₦airaland Forum

You want to take a loan of 100k? Please abort that mission. First of all, Mpower will not give you a loan of more than 50k usd per annum, and I don't think Prodigy too will, besides there is no loan company that will give you a loan of 100k usd because they would be skeptical about you paying them back. Secondly, are you aware that you would be paying the interest of that loan at a higher rate all through school? If you collect a loan of 100k, you can be paying an interest of up to 1500 to 2000 usd per month. Remember that you will still need to feed, pay your rent, and utilities, and other miscellaneous. So how do you want to cope. Lest you forget, even if you are lucky to get a job in a fortune 500 company, the way America is designed, you might not be able to pay that loan off in the next 30years of your life. Do you want that life?. Now to my advise, relax and calm down. Admission process isnt something you can rush. Find schools that can pay up to 50 to 60% of your tuition, and even if you would be taking out a loan, it would be very very little. Its not compulsory to go to an ivy league, it would only plunge you into debt.Check out affordable but not low ranked business schools and get your degree there, it doesn't stop you from getting fantastic jobs. Companies prefer candidates who have great minds and can solve problems. They wont eat the name of your school either you are from MIT or Harvard. There are tons of testimonies out there about people who went to affordable schools for their business degrees and got their dream jobs. It's not worth it if you finish your degree in a year, and get plunged into debts and you start having sleepless nights. It would only be worth it if at the end of your degree, you get your salary and have left overs comfortably without getting worried about debts. Think about your family too, they need you to help them out at home. Note that this advise is not to condemn or discourage you, its from a heart of positivity and resilience. It's from someone who was in your shoes 2 years ago, but went back to re-examine everything and finally got a fully funded scholarship later to study. I wish you all the best bro.

SimpleGuy001:
Hello people, please I need advice. I intend to apply for an Ivy League mba in the USA. It’s very expensive but I intend to take loan of day $100k which is very high.

How do I defend this given that I would be expected to return to Nigeria after schooling. Which I obviously won’t as my aim is to stay back. Ivy League MBA guarantees a really good job at least 90% of the time in the USA.

I see people go for these Ivy League programs, how do they scale through to get student visa. I will appreciate any help please.

Thank you

dalobaba:
Most likely your network!

The booking calendar will likely show you July,2025 before it switches to the available dates depending on how fast your internet is. Most people often mistake that for availability. If it’s showing July 2025 and you can’t click, then your network is slow. And yes, July isn’t available on the portal.

It is not network problem because when I refresh, I can have a new month appear all in 2026.
Early this morning for Abuja, July 2026 was avaliable.

Hi, I recently was put under administrative processing after my interview on the 24th of june for F1 visa at the consulate in Lagos, still yet to get an update…it’s been more than a month, anyone in a similar position as well ?

Timshin:
You want to take a loan of 100k? Please abort that mission. First of all, Mpower will not give you a loan of more than 50k usd per annum, and I don't think Prodigy too will, besides there is no loan company that will give you a loan of 100k usd because they would be skeptical about you paying them back. Secondly, are you aware that you would be paying the interest of that loan at a higher rate all through school? If you collect a loan of 100k, you can be paying an interest of up to 1500 to 2000 usd per month. Remember that you will still need to feed, pay your rent, and utilities, and other miscellaneous. So how do you want to cope. Lest you forget, even if you are lucky to get a job in a fortune 500 company, the way America is designed, you might not be able to pay that loan off in the next 30years of your life. Do you want that life?. Now to my advise, relax and calm down. Admission process isnt something you can rush. Find schools that can pay up to 50 to 60% of your tuition, and even if you would be taking out a loan, it would be very very little. Its not compulsory to go to an ivy league, it would only plunge you into debt.Check out affordable but not low ranked business schools and get your degree there, it doesn't stop you from getting fantastic jobs. Companies prefer candidates who have great minds and can solve problems. They wont eat the name of your school either you are from MIT or Harvard. There are tons of testimonies out there about people who went to affordable schools for their business degrees and got their dream jobs. It's not worth it if you finish your degree in a year, and get plunged into debts and you start having sleepless nights. It would only be worth it if at the end of your degree, you get your salary and have left overs comfortably without getting worried about debts. Think about your family too, they need you to help them out at home. Note that this advise is not to condemn or discourage you, its from a heart of positivity and resilience. It's from someone who was in your shoes 2 years ago, but went back to re-examine everything and finally got a fully funded scholarship later to study. I wish you all the best bro.

Thanks a lot. I guess I will go back to the drawing table and spread my options. I’ll do a mixture of these schools…. If I don’t get the kind of funding I want, I’ll just focus on the lower schools for a fully funded scholarship.

