pappybarry:
Please can I apply for visiting visa to the US to visit someone I haven't met physically before? What are my chances? I have been virtual friends with this person for over a year. Please help me with options. Thanks

Wrong thread.
Go to link below and read as much as you can. It's exhaustive.

https://www.nairaland.com/5807124/usa-visit-visa-part-4/182

.

Good morning my wonderful people here, Gurus in the house, will be going. For a conference at milwaukee on the 21st, fare to that place is crazily high, heard chicago airport is extremely strict too, although by air is just less than an hour to milwaukee please i need suggestions and advice please
NOTE: I’m a first time traveller
Thanks

iyanuakin:
Good morning my wonderful people here, Gurus in the house, will be going. For a conference at milwaukee on the 21st, fare to that place is crazily high, heard chicago airport is extremely strict too, although by air is just less than an hour to milwaukee please i need suggestions and advice please
Thanks

You can fly to Chicago if it is cheaper for you, then get a connecting flight to Milwaukee. I will advise you also have your ticket to Milwaukee handy just in case. Ensure you give ample time (at least 3hrs) between your arrival flight to Chicago and the departing flight to Milwaukee. As long as you stay coordinated and answer correctly whatever questions the CBP officer asks you, you are good.

As mentioned fly to Chicago, and then take a bus/shuttle to Milwaukee. The distance from Chicago downtown to Milwaukee is only 95 miles. Will even be shorter from ORD. Flight time itself is less than 30 mins. Almost no point flying.

iyanuakin:
Good morning my wonderful people here, Gurus in the house, will be going. For a conference at milwaukee on the 21st, fare to that place is crazily high, heard chicago airport is extremely strict too, although by air is just less than an hour to milwaukee please i need suggestions and advice please
NOTE: I’m a first time traveller
Thanks

nelem:


You can fly to Chicago if it is cheaper for you, then get a connecting flight to Milwaukee. I will advise you also have your ticket to Milwaukee handy just in case. Ensure you give ample time (at least 3hrs) between your arrival flight to Chicago and the departing flight to Milwaukee. As long as you stay coordinated and answer correctly whatever questions the CBP officer asks you, you are good.

Thank you , in the case of me getting a train or bus how do i make bookings for that please since is just an hour drive, so as to present at POE if asked about

Bossman:
As mentioned fly to Chicago, and then take a bus/shuttle to Milwaukee. The distance from Chicago downtown to Milwaukee is only 95 miles. Will even be shorter from ORD. Flight time itself is less than 30 mins. Almost no point flying.

Can i make bookings or buy ticket for bus before arrival so i can have something to present to the Boarder Officials

iyanuakin:

Thank you , in the case of me getting a train or bus how do i make bookings for that please since is just an hour drive, so as to present at POE if asked about

For bus, you can book/use Greyhound

nelem:


For bus, you can book/use Greyhound

Thanks chief

iyanuakin:

Thanks chief

As an addition, open Google Maps on your laptop and enter the destination address you will stay that night, then search greyhound in that area, you'd see the nearest bus park or station (don't know what they call it), then find tickets or routes to Greyhound Chicago downtown. Reversing your trip.
That way you'd see the bus route, day, time of day, sold out bus, peak price tickets, overnight trips etc etc.

fkj950ax:


As an addition, open Google Maps on your laptop and enter the destination address you will stay that night, then search greyhound in that area, you'd see the nearest bus park or station (don't know what they call it), then find tickets or routes to Greyhound Chicago downtown. Reversing your trip.
That way you'd see the bus route, day, time of day, sold out bus, peak price tickets, overnight trips etc etc.

Im i to do this before i leave or when i land please

iyanuakin:

Im i to do this before i leave or when i land please

You can do this now. Gives you an idea of what to expect.

fkj950ax:


You can do this now. Gives you an idea of what to expect.

