₦airaland Forum

fdecisive:
Date: 1st June 2021
Status: Approved
Funding: Full Ride

Since last week, I have been watching boxing legend Mohammed Ali and his fights with Frazier and Foreman. So today when I was inside the consulate, I began to get a bit nervous. So I began to warm up (subtly though) just like Ali does, from left to right... . Watch him on YouTube, you'd love it.

While on the queue, I saw several cases being adjudicated. There was a guy who couldn't string two or three sentences without a serious grammatical mistake, he didn't sound like someone who passed English at all. On top of the fact that he was telling obvious lies. But he was speaking forcefully, and in the end, his visa was approved, to everyone's surprise. There was a guy who was practically fidgeting, didn't know where he had worked just a couple of years ago, couldn't say what the degree will do for him. But his visa was approved. In my mind... See grace. There were others who seemingly said everything right, and were calm and confident too, but were still denied. Fear God.
It got to my turn.

VO(Caucasian): Good afternoon
Me: Good afternoon sir.

VO: So tell me, what are you going to do?
Me: I'm going to the university of xxxx to gain knowledge and conduct a research with Dr xxxx and Prof xxxx, on how government policy on internally displaced persons, refugee, and migrants are formed; this study will lead to a masters degree in International Studies, and prepare me to take up a role as Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at xxxx, where I currently work. (I stopped, and VO was still typing and looking through my i-20).

VO: (He kept mute for about 20 seconds. He was checking my I-20 all the while I was speaking and kept typing even after I stopped.) Suddenly, he heaved a sigh, opened his mouth, and said... Alright, I will be giving you this document, and approving your visa. We got a lot of folks in queue and I can see you got a full ride, so let's not waste much time.
So here's your i-20, you can pick up your passport from Monday next week at DHL office, VI... Have a wonderful trip to America.

Me: Already smiling. Thank you so much. Have a nice day!
The whole process took just over a minute.

First of all, I want to appreciate the Almighty God for this. I return all the glory to God. I will share part of my story below to motivate and inspire someone out there. You can make it, if you will try!

As of August last year, I had no clue and no plan to study abroad. I had different plans for my career, which included doing a Masters at UNILAG . That same August, a friend of mine John (not his real name) who won a commonwealth scholarship to the UK visited me. He had travelled to Lagos in order to process his tuberculosis tests at Ikeja. He shared his story with me and challenged me to apply for Chevening, Commonwealth, and any other scholarships I could find, adding that I had exceptional experiences that will make me stand out. I was inspired because this was a guy who grew up with me in Warri, walked the same streets with me, attended the same fellowship (FECA), he was even my junior throughout our days at UNIBEN, and here was he going to UK on a fully-funded Scholarship. I believed I could do it too. I decided to give my applications my best shot. As God would have it, we were working remotely at my workplace, so I could devote a lot of attention to research online. I made up my mind to apply for UK Chevening and Swedish Institute Scholarship (NOT USA - I did not think I could afford their numerous standardized tests, and other fees, etc). The USA was out of it for me.

From late August to November last year, day after day, night after night, I did meticulous research. I got vital help from John and others too. I tried to string a coherent story from a pretty diverse career story spanning journalism, news broadcasting, community development, refugee support, humanitarian aid, corporate communications, etc. I wanted to develop a solid personal statement from my experiences that will always be convincing.
After sleepless nights, and managing my applications with my full-time job, I got admitted to 6 UK schools (Universities of East Anglia, Leicester, Bournemouth, Lancaster, Westminster, & Cardiff). I applied for the Chevening Scholarship. I got favoured by God, and was shortlisted for an interview. Last April I did my interview at the British Consulate, Lagos. It was successful, as the panellists shared their feedback with me that I I was outstanding. I'm confident I will be shortlisted for the award when names will be released this month.

But this is how my US story began. In early February, another younger one of mine from my NCCF (NYSC), with whom I had chatted around Christmas last year, reached out to me. He told me that he was now in the US studying, and told me I could actually apply to schools for PhD and get funding too. I never knew - ignorance ain't good. I immediately modified my personal statement, adjusted my references, and started conducting another massive research on US schools that had my course, and was going to waive the application fee, GRE, TOEFL, etc. I wasn't into these standardized English tests, as my English was excellent as far as I was concerned. But to get the schools that were waiving these was a real work... Night upon night I searched patiently. I was lucky to stumble upon my current school, and applied. I requested that the application fee should be waived, and they did. In fact, at some point it looked as if they were appealing to me to send in my application, after reading my personal statement. Two weeks after applying, I got admitted with full graduate assistantship, health insurance, return flight ticket, tuition and fees waiver. I couldn't believe it! I danced and danced that night, praising God, and I'm sure others in my flat must have heard my loud screams, and tonguings too .

