₦airaland Forum

Congratulations again!

Koskos95:
Visa Approved.
Us Embassy in Abuja. 5th May, 7:45 am
If I say only one person helped me... I lie..
I thankgod for Fairheart, we met sometime early this year and it was funny. I thank everyone, I have gleaned things from everyone.. I ThankGod Almighty.
Most importantly, fast and pray..
Me : Good morning to you Madam
Consular : Please pass me your documents.
Consular: I see you'll be going to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for a masters degree in Civil engineering.
Me: Yes, madam
Consular : How did you hear about this school?
Me: I first learnt about this university in an online research paper that is on the production of biogas from the anaerobic degradation of food wastes. So I explored the program website, learnt about the professor and I added the school to my list and applied.
Consular: Did you apply to any other schools.
Me: Yes, I did. I applied to 2 other universities, nanely: old dominion university and the University of South Carolina.
(Consular was quite while she typed)
So I added, I received two admits, one from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the other from Old dominion university, while I had one reject from the university of South Carolina. So I had 2 admits and 1 reject.
Consular: What do you plan to do after graduation?
Me: with this masters degree, I hope to apply for a position in academia at my Alma mater,; Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu university, where I currently work as a research assistant at the Civil Engineering department. I want to pass on the world class knowledge I'd be acquiring to the new generations of Engineers in Nigeria,and also it will help me in achieving my long term goals of liasing with professors in my Alma mater ,as well as professors in other universities here in Nigeria ,so as to help start similar researches here in Nigeria, just like what I will be working on which is on the production of biogas from the anaerobic degradation of food wastes.
Consular: What is your highest degree ?
Me : I have a bachelor's of Engineering degree certificate .
Consular : When did you acquire it?
Me : in 2017
Consular : what have you been doing since then?
Me: After graduation in 2017, I went for the compulsory NYSc program and it ended late 2018. In 2019, I started preparing and I wrote the Standardized tests such as the Gre and TOEFL examinations. Currently, I work as a research assistant at the Civil Engineering department in my Alma mater, Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu university, were I assist with the preparation, writing, and review of journal articles and manuscripts, and so far we have carried out a research that is on the seasonal variation of the surface water quality of Obizi Stream.

Consular: Is your program 3years ?
Me: it's 2 years plus 1 year OPT.( infact I emphasized that it was optional.. So basically 2years,because that's what I filled on ds160 application)
Consular : Have you traveled out of Nigeria before?
Me: Yes, I traveled to India in 2016 ,to have a left robotic pyloplasty surgery, because I was suffering from a pelvic ureteric junction obstruction.
Consular: do you have any relative in the USA?
Me: yes, I have a distant relative.
Consular : How will you be paying for the deficit?
Me : In addition to the graduate assistantship I received that covers my full tuition, my mother will be paying the deficit.. ( She didn't even allow me to continue). She cut in..
Consular : Do you have the bank statements to show for the available funds?
Me : yes, I do... Then I gave her the statements.
Consular: The sum of $ dollars was deposited last week
Me: I said yes, in addition to the money that was previously in the account...
Consular: so that makes it $?
Me : Yes, in addition to my mother's salary bank account in Naira bank statement and her pounds bank statement.
Consular : What does your Mother do?
Me: My mother is a medical radiographer at **** where she has been working for 17 years now, and currently holds the position of the manager of the radiography department.

She took few minutes typing, she withheld my international passport ,served me the white slip on directions to pick my passport...

She finally approvedy Visa. The I said God bless you Ma.

Jolek15:
Please is it compulsory that the passport on my DS-160 form should be the same as the one I will take to the embassy, cos I snapped the picture I used for my DS-160 on my phone. So I don't have a passport copy.

No it is not. I have gone for U.S.A VISA interviews/renewals thrice (all successful) and the digital passport on my DS-160 was never the same with the passport photograph I took to the embassy. In my opinion, the key thing is to ensure that the passport photograph you take with you meets their required specification.

In conclusion, satisfy your conscience.

MelaninGemstone:
Visa denied in Lagos
May 4, 2021

First time, First denial
COA: $60k
No funding at all
University: Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ

NB: My best friend is saying I shouldn’t post my transcript on NL, but I’m posting it, so maybe someone will learn a thing or two.

