₦airaland Forum

I am having exactly the same issue. Whenever I try to verify payment and enter the amentum reference number, the page doesn’t change. What is the way forward because AVITS is known for ineffective response.

Milito:
Same was experienced. If you click continue to payment, it will take you to that pending appointment page where, you can input your payment details, that is, the amentum number and payment date. The process you followed earlier. That's that place it tells you "payment details updated successfully" and calendar is supposed to pop up after selection of pickup location if everything goes fine.

Thanks for explaining! I get it now

Debbieeeeeee:
A 221(g) is an administrative refusal that requires you to appear at the embassy for final approval or denial. Typically, a 221(g) is issued when an officer needs to clarify specific circumstances and this happens in two circumstances either after you’ve submitted for Dropbox or even during a regular interview when they need to perform further checks. However, it appears that this has become increasingly common lately.

Please I was lucky to get a visa appointment of 11th of July but when I was filling my ds160 I put 15th of July as my intended travel date

Is there a need to fill another ds160 and change the intended travel date

Jane8999:
Please I was lucky to get a visa appointment of 11th of July but when I was filling my ds160 I put 15th of July as my intended travel date

Is there a need to fill another ds160 and change the intended travel date

** Yes. You must fill another one. Ds-160 is what the visa officer will use to interview you on the D-day so you have to fill it responsibly. Flimsy mistake in your ds-160 can be used against your visa success. 👍

Jane8999:
Please I was lucky to get a visa appointment of 11th of July but when I was filling my ds160 I put 15th of July as my intended travel date

Is there a need to fill another ds160 and change the intended travel date

there is no need to fill another one. it is not even likely that the visa officer will bring it up but if he or she does then simply state that you can easily make adjustments because of your visa unavailability.

Efetobore1980:
** Yes. You must fill another one. Ds-160 is what the visa officer will use to interview you on the D-day so you have to fill it responsibly. Flimsy mistake in your ds-160 can be used against your visa success. 👍

Okay thank you

Lekan2348:
there is no need to fill another one. it is not even likely that the visa officer will bring it up but if he or she does then simply state that you can easily make adjustments because of your visa unavailability.

@Lekan.
You are right. I actually thought she was an F1 who made mistake on resumption (I have lots going on at hand) 😊 She actually doesn't need to fill another ds-160 if the intended travel date doesn't tally with the day of interview.

Nevertheless, she is likely going to follow my opinion because there is no way she is going to get her passport within 4-days. Not even with premium pick up, and remember the consular knows this timeline, so she should guide against desperation. 👍

Jane8999:
Please I was lucky to get a visa appointment of 11th of July but when I was filling my ds160 I put 15th of July as my intended travel date

Is there a need to fill another ds160 and change the intended travel date

Plans change it’s a visit visa, you don’t need to fill another DS160 form.

Must confirmation slip which contains passport photograph be printed in coloured?

Any news on Lagos dates.... Has anyone gotten any 2025 dates recently?

How did you get this date? Did you get it recently?

Jane8999:
Please I was lucky to get a visa appointment of 11th of July but when I was filling my ds160 I put 15th of July as my intended travel date

Is there a need to fill another ds160 and change the intended travel date

.

missusadey:
Hello everyone. I dropped my passport for IW since 20th of April and haven't gotten any feedback. Has anyone experienced this? It's really strange. In the past we get our passports back in 2 weeks at most. What can I do about this as I need my passport to travel next week?

Wow, so you’re part of us April people. I can’t believe they’re not done processing the whole of April even though 8 weeks has passed since any submission in April.

They’ve also gotten back to people that submitted in may and June. There’s something about April submissions that I do not understand.

You should send them a mail.

.

missusadey:
Only God knows what happened o. It's way past the 8 weeks. I read post of a few people that it happened to. Have you gotten you passport back? Did you write to get it back?Anyways, I'll do that. Thank you.

I got my passport back. 221g . I’ve scheduled an interview.
My case was processed in the 8th week. The wait was so long only to come and see administrative processing

There's a dilema guys.

