₦airaland Forum

Yes. You can.

All you need to pay for your visa fee is your name and passport number.

Teddiement:
Hello. Pls is it possible to pay visa fee before obtaining form I-20?
Though I'm still awaiting the issuance of my form I-20, but I want to pay the visa fee before it's increase to $180 by May 30th.
Thanks.

Thank you very much for your kind response.

TEMIT0PE:
Yes. You can.

All you need to pay for your visa fee is your name and passport number.

Ibks100:
Lagos just released dates some few minutes ago

Please how did you know this? Show me the way Abeg

[quote author=Evelynbum post=114491201][/quote]Afternoon.

Please I need A & B.

Email Caroline_abiodun@yahoo.com

Not recommended, but possible. To be safe, ensure the distance between your payment and completion of entire visa application process (everything from SEVIS, to DS-160, and appointment booking) does not exceed 30 days. Just my 0.02 USD.

Teddiement:
Hello. Pls is it possible to pay visa fee before obtaining form I-20?
Though I'm still awaiting the issuance of my form I-20, but I want to pay the visa fee before it's increase to $180 by May 30th.
Thanks.

yes to airlines that have flights originating from Nigeria and also have offices here.

Rayhanna:
Hi guys, please is there a way to pay for flight to US wiwith the use of naira card?

Congratulations

adeheritage:
Happy to Share that it is now one year since my family of four got one F1 and three f2 visas.

We arrived early August and faced some challenges between October and January. This week, I completed my first year of graduate studies and I give God all the glory.

Hello guys...
Thank you fir this forum.

Please I have two concerns and will appreciate your input.

1. After you scheduled for a f1 visa date and was giving a farther date, when you want to reschedule, has it happened that the date shown was closer? Or kept going farther

2. When are you supposed to book for EA visa? 60days within "Earliest admission date" or "start of class date"?

Thank you so much

Tingale773:
Hello! I've been following this thread and reading the experiences of other members silently, I am grateful to everyone who shared their visa interview transcripts because it helped me in one way or the other. I got my visa approved at first try recently without funding. I will share my experience soon.

Congratulations! Please share your transcript thanks.

1. It's normal. Keep looking. Closer dates will appear. Join dates search whatsapp groups.

2. 60 days from the earliest admission date.

AZzoe:
Hello guys...
Thank you fir this forum.

Please I have two concerns and will appreciate your input.

1. After you scheduled for a f1 visa date and was giving a farther date, when you want to reschedule, has it happened that the date shown was closer? Or kept going farther

2. When are you supposed to book for EA visa? 60days within "Earliest admission date" or "start of class date"?

Thank you so much

Good evening, please how do i check for available dates on CGI ? I already have a December date but resumption is in august.

Please who has gotten a visa approval with the same school they used in the first attempt ? Please indicate

TEMIT0PE:
1. It's normal. Keep looking. Closer dates will appear. Join dates search whatsapp groups.

2. 60 days from the earliest admission date.

Thank you so much...I really appreciate.

Please how do I join the Abuja search Whatapp group?

Thank you so much...

ahmedgafar7:
Good evening, please how do i check for available dates on CGI ? I already have a December date but resumption is in august.

anyone ?

Please anyone here studying in Wingate University?

I often apply for Scholarships,so yesterday,I recieved a congratulations email that based on my achievements, I've been offered a $27,000 worth scholarship in Wingate University.

I have some questions;

1. How valid is the school and scholarship,who knows about that or who can help with that?

2. In the email, it's said that I'd pay $300 as enrollment deposit,is that how it's done?

Please I need your words.

Hannaleeyah:
Please anyone here studying in Wingate University?

I often apply for Scholarships,so yesterday,I recieved a congratulations email that based on my achievements, I've been offered a $27,000 worth scholarship in Wingate University.

I have some questions;

1. How valid is the school and scholarship,who knows about that or who can help with that?

2. In the email, it's said that I'd pay $300 as enrollment deposit,is that how it's done?

Please I need your words.

ABORT MISSION, SCAM SCAM SCAM

Hannaleeyah:
Please anyone here studying in Wingate University?

I often apply for Scholarships,so yesterday,I recieved a congratulations email that based on my achievements, I've been offered a $27,000 worth scholarship in Wingate University.

I have some questions;

1. How valid is the school and scholarship,who knows about that or who can help with that?

2. In the email, it's said that I'd pay $300 as enrollment deposit,is that how it's done?

Please I need your words.

Tell them to waive the enrollment deposit or deduct it from your scholarship. Dont ever pay any enrollment deposit because it is non refundable and it does not boost your visa chance. In fact any school with enrollment deposit is a red flag to VO

Is there anyone was recently refused and has gotten another interview date? Please did you select previously refused on the CGi portal?

Ronaldoguy:
Tell them to waive the enrollment deposit or deduct it from your scholarship. Dont ever pay any enrollment deposit because it is non refundable and it does not boost your visa chance. In fact any school with enrollment deposit is a red flag to VO

Thank you so much.