Background: The queue was very long, over 300 people or more got interviewed today. Our biometrics were taken by 2 white guys. One middle aged and one young guy. I didn’t even know they were VO’s too. I thought they were just ordinary embassy staffs. I guess they were taking the biometrics to reduce the queue. Then as soon as there was no one else for biometrics. They resumed their VO duties.

There was an elderly VO, I was hoping he would interview me, he was not denying based on sentiments. He would analyze your case well and let you defend yourself and speak. He approved people that were able to speak well and defend themselves and denied those that were beating around the bush.

He had just finished interviewing someone, and it was my time to be interviewed, his window was vacant, but Unfortunately, as I approached, he left his desk, he was going for a short recess I think.

I was ushered to a young VO. One of those who were taking biometrics earlier.

VO: Pass your passport and I-20

Me: passed it

VO: What is taking you to the United States ?

Me: *talking boldly and with a loud voice* ...I am going to Stevens Institute of Technology, the third most prestigious University in the state of New Jersey for my Masters in CyberSecurity.

VO cuts in and says: I don’t need to know that information.

*insinuating that I shouldn’t have told him my school is the third most prestigious institution in NJ

*My heart started beating fast and I became nervous, that I have messed up.

VO: What would this degree do for you?

Me: This course of study has concentrations in Network security and data Protection and it pertains to what I currently need in my workplace for career growth. I work in an IT company.

*due to the fact that I was already nervous. I blurted the above out so fast.

VO tells me. Hold up. Take a deep breath. Now continue.

I continued...the course would also assist me to get the much needed promotion I have been working so hard for in my company.

VO: How many schools did you apply to?

Me: I also applied to Bowling Green State University, Bowie University Maryland and Kennesaw State University.

VO: How many admitted you?

Me: Stevens, BGSU and KSU admitted me, while I’m waiting a response from Bowie.

VO: Who’s paying for this?

Me: My mother ...then I added, I have her account statement here.

VO: What does she do?

Me: She is a real estate developer, she acquires hectares of land and develops it into estates. She also builds houses and sells. And develops for people too.

VO: How many staffs does she have ?

Me: About 15-20

VO: What is her monthly income

Me: 3.6 million.

*Now this was where I messed up. My mom does not have a fixed monthly income. She is a businesswoman and her money comes in steadily. I don’t know what made me say 3.6 million. I was already nervous and feeling dizzy. I’m sure my mother earns more than that monthly.

VO: Who does she live with ?

Me: She lives with my younger sister

*Honestly I don’t understand why he asked me this question

VO: Who do you live with ?

Me: I live alone, then I added with my fiancée

*I actually live with my fiancée, I don’t know why I said I live alone in the first place. Maybe because my fiancée is not currently around and I have been alone for 2 months.

VO: You live alone, with your fiancée. Okay

He types on his system for about a minute.

*I feel they type in the questions they ask us and our responses for record purposes.

VO reaches to the stack of letters, picks out a denial letter and hands to me. Then says “you don’t have the funding requirement for this program”

He didn’t even bother checking my moms account statement. It had a very good balance

1.You didn't do your home work well. And trust me, I have seen cases where overconfidence kill the chances of approval.
First, you disgusted the VO with saying it is a prestigious school. No need for that. I always tell my students, don't give unnecessary information. In fact, it is useless to start bragging about a school. It doesn't had any chance to getting approved.

2, Can you take a look at other schools you applied to? The right school on that chart would be other tier 2 schools, top ranking universities.

3, You were going for a school with a cost of attendance of $60K. I always say it here, always consider the reality of things when selecting a school. Unfortunately, you overlooked that reality. Your school is way too expensive, especially because it is a blank admission without scholarship or assistantship. More so, we are in a pandemic, with people source of income significantly affected and unable to make as much as they were making before the pandemic. What happened to other schools that are well-ranked but not as much as expensive? $60K a year, in my opinion and based on reality, is too much. If you had asked on this thread whether or not you should use this admission, I would have advised you against it.