Okay
My flight lands by 9:30pm,
The only bus going to Milwaukee late that night is the one for 9:50pm, the next is 6am on the 23rd, kindly advice on what best to do
Thanks

iyanuakin:


Okay
My flight lands by 9:30pm,
The only bus going to Milwaukee late that night is the one for 9:50pm, the next is 6am on the 23rd, kindly advice on what best to do
Thanks

Do the 6am.
You can’t land, clear security, be out of the airport and reach the bus park in 20mins.

Advice you stay in the airport till 4am. Take Uber to bus park at 430am so you have enough time to find your platform, bus, grab coffee and snacks.
Freshen up in the restroom.

Or you find hotel close to the bus park and leave the airport after security checks. Then in the morning, head to bus park

fkj950ax:


Do the 6am.
You can’t land, clear security, be out of the airport and reach the bus park in 20mins.

Advice you stay in the airport till 4am. Take Uber to bus park at 430am so you have enough time to find your platform, bus, grab coffee and snacks.
Freshen up in the restroom.

Or you find hotel close to the bus park and leave the airport after security checks. Then in the morning, head to bus park

You guys are the best, will share my transcript when i travel, God bless you

Hello, can anyone share their experience with the One- Day Covid 19 Testing entry requirement into the US.

1. Where did you do the test?
2. Is it available at the airport?
3. Is it the PCR Test or the rapid test?
4. How much did you do it ?

This might seem like an outlier. I won't advice anyone to use Chicago as POE. Yes, even when you don't have anything to hide! That place has history. And I know two people (personally) who have been turned back.

If you can find another state that still makes you connect to your final destination, will advice you do so.

Regards,

pointednose:
This might seem like an outlier. I won't advice anyone to use Chicago as POE. Yes, even when you don't have anything to hide! That place has history. And I know two people (personally) who have been turned back.

If you can find another state that still makes you connect to your final destination, will advice you do so.

Regards,

Hmmm , nawa o
Ive already finalized my arrangements to land in chicago sha o

iyanuakin:


Hmmm , nawa o
Ive already finalized my arrangements to land in chicago sha o

Everything will work out fine. Stay calm.

9:30 PM really, and ORD is your POE? Most flights from Europe land around the late morning/early afternoon, because of time difference/travel time. Anyway, in that case you can book a hotel around Rosemont/O'Hare area. You probably can't make that 9:50 PM bus, since you'll be clearing immigration/customs. Except if you flight is a bit early.

iyanuakin:


Okay
My flight lands by 9:30pm,
The only bus going to Milwaukee late that night is the one for 9:50pm, the next is 6am on the 23rd, kindly advice on what best to do
Thanks

Bossman:
9:30 PM really, and ORD is your POE? Most flights from Europe land around the late morning/early afternoon, because of time difference/travel time. Anyway, in that case you can book a hotel around Rosemont/O'Hare area. You probably can't make that 9:50 PM bus, since you'll be clearing immigration/customs. Except if you flight is a bit early.

Yes, ORD is my POE ,is just an hour to Wisconsin where the conference is taking place
Alright will do just that, tried booking greyhound but payment couldn't go through, any suggestion pls?

iyanuakin:


Yes, ORD is my POE ,is just an hour to Wisconsin where the conference is taking place
Alright will do just that, tried booking greyhound but payment couldn't go through, any suggestion pls?

You should have cash on you prior to leaving Nigeria.
I always advice you break $100 into $10 bills. It saves you a lot of headache. Do it at the airport at any BDC.
Hope you have sorted it out?

fkj950ax:


You should have cash on you prior to leaving Nigeria.
I always advice you break $100 into $10 bills. It saves you a lot of headache. Do it at the airport at any BDC.
Hope you have sorted it out?

