₦airaland Forum

Alexanderfrost:
Status: Visa Approved. Lagos on Tuesday, 28th of September.

Please find below the transcript I prepared Tuesday Night.

So this might be a tardy long read but please allow me to let out how this whole journey started.

First thought about traveling out for Master's in 2017. I actually applied to two universities. Yeshiva University, Newyork where I got a 5k scholarship. I applied to University of Maryland, and surprisingly I was also admitted. So two offers and I really didn't know what to do with it. 2017 was a very dark year and I was really going through it. Mentally drained and emotionally wrecked (not heartbreak). It's only the love of the few who actually cared that kept me going. Ended up not taking the offers. I resumed working and pushed career forward.

In the same 2017, I literally read the *General Student Visa* thread on Nairaland from part 1 to the the latest as at that time. I was consuming information I probably didn't have an urgent need for but they ended up been useful, one way or the other. As of today, I doubt there's any thread created for USA student visa on Nairaland I haven't consumed. Information is power, innit?

Applied to WIU last December. Of course, application fee was waived and the process was near seamless. I got admitted April but somehow, couldn't sort out Financial Statement up until late June. By the time i-20 came and I applied for Visa, the earliest date I got was Sept 28. I applied for expedite date and it was rejected late July. Days before then, I'd give up on going by fall and requested that WIU send me an offer letter and i-20 for spring. Two days after, they did!

While waiting for today's interview, I spent the days leading to today researching, attending virtual sessions and applying to other school's spring and fall '22 program. Person gats get plan B, right?

So today I went for the interview.

Alloted Interview Time: 10:30am

Got to the Embassy: 6:15am



Love and Light.

I think I have seen your post before in previous thread about Yeshiva and Maryland were u were like paying 35k isn't the problem, congrats anyways, we tap into your succes Man!!

Quick one house. I was denial last month and I’m about to reapply now have paid another visa fee yesterday. Please can I use my previous cgi profile again to book for another date or I should create another email and register new cgi profile to book an appointment.
Will be glad for your response thanks
I love you 100

Please gurus in the house pls answer or respond to this I beg you in the name of God Biko

Congratulations

Xavious227:
Visa granted -‘30/09/21
Abuja embassy
Transcript loading

Available dates is may 17,I actually went back hoping I will get a date in December jst incase some1 cancels his appointment,cos my school resumes in January,pls anybody or agents on slot for novber or December I can apply for appointment,

bustlezach01:
Hi everyone,

I got an admission to study Mechatronics and Artificial Intelligence at MTU and the University of Bridgeport respectively, masters degree to be precise. I have decided to pursue the MTU offer because it aligns with my first degree.

MTU asked me to show proof of fund of 36.5k USD for the COA. I got a student loan from prodigy but it was rejected by MTU on the ground that the guaranteed amount is not up to 36.5k USD. The prodigy offer states that 18k USD has been approved with conditional approval of 37k USD in addition. But MTU insists he needs a guarantee of 36.5k.

So, as it is, I need 18.5k USD to make up for the deficit. Someone should kindly assist with info on how to raise additional funds be it through scholarships, grants etc.

hmmm... guess you are new in the game...lets talk

owagbeba:
Noooo! Chance dey. The visa na try your luck. With BABA on your side you fit get am.

Outside the factors wey we no fit control, make we try package well those factors we get control over.

I just dey highlight the factors wey VO fit pick on. You see that transition from secondary to poly, you need package am well; because na the first question wey she go throw you: “what have you been doing?” If you no answer well.... lobatan!

If better funding dey, VO no go too look sponsor side.

Normally These factors “dey help” visa issuance:
Previous travel to yankee
Previous travel to EU & North America
First degree - masters correlation
First degree - current job correlation
Full funding
Current employer ( popular the better)
Secured employment after graduation
Iyawo & pikin (masters)

But then ... take your time, package am well, no rush am. Try reason the matter the way oyibo go reason am. Remember them sabi say hungry dey country, everybody wan japa.

No vex say I dey write for pidgin, those oyibo for embassy dey follow read this thread.

Please can we talk on WhatsApp or email, I need your advice on somethings.

Thanks so much

Don’t really get you but most US schools give English test waiver to Nigerian students. You don’t need a letter

Kindly let's connect on WhatsApp 08050255620
Thanks

Before you evaluate your transcript please make your findings if the school accept evaluated transcripts from Spantran. Most schools accept ECE, WES, Educational perspectives etc while some schools don’t take WES (like my school)

Please can we connect on WhatsApp 08050255620
Need your advice

Alexanderfrost

Omo, you dodged a bullet here. From the beginning of the interview, VO got you in his own pen.... and he tried hard to rob off your cool. And it’s obvious every VO’s approach to an interview is different, which makes US Visa a try-your-luck kind of exercise.