4, Did you say you Mum makes 3.6 Million every month? Okay, let us be realistic. 3.6 X 12 (in a year) is 43M, less that your total cost of attendance for 9 months, one academic year! So, even if your Mum pumps in her anual income, it still can't pay your COA. She has responsibilities, other family members, etc. Come on. Someone that can confidently pay $60k in nine month to fund her daughter should make more than 3.6, except she has been saving over the years for you. I am sharing this because this is the angle the VO that interviewed you looked at things from. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked who does live with (wanted to know other family members your Mum support from that 3.6million). When the VO asked who your Mum lives with, you left out mentioning your Dad, giving impression she may be seperated or divorce.

5, You live alone but with your fiance, meaning there's a plan to get married soon.

I know your interview was less than 5 minutes or so, but you see those questions you were asked and the way you answered says a lot about your credibility for the F-1 Visa. He sense lies.

I see in your other post that you are disgruntled by the way the VO handled your interview. It is not the VO's fault; you caused it and you should take responsibility and go back to your drawing board and repackage yourself. You caused the instability and nervousness with your overconfidence with saying you're going to a top school, and the VO responded accordingly. The VO was not discriminatory at all; you gave him the sense of unbelief by your answers. You showed indirectly that your sponsor can't afford the school you are going, and on that ground, he refused you. He did what he was trained to do.

MY ADVISE FOR YOU
1. Do not reapply except you have funding or scholarship that reduces your cost of attendance. I am sure a remark must have been left on your profile.
2. Prepare to prove your credibility. If in your next interview question arise on your fiance, make sure you let the VO knows that you wanted to get this master's before you settle down and marry him, as you would not want to live apart doing your MS in the U.S once you get married.
3. Consider applying to other school that promises funding. In your other post, you said Stevenson graduate students get jobs upon graduation. That is correct, but so is the case for other school. Students who graduated in 400 nationally ranked universities also get jobs, especially since IT skills are in high demand. So, I advise you correct your belief. It doesn't have to be that school for you to get a good job. I have seen students from colleges in Florida get high paying internship with Microsoft, Google, and all.
4. In life, overconfidence can cheat us of what we want. Find balance in how you see things. I can sense you irritated the VO from the way the interview started. But that happens. I advise you find a balance in your next interview. Confidence can be negative if not checked. Find balance.
5. It is not the end. Strategize and go back.

All the best!

Please when they say that no phones are allowed into the embassy, do they mean that you should not come at all with your phone? Or do they just mean that you cannot enter the building with your phone but there is a place in which you can put your phone (with a tag) at the gate or entrance? Cos I'm wondering how one can go around these days without a phone. Would like to know specifically about Abuja embassy

PotentialNurse:
Pass through Area 10, the road directly in front of Ministry of Defense (Ship House) you will be fine.

Good afternoon bro, pls I would like to have a conversation with u. Can u pls send me ur mail?

fairheart:
1.You didn't do your home work well. And trust me, I have seen cases where overconfidence kill the chances of approval.
First, you disgusted the VO with saying it is a prestigious school. No need for that. I always tell my students, don't give unnecessary information. In fact, it is useless to start bragging about a school. It doesn't had any chance to getting approved.

2, Can you take a look at other schools you applied to? The right school on that chart would be other tier 2 schools, top ranking universities.

3, You were going for a school with a cost of attendance of $60K. I always say it here, always consider the reality of things when selecting a school. Unfortunately, you overlooked that reality. Your school is way too expensive, especially because it is a black admission without scholarship or assistantship. More so, we are in a pandemic, with people source of income significantly affected and unable to make as much as they were making before the pandemic. What happened to other schools that are well-ranked but not as much as expensive? $60K a year, in my opinion and based on reality, is too much. If you had asked on this thread whether or not you should use this admission, I would have advised you against it.

