₦airaland Forum

bongabiz:
Hello folks,
let me start by expressing my sincere appreciation to the contributors to this thread, (especially Kenzema) who have kept it as one of the most useful and mature threads on the nairaland forum. In my honest opinion this is the most useful source on obtaining the US student visa in Nigeria.

I obtained my US student visa last month in Lagos. My interview wasn't too eventful (it didn't seem so, as it was over in less than 5 minutes!), so I don't have much to write, but here's how it went.

Me: Good afternoon sir
Interviewer: Good afternoon sir. Why do you want to go to America?
Me: For graduate studies at Harvard University
Interviewer: Graduate studies at Harvard University?
Me: Yes
I: Did you apply to any other university?
M: Yes. Boston University.
I: Is there any particular reason why your schools are both in the Boston area?
M: Umm. Well, I like the area because it's a university area and , (I actually had no reason, and was just fumbling. And then I remembered something, ) There really isn't any strong reason. I also applied to Pittsburgh and was rejected by them, I could show you the letter.
I: Never mind. Do you have any relatives in the US?
M: Yes, a cousin. But we really aren't that close
(Another mistake. I shouldn't have mentioned the 2nd part until he asked any further question!)
I: What are you going to study in the United States?
M: Public Health?
I: Are you a doctor?
M: Yes
I: You're a doctor. Where do you work sir?
M: (I mention place)
I: How do you intend to pay
M: Internal university funding
I: Sorry?
M: Internal university funding
I: As in like a scholarship?
M: Yes, a combination of a scholarship and a loan
I: Can I see a letter
M: I show him the letters, he already had checked out the I-20
The interviewer then starts typing something into a computer for what seems like forever; I try and relieve my tension by taking a long look around the interview hall.
Finally,
I: Ok. One thing. When you are making your travel plans, make sure you travel within 30 days to the date on the I-20, but no later than it.
good luck in your plans sir.
M: Thank you sir. Goodbye


I wish all nairalanders success in their interviews!

Hey bonga, your user id sounds familiar. Did you attend ISI by any chance? I think you might be one of the seniors over there that i knew.

Johnnie, you too much nah. For real, your pics and analysis are wonderful. Keep up the good work. Have they finally opened up about the toll price. Why must everything in nigeria be secretive. Tolls open in august and people still don't know the price. It better not be the 100 or 500 naira i have seen on here oh. 20naira or nothing. we no go gree oh we no go gree!!

It is evident that most of you were beaten to the point were you lost half of your reading ability.
Na fashola dey pass bill? No be una elected people dey put the bill dia. Fashola's duty is to sign or veto the bill. Face the problem at hand and stop shouting Fashola.

johnie:
[size=14pt]LCC, please do something about the second roundabout quick![/size]

I spent two hours between the first round about (Phase 1) and the second round about last night.

The second round about was heavily flooded. Kudos to the LASTMA guys. They were there till quite late last night.

I missed watching the semi-final match between Spain and Germany by the way. Had to listen to commentaries on BBC World Service in the traffic.

I think I also have to take the weather forecasts more serious going forward.

Traffic was also heavy this morning. The traffic stretched all the way from second round about back to the third round about.

I was told it took about four hours from Ajah to Lagos Island later in the morning yesterday.

[size=14pt]LCC, please do something quick.[/size]

Let it out!!!!!!!!! I was wondering when you will finally vent cos everyone i know on that axis is really pissed off. All this traffic woes and they expect people to just wake up and start paying toll in august. How about a traffic free lekki-ajah axis for one year then the commencement of tolls

Djswaggz:
Speak for yourself on willingness to pay for quality. . . I am ready to pay for it if itz worth it.
Like someone said, forget the complex effects u see in music videos. Even the basic ones are messed up. Scripts are badly written most times. To say Nollywood is doing their best, is to berate the creativity that God has given to man. GoSH.
On the Araromire issue, I went to see it. SO SPEAK FOR URSEF. Mschewwwwwww

It's not a question of "speaking for myself". There is available data to back up my statement. Okay, you went to see Araromire, how about the remaining millions who prefer to buy pirated cds. Do you expect producers to make quality 100 million naira movies just so that Djswaggz and a handful of other nigerians can come and watch it? I am not making excuses for Nollywood, i'm only saying the environment this movie makers work in is harsh.
How many theatres do we have in Nigeria? Probably less than 15 in the entire nation. How do you expect them to make quality movies since majority of their films have to go straight to DVD. If they depended solely on cinema movies, they would be bankrupt. The nigerian environment does not provide for quality movies to be made.