The DS 160 form has a portion where it asks if you have ever been removed or deported from any other country. To be removed or deported from any country has a process, which typically comes at a cost to immigration and it means the person was already in the country, flouted an immigration rule and is consequently removed/deported. However there's a situation where a person was refused entry at the border due to documentation. While refused entry isn't the same as being removed or deported the DS 160 form does not provide a question where applicants can state refused entry. How does an applicant then disclose a case of refusal to enter in the DS 160?

BruceXavier:
There's a dilema guys.

The DS 160 form has a portion where it asks if you have ever been removed or deported from any other country. To be removed or deported from any country has a process, which typically comes at a cost to immigration and it means the person was already in the country, flouted an immigration rule and is consequently removed/deported. However there's a situation where a person was refused entry at the border due to documentation. While refused entry isn't the same as being removed or deported the DS 160 form does not provide a question where applicants can state refused entry. How does an applicant then disclose a case of refusal to enter in the DS 160?

Refused entry (meaning you were turned back at the border before actually entering a country) is not the same as being “removed” or “deported” (which happen after you have already been admitted and are then forced to leave).

On the DS-160, the question specifically asks if you have ever been “removed” or “deported.” If you were refused entry at the border but never admitted to the country, you generally do not check “Yes” for removal or deportation, because you were never admitted in the first place.

However, it is a good idea to still mention the refused entry, to be transparent. You can do this in the “Explain” sections of the DS-160 where it allows you to provide additional information (for example, “Have you ever been refused a visa…” or “Other Information” text box if available). There you can write something simple like:

“In [year], I was refused entry to [country] at the port of entry due to [brief reason, e.g., missing documents]. I was not removed or deported.”

This way you are being honest and clear.

BruceXavier:
There's a dilema guys.

The DS 160 form has a portion where it asks if you have ever been removed or deported from any other country. To be removed or deported from any country has a process, which typically comes at a cost to immigration and it means the person was already in the country, flouted an immigration rule and is consequently removed/deported. However there's a situation where a person was refused entry at the border due to documentation. While refused entry isn't the same as being removed or deported the DS 160 form does not provide a question where applicants can state refused entry. How does an applicant then disclose a case of refusal to enter in the DS 160?

You want to dash them information that will implicate you. Don’t disclose anything about the refusal simple. Because they won’t know if you don’t tell them

missusadey:
Hello everyone. I dropped my passport for IW since 21st of April and haven't gotten any feedback. Has anyone experienced this? It's really strange. In the past we get our passports back in 2 weeks at most. What can I do about this as I need my passport to travel next week?

Yes, delays like this have been happening recently in Lagos plus Abuja, especially for Interview Waiver (IW) applications. It used to take about 2 weeks or less, but now many people are seeing 7-8 weeks or more because of backlogs and higher application volumes.

Track the passport status on the CGI Federal website(ceac) and Email the embassy at LagosNIV@state.gov to ask about it or call +234 201 460 3400 this is the official phone line for visa inquiries at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos.

Since your travel is urgent, you can go to the pickup center (OIS) with proof of travel to request assistance and they’ll surely find a way around assisting you.

Debbieeeeeee:
Refused entry (meaning you were turned back at the border before actually entering a country) is not the same as being “removed” or “deported” (which happen after you have already been admitted and are then forced to leave).

On the DS-160, the question specifically asks if you have ever been “removed” or “deported.” If you were refused entry at the border but never admitted to the country, you generally do not check “Yes” for removal or deportation, because you were never admitted in the first place.

However, it is a good idea to still mention the refused entry, to be transparent. You can do this in the “Explain” sections of the DS-160 where it allows you to provide additional information (for example, “Have you ever been refused a visa…” or “Other Information” text box if available). There you can write something simple like:

“In [year], I was refused entry to [country] at the port of entry due to [brief reason, e.g., missing documents]. I was not removed or deported.”