Some VO may deny visa issuance based on the estimates as being bogus. Some may google the name of your uncle’s farm /company. It really takes preparedness and grace,

I’m glad you finally brought the dude over to your field of experience , and showed him you are indeed a bonafide student.

No dull when you reach there! All the best.

haywhy17:
hmmm... guess you are new in the game...lets talk

Hello, pls can I chat u up, I need some help as regards loan. Thanks

Well said Baba.

His methods were so unconventional and it nearly derailed me. But like you said, no VO is exactly the same and no interview is exactly the same.

Preparation helps. Truthfulness also help. Package yourself but don't lie.

Package!

owagbeba:
Alexanderfrost

Omo, you dodged a bullet here. From the beginning of the interview, VO got you in his own pen.... and he tried hard to rob off your cool. And it’s obvious every VO’s approach to an interview is different, which makes US Visa a try-your-luck kind of exercise.

Some VO may deny visa issuance based on the estimates as being bogus. Some may google the name of your uncle’s farm /company. It really takes preparedness and grace,

I’m glad you finally brought the dude over to your field of experience , and showed him you are indeed a bonafide student.

No dull when you reach there! All the best.

Mickeybook:
Your cousin is not ready to help you or you are deceiving yourself ... Why not tell us what your cousin told you about a conditional admission that made you change your mind ? Again ,what course did you apply for ?The conditional admission offered to you means you just need to register for a certain course and get a certain grade in the certain course . I'm sure it's not stated on your form I 20 that you are offered a conditional admission.... Even at that I believe you will be fine to defend your case to d vo... Alabama A&M is a good school

The course applies to was Animal Science. Although, my bro instructed me to call One Chandra J Glover in that school cuz he had his first degree there. When I called her, I was redirected to talk to Mz Nicole Jackson which I did. We had a voice conversation and he linked up with a course advisor (while on the voice call) and telling him (the course advisor) my GRE score, GPA (scale of 4.0), he said only a conditional admission could be guaranteed. That was when I discussed this with my bro but he was capitalizing on full funding and more which made him tell me to re-write the GRE and have a good score for unconditional admission.

I need it too.

Mercydale143:
Please I need for Lagos too

kaey10:
Can you pls add me to the Abuja WhatsApp, school resume 11 January. 0.8.1.8.8.6.9.0.8.6.3

Please, kindly add me to the group
08050255620

ufay:
No, not just my school but basically for those with a date already I believe.
I could reconfirm.

please check your email, i want to be added to your group, thank you

Is anyone here going to University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth (UMassD) ?

Please signify

Alexanderfrost:
Status: Visa Approved. Lagos on Tuesday, 28th of September.

Please find below the transcript I prepared Tuesday Night.

So this might be a tardy long read but please allow me to let out how this whole journey started.

First thought about traveling out for Master's in 2017. I actually applied to two universities. Yeshiva University, Newyork where I got a 5k scholarship. I applied to University of Maryland, and surprisingly I was also admitted. So two offers and I really didn't know what to do with it. 2017 was a very dark year and I was really going through it. Mentally drained and emotionally wrecked (not heartbreak). It's only the love of the few who actually cared that kept me going. Ended up not taking the offers. I resumed working and pushed career forward.

In the same 2017, I literally read the *General Student Visa* thread on Nairaland from part 1 to the the latest as at that time. I was consuming information I probably didn't have an urgent need for but they ended up been useful, one way or the other. As of today, I doubt there's any thread created for USA student visa on Nairaland I haven't consumed. Information is power, innit?

Applied to WIU last December. Of course, application fee was waived and the process was near seamless. I got admitted April but somehow, couldn't sort out Financial Statement up until late June. By the time i-20 came and I applied for Visa, the earliest date I got was Sept 28. I applied for expedite date and it was rejected late July. Days before then, I'd give up on going by fall and requested that WIU send me an offer letter and i-20 for spring. Two days after, they did!

While waiting for today's interview, I spent the days leading to today researching, attending virtual sessions and applying to other school's spring and fall '22 program. Person gats get plan B, right?

So today I went for the interview.

Alloted Interview Time: 10:30am

Got to the Embassy: 6:15am

Interviewed around 8am.