Someone made a comment about "useless scripts". Why would anyone sit down to write a good script if they don't expect a good return on their investment. Good scripts require time, dedication and "PEPPER". James Cameron spent over 4yrs preparing for AVATAR.
Do you expect Tunde Kelani or one of the big name movie producers to sit down, for 6months or year making a movie that will only yield peanuts?
Nigerians do not want quality movies. If we did, we would have stopped patronizing PIRATES

Djswaggz:
Guy. . . Do you know the effort that goes into production of that 5min video? Multiply that effort into 90mins, you would see that our Nollywood Producers are very lazy and are not ready to put that much of an effort. Fine, Money fit no dey but dem storyline and simple effects of either shooting or even dying can be so laughable. Even if it is only increasing the picture quality, WE NO MIND!! S***

Arrant nonseeeensssse. How many nigerians are ready to spend money to buy quality movies. If nollywood spends money on their movies and tell folks to churn out 5000 naira for a copy, will people buy it? You want quality movies, yet you are only willing to pay 150 naira. Keep dreaming.
Nollywood is doing the best they can with the current constraints.
Musicians can afford to spend money on their videos because it gets them popularity and this means more "shows" for them and hence more income.

Kunle afolayan spent over 50 million bucks in making his movie. How many of you went to see the movie in the theatres?
DO NOT EXPECT QUALITY IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.

This is what happens when ex-Governers and incumbents serve "their own" interests. The people will never accept the tolling idea.
Build an alternate route, then start tolling. Thats the way it's done everywhere.

funkybaby:
last time i was in lagos, the lekki phase 1 roundabout had been removed.
is the roundabout back?

what about the roads that lead to the 'go kart center', GT bank (the lane from the lekki express way), has that been fixed has well?

If you go back a few posts on this thread, you will see pictures of the upgrade. Johnnie has done a good job in helping us out there. The whole reason for removing the roundabout was to widen it. They never intended to eradicate it or build a flyover or any special solution. All they have done is remodelled it and expanded it.
Really don't know what/where the "go kart" center you are talking about is

otokx:
Why are they fencing the road? Is there a war going on there like IRAQ? Is this the development that you people have been praising Fashola for?

I believe we already know why they are fencing the road. At least LCC has given their reason. I think it's B.S but they have given a reasonable reason. = Safety of the populace. They don't want people running onto a high speed highway. I'm sure we all know thats not the entire reason sha but lets leave that for another day.

[quote author=X-2-X link=topic=367311.msg6162157#msg6162157 date=1275819952]I guess it will all depend on how much is charged, how much progess has been made in expanding the road and how much relief the expansion is perceived to have brought.

If the expansion does not appear to bring relief to motorists, and the toll is high, obviously that will be a recipe for chaos.

If Lagos State govt has already signed a contract with LCC to concession the road and allow tolling, can they (LASG) now not honour the contract due to the populace pushing back the idea? Surely, the Lagos PDP propaganda machinery will want to exploit this .


Things will get interesting in this Lekki axis, no doubt. I am staying tuned.[/quote]Mos def. One thing i know for sure is that the traffic situation will still exist so thats gonna be a problem. Unless they charge 20 naira, there will be problems.

Ha Johnnie! Did you see how i used Steven Segal style to stylishly abandone that statement!!!
Do you accept credit cards? lol!!!!!!

There will be chaos when they start charging tolls.

Johnie, Johnie, Johnie. How many times did i call you? God will shower billions of blessings upon you. You don't know how much i dey gbadun your photos. Abeg no let the naija factor enter oo. Keep up the good work. Keep photographinggg all the way. I always check this page everyday in anticipation of ur photos. My mouth dey always water anytime i open this thread.
Jokes apart. Good job bruh.
I wonder why it's taken them this long to get to that stage of the ramp. Before i left, all they were doing was just bending steel rods. If only the LASG knew how to prioritize. That ramp should have received greater focus. If they had focused on the ramp, expansion and not on the toll gate, peeps would have appreciated them more. Imagine the relief that ramp would bring. No more grid lock at law school. people wont even think twice b4 they start shelling out their toll fees.

tEsLim:
This is no joke because before you know it the yeye people will be here with all sorts of talk and this is my son I'm talking about.

I have a two year old son that I think is mean. Here is the break down: When he was younger he seldom smiles  with anybody (like his mum ) ,  But then I hope things will be better and try as much as possible to be his best friend in the house. The only time he enjoys with me is when we wrestle (fighting wrestling)  on the bed and all sought of tough play; i.e I slam him on bed gbish, give him upper cut etc (I get tired first); even his elder brother can't handle this type of play. Now we are good buddies but this guy is easy to offend and he's just two years old!!!

1. You cant correct him. Or advice him on his choice. i.e when he wants to select cloths. Or when he says he wants something. He always tries to find his way and doesn't get tired of crying ,  he can't loop is cry for hours.