I share all these to inspire someone. I am not from a privileged background. Life has been hard several times. I fought my way through undergraduate studies Uniben. It was hard, but God helped me.
Pick yourself up! Don't give up on your dreams to be the best you can be. Always demand the best from yourself. Set the bar high, and aim for it. Wipe the sweat off your face, and persevere. People will misunderstand you, underrate you, discourage you, and even frustrate you, but by the help God, be determined to press on. You will prevail.
One day, I know I will do my PhD at a prestigious school as Harvard. I believe it's possible and I'm going to put in the "hard and difficult work" it will take, by the grace of God.

Above all, have a God-given vision to improve human life, your community, and your society. God will always back those who are called according to his purpose. You will never lose energy as your vision will energize you to keep going.

I wish everyone reading this success in their endeavours. God bless you.

moyin29:
Congratulations
I really took my time to read through very inspiring. So happy for you, could you please list USA universities that yiu applied too

Pefuele:
This is inspiring. Feel free to make more indelible marks by stating the name of the university. That could inspire more!

NigPatriot:
If you want truth, I'll tell you. You're above 20 years, and "an agent" most likely with no qualification, came and told you it's impossible to apply for an F1 visa (schooling), at that age I mean an easy Google search would have given you an idea that your agent is probably more clueless than Nigerias current president. Now you're coming here when the deed has been done saying you're confused. The truth is, you're not actually confused you just need someone here to encourage you in your despicable act.

You might be lucky the VO won't ask/notice of which I highly doubt, or you might be unlucky that the VO finds out and gives you an outright ban (10 years) for falsifying documents. Because at this point I don't know how anyone can assist you, your passport and your i20 contradicts.

You're always advised never to use agents, but some of us have too much to throw to the wind.

TWoods:
I am many years past your experience but still, this write-up is one of the best I have seen here in years. You are the epitome of what hard work (and faith), sincerity and dedication can do. Congrats and welcome to the United States!!

Shabamola:
Anyone knows procedure for applying for BSC?

fantabulous08:
Good evening people!

Please, what do you think about conditional or probational admission with or without funding at the point of visa interview?

I’m scared that the word CONDITIONAL might appear on my I-20 and most likely give the VO a wrong impression, leading to a denial.

tunapawizzy:
use the web call option on the contact us page, tell the support person what you want, it will be changed to locations in Nigeria for u

EmmyteeTosin:
Anyone here recently admitted for Fall2021 in NCAT...let's connect

Crane1:
So I put a call through via the web call to the support person, after asking me all the details, she said the VISA consular will update and change it to Nigeria, but since yesterday I didn't get any update from them.
Please I want to ask if I can use another email different from the one I used initially to fill the DS160 form, so I can proceed to book appointment, coz it is delaying plans.

Please I need replies from the gurus

tunapawizzy:
I am not quite sure about using another email for ur DS160. But i know with the US visa application, its better to keep your data uniform across board. Maybe you put a call through again. Mine was done while i was on call with the support person. Immediately i finished with her, it was already effected.

osigiepurr:
Oh that's great.... How do we start?

Laurennee:
Hello everyone.
Soo, i got my visa approved today at the Lagos consulate. 9.45am
COA: $58k
Funding: $13k
Deficit: $45k

Ps. This interview was just like a conversation with a "senior colleague" lol.

VO: Good morning! How are you doing?
Me: I'm great, thank you...how are you?
VO: I'm fine (he kept typing seriously)

VO: I can see you are going for your masters in healthcare.
Me: Noo, so, I'm actually going for a masters in public health with a concentration in health policy and management, but the SEVIS code just puts it as health care.
VO: (nodding) okay...please can you repeat the masters degree name again.
Me: I repeated everything.