4, Did you say you Mum makes 3.6 Million every month? Okay, let us be realistic. 3.6 X 12 (in a year) is 43M, less that your total cost of attendance for 9 months, one academic year! So, even if your Mum pumps in her anual income, it still can't pay your COA. She has responsibilities, other family members, etc. Come on. Someone that can confidently pay $60k in nine month to fund her daughter should make more than 3.6, except she has been saving over the years for you. I am sharing this because this is the angle the VO that interviewed you looked at things from. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked who does live with (wanted to know other family members your Mum support from that 3.6million). When the VO asked who your Mum lives with, you left out mentioning your Dad, giving impression she may be seperated or divorce.

5, You live alone but with your fiance, meaning there's a plan to get married soon.

I know your interview was less than 5 minutes or so, but you see those questions you were asked and the way you answered says a lot about your credibility for the F-1 Visa. He sense lies.

I see in your other post that you are disgruntled by the way the VO handled your interview. It is not the VO's fault; you caused it and you should take responsibility and go back to your drawing board and repackage yourself. You caused the instability and nervousness with your overconfidence with saying you're going to a top school, and the VO responded accordingly. The VO was not discriminatory at all; you gave him the sense of unbelief by your answers. You showed indirectly that your sponsor can't afford the school you are going, and on that ground, he refused you. He did what he was trained to do.

MY ADVISE FOR YOU
1. Do not reapply except you have funding or scholarship that reduces your cost of attendance. I am sure a remark must have been left on your profile.
2. Prepare to prove your credibility. If in your next interview question arise on your fiance, make sure you let the VO knows that you wanted to get this master's before you settle down and marry him, as you would not want to live apart doing your MS in the U.S once you get married.
3. Consider applying to other school that promises funding. In your other post, you said Stevenson graduate students get jobs upon graduation. That is correct, but so is the case for other school. Students who graduated in 400 nationally ranked universities also get jobs, especially since IT skills are in high demand. So, I advise you correct your belief. It doesn't have to be that school for you to get a good job. I have seen students from colleges in Florida get high paying internship with Microsoft, Google, and all.
4. In life, overconfidence can cheat us of what we want. Find balance in how you see things. I can sense you irritated the VO from the way the interview started. But that happens. I advise you find a balance in your next interview. Confidence can be negative if not checked. Find balance.
5. It is not the end. Strategize and go back.

All the best!

charliejose:
VISA approved today at the Lagos Consulate.
School: The University Of Texas Health Science Centre At Tyler
Graduate Assistantship: $23,039
Deficit: $6,806
No documents was requested for.

Congrats again bro.
All the very best.

kastgeraldino:
Please when they say that no phones are allowed into the embassy, do they mean that you should not come at all with your phone? Or do they just mean that you cannot enter the building with your phone but there is a place in which you can put your phone (with a tag) at the gate or entrance? Cos I'm wondering how one can go around these days without a phone. Would like to know specifically about Abuja embassy

You can take your phone with you but there is no place provided by the embassy to keep it. You can’t take your phone into the embassy, only your wallet and cash, you will have to pay those guys at the premises to keep it for you(it is usually safe). The price ranges from 1k-10k, depending on how you can negotiate.

Malone122:
CC TWoods , Stevenssen and every other knowledgeable sir/ma Please while filling my ds160 I have been holding the same employment since 2017 till date
I am at the point of present employment which I imputed my present employment start date as 2017

The other page takes me to previous employment if I am correct my answer should be “no” since I haven’t changed my employer since 2017 right ??

If that's the only employment you've had since 2016, then you are correct.

It's correct. Leave it. Your family is paying for your education not your trip. If they are paying for your trip, that's not significant information for your interview .

MelaninGemstone:
Guys, I think I made a mistake in my DS-160

Please advise

My I-20 says my sponsor is family funds
My family is actually paying my tuition etc

But when filling the DS-160, I saw a question that said

Person/Entity paying for your trip

I selected Myself as the one paying

I thought they meant flight and minor trip expenses

Someone is telling me now that I have made a grave mistake and it can lead to denial. That I should have put in my DS-160 that my family is paying for my trip.

PS: I have already submitted the DS-160 form and I can’t edit it again

Oh dear... I just saw your transcript. Am so sorry.