Five VO's were on seat. One caucasian guy, one slim black guy, one black woman and two caucasian women.

I was interviewed by the slim black guy. By the time the other guy was done with three candidates, black slim guy was still drilling the man in front of him. By the time it got to my turn, man beckoned on me to come.

VO: Good Morning

ME: Good Morning

VO: How're you today?

ME: I'm very well, thank you.

VO: First time going to the states?

ME: Yes please

VO: What's your undergraduate background?

ME: Economics

VO: Picks up my i-20 and asked me bluntly, Is this the original copy of your i-20 or what?
I said it's the original I printed. Man became visibly angry, picks the i-20 and brandish it in my face, across the divider and asked, 'Does this look like an original to you?'

In my mind, I was like so nah because of i-20 them go deny me visa? Thing is, I'd printed it myself using the office printer and it's in plain black and white. I honestly didn't know if he wanted it in colour or what his issues were, lol. So I asked him, do you want me to go and print it in colours and bring it to you?

He waived it aside and then continued.

VO: Who's your sponsor?

ME: I have a merit based scholarship and my uncle will be covering the balance.

VO: stares at me, so I continued

ME: He owns an Agribusiness and exports major cash crops like Cocoa, Cashew, etc.

VO: What's his monthly income?

ME: 5-10 Million.

He said why am I giving him an estimated amount. I said Shey he knows cash crops are seasonal and income flow can't be fixed for all months. At the end, I told him 10 millions.

VO: How many employee does he have.

ME: Over 100.

VO: I don't want estimates. You keep giving me estimates, he raged in his somewhat East African Americanised accent.

ME: I told him 108. Cause he be like say this guy really wants 'facts and figures'.

VO: How many tractors does he have?

ME: 2

VO: How many hectares of land does he farm?

ME: 25

VO: Do you have his statement here.

I passed it to him and he spent like two, three minutes on it. Checking pages, after pages. When he's done, he asked me why I didn't print earlier months. At this point, I was getting 'angry' too and I told him what he's holding starts from February and ends August. That's 7 months. He said okay.

So in all these, I wasn't certain which direction the interview was going. I felt like he's taken the questions from the rear and was hoping he'd ask me questions I could possibly express my self well.

I just hoped 'Jesus takes the Wheel' and I can shine soon after.

Then he asked me.

VO: Okay, so what's Econometrics.

It's at this point I knew my prayer was answered.

ME: I spoke to the truth of Econometrics and I added Quantitative Economics to it. I finished my bullets here.

He nodded. I told myself, 'now we're in play'!

VO: So what will this degree do for you?

ME: In the short term, when I return to Nigeria, I'll be taking up the role of portfolio manager where I work presently. In the medium term, I'd love to work with CBN and this degree will make that goal achievable. In the long term, I'd love to set up my own consulting firm. The Industry knowledge I've gathered all these years, couple with this degree will make it attainable.

He was staring at me here. So I removed my glasses, folded it, dropped it and looked him eyes to eyes. Then I was spitting.

He then asked how long I'll be staying in the state and told him January 13, 2021 to Dec 15, 2023.

He then brought out white paper and started writing on it.

Then slid my passport back to me. I didn't even know what's going on.

Then he said something about me still having to send the original i-20 to him. I said I'll send today. He said I can chill till when they'll call me.

So bottomline, he said they're not issuing spring visa for now because spring is still far away . They'll call me when my visa is ready and I'll take my passport to DHL. I'm not returning to the consulate.

He gave me my passport, gave me the white paper and I left smiling like a fresh lamp.

For all the years I've been readying myself, reading transcripts and preparing myself for today, nothing I've read was ENOUGH to see me through what I went though today. He's angry with me. And then he still gave me the visa.

Isn't that God's Grace?

I sincerely wish those who're on this journey or about to start the very best.

Love and Light.

Congratulations .....I tap into your success story

Quick one house. I was denial last month and I’m about to reapply now have paid another visa fee yesterday. Please can I use my previous cgi profile again to book for another date or I should create another email and register new cgi profile to book an appointment.
Will be glad for your response thanks
I love you 100

ok, I understand better now ... The funding is the koko

generalwhite:
The course applies to was Animal Science. Although, my bro instructed me to call One Chandra J Glover in that school cuz he had his first degree there. When I called her, I was redirected to talk to Mz Nicole Jackson which I did. We had a voice conversation and he linked up with a course advisor (while on the voice call) and telling him (the course advisor) my GRE score, GPA (scale of 4.0), he said only a conditional admission could be guaranteed. That was when I discussed this with my bro but he was capitalizing on full funding and more which made him tell me to re-write the GRE and have a good score for unconditional admission.