Thanks so much

Manoblix:
It would happen in Gods time just be hopeful , even to reschedule is not feasible now .. just hold that bird at hand, highest u resume in January next year but still be hopeful anything can happen

Hello everyone. Please people who attended their F1 visa interview in Lagos, did you receive a reminder from the Lagos consulate before the interview?

ajebutterpromax:
Hi, I recently was put under administrative processing after my interview on the 24th of june for F1 visa at the consulate in Lagos, still yet to get an update…it’s been more than a month, anyone in a similar position as well ?

Had my own interview since June 18. No update till now

SimpleGuy001:
Thanks a lot sir. I appreciate the insight and engagement. Truly eye opening, however, I learnt these prodigy/mpower loans can give as much as 10 years to repay . Dunno if telling the visa officer I intend to do this might help. What’s your thought on this?

Regardless, I think getting as much funding from the school will help my case. Hopefully I can get a full ride scholarship or at least full tuition so I only have to take $50k for living expenses… I guess the lower the amount, the higher the chance they may grant it if I say I’m gonna repay that over 10 years.

Given my profile, what the other avenues do you suggest?

In case you have any other comments that will be helpful, I will appreciate it. Thanks a lot

■■

Thanks a lot sir. I appreciate the insight and engagement. Truly eye opening, however, I learnt these prodigy/mpower loans can give as much as 10 years to repay . Dunno if telling the visa officer I intend to do this might help. What’s your thought on this?

@Timshin has given you some factual info enough to discourage you from taking loans. Okay, to answer this question, the U.S. visa officers will never believe your repayment story even if prodigy or mpower give you 20 years to repay the loan (let's even say after your graduation). WHY ? Because there is no 100% certainty of any job waiting for you, and there is no 100% certainty that you will eventually graduate. Some clues to really convince the officer were briefly discussed in my previous suggestions.

Regardless, I think getting as much funding from the school will help my case. Hopefully I can get a full ride scholarship or at least full tuition so I only have to take $50k for living expenses… I guess the lower the amount, the higher the chance they may grant it if I say I’m gonna repay that over 10 years.

All your mathematical permutations and calculations here do not guarantee an F1 visa success. I have seen many Phd. & Msc. applicants with full funding and assistantship who were all denied. I have seen many f1 visa applicants with huge deficit getting visas. I have seen many applicants with superb academic credentials who also came from wealthy homes who all failed in securing f1 visas. Why ? The victims here were all focused on one particular area out of many.

Given my profile, what the other avenues do you suggest?

I dont know your profile, but obviously, your intention is to relocate. Apply for B1/B2 if you are in a haste, but in your visa application (DS-160), indicate interest in employment and business opportunities and during your visa interview, tell the consular that you intend to use the B1/B2 to explore employment and business opportunities in america. This may sound stupid , and some might say, " are you kidding me ? , But this is what is called genuine intention. Many have gotten their visas in this particular way. ■■ Note : Such B1/B2 visas, if successful, might be annotated . 👍

Ife1111:
Had my own interview since June 18. No update till now

hi wanna connect ?

Wanted to share for prospective students and those with visas already.

There's increased vetting even afteryou get into the US so keep your social media clean.
You're a student..focus on that. The US has great opportunities focus on that, not politics and hype .

Secondly stay away from anything that will get you involved with police
Eg .. drinking, driving after drinking, fights, theft, shoplifting,fraud, driving with suspended license.
It's not being smart it's being foolish. Your student visa can be revoked

Be of good character...if you had no character before go and learn it before you leave Nigeria.

Recently got my visa deny

COA: 39k
School scholarship: 4k
Personal funding: 12k
External funding: (from relative) 11k
Embassy: Lagos Consulate

Transcript:

VO : good morning
Me: good morning sir

VO: how many schools did you applied to
Me: 3 schools I mentioned them……….

VO: when did you graduate
Me: June of 2016

VO: have you traveled outside the country before
Me: No I have not had a reason to till now.

VO: sorry I won’t approving your visa at this time
Me: Thank you, and left with my blue paper


Don’t know what to make of this, it was very short


Quick question:
After deferring to spring since fall semester won’t work, can I use same SEVIS for another school, or it has to be the same school, cos I understand the SEVIS expires after one year.
Please note, I can only defer to spring according to the school, I can’t defer to another fall term.

Would appreciate explanation on the SEVIS, and how long it stays and if it can be use for other schools other than the original school it was used for.

Thank you

ChiomaCharity:
Recently got my visa deny

COA: 39k
School scholarship: 4k
Personal funding: 12k
External funding: (from relative) 11k
Embassy: Lagos Consulate

Transcript:

VO : good morning
Me: good morning sir

VO: how many schools did you applied to
Me: 3 schools I mentioned them……….