MelaninGemstone:
Guys, I think I made a mistake in my DS-160

Please advise

My I-20 says my sponsor is family funds
My family is actually paying my tuition etc

But when filling the DS-160, I saw a question that said

Person/Entity paying for your trip

I selected Myself as the one paying

I thought they meant flight and minor trip expenses

Someone is telling me now that I have made a grave mistake and it can lead to denial. That I should have put in my DS-160 that my family is paying for my trip.

PS: I have already submitted the DS-160 form and I can’t edit it again

Follow your interviewer's cue. Humour is subjective

adurajoseph:
Guys, I hear about how nerve-racking the visa interview can be.
Is it okay to add LIGHT humor during the interview to break up the tension?
Or I should completely have a serious look?

Hi All,
I was supposed to schedule an f2 interview. Myi20 shows f2 my ds 160 show f2 but while picking a date I mistakenly picked f1. should I be worried?

Please I’ll like to discuss with you.
Can you please provide your email.

fairheart:
1.You didn't do your home work well. And trust me, I have seen cases where overconfidence kill the chances of approval.
First, you disgusted the VO with saying it is a prestigious school. No need for that. I always tell my students, don't give unnecessary information. In fact, it is useless to start bragging about a school. It doesn't had any chance to getting approved.

2, Can you take a look at other schools you applied to? The right school on that chart would be other tier 2 schools, top ranking universities.

3, You were going for a school with a cost of attendance of $60K. I always say it here, always consider the reality of things when selecting a school. Unfortunately, you overlooked that reality. Your school is way too expensive, especially because it is a blank admission without scholarship or assistantship. More so, we are in a pandemic, with people source of income significantly affected and unable to make as much as they were making before the pandemic. What happened to other schools that are well-ranked but not as much as expensive? $60K a year, in my opinion and based on reality, is too much. If you had asked on this thread whether or not you should use this admission, I would have advised you against it.

4, Did you say you Mum makes 3.6 Million every month? Okay, let us be realistic. 3.6 X 12 (in a year) is 43M, less that your total cost of attendance for 9 months, one academic year! So, even if your Mum pumps in her anual income, it still can't pay your COA. She has responsibilities, other family members, etc. Come on. Someone that can confidently pay $60k in nine month to fund her daughter should make more than 3.6, except she has been saving over the years for you. I am sharing this because this is the angle the VO that interviewed you looked at things from. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked who does live with (wanted to know other family members your Mum support from that 3.6million). When the VO asked who your Mum lives with, you left out mentioning your Dad, giving impression she may be seperated or divorce.

5, You live alone but with your fiance, meaning there's a plan to get married soon.

I know your interview was less than 5 minutes or so, but you see those questions you were asked and the way you answered says a lot about your credibility for the F-1 Visa. He sense lies.

I see in your other post that you are disgruntled by the way the VO handled your interview. It is not the VO's fault; you caused it and you should take responsibility and go back to your drawing board and repackage yourself. You caused the instability and nervousness with your overconfidence with saying you're going to a top school, and the VO responded accordingly. The VO was not discriminatory at all; you gave him the sense of unbelief by your answers. You showed indirectly that your sponsor can't afford the school you are going, and on that ground, he refused you. He did what he was trained to do.

MY ADVISE FOR YOU
1. Do not reapply except you have funding or scholarship that reduces your cost of attendance. I am sure a remark must have been left on your profile.
2. Prepare to prove your credibility. If in your next interview question arise on your fiance, make sure you let the VO knows that you wanted to get this master's before you settle down and marry him, as you would not want to live apart doing your MS in the U.S once you get married.
3. Consider applying to other school that promises funding. In your other post, you said Stevenson graduate students get jobs upon graduation. That is correct, but so is the case for other school. Students who graduated in 400 nationally ranked universities also get jobs, especially since IT skills are in high demand. So, I advise you correct your belief. It doesn't have to be that school for you to get a good job. I have seen students from colleges in Florida get high paying internship with Microsoft, Google, and all.
4. In life, overconfidence can cheat us of what we want. Find balance in how you see things. I can sense you irritated the VO from the way the interview started. But that happens. I advise you find a balance in your next interview. Confidence can be negative if not checked. Find balance.
5. It is not the end. Strategize and go back.

All the best!

