₦airaland Forum

[/quote][quote author=Abats4naija link=topic=240241.msg8719567#msg8719567 date=1310684091]I thank God cos He has been my strength and my Guide all through. I also want to thank nairalanders and this forum which has been very helpful in more ways than one. I was issued a student visa today at Lagos. i was at the embassy b4 7am today and the officials at the US embassy started cross checking all the applicant's document as early as 6.30am. they had started bouncing persons whose document wasn't in order right from d security post. nyways i finally got screened and was escorted into the embassy where i did my biometrics nd was waiting patiently for the V.O to call my number. (by the way i almost missed my bio-metrics cos i was carried away by the student sitting near me who was also going for masters in public health at harvard. the guy had funding from harvard. i just dey yarn to myself say Nigerians get levels OOO!!!) I also saw General Diya sitting with d masses waiting patiently to be interviewed for his visa, which the lady at counter 4 issued him. the V.O.s where positioned as mentioned by Jasper1 in the earlier post. I was called to counter 1 and the interview went

Me: Good morning with a smile
V.O: didn't respond immediately (probably didn't hear me) but later replied without a smile which i was hoping for cause i was kinda tensed.

V.O: why are you here?
Me: told her i was here for a student visa for my graduate studies

V.O: where are your papers
Me: passed her my passport with all my docs

V.O: so you want to go for post graduate studies at, she looks up at me probably expecting me to give her the name of my school
Me: the University of Bleep at Bleep in Bleep state

V.O: going through the I20 she then said "so you are going for masters in geochemistry"
Me: I immediately jumped in and told her that i was seeking a master degree in Geoscience and i was majoring in geochemistry

V.O: nodding her head and going through the I20 more thoroughly she said "ahhh!!! yes i can see that now"
Me: just looking at V.O.

V.O: How did you learn about this school?
Me: through the internet ma, i googled schools that had ongoing research in petroleum geochemistry because i want to participate in their ongoing research; And I also sought advise from people in the petroleum industry (then i started to stutter then i noticed she was writing stuff down on a piece of paper)

V.O: did u do geology in undergrad studies
me: me yes i did and my thesis was also on geochemistry

V.O: She just nodded and said that there are other schools doing this course in the USA, did you apply to any other schools
Me: Yes, I applied to 4 other schools apart from the Uni of my choice

V.O: nodding and writing on the piece of paper. "which other schools did u apply? "
Me: Listed the schools and the location and states, but the V.O cut me off before i listed all the schools

V.O: why did you pick this school?
Me: because they had great facilities and good faculty and most importantly coos they are willing to let me participate in their ongoing research

V.O: can i have your results, GRE and Toefl
me: Gave her (was waiting for her to as for my university degree but she didn't)

V.O: nodding her head, still writing on a piece of paper, then she looks at her screen "so you have a relative in the USA, living in texas?"
Me: Yes, my cousin lives in Texas. he is a citizen of the USA (she wrote on paper again,at this point i saw she had tabulated my response and my cousin living in Tx was on the negative side of the table)

V.O: who is sponsoring your education?
Me: My cousin (same one living in the USA) and my mother

V.O: now typing on her computer "why did they decide to sponsor you?"
me: i said something about them being impressed with my admission, i can't remember what i told her

V.O: what does your cousin do for a living?
me: told her

V.O: what does your mother do for a living?
me: told her

V.O: what does your father do for a living?
me: at this point i was surprised because i had not mentioned my father at all, nyways, i told her.

V.O: Can I have the bank statements please
me: gave her the 2 statements along with a form I-134 for those having international sponsors

V.O: going through the statements
me: tried to point out which statement was which
V.O: i know what i am doing
me: i said "Ok ma" and kept my mouth shut, lol

V.O: so have you heard about state Bleep before, why did you decide to go to school there?
me: i told her it was because they were willing to let me participate in the ongoing research at the uni

V.O: will you write a thesis
me: yes

V.O : what is the thesis you hope to write
me: told her

V.O: what do you plan to do after you graduate
me: told her i would like to be a geoscientist for one of the many petroleum companies in Nigeria

V.O: what are the names of the companies you would like to work for?
me: mobil or shell because they are into exploration activities which makes my proposed area of studies relevant to them

V.O: nodding her head "how do you know petroleum companies have ongoing exploration projects?"
me: surprised but told her i had worked in one of the petroleum companies during my NYSC and my position there exposed me to their dealings

V.O: have you ever traveled outside Nigeria before
Me: almost lied but I told her the truth that I had never traveled before cos I have never had a reason to travel until now.

V.O: now picking up a white piece of paper
me: my heart wanted to cut cos iv heard NL's saying they always gave a white piece of paper to rejected applicants

V.O: im going to issue you a visa, handing me a green ticket, but you'll have to go pick it up at ,
me: at this point i was seething with Joy and i couldn't comprehend what she was saying but i kept my cool

V.O: gave me the ticket and a white paper
me: Thank you ma, do have a nice day, and i left the building


Nairalanders help me thank God. from my interview you can see that it was by Gods grace i got my visa. Please anyone going to the embassy should be prepared to defend their motives for wanting to travel and above all be prayerful and ask God for Wisdom to reply the questions properly else,
I was resolute and truthful about my purpose and God gave me victory. I wish all future applicants good success.


@jasper1 congrats on your success at the consul; but i noticed the V.Os were just doing their jobs the best way they know and i am just happy we were successful.

@ Abats4naija, I got my VISA today in lagos. I was also interviewed by the same lady and my interview pattern's just similar to urs.She had the highest denial rate. I'm more like the only person she issued a student Visa before I left there. Relieve at last!

rapheal2k9:
@ Physicall, how did you get the scholarship? Did u have a first class and a high score from the GRE?

No tricks to it my man, It's just by hardwork and luck.Yes, I made a First class with a fairly high GRE

Guys,glad to be back.I have just accepted two different offers-though with reasons.Anyone knows what consequences this is going to generate?

@stzero thumbs up to you for such insightful write up, we share the same view on doing research.keep up the good work.U don't seem to be interested in Hopkins Medical School,I heard they're the best in the US.

Another positive response's just come in, though i'm not interested in the school

@ceze, i applied to TAMU, UARIZONA and FIU. GATECH looks more like my strongest. Na wa for Stanford ooo.Thought all the ivies fund their grad students.Anyway,goodluck with MIT!

@Ceze you can afford to do away with princeton.Any news about funding from any of Stanford or MIT yet?.
I've decided to accept the Gatech offer and not wait for others again.looks good enough!

Hey Guys! sry for not posting all this while.I've been an ardent follower of this forum and a fall hopeful.I got a boost last fri with an admit from GATECH into one of the hard sciences with TA attached.Below's an excerpt from the offer

"Congratulations! On behalf of the School of xxxx, I am pleased to inform you
that the departmental graduate committee has approved* your admission to the Ph.D. program
beginning Fall Semester 2011. We have also approved your appointment as a graduate teaching
assistant with a stipend of $23,160 per annum which includes a health insurance supplement. You will
receive a tuition waiver as a full-time graduate student. However, you will be required to pay fees at the
beginning of each semester. These fees are approximately $848 (fall and spring semesters,
respectively) and $654 (summer semester). Beyond the first year, you will be supported on either a fulltime
research assistantship provided by a grant within an individual group or departmental teaching
assistantship. (Note: A vast majority of students are supported on research assistantships beyond their
first year). Support as a Graduate Assistant depends on maintenance of satisfactory academic and
teaching records, and satisfactory research progress toward the Ph.D"

I'v till april to accept the offer so I'm taking my time as I'm expecting offers from other schs as well.What do you guys think about this?