Yes i have 800 dollars on me , while 3k in my card, ill break the dollars tomorrow at the airport, should get there by 4 although my flight is by 8pm, my concern is not been able to tender bus ticket to wisconsin as i couldnt make the payment online at the POE, thanks

iyanuakin:

Yes i have 800 dollars on me , while 3k in my card, ill break the dollars tomorrow at the airport, should get there by 4 although my flight is by 8pm, my concern is not been able to tender bus ticket to wisconsin as i couldnt make the payment online at the POE, thanks

Don’t worry yourself about PoE.
All these will be only if you get sent to secondary. As long as you don’t have foodstuffs, 10k cash or anything you have to declare, you will breeze through PoE.
Enjoy your trip.

fkj950ax:


Don’t worry yourself about PoE.
All these will be only if you get sent to secondary. As long as you don’t have foodstuffs, 10k cash or anything you have to declare, you will breeze through PoE.
Enjoy your trip.

None of the above
My box is just 9kg self
Few clothes
Shoes
Gaskia
Nothing else,
Just there for conference 9days im back to naija
Will drop my transcript when i get there
Thanks alot for the support
God bless u

fkj950ax:


Don’t worry yourself about PoE.
All these will be only if you get sent to secondary. As long as you don’t have foodstuffs, 10k cash or anything you have to declare, you will breeze through PoE.
Enjoy your trip.

Finally landed in chicago, now in milwaukee, long and tiring journey, will send my transcript when i settle, thanks for the advice

welcome to the united state enjoy your stay we waiting for the transcript

iyanuakin:


Finally landed in chicago, now in milwaukee, long and tiring journey, will send my transcript when i settle, thanks for the advice

Hello
Thanks to the gurus
Here to fulfill my promise
Took off late from lagos on Saturday night
Flight was meant to take off 8:45 but took of around 9:30, we got to instabul but unfortunately by the time we got to international transfer for trip to chicago, boarding gate already closed, we complained at the turkish airline care and was reissued another ticke t for the next flight for 2pm as against 6:45am we were suppose to go with
Got to ORD around 18:30hours US time
Filled form
Went to CBP
Officer :- what are you here for?
Me: conference
Officer: what do you do?
Me : i work with xxxxxx
CBP: where’s your IV for the conference ?
Me- showed him
CBP: how many bags did you bring
Me: just one small box
CBP officer - follow me, i was the last on the line , took me to an office, told me to wait
I sha sat down, dey play song and read psalm for my head
After 30min i was called by another officer
I saw gum on his table and requested for one after greeting him
He told me to pay, so i gave him a dollar and he gave me two gums and said why are nigerians always asking him for gum
Told him, We love to try new things
Then he started asking me about the conference, association, pictures of my wife, and those i took at work, hotel bookings, which i showed him
Gbam stamped me 6months and wish me happy stay and told me to take my one dollar as he was joking
I strolled out, took my box and gbam to the cold of chicago

Thank you all once again
Note- once you hve nothing to hide and you’re genuine about what you're here for and God by your side no issues at all…
Lemme enjoy my remaining 8 days

iyanuakin:
Hello

Thank you all once again
Note- once you hve nothing to hide and you’re genuine about what you're here for and God by your side no issues at all…
Lemme enjoy my remaining 8 days

This right here says it all. They don't joke with honesty. Sadly a lot of people think they can play the system.

iyanuakin:
Hello
Thanks to the gurus
Here to fulfill my promise

Gbam stamped me 6months and wish me happy stay and told me to take my one dollar as he was joking
I strolled out, took my box and gbam to the cold of chicago

Thank you all once again
Note- once you hve nothing to hide and you’re genuine about what you're here for and God by your side no issues at all…
Lemme enjoy my remaining 8 days

Nice one boss and welcome. enjoy yourself

Point Of Entry Story (POE) – Favour all the way

Lagos- London- Dallas

Airline British Airways 10.55pm flight. No transit Visa required

I did my covid test with Medbury in Lekki phase 1, Dropped my sample by 8am , result received by 2pm same day.

Luggage – 2 of 23kg bags one dedicated for food stuff ( dryfish, egusi, ogbono, Okpei, crayfish, pepper) the other my clothes and food items that doesn’t smell like Maggi crayfish, groundnuts. My bag pack had chin chin and my shoes

Got to the airport, custom guys looked at me from head to toe and asked me to go.