This way you are being honest and clear.

There are no sections in the form that allows for such explanation. I have looked through the form. Can you share a screenshot of such section. The portions for explanations are provided under the refused US visa or have you been removed or deported.

Except if you're implying that the information for refused entry is provided alongside an additional information. Like if the answer to Have you been denied a US visa is yes, while explaining the US visa denial, the applicant can add the port of entry refusal. If this is case my question will be, what if the applicant has not been denied a US visa before.

Lekan2348:
You want to dash them information that will implicate you. Don’t disclose anything about the refusal simple. Because they won’t know if you don’t tell them

Lol, you're funny

BruceXavier:
There are no sections in the form that allows for such explanation. I have looked through the form. Can you share a screenshot of such section. The portions for explanations are provided under the refused US visa or have you been removed or deported.

Except if you're implying that the information for refused entry is provided alongside an additional information. Like if the answer to Have you been denied a US visa is yes, while explaining the US visa denial, the applicant can add the port of entry refusal. If this is case my question will be, what if the applicant has not been denied a US visa before.

if you haven’t been denied a U.S. visa before, and you were only refused entry at a port of entry but never actually admitted, there’s no section on the DS-160 to report that. Since refused entry is not the same as deportation or removal, you don’t need to check ‘yes’ or force an explanation. Honestly, it’s better to keep your application tidy and only discuss it at the interview if asked. That way you avoid adding confusion or unnecessary complications.

my initial advice was based on the fact that you seemed to feel it was important to disclose this experience. If you still want to disclose it on the DS-160, one possible option is to check ‘yes’ to the question about visa refusal, and then use the explanation box to clarify that you were not refused a visa, but instead turned back at the port of entry due to [ so so so so]. This way you are being fully transparent, even though technically it isn’t a visa refusal. However, if you want to keep your application clean and avoid complicating things, you can just leave it off the form and bring it up only if asked during the interview.

Lekan2348:
You want to dash them information that will implicate you. Don’t disclose anything about the refusal simple. Because they won’t know if you don’t tell them

I get what you mean, but it’s really important to be careful. It depends on which country refused entry and whether any visa was cancelled in their system at that time. Some countries share data with the U.S., and if there was a visa cancellation connected to that refused entry, it could be visible during U.S. background checks. That’s why it’s safer for the OP to clarify exactly what happened, where, when, and whether a visa was cancelled, before deciding not to mention it. Better to be transparent if there’s any doubt, because misrepresentation can ruin future chances with the U.S. embassy.
I’m all for keeping application tidy and free of unnecessary explanations but also it’s best to be cautious.

Debbieeeeeee:
if you haven’t been denied a U.S. visa before, and you were only refused entry at a port of entry but never actually admitted, there’s no section on the DS-160 to report that. Since refused entry is not the same as deportation or removal, you don’t need to check ‘yes’ or force an explanation. Honestly, it’s better to keep your application tidy and only discuss it at the interview if asked. That way you avoid adding confusion or unnecessary complications.

my initial advice was based on the fact that you seemed to feel it was important to disclose this experience. If you still want to disclose it on the DS-160, one possible option is to check ‘yes’ to the question about visa refusal, and then use the explanation box to clarify that you were not refused a visa, but instead turned back at the port of entry due to [ so so so so]. This way you are being fully transparent, even though technically it isn’t a visa refusal. However, if you want to keep your application clean and avoid complicating things, you can just leave it off the form and bring it up only if asked during the interview.

Okay that makes sense.

So if the scenario is one where the answer to a US visa denial is yes, would it be appropriate to include the refusal to enter another country in the samr explanation box after explaining the US visa denial. Or to still leave it out since the question speaks directly to a previous US visa denial?