That's what is usually given.

hwfwl:
Good evening, I have someone who went for her interview (F1) and it was approved. she was asked to collect her passport in a couple of days at the location she opted for. she was also given the white paper that talks about collection of issued visa and locations in Nigeria etc..

However, she was not given the small white slip that says congratulations, and on the white paper she was given, the following was written "COLLECTING YOUR ISSUED U.S VISITORS' VISA". Is this unusual or a mistake on the part of the VO. Or this is the new trend.

1. Fill out your course. The one on your I-20 is a code for your course which the VO understands

2. Great, Fill a new one with your course as before

3. By all means, please do. The job description bit of your DS-160 is an important section.

Omasgrace:
Hello.
Please, I am reapplying for a visa the second time.is it advisable to make slight changes in my Ds160 form .
The first interview took place about a month ago.
The course stated on my 1-20 is different from that on my admission letter but The international admission officer says that,s the major department offering the degree.
In my first Ds 160, I filled the course stated on my admission letter.
Pls I am about refilling a new Ds160. For this second interview. Can I change it to the course stated on my 1-20.
Secondly..... Pls is it advisable to make changes on my job description section on the form as well.

Thanks for your help

charliejose:
VISA approved today at the Lagos Consulate.
School: The University Of Texas Health Science Centre At Tyler
Graduate Assistantship: $23,039
Deficit: $6,806
No documents was requested for.

My transcript:

Me: Hi, good morning.
Vo: Good morning! Pass me your passport.
Vo: Where are you going in the US?
Me: I'm going to study for a Master's degree in Biotechnology at the University of Texas Health Science Centre at Tyler.
Vo: When did you finish high school?
Me: 2010
Vo: What about undergraduates?
Me: 2017.
Vo: What have you been doing since after graduation?
Me: Went for my compulsory national youth service in 2018, completed in 2019. Then I started working at *** Pharmaceutical company as a Medical Sales Representative, then I started working at *** as an Associate Product Specialist - I stopped here, but I realized he was still expecting more - then I continued, my roles include recruitment of Doctors to our platform, engaging Specialists through presentations and webinars to introduce our products, customer service.
Vo: *He stopped typing, then looked directly at me and asked* Why do you want to go for a Master's degree in Biotechnology?
Me: I intend taking a role as a Biomedical researcher at the Nigerian Institute Of Medical Research. The master's degree will provide me with the necessary skills to excel in the field. Also, I have always had the dream of being a Biomedical researcher, however, there hasn't been chances to work in this field, this is the reason I decided to go for a Master's program.
Vo: I can see you have a graduate assistantship, who's paying for the rest?
Me: My Uncle
Vo: What does he do?
Me: He is a medical doctor
Vo: What are your plans after graduation?
Me: like I mentioned earlier, I will return back to Nigeria to pick up a role as a Biomedical scientist at the Nigerian institute of Medical research.
Vo: picks up white paper, "We will inform you when to come pick up your passport". He then picked up my I-20, "have this with you always, you'd be needing it at the point of entry, blablabla (couldn't hear him again)
Me: Thank you very much!

I have been following up on this thread since 2016, and had always wished that some day I'd post my transcript too. I was denied VISA to this school in 2019, though I went for interview late and I only had partial funding. Fortunately same school was able to defer my admission up to 2 years to 2021. I'm super excited and grateful.

My school is still accepting applications for fall. Although they indicated that application to qualify for funding ended in March, you can still try your luck. Also application fee is free. If you are interested in Biomedical research, you can apply here.

Congratulations bro,

I sent you mail request. Pls connect

Hello house,

Thanks for all the rich info. I am new here and I want to know if after getting my I-20, I can reprint my account Statement or I must go to embassy with the statement I used to get I-20?

............

KemLaughs:
1. Fill out your course. The one on your I-20 is a code for your course which the VO understands

2. Great, Fill a new one with your course as before

3. By all means, please do. The job description bit of your DS-160 is an important section.

Hello house, do you think chances of getting student visa is higher in Abuja than in Lagos?

sayfe:
Hello house, do you think chances of getting student visa is higher in Abuja than in Lagos?

lol there is no better place if you ask me it’s depends on you, your profile and grace so dead that thought of here is better then here

Walspring paid my SEVIS fee in less than an hour. I was indeed satisfied. Contact him if you need a quick and seamless payment of your sevis fee. Thanks again Walspring!