Alexanderfrost:
Status: Visa Approved. Lagos on Tuesday, 28th of September.

Please find below the transcript I prepared Tuesday Night.

So this might be a tardy long read but please allow me to let out how this whole journey started.

First thought about traveling out for Master's in 2017. I actually applied to two universities. Yeshiva University, Newyork where I got a 5k scholarship. I applied to University of Maryland, and surprisingly I was also admitted. So two offers and I really didn't know what to do with it. 2017 was a very dark year and I was really going through it. Mentally drained and emotionally wrecked (not heartbreak). It's only the love of the few who actually cared that kept me going. Ended up not taking the offers. I resumed working and pushed career forward.

In the same 2017, I literally read the *General Student Visa* thread on Nairaland from part 1 to the the latest as at that time. I was consuming information I probably didn't have an urgent need for but they ended up been useful, one way or the other. As of today, I doubt there's any thread created for USA student visa on Nairaland I haven't consumed. Information is power, innit?

Applied to WIU last December. Of course, application fee was waived and the process was near seamless. I got admitted April but somehow, couldn't sort out Financial Statement up until late June. By the time i-20 came and I applied for Visa, the earliest date I got was Sept 28. I applied for expedite date and it was rejected late July. Days before then, I'd give up on going by fall and requested that WIU send me an offer letter and i-20 for spring. Two days after, they did!

While waiting for today's interview, I spent the days leading to today researching, attending virtual sessions and applying to other school's spring and fall '22 program. Person gats get plan B, right?

So today I went for the interview.

Alloted Interview Time: 10:30am

Got to the Embassy: 6:15am

Interviewed around 8am.

Five VO's were on seat. One caucasian guy, one slim black guy, one black woman and two caucasian women.

I was interviewed by the slim black guy. By the time the other guy was done with three candidates, black slim guy was still drilling the man in front of him. By the time it got to my turn, man beckoned on me to come.

VO: Good Morning

ME: Good Morning

VO: How're you today?

ME: I'm very well, thank you.

VO: First time going to the states?

ME: Yes please

VO: What's your undergraduate background?

ME: Economics

VO: Picks up my i-20 and asked me bluntly, Is this the original copy of your i-20 or what?
I said it's the original I printed. Man became visibly angry, picks the i-20 and brandish it in my face, across the divider and asked, 'Does this look like an original to you?'

In my mind, I was like so nah because of i-20 them go deny me visa? Thing is, I'd printed it myself using the office printer and it's in plain black and white. I honestly didn't know if he wanted it in colour or what his issues were, lol. So I asked him, do you want me to go and print it in colours and bring it to you?

He waived it aside and then continued.

VO: Who's your sponsor?

ME: I have a merit based scholarship and my uncle will be covering the balance.

VO: stares at me, so I continued

ME: He owns an Agribusiness and exports major cash crops like Cocoa, Cashew, etc.

VO: What's his monthly income?

ME: 5-10 Million.

He said why am I giving him an estimated amount. I said Shey he knows cash crops are seasonal and income flow can't be fixed for all months. At the end, I told him 10 millions.

VO: How many employee does he have.

ME: Over 100.

VO: I don't want estimates. You keep giving me estimates, he raged in his somewhat East African Americanised accent.

ME: I told him 108. Cause he be like say this guy really wants 'facts and figures'.

VO: How many tractors does he have?

ME: 2

VO: How many hectares of land does he farm?

ME: 25

VO: Do you have his statement here.

I passed it to him and he spent like two, three minutes on it. Checking pages, after pages. When he's done, he asked me why I didn't print earlier months. At this point, I was getting 'angry' too and I told him what he's holding starts from February and ends August. That's 7 months. He said okay.

So in all these, I wasn't certain which direction the interview was going. I felt like he's taken the questions from the rear and was hoping he'd ask me questions I could possibly express my self well.

I just hoped 'Jesus takes the Wheel' and I can shine soon after.

Then he asked me.

VO: Okay, so what's Econometrics.

It's at this point I knew my prayer was answered.

ME: I spoke to the truth of Econometrics and I added Quantitative Economics to it. I finished my bullets here.

He nodded. I told myself, 'now we're in play'!

VO: So what will this degree do for you?