Debbieeeeeee:
I get what you mean, but it’s really important to be careful. It depends on which country refused entry and whether any visa was cancelled in their system at that time. Some countries share data with the U.S., and if there was a visa cancellation connected to that refused entry, it could be visible during U.S. background checks. That’s why it’s safer for the OP to clarify exactly what happened, where, when, and whether a visa was cancelled, before deciding not to mention it. Better to be transparent if there’s any doubt, because misrepresentation can ruin future chances with the U.S. embassy.
I’m all for keeping application tidy and free of unnecessary explanations but also it’s best to be cautious.

Yes the visa was cancelled over a documentation issue, although it was eventually resolved and a new visa was issued, which has been been used multiple times since then.

But the question still remains in what portion of the DS-160 application do you disclose it without admitting to something you did not do. Like admitting a US visa denial even if you haven't been denied before and even if you have been denied before, is it appropriate to disclose it when the question only pertains to a previous US visa denial or admitting to be removed/deported when that's not the case all in a bid to explain the refused entry that was eventually resolved. Disclosing the refusal to entry isn't the issue. It's how to go about it in the form that is the issue

BruceXavier:
Yes the visa was cancelled over a documentation issue, although it was eventually resolved and a new visa was issued, which has been been used multiple times since then.

But the question still remains in what portion of the DS-160 application do you disclose it without admitting to something you did not do. Like admitting a US visa denial even if you haven't been denied before and even if you have been denied before, is it appropriate to disclose it when the question only pertains to a previous US visa denial or admitting to be removed/deported when that's not the case all in a bid to explain the refused entry that was eventually resolved. Disclosing the refusal to entry isn't the issue. It's how to go about it in the form that is the issue

Since the visa that was cancelled was not a U.S. visa, and the refusal of entry happened in another country, there is no place on the DS-160 where you need to disclose that. The DS-160 questions about visa refusal or deportation apply only to the U.S. If you feel it’s very important, you can explain it verbally at your interview if they ask, but you do not need to include it on the form.

Debbieeeeeee:
I get what you mean, but it’s really important to be careful. It depends on which country refused entry and whether any visa was cancelled in their system at that time. Some countries share data with the U.S., and if there was a visa cancellation connected to that refused entry, it could be visible during U.S. background checks. That’s why it’s safer for the OP to clarify exactly what happened, where, when, and whether a visa was cancelled, before deciding not to mention it. Better to be transparent if there’s any doubt, because misrepresentation can ruin future chances with the U.S. embassy.
I’m all for keeping application tidy and free of unnecessary explanations but also it’s best to be cautious.

Don’t allow this guy shoot himself in the face. The question is clear. Have you been denied visa. Visa denial and refusal of entry are two completely different things. If they refuse you entry, it’s for a reason, a reason that applies in that moment. It doesn’t take away your visa. You can travel there the next week and they will grant you entry. Visa denial is not refusal of entry. I don’t understand how you want to volunteer information that will make you to start explaining many for them. Even if it was USA that you were refused entry, it doesn’t mean your visa was denied. English shouldn’t be hard to comprehend na. They one simple question so answer it accordingly.

But yet again, wetin concern me. He’s the one that will wait one year for interview and go and explain explain explain

Lekan2348:
Don’t allow this guy shoot himself in the face. The question is clear. Have you been denied visa. Visa denial and refusal of entry are two completely different things. If they refuse you entry, it’s for a reason, a reason that applies in that moment. It doesn’t take away your visa. You can travel there the next week and they will grant you entry. Visa denial is not refusal of entry. I don’t understand how you want to volunteer information that will make you to start explaining many for them. Even if it was USA that you were refused entry, it doesn’t mean your visa was denied. English shouldn’t be hard to comprehend na. They one simple question so answer it accordingly.

But yet again, wetin concern me. He’s the one that will wait one year for interview and go and explain explain explain

You’re missing the point here, regardless of reissue of the visa some countries have something called information sharing in place which is why I said depending on the country he had that issue with he has to declare if it’s a country that does information sharing with the USA or else it’ll be a recipe for disaster during his interview, what’s the big deal in declaring the issue if it was overturned and visa was reissued meaning it’s past him now? If it’s a country that does information sharing with he USA it will come up and he has to explain it.