Ronaldoguy:
ABORT MISSION, SCAM SCAM SCAM

Thank you

emmanuelle27:
Yeshiva University NY
Ms Biotechnology
COA: $50k
Scholarship: $16k
Family: $4k
Mpower loan: $30k
GRE: 298
TOEFL: 99
Consulate: Lagos

Me: Good day
Bald Man: welcome, ur documents
Me: passes them

Bald Man: looks at my I-20, Wow Yeshiva? Are u Jewish? (With a smile)

Me: Nah I'm not

Bald Man: so why did you apply to a Jewish University

Me: that was the only University I found that the research is relevant to my next posting at my current work place,*(I work with a multinational)* I'll be posted to our bioremediation site in Bonny island where we provide industrial cleaning services for AGIP & NNPC, this opportunity will put me on the same salary level with our British expertriates who are the majority of staffers that work there.

Bald Man: nodes head like agama lizard, So how are u paying?

Me: I have a scholarship of $16k plus an additional support of $4k from my father but the majority of my expenses will be taken care of by my Mpower
Loan of $50k which was approved after my job and credit history was well evaluated, I'll channel $300 of my study leave allowance towards servicing the loan in my absence while upon return to my job I'll double that amount to $600, this will guarantee that I pay back the loan within 8yrs instead of the stipulated 12yr payment window,

Bald Man: nods head, looks at my I-20, types furiously, looks at my I-20 again, types again passes me the blue paper while apologizing on the process (i.e sorry u do not qualify for this visa category at this point in time)

Me: thank you
Bald Man: (Sips from his water bottle) you're welcome ���

PS: working with a multinational for 2yrs now, I made sure my ds160 was as detailed as possible with special attention to my previous and present employment,
The program on my I-20 was biomedical science instead of Biotechnology due to Sevis designation, I forgot to point it out
Secondly the loan was designated as personal funds and 30k was written instead of 50k that i mentioned because the scholarship was diducted from the total amount, I also didn't point that out because I noticed he was looking at the funds section of my I-20 while doing his final typing, but anyways that's my guess, ur opinions are welcomed, my program starts 29th August, I have asked my school to differ me to spring, that's it my people.

@Shannon70 pls kindly take a look

Please, I got same offer to this University, have you resumed? And what is the probability of getting an assistanship? Please, I have a number of questions because I am considering declining the admission, if you do not mind, we can connect via WhatsApp: https:///g01fbi

Visa type: F1(Denied)
Venue: Lagos
Program: Ms. Geoscience.

VO: Good morning.
Me: Good morning.

VO: Pass your I -20?
Me: I did.

VO: Why Missouri?
Me: Aside from the admission and the scholarship given to me, the course curriculum at Missouri state university are well aligns with my career goals.

VO: Who is sponsoring you and what do he do?
Me: My father, he is a wood contractor, he supplies may companies, he has 10 permanent workers and 5 contract staff.

VO: Can i see the proof?

Me: I gave her the statement of the account, and she look at it

VO: Have you travel before

Me: No

VO: Did you have anybody at US 3x

Me: No

VO: You are not qualified

Congratulations Esther. I'm scheduled for an interview for Monday 22nd, can you please share the name and address of the hotel you lodged at Obalende? Thanks

estijaz:
I have been congratulating people since, and now its my turn to share.

*Your latest visa baby in town*

Appointment was for 6:30am (May 10th)
First attempt
Lagos Consulate
Wharton MBA
COA: $118,568
Scholly: $60,000
Deficit: $58,568 (school put this under personal funds)

I stayed at a hotel in Obalende. It cost 15k, but you can also find hotels for 8-10k close to the Obalende bus park.

On my appointment day, I took bolt straight to the embassy. The trip lasted for 10 minutes, and it cost #1,500.

I got to the embassy at 6am. At this point, I joined the queue, but the security officer said there was no queue until the embassy opens at 6:30am. So, I went straight to the front because I can't dull my family.

Then, the security officer told us to bring out our appointment confirmation, our ds-160, our I-20, our sevis fee receipt, our international passport, and our passport photograph (this wasn't used for anything).

Then, we formed the official queue, and went through 3 rounds of security check. My advice is that you shouldn't take your phones, keys, liquid or anything that is not your documents along. I was proactive about this, and that was why I was the first person to be admitted into the embassy.

After we entered the embassy, another embassy official confirmed the validity of our documents, and asked for when we took our passport photographs (don't say anything more than 6 months from your interview date), and then we were told to go and get our biometrics done.

After I did my biometrics, I waited on the queue for an extra 30 minutes before the VOs opened their windows for the interviews. I think this was around 7:30am, but I am not sure. Anyways, if you feel pressed at this point, you can take excuse from the security officer, and go and use the restroom (don't worry, your spot on the queue would be reserved).

Funny enough, the vo that took my biometrics was the one to interview me (she changed seats). Thankfully, I had already given her my great smile and asked about her day during the biometrics process. She didn't answer sha, she knew the angle I was coming from, and quickly said all she wants to do is take my biometrics.

*Anyways, straight to the part you all have been waiting for*

VO: Pass me your passport, I-20, and Sevis fee receipt.

