₦airaland Forum

preetyslim:
There’s a pause on visa appointments for now. There are no available dates on the Avits website.

preetyslim:
Good morning, please how do I go about getting a visa appointment date as soon as possible? I have paid the required fee of $185 since 3rd week of May but I’m still unable to book an appointment on the Avits website. It keeps saying no appointment available here in Lagos. Please I need help on this urgently my school resumption date is in August.

olawaleatanda:
do research on any website before you use it

Why you don't you use vfs global

Efetobore1980:
Mr Atanda.
@prettyslim you quoted needed a date at the U.S embassy , so how does vfs global associated with a U.S embassy appointment?

@prettyslim or any student looking for an appointment at the U.S embassy there is currently April, 2026. Such person should be wise and pick Abuja first then use the auto-qualified expedite request to seek for a closer date b4 resumption.

@MrAtanda only DHL & OIS are working or associated with the U.S embassy in terms of delivery/pick up. 👍

Efetobore1980:
Mr Atanda.
@prettyslim you quoted needed a date at the U.S embassy , so how does vfs global associated with a U.S embassy appointment?

@prettyslim or any student looking for an appointment at the U.S embassy there is currently April, 2026. Such person should be wise and pick Abuja first then use the auto-qualified expedite request to seek for a closer date b4 resumption.

@MrAtanda only DHL & OIS are working or associated with the U.S embassy in terms of delivery/pick up. 👍

Efetobore1980:
Mr Atanda.
@prettyslim you quoted needed a date at the U.S embassy , so how does vfs global associated with a U.S embassy appointment?

@prettyslim or any student looking for an appointment at the U.S embassy there is currently April, 2026. Such person should be wise and pick Abuja first then use the auto-qualified expedite request to seek for a
closer date b4 resumption.

@MrAtanda only DHL & OIS are working or associated with the U.S embassy in terms of delivery/pick up. 👍

Imustreturn:
Hello everyone.. please can anyone assist me with PhD link with funding?

Thank you....

ADbb:
Many schools offer PhD with full funding if you meet their requirements.
What course do you want to study?

preetyslim:
I didn’t choose Abuja when I filled my Ds-160. I choose Lagos. But there’s no date available in both locations for new appointments due to the visa pause.

Imustreturn:
thank you for the response..

Microbiology

Efetobore1980:
Since you are aware of this then defer your admission. There is nothing like visa pause in all the avits profile i have had the privilege of logging into. I don't know where people coined that grammar " visa pause 😎

officialchikzy0:
bro inasmuch as you want to be diplomatic its better to be silent, avits portal will not tell you there's a pause but we read news to know that why there's no date presently in lagos and Abuja appointment calendar is as a result of the temporary suspension

Efetobore1980:
I replied @preetyslim not you. Mind you if i don't read news on the U.S official website and Avits i don't generalise. US embassy and avits websites will indicate it specifically if there is such a visa suspension.

What some people are experiencing has been there before the U.S announcement and the announcement even excluded Nigeria. Visa applicants are too much ! That's the issue so embassy has to use wisdom in sieving applicants. 👍

Teledom1:
So, do you think not submitting DS 160 could be one of the reasons why people are not able to book an interview appointment dates

preetyslim:
I didn’t choose Abuja when I filled my Ds-160. I choose Lagos. But there’s no date available in both locations for new appointments due to the visa pause.

petengine:
It doesn't matter what location you choose when you fill your DS-160 form. You can always create a new DS-160 form and update your appointment location.

What matters now is that, there are slots in April at Abuja. Pick any date and update your DS-160 form to capture the new interview location.

Act NOW!

Efetobore1980:
@Teledom.
Yes it is part of it . You will notice that U.S. embassy and Avits amentum posted it specifically that do not approach appointment booking if you have not submitted your ds -160. When you fill a ds-160 half way and use the confirmation number to book an appointment then you have not given the embassy enough information about you ie your travel date, accomodation, etc.

It's not the only reason but it is one of the major reasons and that is why both U.S. embassy and Avits have posted it on their individual website. Go and visit Canada, UK, Australia etc U.S. embassy websites, you will read about the compulsory submission of DS-160.

The only real avenue where the embassy can start their investigation about any visa applicant is via your submitted DS-160. 👍

petengine:
It doesn't matter what location you choose when you fill your DS-160 form. You can always create a new DS-160 form and update your appointment location.

What matters now is that, there are slots in April at Abuja. Pick any date and update your DS-160 form to capture the new interview location.

Act NOW!

Teledom1:
So, in summary, you must submit DS 160 before you are able to see an available interview appointment slot ? I thought some people said it didn’t matter in that the availability of slot is a global issue

Efetobore1980:
@Teledom.
Yes it is part of it . You will notice that U.S. embassy and Avits amentum posted it specifically that do not approach appointment booking if you have not submitted your ds -160. When you fill a ds-160 half way and use the confirmation number to book an appointment then you have not given the embassy enough information about you ie your travel date, accomodation, etc.[/b
It's not the only reason but it is one of the major reasons and that is why both U.S. embassy and Avits have posted it on their individual website. Go and visit Canada, UK, Australia etc U.S. embassy websites, you will read about the compulsory submission of DS-160.