2. He's kinda bully in school ; nobody messes with him in class. i.e the day we forgot to have his juice in food pack his class mates saw hell . And his class teacher warned us not to ever do that again 

3. Yeah lets say someone hurt him in the house he keeps it on his mind till he releases vengeance on any unsuspecting person or original offender (vengeance could be simple kick but  you will see he'll be happy he did it and leave the scene)

4. He got energy and sleeps late. Very restless he wont allow himself to be belted when in the car . And can't stand staying in one place for too long. Yeah is body will start hitching him; and he'll do something.  His fingers must touch something or break it. Will wander the whole house at night when he's suppose to be tired and asleep. Then hates early morning wake up for school bus.

I'm not sure smacking him all the time like his mom does will work (though they resemble in character; I don't know why she beats him even when she herself is mean and can't take corrections)
lol the funny part this boy always have boil I think its because his mean . Like how Pinocchio nose grows longer when he lies. Boil comes up on his face when he's mean at someone.

I'm making this post just now because he codedly was stepping on his elder brother loose shoe laces either to make him fall or something :

His elder brother his the opposite, very gentle; obedient; once corrected wont do the same thing again etc

Anybody have experience with mean kids? Or advices on how to help him get softer or maybe he's just a kid and will outgrow this?

Maybe it's just me but a 2yr old taking school bus?

johnie:
Observe the delay these vehichles (those going in the same direction as the tanker) are experiencing as a result of having to wait for vehicles going into phase 1.

There is only one solution to this problem. A FLYOVER. THIS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION.
If they expand that roundabout to 500 lanes, you will still have traffic because it is a "choke" point. The masterplan for this upgrade should never have been approved in the first place. They should have left the road as is and just build another road by the beach. I doubt anyone will be pleased to pay toll and still experience any form of traffic. This project will be a failure. I said it earlier. Too many cars ply this lekki route. A roundabout will not work.

Johnnie thanks for all the pics. I thought i was going to have to send Ribadu to your house to make u post them . lol
By the way, has the traffic situation stopped at phase 1 since they remodelled it. By stop, i mean zero traffic. If people have to pay tolls so that they can still experience traffic the govt might as well leave the road as it is oo. They were asked to build fly-overs and them claimed it was too expensive. I don't want to see a single line of traffic at phase one otherwise we go call Ribadu on LCC

rethink:
@johnie

I am 1million support of the tolls. I will tell you why. Right now you have Lcc/high tech monopoly right? Just what you need to do is give other Road companies the chance operate in Lagos. Dont forget that for any money they make they are suposed to pay tax.

Set up more road companies if and when there is competition nobody will tell Lcc to reduce their toll fee to 10naira. Road business is now a business it is no more social amenities like that because the business is growing and it need the real OPERATOR to get into it. Let them charge 1 bllion dollars that is their reward for their business Idea. Now what to do is bring in the competition everywhere in lagos.

If you tell the State Government to step it will destroy the future willingness for any body to put one naira in investment. People and BANKS get into business because there is money to be made.

I will tell you something I personally experience.

In singapore it is a heavily tax country. The road/transport system is very organised. The rich are heavily taxed so they account for every dollar they spend. Now I noticed that in S'pore if a little modicum if what just appears to be a crack on the road, people are there to break that part of the road and rebuild it. I wonder how they do it. I think that have road inspectors .

Please please and please, i hope you will come back here and admit that you were high on burukutu when you wrote this. Please tell me you are in primary school. If you are an adult, shame on Nigeria because this is dissappointing. How can you apply the law of demand and supply to this situation. Are you saying that if other companies operate other roads with cheaper tolls, people will go to badagry or wherever just because of cheaper tolls. So if i live in VGC, i will rather go to other roads in lagos so that lcc can drop their rates. Are you kidding me.
The people who live and work on the lekki axis are "forced" to use this system. They have no choice. What you can say is that they can build an alternative route along the axis that may serve as competition to the current toll. Na wa for your thinking oooooo

vandops:
i knw, hw u think say me dey feel, anyways i will be going back b4 the end of d month well documented n prepared and this tym more dn ready to tackle the officer, atleast dats wat d letter says and passport wasnt stamped, add me 4 your msgr nw, vandops20@yahoo.com

If you ever want to step into yankee, please don't go back at the end of the month. Your school is resuming August 31st abi? Book your appointment for August. There is no way your info/status could have changed in one month. Them go just deny you again. They will assume you are desperate. They will only chop your free money. I bet the person that interviewed you was a trainee. Probably why he/she was confirming details from a supervising officer.
Go back in August and make sure you go with exactly what you had this time around cos they have all your info.

2gd:
@femifluks.

we have much more in common than u can imagine,
Nairaland doesnt have facilities for private messages.I wanted to tell u some stuff.