VO: How old are you? (Maybe mummy thought I was 16, and thus was surprised that my I-20 wasn't signed by my parents).
Me: I am 24 years old (e shock you?)

VO: What do you?
Me: I am a medical doctor who has been working as the Director of xxxxxx, which is a multi-award-winning NGO promoting health equity in Nigeria through community development, research, and advocacy projects in the fields of sexual and reproductive health, and childhood nutrition. Also, I work part-time as a healthcare consultant with several national and international nonprofit and government organisations.

VO: Why do you want to go and study Econo....(stutters)...metrics? (me sef surprise for the major when dey my I-20...I started looking for definition of my major when my school sent it... Anyways, to prevent stories that touch, I reached out to my school to input MBA in the remark section of my I-20, and I put "MBA-Major in Business Economics and Public Policy" in Ds-160).
Me: No, I want to go and pursue my Masters of Business Administration with a major in Business Economics and Public Policy. This is because I realized that the African Union's Youth Office generates an annual revenue of just about $500,000......(cuts me off)

VO: I can see you have a substantial scholarship, but also a huge deficit. How do you plan to fund this?
Me: I have an approved loan of $58,568 from Discover with an interest rate of...... (cuts me off)

Vo: Discover, the credit card company?
Me: No, Discover, the student loan company (they might be the same, but nothing concern me concern credit card company when I never enter Yankee)

Vo: Is the loan company in the US
Me: Yes

Vo: So, what would ensure that you would pay back your loans after you return to Nigeria.
Me: My school is a co-signer of the loan, and would cut me off (I wanted to say "from accessing alumni benefits", but I didn't and I don't know why) if I don't pay......(cuts me off)

Vo: oh, your school is the co-signer of the loan?
Me: Yes, there are.

Vo: how did you get this scholarship?
Me: This scholarship given to one exceptional student per year who has demonstrated enormous impact in the health sector of their country, and who would continue doing so after graduation.
Moreover, the fellowship recipient must have a track record of academic success, and I fit this criteria since I graduated from my medical school as a Primus Honor Student, had a GRE score of 325/340, and have represented my institution in multiple conferences.

Vo: What do you currently earn as a medical doctor in Nigeria
Me: I earn a salary of about 279,000 dollars (I claim it), sorry, naira monthly (I could not talk about my part-time consulting salary because I stopped taking up these jobs because I want to be fully focused on my NGO since I am transitioning out as the Director, and thus need to devote every minute of my time to train my successor).

Vo: But that is enough to pay back your loans (Ma, why do you think doctors are japaing everyday, do you think its because we like cold?)
Me: I would not be working as a medical doctor when I return to Nigeria. I would be working with the African Union, and my estimated salary is about $100,000 (I wanted to say annually, but she cut me off....its like she doesn't earn up to that)

VO: What organisation is this? Is it in Nigeria? (ah ah, shey you dey whine the African Union ni?)
Me: The African Union. It is a multinational government organisation that pays in dollars.

Vo: Okay, that's a great dream, but why do you think they would employ you.
Me: Because I have worked with them in the past. For example, I was the African Union Youth Ambassador to the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka, sorry, Tokyo (I was confusing this because I have been to both cities). Due to the success of this project, I was also selected as the African Union Youth Ambassador to Bayer’s Youth Ag Summit in Brazil.

Vo: List all the countries you have been to
Me: Japan (twice), Brazil, Thailand, Israel, Kenya, Uganda, and Benin Republic.....(I forgot some).

Vo: When did you go to Japan?
Me: I went for the first time in May, 2019, and the second time last year.

Vo: What about Thailand?
Me: Last year

Vo: Do you have any immediate family in the US?
Me: No

Vo: I can see that you have been denied a US visa before. What were you going for then?
Me: I was selected for the Dalai Lama Fellowship at the Contemplative Science Center at the University of Virginia. So, I was going to attend the annual Dalai Lama Fellows' assembly. But I was denied, and I applied again and also got denied.

Vo: okay (she was separating my passport from my I-20, and I knew the good news was coming, she then pointed to my old passport which I had initially submitted to her but she didn't pick up). What's that?
Me: That's my other passport.

Vo: I don't need that. All I need is your new passport. Congrats, I am approving your visa. Take this paper, it would explain how to get back your passport when your visa is ready, and you should take your I-20 with you when travelling because you would be asked at the airport. Also, you can't enter the US until July 7th, 30 days before your resumption. Congrats once again (e shock you say I was composed enough to hear and remember everything she said?😂...It comes with medical training).

*Key takeaways*
1. Early interview is great because the vo would be ready to listen, and lots of people would not have annoyed them.
2. Early interview is bad because the Vo has your time, and would question everything including your grand father in the grave.
3. Dressing doesn't really suit matter. Just look OK. I wore a three quarter jeans, and a big polo, and Pam slippers (I can't kill myself because visa issue is not a do or die affair, plus my feet hurts from wearing heels all week).
4. I am not good with summative writing (If you got here, go and relax with a glass of juice because it would be your turn soon).