It is similar to being refused a visa in the past and you’ve now been given the visa they’ll always ask that question does that imply a no answer? Perhaps may the issue come up it may and it may not.

I’m all for keeping application tidy but tactfully, if you’ve applied to a country that does information sharing with the USA just know it will come up no need to shroud anything it’s not a mystery they already know what you’re not sharing, sometimes they only bring it up for clarifying and nothing more.

Debbieeeeeee:
You’re missing the point here, regardless of reissue of the visa some countries have something called information sharing in place which is why I said depending on the country he had that issue with he has to declare if it’s a country that does information sharing with the USA or else it’ll be a recipe for disaster during his interview, what’s the big deal in declaring the issue if it was overturned and visa was reissued meaning it’s past him now? If it’s a country that does information sharing with he USA it will come up and he has to explain it.

Like I said, disclosure is not the issue here. The issue is where do you disclose it on the DS-160. Even if the country that cancelled and reissued the visa shares information with the US. Under what part of the form should it be declared?

Debbieeeeeee:
You’re missing the point here, regardless of reissue of the visa some countries have something called information sharing in place which is why I said depending on the country he had that issue with he has to declare if it’s a country that does information sharing with the USA or else it’ll be a recipe for disaster during his interview, what’s the big deal in declaring the issue if it was overturned and visa was reissued meaning it’s past him now? If it’s a country that does information sharing with he USA it will come up and he has to explain it.

It is similar to being refused a visa in the past and you’ve now been given the visa they’ll always ask that question does that imply a no answer? Perhaps may the issue come up it may and it may not.

I’m all for keeping application tidy but tactfully, if you’ve applied to a country that does information sharing with the USA just know it will come up no need to shroud anything it’s not a mystery they already know what you’re not sharing, sometimes they only bring it up for clarifying and nothing more.

I think your submission here has helped with some clarity.

Let's imagine a scenario where an applicant was denied a visa, like Canada, UK,New Zealand or Schengen. These countries also share information with the US. Would the applicant have to disclose visa denials of other countries in the DS-160 even when the form does not provide avenue for such? I believe the answer is No

My conclusion from all the points everyone has made is to answer the DS-160 form in relation to the questions asked and not disclose what is not directly asked. At the interview if it then comes up, it can be addressed verbally

BruceXavier:
I think your submission here has helped with some clarity.

Let's imagine a scenario where an applicant was denied a visa, like Canada, UK,New Zealand or Schengen. These countries also share information with the US. Would the applicant have to disclose visa denials of other countries in the DS-160 even when the form does not provide avenue for such? I believe the answer is No

My conclusion from all the points everyone has made is to answer the DS-160 form in relation to the questions asked and not disclose what is not directly asked. At the interview if it then comes up, it can be addressed verbally

Answer to what you’re asked truthfully no need to dig up anything unnecessary but if you’re asked then you can disclose, that’s the whole point in a nutshell.

BruceXavier:
I think your submission here has helped with some clarity.

Let's imagine a scenario where an applicant was denied a visa, like Canada, UK,New Zealand or Schengen. These countries also share information with the US. Would the applicant have to disclose visa denials of other countries in the DS-160 even when the form does not provide avenue for such? I believe the answer is No

My conclusion from all the points everyone has made is to answer the DS-160 form in relation to the questions asked and not disclose what is not directly asked. At the interview if it then comes up, it can be addressed verbally

Bro it did not have to take so long for you to get on the same page with me. Go and do your research about how visa interviews are carried out.

The interviewer doesn’t know anything about you till you walk up to the for the interview and you give them your ds 160 slip which they would scan. The only other information that will be available to them is your USA travel history and your USA visa approval and denial history.

This visa thing doesn’t call for being overzealous. It will put you in trouble . The kind of trouble that you will look back and be regretting. That interview that will last for 3 minutes max, you’ll be asking yourself why did I say this or why did I say that.

Just answer question that you are asked, nothing more