
After I got admission from the school with admission letter and tuition, I got scared cos the COA has increased from 50k I saw to seventy sth or maybe I didn't get their tuition right when applying but they gave me scholarship of 8k. I applied to 2 other scholarships but was not given. Then I was told to pay 1k enrollment and tuition deposit before my I20 can be sent. I was confused like deposit ke and visa is not guaranteed, was confused but I later did.
Fast forward to interview
Date June 4 2021.
Time 10am I had to snap another passport there cos the first has dot or sth.
VO: good morning
Me:gm ma
Vo: you are going to *** for your master in management sciences
Me: no ma, I am going for my masters of science in supply chain MGS is the sevis id for my school.
Vo: ok, what will this course do for you.
Me: with this course I will be able to apply to major supply chain companies in Nigeria like Nigeria brewery and Nigeria bottling company and also I will be able to push my project am working on which is green supply chain, the impact of supply chain to the environment and it's effect on the environment.
Vo: have u travelled before
Me: no ma
Vo: who is so so ( my sponsor)
Me: my aunt, she is paying for my education
(No document was asked, just my I20, it was even while waiting for my turn I realized I forgot my aunt' statement of account at home. I was like should I go print another or just risk it )
Vo: ok I will be approving your visa blabla
I can't even remember all she was saying again
I just want to thank God, cos while I was sitted waiting for my turn the only thing I kept saying was Jesus son of David have mercy on me and he did.
What I want to say is don't let anyone discourage you, pray and pray noting is impossible for God to do.

Themaths:
VISA APPROVED.
Abuja 02/07/2021.
COA = $27k
Graduate Assistantship = $24k5
Deficit = $2k5

Transcript as promised.

My interview was slated for 9:30PM. I came at the exact time, the security men were asking me why I was late, I told them I came at my exact time.

Completed my check-ins, realized I'm the second to last on the queue, no matter.

Me: Good morning

VO (Huge white lady): Good morning, place your fingers there for me.

Me: Alright.

VO: Pass me your i-20, passport and DS-160.

Me: Here they are. Please, I stutter, if you would be so kind to me patient with me.

VO: Of course (she had time, I was the last person she was to attend to) So, I see you are going to the University of Arkansas for your masters.

Me: Yes, masters in Mechanical Engineering.

VO: Alright, what did you study in your undergrad?

Me: Same Mechanical Engineering, here in Nigeria.

VO: Alright. What will this program for your you?

Me: This degree from the US will place me in a very competitive position in the Engineering Design industry....

VO: cuts in...will you be going back to your previous job?

Me: Yes.

VO: Did you have a talk with them you will be returning to the company after your studies?

Me: Yes, my supervisor especially was in full support, he even paid for my Visa fee to show his support.

VO: Alright. Will you be returning to the same position?

Me: Of course not, a more challenging and managerial position.

VO: Pointing at my i-20, who is *****?....

Me: He is my older brother.

VO: Where does he live?

Me: ******, here in Nigeria.

VO: Starts typing furiously.... alright, I will be granting you this visa, you will get your passport after.. blah blah... COVID-19 blah blah.... She was just speaking so fast, I couldn't even comprehend anymore.

Me: Thank you.

Know what you filled in your DS-160, look them straight in the eye, even though you stutter or cannot speak fluently. God that did mine will do yours for you. Thank you once again.

Denizsmart:
Mass denial today in Lagos... Blue paper everywhere. I was handed my own copy as well. Those with full funding were smiling home with white paper.
Well I no blame them sha, the mammoth crowd I witnessed today in Lagos was something else, everybody wan japa, they had no option but to be dashing blue paper up and down.