ME: In the short term, when I return to Nigeria, I'll be taking up the role of portfolio manager where I work presently. In the medium term, I'd love to work with CBN and this degree will make that goal achievable. In the long term, I'd love to set up my own consulting firm. The Industry knowledge I've gathered all these years, couple with this degree will make it attainable.

He was staring at me here. So I removed my glasses, folded it, dropped it and looked him eyes to eyes. Then I was spitting.

He then asked how long I'll be staying in the state and told him January 13, 2021 to Dec 15, 2023.

He then brought out white paper and started writing on it.

Then slid my passport back to me. I didn't even know what's going on.

Then he said something about me still having to send the original i-20 to him. I said I'll send today. He said I can chill till when they'll call me.

So bottomline, he said they're not issuing spring visa for now because spring is still far away . They'll call me when my visa is ready and I'll take my passport to DHL. I'm not returning to the consulate.

He gave me my passport, gave me the white paper and I left smiling like a fresh lamp.

For all the years I've been readying myself, reading transcripts and preparing myself for today, nothing I've read was ENOUGH to see me through what I went though today. He's angry with me. And then he still gave me the visa.

Isn't that God's Grace?

I sincerely wish those who're on this journey or about to start the very best.

Love and Light.

Omo!!!!!!! He really drilled you though, im happy you got it at the end.

im looking forward to having mine soon.

itll go well and il be here to report my approved transcript

Mickeybook:
ok, I understand better now ... The funding is the koko

Yes “he said”.

Please can I be added to the group. I don'tknow how to do PM. Thanks

kaey10:
Pls, add me to the group. Thanks

Please add me to the whatsapp group with this number 08080925289, thanks.

AllureI:
My thoughts exactly! We can create a WhatsApp group of up to 24 members or more, where each member is assigned a specific time in a day to check for available interview dates and report to the group chat... Let's do this!

Please add me 08067734016. Thanks

tmann626:
please add me. 08060000805

Duisburg:
Sorry, may I know your profile?

B.A - 3.61
M.Ed - 3.5
GRE - 286

My profile no too choke like that. I think my work experience also helped me cus the Professor that interviewed me said he like the fact that I have teaching and research experience.

ObodoNaija:
B.A - 3.61
M.Ed - 3.5
GRE - 286

My profile no too choke like that. I think my work experience also helped me cus the Professor that interviewed me said he like the fact that I have teaching and research experience.

Oh, good. Congrats.

Great people ,pls help a sister ooo... I just sighted an error in my husband's place of birth, it's different from the one I used for B1/B2 interview ....will that be a problem ... I have been making endless efforts to create a new ds 160 but the site won't just stop logging me out at the edge of every final submission. And again hope using the same passport photograph I used in my b1/B2 denial isn't any problem
Elders in the house ....pls your responses will be highly appreciated..... Btw , my date is 2nd week of Nov

You can create a new ds160 and edit the place of birth, use d application and edit on the portal where you booked appointment and then print out.
Just keep trying as it use to time out, b patient

Mickeybook:
Great people ,pls help a sister ooo... I just sighted an error in my husband's place of birth, it's different from the one I used for B1/B2 interview ....will that be a problem ... I have been making endless efforts to create a new ds 160 but the site won't just stop logging me out at the edge of every final submission. And again hope using the same passport photograph I used in my b1/B2 denial isn't any problem
Elders in the house ....pls your responses will be highly appreciated..... Btw , my date is 2nd week of Nov

That reminds me, place of birth : Alagbado, State: Lagos, country: Nigeria. It appears in D's 160 confirmation as Alagbado, Nigeria. Whereas on intl passport, it is indicated as Lagos, Nigeria.

So I changed it to place of birth: Lagos, state : Lagos...

So that the information on D's 160 will match that of intl passport Lagos, Nigeria.

Is that okay. Pls assist


None has responded yet. Will appreciate feedback

Mickeybook:
Great people ,pls help a sister ooo... I just sighted an error in my husband's place of birth, it's different from the one I used for B1/B2 interview ....will that be a problem ... I have been making endless efforts to create a new ds 160 but the site won't just stop logging me out at the edge of every final submission. And again hope using the same passport photograph I used in my b1/B2 denial isn't any problem
Elders in the house ....pls your responses will be highly appreciated..... Btw , my date is 2nd week of Nov

Gent2nice:
*unable to accept photo due to low memory*
Above information displayed while uploading photo on ds160
Photo size is 203kb.
Pls what do I need to do?

Just go take the passport at a normal computer service center. They know the quality already once you tell them it's for US Visa, they'd even test it on the website for you once they're done taking your passport photograph.