Please help, I'm filling my Ds-form and I need some clarifications about few questions.

My program starts on 23rd of August 2021 and ends on 10th December 2023, should I write 27 months or 2 years as my intended length of stay in the US?

I attended two secondary schools, I attended one for my junior secondary education and the other for my senior secondary education. In the educational sector on the Ds-form, can I write both schools name? If yes, what should I write in "COURSE OF STUDY COLUMN" for the senior secondary school and junior secondary school?

mbolajide2010:
Hello house,
Please who is going to APSU and has gotten admission.

I am going to APSU too. We can link up

To your question regarding what you are to write in the COURSE OF STUDY COLUMN, you have two options to choose from; Academic or Vocational. Academic is better.

Oluwathoyin:
Please help, I'm filling my Ds-form and I need some clarifications about few questions.

My program starts on 23rd of August 2021 and ends on 10th December 2023, should I write 27 months or 2 years as my intended length of stay in the US?

I attended two secondary schools, I attended one for my junior secondary education and the other for my senior secondary education. In the educational sector on the Ds-form, can I write both schools name? If yes, what should I write in "COURSE OF STUDY COLUMN" for the senior secondary school and junior secondary school?

I made a mistake on my ds160 and I have secured an appointment date. So can I change the ds160 confirmation number and still reprint my appointment confirmation

Ikenna04:
I made a mistake on my ds160 and I have secured an appointment date. So can I change the ds160 confirmation number and still reprint my appointment confirmation

Complete another DS160 with the accurate information and update your appointment confirmation to reflect the confirmation number on the new DS-160.

Login to your CGI portal, update your DS-160 confirmation number and generate an updated appointment confirmation

homodele:
To your question regarding what you are to write in the COURSE OF STUDY COLUMN, you have two options to choose from; Academic or Vocational. Academic is better.

thank you

beejhay69:
Yes. It's still accepted.

Thank you

charliejose:
VISA approved today at the Lagos Consulate.
School: The University Of Texas Health Science Centre At Tyler
Graduate Assistantship: $23,039
Deficit: $6,806
No documents was requested for.

My transcript:

Me: Hi, good morning.
Vo: Good morning! Pass me your passport.
Vo: Where are you going in the US?
Me: I'm going to study for a Master's degree in Biotechnology at the University of Texas Health Science Centre at Tyler.
Vo: When did you finish high school?
Me: 2010
Vo: What about undergraduates?
Me: 2017.
Vo: What have you been doing since after graduation?
Me: Went for my compulsory national youth service in 2018, completed in 2019. Then I started working at *** Pharmaceutical company as a Medical Sales Representative, then I started working at *** as an Associate Product Specialist - I stopped here, but I realized he was still expecting more - then I continued, my roles include recruitment of Doctors to our platform, engaging Specialists through presentations and webinars to introduce our products, customer service.
Vo: *He stopped typing, then looked directly at me and asked* Why do you want to go for a Master's degree in Biotechnology?
Me: I intend taking a role as a Biomedical researcher at the Nigerian Institute Of Medical Research. The master's degree will provide me with the necessary skills to excel in the field. Also, I have always had the dream of being a Biomedical researcher, however, there hasn't been chances to work in this field, this is the reason I decided to go for a Master's program.
Vo: I can see you have a graduate assistantship, who's paying for the rest?
Me: My Uncle
Vo: What does he do?
Me: He is a medical doctor
Vo: What are your plans after graduation?
Me: like I mentioned earlier, I will return back to Nigeria to pick up a role as a Biomedical scientist at the Nigerian institute of Medical research.
Vo: picks up white paper, "We will inform you when to come pick up your passport". He then picked up my I-20, "have this with you always, you'd be needing it at the point of entry, blablabla (couldn't hear him again)
Me: Thank you very much!