VO: So, do you have a degree in public health previously?
Me: No, but I'm a physician with a bachelors in Microbiology, so public health has always been something i wanted to do.
VO: (nodding) and typing seriously

Me: Then i added, so i got my bachelors degree in 2010 from Covenant University. Then i went to ukraine for 6 years for my doctor of medicine degree. I came back to Nigeria in 2018 and I've been here since.
V.O: You work at ***** hospital?
Me: yeah, where i work in the ***** unit
V.O: Where's it located?
Me: They have 4 branches, lagos island, VI etc (V.O just kept nodding)

V.O: So you schooled in Lagos?
Me: Yeah, Covenant University which is an elite private university near lagos.
V.O Then you went to ukraine, now US. Why are you jumping around?
Me: ( i laugheddd), then said I'm not jumping around, it's just my quest in the pursuit of knowledge.
V.O: How many schools did you apply to?
Me: 4 schools
V.O: list them
Me: Oxford, Johns hopkins, drexel and georgia southerrn.
V.O: How many gave you admission?
Me: Well, oxford and Johns Hopkins didn't admit me. So, just drexel and georgia southern.
V.O: So why drexel?
Me: Drexel is the only school which gives me the opportunity of having a minor in health economics which will be written on my certificate. Because health economics is a very important aspect, it deals with the equitable distribution and access of healthcare. E.g the covid vaccine, it isn't enough to just create a vaccine, but effective distribution also matters.
Secondly, If you noticed with the schools i applied to, they are top schools...so, i was quite obsessed with going to a top school and drexel's school of public health ranks as number 19 in US.

V. O: (Still typing seriously, paused at my 45k deficit lol) What is your financial plan?
Me: My financial plan?
V.O: nodding
Me: My aunty would be sponsoring me.
V.O: What does she do?
Me: She's a bank manager and is also into real estate, developing and selling properties. Then she has a farm where she does rice production, poultry and fish farming on a large scale.
V.O: nodding (typing again)
Me: Since my dad walked out on my mum and I, my aunt has been responsible for my education. She sponsored me throughout Covenant University, then 6 years in Ukraine. So this won't be different.
V.O: So will you pay your aunty back?
Me: ( I laughed again) and was like nahhh...can't possibly pay her back.
V.O: (jokingly) you should pay her back
Me: Just smiling and praying in my mind.
V.O: How old are you?
Me: I'm 29
V.O: When you return to Nigeria, what's your plan?
Me: I will take up a job with the ministry of health in my state, I'm in communication with one of he directors there. But then that is my short term plan, for the long term i intend expanding the reach of my NGO which i founded last year. It's focused on hypertension and diabetes which are silent killers, since majority of the attention is on HIV, TB, covid et al.
V.O: (Nodding), then typed briefly. Excused himself for about 30seconds while he conferred with the V.O at the next window.
Me: I was just praying in my head, those were the longest 30 seconds of my life. Then he came back and continued typing.
V.O: Have you been to the US before?
Me: No, i havent.
V.O: Okay, so I'll be issuing a visa to continue your studies in the US.
Me: Thank you very much.
V.O: Ensure you do all the things you said you'll do and goodluck.
Me: Thank you...I will
V.O: Here's your I-20, ensure you keep it very well...You'd need it at the port of entry. Have a nice day.
Me: Okay I will, thank you...have a nice day too

Pss. I wasn't asked for account statement, though i carried one with me.

Thank you everyone who shared resources here that have been useful.
Best wishes to people still awaiting their visas.

Khaleemah:
G.morning guys,i recently got admission into Georgia state university Atlanta for my MSc although have been to the US b4 with a B1- B2 visa to give birth it was a 2 years Visa and i came back after (5month) after that have been denied Visa twice my husband was a student and i applied for an F2.
We are thinking it because of d baby we had over there (all hospital bills has been cleared and has her green passport) i will like to ask if it necessary to go with her for my student interview since we are travelling back 2gether or let her stay back.
Thank yhu

kbanty22:
Thank you all for sharing interview ideas as it was quite helpful for us. My wife's F1 and our F2 visa approved today in Berlin Germany. It took less than 2minutes. The questions asked were how long she's been in Germany, what the course will do for her and why USA and not Germany. Thank you all for your valuable inputs.

TWoods:
I think he already made indelible marks by showing others how it is done... it is up to them to either put in the work or sit here asking for names of universities to copy.

fdecisive:
I'm not helping others if I say it here, sincerely. Besides, you won't be able to defend it effectively at your visa interview.
Someone who good at online research, can get the university by searching for the course at 4icu.org. . That's all I can say.

Seemeeoon:
I will sure come here with my testimony someday