VO: when did you graduate
Me: June of 2016

VO: have you traveled outside the country before
Me: No I have not had a reason to till now.

VO: sorry I won’t approving your visa at this time
Me: Thank you, and left with my blue paper


Don’t know what to make of this, it was very short


Quick question:
After deferring to spring since fall semester won’t work, can I use same SEVIS for another school, or it has to be the same school, cos I understand the SEVIS expires after one year.
Please note, I can only defer to spring according to the school, I can’t defer to another fall term.

Would appreciate explanation on the SEVIS, and how long it stays and if it can be use for other schools other than the original school it was used for.

Thank you

■■


YOU
Recently got my visa deny

COA: 39k
School scholarship: 4k
Personal funding: 12k
External funding: (from relative) 11k
Embassy: Lagos Consulate


Your application foundation here is not solid in the sense of POF. Number one, the 4k scholarship, as indicated above, is not a scholarship because any tuition scholarship that doesn’t cover at least 35% out of 100 is just an encouragement token. Number two, you as a student covering 12k needed to prove the sources, and your relative needed to prove the remaining 11k sources beyond doubt. In this respect, combining sponsors or fundings is giving the visa officer a time taking task, which (if you had actually qualified for the visa) needed 221g placement.


YOU.
Transcript:

VO : good morning
Me: good morning sir

VO: how many schools did you applied to
Me: 3 schools I mentioned them……….

VO: when did you graduate
Me: June of 2016

VO: have you traveled outside the country before
Me: No I have not had a reason to till now.

VO: won’t approving your visa at this time
Me: Thank you, and left with my blue paper

Don’t know what to make of this, it was very short


Many f1 visa applications with obvious application errors via Form I-20 or DS-160 do not need wasting time upon. The questionnaire above is a formality, but it was based on truth. For example, you graduated in the year 2016 and started working, let's say in the year 2017. Are you telling the visa officer that you saved approximately N20.M NGN ($12,000) within 8 years ? Dont forget to remember the monthly salary you indicated in your ds-160.


YOU
Quick question:
After deferring to spring since fall semester won’t work, can I use same SEVIS for another school, or it has to be the same school, cos I understand the SEVIS expires after one year.
Please note, I can only defer to spring according to the school, I can’t defer to another fall term.


SEVIS fee is valid for 12 months. If you are reapplying for a visa, you don't need to pay the fee again if you are within the 1 year validity period and yes, it can be transfered. 👍

Efetobore1980:
■■


YOU
Recently got my visa deny

COA: 39k
School scholarship: 4k
Personal funding: 12k
External funding: (from relative) 11k
Embassy: Lagos Consulate


Your application foundation here is not solid in the sense of POF. Number one, the 4k scholarship, as indicated above, is not a scholarship because any tuition scholarship that doesn’t cover at least 35% out of 100 is just an encouragement token. Number two, you as a student covering 12k needed to prove the sources, and your relative needed to prove the remaining 11k sources beyond doubt. In this respect, combining sponsors or fundings is giving the visa officer a time taking task, which (if you had actually qualified for the visa) needed 221g placement.


YOU.
Transcript:

VO : good morning
Me: good morning sir

VO: how many schools did you applied to
Me: 3 schools I mentioned them……….

VO: when did you graduate
Me: June of 2016

VO: have you traveled outside the country before
Me: No I have not had a reason to till now.

VO: won’t approving your visa at this time
Me: Thank you, and left with my blue paper

Don’t know what to make of this, it was very short


Many f1 visa applications with obvious application errors via Form I-20 or DS-160 do not need wasting time upon. The questionnaire above is a formality, but it was based on truth. For example, you graduated in the year 2016 and started working, let's say in the year 2017. Are you telling the visa officer that you saved approximately N20.M NGN ($12,000) within 8 years ? Dont forget to remember the monthly salary you indicated in your ds-160.


YOU
Quick question:
After deferring to spring since fall semester won’t work, can I use same SEVIS for another school, or it has to be the same school, cos I understand the SEVIS expires after one year.
Please note, I can only defer to spring according to the school, I can’t defer to another fall term.


SEVIS fee is valid for 12 months. If you are reapplying for a visa, you don't need to pay the fee again if you are within the 1 year validity period and yes, it can be transfered. 👍

Thank you 🙏
Will take note of the corrections

Please suggest hotels close to the Lagos embassy?

Ifemeze:
Please suggest hotels close to the Lagos embassy?

Oliver Twist

Jack880:
Please I need your suggestion.

I attended my F-1 interview in Lagos on June 23, 2035. I was placed on administrative processing for social media vetting. It's one month now, and my status has remained on "Application Received." My program starts in middle of August.

I sent an email to the Consulate, and got a response two weeks later that my case is still under administrative processing. I confused since it still shows "Application Received" instead of the traditional "Refused" or "Administrative Processing."