I have been following up on this thread since 2016, and had always wished that some day I'd post my transcript too. I was denied VISA to this school in 2019, though I went for interview late and I only had partial funding. Fortunately same school was able to defer my admission up to 2 years to 2021. I'm super excited and grateful.

My school is still accepting applications for fall. Although they indicated that application to qualify for funding ended in March, you can still try your luck. Also application fee is free. If you are interested in Biomedical research, you can apply here.

congrats
how i wish i Have funding
this life sha.
Despite getting visa
i still pray for funding

Hello house!

Is there any correlation between applying to many schools and visa approval,compared with applying to only one school?

How many days to the interview can one pay sevis fee?

fairheart:
1.You didn't do your home work well. And trust me, I have seen cases where overconfidence kill the chances of approval.
First, you disgusted the VO with saying it is a prestigious school. No need for that. I always tell my students, don't give unnecessary information. In fact, it is useless to start bragging about a school. It doesn't had any chance to getting approved.

2, Can you take a look at other schools you applied to? The right school on that chart would be other tier 2 schools, top ranking universities.

3, You were going for a school with a cost of attendance of $60K. I always say it here, always consider the reality of things when selecting a school. Unfortunately, you overlooked that reality. Your school is way too expensive, especially because it is a blank admission without scholarship or assistantship. More so, we are in a pandemic, with people source of income significantly affected and unable to make as much as they were making before the pandemic. What happened to other schools that are well-ranked but not as much as expensive? $60K a year, in my opinion and based on reality, is too much. If you had asked on this thread whether or not you should use this admission, I would have advised you against it.

4, Did you say you Mum makes 3.6 Million every month? Okay, let us be realistic. 3.6 X 12 (in a year) is 43M, less that your total cost of attendance for 9 months, one academic year! So, even if your Mum pumps in her anual income, it still can't pay your COA. She has responsibilities, other family members, etc. Come on. Someone that can confidently pay $60k in nine month to fund her daughter should make more than 3.6, except she has been saving over the years for you. I am sharing this because this is the angle the VO that interviewed you looked at things from. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked who does live with (wanted to know other family members your Mum support from that 3.6million). When the VO asked who your Mum lives with, you left out mentioning your Dad, giving impression she may be seperated or divorce.

5, You live alone but with your fiance, meaning there's a plan to get married soon.

I know your interview was less than 5 minutes or so, but you see those questions you were asked and the way you answered says a lot about your credibility for the F-1 Visa. He sense lies.

I see in your other post that you are disgruntled by the way the VO handled your interview. It is not the VO's fault; you caused it and you should take responsibility and go back to your drawing board and repackage yourself. You caused the instability and nervousness with your overconfidence with saying you're going to a top school, and the VO responded accordingly. The VO was not discriminatory at all; you gave him the sense of unbelief by your answers. You showed indirectly that your sponsor can't afford the school you are going, and on that ground, he refused you. He did what he was trained to do.

MY ADVISE FOR YOU
1. Do not reapply except you have funding or scholarship that reduces your cost of attendance. I am sure a remark must have been left on your profile.
2. Prepare to prove your credibility. If in your next interview question arise on your fiance, make sure you let the VO knows that you wanted to get this master's before you settle down and marry him, as you would not want to live apart doing your MS in the U.S once you get married.
3. Consider applying to other school that promises funding. In your other post, you said Stevenson graduate students get jobs upon graduation. That is correct, but so is the case for other school. Students who graduated in 400 nationally ranked universities also get jobs, especially since IT skills are in high demand. So, I advise you correct your belief. It doesn't have to be that school for you to get a good job. I have seen students from colleges in Florida get high paying internship with Microsoft, Google, and all.
4. In life, overconfidence can cheat us of what we want. Find balance in how you see things. I can sense you irritated the VO from the way the interview started. But that happens. I advise you find a balance in your next interview. Confidence can be negative if not checked. Find balance.
5. It is not the end. Strategize and go back.

All the best!

Are the chances of visa approval high when applied to many schools, compared to applying to one school only.?

When can the sevis fee be paid before interview?In paying sevis fee,is it compulsory to first generate a payment coupon?

Hi everyone,

Please how much is visa fee.