My luggage was 23.47 and 23.8 kg each , this was waved

Immigration cleared after slipping thru my passport so many times, he started asking for something but I ignored

The lady at the scanner after immigration complained ( in a polite way) about the quantity of chin chin in my bag pack- I dropped 1k for her

Met some guys that the table in one corner asking for the money that I am travelling with. I brought it out and showed them ( small cos I had my card with me), they started threatening to search me I asked them to do. The next thing is that they started begging for money. I ignored them

BA was a fully booked flight, we board without hassels- By the side – KLM had to reweight their passengers back pack before boarding. They were mean about it.

Feeding on board BA was ok from Lagos to London . The airline was old thou

We landed By 5.XX am everywhere was so bright.

Moved to departure section of the Airport.

Boarding started by 8am for American Airline to Dallas

The chin chin is my backpack passed control. I had to declare the eye drop and small sanitizer in my hand luggage. No issues because they were in a small pack

Board American airways flight. New airline, breakfast was English breakfast. No other meal, the gave us ice cream like 4 hours later and drinks 40minutes to landing. Stingy for a 9 hours flight

Landed at Dallas DFW by 12noon

POE officer- Hello

Me- Hello
POE- Class of visa B1/B2
Me- yes,B1/B2
POE - are you here by yourself
Me- Yes

POE- Asked for my passport

ME- gave it to him

POE – Place your 4 fingers at the scanner

Me- I did

POE- You didn’t place t well, helped me to adjust

POE- gave me back my passport, without opening or stamping

Me- Thank you

I went to luggage collection , picked my luggage and entered the streets ( In Nigerian voice)

No custom or anybody in sight

congratulation
wow so stress free is this your first time in USA

Newsolutions:
Point Of Entry Story (POE) – Favour all the way

Lagos- London- Dallas

Airline British Airways 10.55pm flight. No transit Visa required

I did my covid test with Medbury in Lekki phase 1, Dropped my sample by 8am , result received by 2pm same day.

Luggage – 2 of 23kg bags one dedicated for food stuff ( dryfish, egusi, ogbono, Okpei, crayfish, pepper) the other my clothes and food items that doesn’t smell like Maggi crayfish, groundnuts. My bag pack had chin chin and my shoes

Got to the airport, custom guys looked at me from head to toe and asked me to go.

My luggage was 23.47 and 23.8 kg each , this was waved

Immigration cleared after slipping thru my passport so many times, he started asking for something but I ignored

The lady at the scanner after immigration complained ( in a polite way) about the quantity of chin chin in my bag pack- I dropped 1k for her

Met some guys that the table in one corner asking for the money that I am travelling with. I brought it out and showed them ( small cos I had my card with me), they started threatening to search me I asked them to do. The next thing is that they started begging for money. I ignored them

BA was a fully booked flight, we board without hassels- By the side – KLM had to reweight their passengers back pack before boarding. They were mean about it.

Feeding on board BA was ok from Lagos to London . The airline was old thou

We landed By 5.XX am everywhere was so bright.

Moved to departure section of the Airport.

Boarding started by 8am for American Airline to Dallas

The chin chin is my backpack passed control. I had to declare the eye drop and small sanitizer in my hand luggage. No issues because they were in a small pack

Board American airways flight. New airline, breakfast was English breakfast. No other meal, the gave us ice cream like 4 hours later and drinks 40minutes to landing. Stingy for a 9 hours flight

Landed at Dallas DFW by 12noon

POE officer- Hello

Me- Hello
POE- Class of visa B1/B2
Me- yes,B1/B2
POE - are you here by yourself
Me- Yes

POE- Asked for my passport

ME- gave it to him

POE – Place your 4 fingers at the scanner

Me- I did

POE- You didn’t place t well, helped me to adjust

POE- gave me back my passport, without opening or stamping

Me- Thank you

I went to luggage collection , picked my luggage and entered the streets ( In Nigerian voice)

No custom or anybody in sight