[b]The only real avenue where the embassy can start their investigation about any visa applicant is via your submitted DS-160. 👍

Alvinaknight:
This is very untrue. The embassy looks at your ds160 when it is time for the interview. They don’t need your ds160 before your interview day ( although it is better to submit your ds160 before scheduling your visa but you don’t necessarily have to, especially if you still have some editing to do). Just make sure you submit the ds160 at least 2-3 business days before the interview. The reason why you can’t see dates right now is because there are no dates.

jennifertaylor4:
Good evening, everyone. I have written for emergency date since 4th of this month and am yet to get any response from the embassy. I raised a ticket to complain about it, and they responded saying if my message was received, I would get a message on my account under notification and my email, which am yet to receive. I try send another message for the emergency date; I was told I already have a pending message. Yesterday I raised another ticket, and I got this response. " Dear Applicant, thank you for contacting the U.S. Visa and American Citizens Support Service. We understand you have submitted an emergency request for an expedited visa appointment and have not yet received an update. We have noticed that you’ve submitted several tickets regarding this issue. To prevent multiple and duplicate escalations, we will now close this ticket. Rest assured that your concern has been escalated to our support desk for further assistance. Please refer to ticket number (SEPNMZPFKH). Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please visit www.usvisaappt.com for further details. Best Regards, U.S. Visa and American Citizens Support Service". the ticket I am asked to refer to, was the first time I complained, and the response was what I stated above. please I don't know what to do and my school resumes 19 August.

jennifertaylor4:
Good evening, everyone. I have written for emergency date since 4th of this month and am yet to get any response from the embassy. I raised a ticket to complain about it, and they responded saying if my message was received, I would get a message on my account under notification and my email, which am yet to receive. I try send another message for the emergency date; I was told I already have a pending message. Yesterday I raised another ticket, and I got this response. " Dear Applicant, thank you for contacting the U.S. Visa and American Citizens Support Service. We understand you have submitted an emergency request for an expedited visa appointment and have not yet received an update. We have noticed that you’ve submitted several tickets regarding this issue. To prevent multiple and duplicate escalations, we will now close this ticket. Rest assured that your concern has been escalated to our support desk for further assistance. Please refer to ticket number (SEPNMZPFKH). Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please visit www.usvisaappt.com for further details. Best Regards, U.S. Visa and American Citizens Support Service". the ticket I am asked to refer to, was the first time I complained, and the response was what I stated above. please I don't know what to do and my school resumes 19 August.

NasaMichael:
I have gone through many transcripts on this platform, they were very useful especially the transcript evaluations from Mr. Efe. I hope those still in the visa process will find mine helpful. All the best.

June 3, 2025
Bowling Green State University, Ohio
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
$32,612 funding
$2,888 deficit
Lagos Consulate, Window 4
Status:
Additional Processing (refused) - June 3rd
Case updated from refused to refused - June 14th (Saturday)
Approved - June 16th (7days after interview excluding weekend and holidays)
Issued - June 17th
Ready for pickup - June 18th


Me: Good Morning
VO: Can you pass your passport?
(Passed passport and I-20).
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
Me: Three (he wanted to interrupt but I kept talking), Bowling Green State University, Salem State University and Marquette University. I was admitted and offered an assistantshipto to the three schools.
VO: All three?
Me: Yes
VO: So why did you choose BGSU?
Me: smiled… I chose BGSU for three major reasons.
1. I attend the TPE CSP graduate fair and the BGSU admission representatives made a good impression so I went through the programs website for more information.
2. ⁠the second reason is that the program curriculum has a focus on research and statistics.
3. ⁠and lastly I chose BGSU because I was offered an assistantship that directly relates to my current role as an Admissions counselor?
VO: tell me about your current role and what you do?
Me: I currently work as an admissions counselor where I basically help with recruitment and provide prospective students with the resources they need to make the right decision for college.
VO: You currently work at so and so institution?
Me: Yes I do.
VO: how long have you worked there?
Me: A year and 10months
VO: that’s almost 2 years?
Me: Yes
VO: I see a deficit of almost 3,000? Who will pay for it
Me: my sister. She owns and manages an agribusiness where she buys farm produce directly from farmers and distributes to areas of demand (I had to explain better because it seem he didn’t get the agribusiness part) and she also own three residential properties in Nigeria where she collects rent annually. One of the buildings which I’m aware of generates 3.9m annually.
(He asked about her job again, average annual salary from the business, where she stays and why she would be willing to sponsor me- I told him she sponsored my undergraduate education and my data analytics certification and I’ve been living with her since I was 14).
VO: Have you traveled outside Nigeria? And have you been to Gaza.
Me: No I have not been outside Nigeria.

(VO stood up for a while and I prayed and told myself that I won’t leave here with my passport).

He came back with a white paper under my I-20 (I felt relieved but still praying).
NB: it was only blue papers on his desk.
As he was about to attend to me, a lady came in and they were talking. Later 👇

VO: asked me again about my sister’s average salary, the kind residential building she built and I reiterated everything I told him before. He asked about Gaza again but this time as I was answering, he joined me and said “oh yes, you haven’t traveled outside Nigeria before and I said yes. He asked if I was involved with Palestine too.
VO: Tell me your post-graduation plan
Me: After graduation, I aim to take on the role as head of undergraduate admissions in my current institution. The degree, my current role working with undergraduate students and the assistantship experience working with graduate students, qualifies me for that position. I also have the commitment of my employer, although I don’t have the written study leave request form with me here, it has been submitted and will be approved when I can confirm my Visa.
VO: (fold my I-20 and keeps it together with my passport). Your case requires additional processing, it will take about a week. Leave your social media accounts open for us and you don’t need to do anything else.
Me: Thank you. have a nice day.
VO: Thank you.

NB: he asked me if I ever applied to Canada (twice), he asked me when I graduated, and asked me again saying a wrong year (which I corrected).

He also asked me my Undergraduate program and I responded “Environmental Management” while smiling.

When he told me that the processing will take a week, he asked me when classes start and I told him 25th of August, then he looked at my I-20 to confirm.