I also have an error o.From my findings i have to travel to abuja, How annoying is that?

During my ssce i as told my midle name was too long. so i had to chose a shorter name. i used my oriki.

so now, my birth cert and prim school cert have my original name and middle name.
my ssce and all certs after, have my name and my oriki,

so therefore when making my passport, i decided to put all d names dia.so no one will say i am bringin a fake birth cert, or my ssce cert doesnt belong to me,
Recently i discovered the mistake in my middle name on my passport,
am so annoyed, and Hopks time is comin soon, u get my drift?


with what ppl are saying now about if u have a difft names it means u are a difft person.does that mean one cannot travel again?in my life? cos there is no way i can get anoda birth certificate, or another prim school cert? d whole thin don tire me sef.

You all need to stop bugging yourselves with the name issue. Here is the simple solution :

If you name was mispelled or omitted on one or more documents, all you have to do is list your other names in the area where it says "other" names on the US application. If it was misspelled on your passport or certificate, add the real spelling as your "other" name. Case solved.
Nigerians have a billion names. There is nothing wrong with someone having Akeem and Hakeem as names. I would just include any missing or mispelt name in the slot where it asks for all other names. Problem solved.

picshuressss. y this torture

all this tori without picshure. e no fair naaaaa

Like joke like joke, una no go gree post this pics abi?
Una well done ooh. Okay, the first person to post the pics go receive 100 dolls.

johnie:
Megastu, its good to hear from you again. Welcome back to this thread.

Guys, LCC/Hitech seem to be pulling all the stops o!

They have commenced construction of the second toll plaza just behind Chevron.

They have also began the extension of the lanes on the eastward route (i.e. Heading to Ajah) from the third round about and have reached Agungi as at this evening.

my guy why are you doing me like this nah. The more you give updates, the more i want to see the pictures. puuuuuuuuuulleeeasseeeee, fix the uploading issue.

guys make una post the pics of the roundabout and the completed toll gate na. I go use court order take demand am oooohhh!!!!!!!!!

johnie:
i discovered that I cannot attach files from my mobile yahoo.

Even to register on other free mail providers is a problem. They all insist on registering on a PC.

Frustrating!

chei. We have to find a solution oo. hope your laptop "recovers" soon. Thanks in advance for the pics!!

So who will be the president while Jonathan is away? David Mark? The best thing for Jonathan to do is to stay in Nigeria until Yaradua is officially removed.
He may leave the country and not be able to return like someone said. The cabal may be planning something. Not to sound like a conspiracy theory buffon but what if Jonathan is in on it. What if they planned it togetther that once he leaves the country, "they" would take over. That way it won't seem like Goodluck knows anything about it.!!!!

Abeg, i would rather Jonathan stays in Nigeria ooo.
What if he is OUSTED before he returns to the country by the CABAL or the BOYS IN GREEN?

Nobody has pictures??

Abeg na, i need pictures of the completed toll and the phase 1 roundabout!!!
Somebody, anybody, puuuuleaaaaaaaseeeeee

What i mean is that if the people decide to mass protest and refuse to let the tolling be a success i.e refuse to pay the tolls,
the LASG will have to "buy out" the contract as this is the only way for LCC to recoup their money.
I know people are not ready to pay for that toll. If they complete the entire stretch, maybe , but not until then.

johnie:
^^^^
Can you elaborate? What are the legal ramifications?

If it happens, LASG would have to pay the financiers of LCC all their costs plust INTEREST. I suspect the interest would include a chunk of what they would have earned in profit for at least the first 2yrs. I am sure they must have signed a binding agreement before embarking on the project.

I foresee a revocation of this PPP arrangement with the Lagos state govt bearing the legal ramifications.

^^^^^

LCC really thinks NIgerians are fools abi.
How can they say the toll prices are still being worked out. They are only "hoarding" it. The way everything is done in nigeria.
I bet the toll prices had been calculated since 2006 during inception of the contract. I mean on what basis, did they expect to make profit? They expect to get their investment "solely" on toll collection and they don't have any idea of what the price is expected to be? na lie.
They will just open that toll gbam one day and say hey, lagosians, toll is 100/200 naira. Start paying!!!!!!!
In a sensible country, the entire road will be constructed and people will be allowed to enjoy it for like 2yrs. When people see the difference, they won't even complain when tolls are included.

In this case, people have suffered throughout the construction of a meagre 2-6km road.
Now they want to use our money to build the remainder of the road.
If they want to use our money to fund the road, why should people keep paying tolls for 30yrs.
If they don't have money to fund the road, why is it a PPP then?

I seriously hope everyone will resist this toll now and in the future.
If everybody decides not to pay, there is nothing they can do. This is a democracy!!!!!!!!