This is mentally stressful.

I think disturbing them with mails will not solve your problem -- AP takes at least 60 days, some people are on 30 and more youre just in few weeks and youre already sending several mails.

Please allow the process to take its due cause!!

hallysonia:
Oliver Twist

Thank you

Please I need your advice.

I attended my f1 visa interview in Abuja on July 3rd 2025, I was placed on administrative processing for social media vetting. I received my passport yesterday without no visa stamp or any foil5ij my passport, and my status still remain on the traditional "Refused" for administrativd processing. There was an inscription in the passport where they ticked that there's no action required from me and make your account set to public was underlined. However, my social media accounts all in public, tested these through people who aren't my friends on social media. What should I do?

Ayinbatun18:
Please I need your advice.

I attended my f1 visa interview in Abuja on July 3rd 2025, I was placed on administrative processing for social media vetting. I received my passport yesterday without no visa stamp or any foil5ij my passport, and my status still remain on the traditional "Refused" for administrativd processing. There was an inscription in the passport where they ticked that there's no action required from me and make your account set to public was
underlined. However, my social media accounts all in public, tested these through people who aren't my friends on social media. What should I do?

you received your passport with a paper saying you should make all your social media public ? if that’s the case then your passport was just returned to you and your visa decision is still being decided on, you will be contacted by email if any additional requirements are needed or when your passport is ready to be submitted for stamping



if i understood not correctly, then you may have been denied but normally the status would have updated , so i doubt

Ayinbatun18:
Please I need your advice.

I attended my f1 visa interview in Abuja on July 3rd 2025, I was placed on administrative processing for social media vetting. I received my passport yesterday without no visa stamp or any foil5ij my passport, and my status still remain on the traditional "Refused" for administrativd processing. There was an inscription in the passport where they ticked that there's no action required from me and make your account set to public was underlined. However, my social media accounts all in public, tested these through people who aren't my friends on social media. What should I do?

■■

Correct answer will be based on seeing your 221g slip because you may not be able to interpret your issue accurately. If you had hesitated in yielding to the 221g instructions then you have been permanently denied, hence your passport was returned.

But psychologically, two things has happened. 1. You have been denied permanently,or 2. You are being asked to go back to your facebook and change privacy settings. Many applicants dont know how to do that.

■ Scrennshot your 221g and the part of your Passport that is annotated. 👍

This is the screenshot of my letter I found in my passport.

Ayinbatun18:
This is the screenshot of my letter I found in my passport.

■■

Your refusal is not permanent based on that slip. Quickly go to your social media (especially Facebook or the ones you listed in your ds-160) and make some privacy settings to be public.....

eg " Who can see my friend list ?
Religion... Christian or Muslim ?
Who can see my Date of birth ?

●▪︎▪︎ The answers to the above must be everybody, indicate religion, and everyone respectively. Some people will chose only me or friend of friends, some will say i prefer not to say my sex or religion. The U.S. embassy wants everything to be public at least during your visa application. 👍

As f2 applicant, what is the best anwser when vo ask:
1) who is going to fund your trip
2) why dont you follow your husband initially

Efetobore1980:
■■

Your refusal is not permanent based on that slip. Quickly go to your social media (especially Facebook or the ones you listed in your ds-160) and make some privacy settings to be public.....

eg " Who can see my friend list ?
Religion... Christian or Muslim ?
Who can see my Date of birth ?

●▪︎▪︎ The answers to the above must be everybody, indicate religion, and everyone respectively. Some people will chose only me or friend of friends, some will say i prefer not to say my sex or religion. The U.S. embassy wants everything to be public at least during your visa application. 👍

Please someone here should help mentor me, maybe there's something I am doing wrong or I'm not just lucky.

I have applied to schools and the story have always been the same rejection upon rejection.
See the mail I got from a professor at Grand valley State University.

While I have been on this since 2021 , I'm trying my best to keep reaching out to professors, I recently reached out to a professor at Texas and we had a zoom session, the session lasted over an hour and since then she has ghosted me , no response from her even after asking for recommendation letters that I sent to her.

What should I do? Somebody should mentor me.

This bank work don tire me ooooo, I want to practice my passion and do what I really love

Ayinbatun18:
This is the screenshot of my letter I found in my passport.

Please remove this picture; you should have at least blurred your information on it.

Nothing is wrong my brother. Normally, they arent supposed to take your passport from you. They would just run their check and send you an email to submit your passport if you scale through the background check. So set your social media to public and await their decision.

Ayinbatun18:
Please I need your advice.

I attended my f1 visa interview in Abuja on July 3rd 2025, I was placed on administrative processing for social media vetting. I received my passport yesterday without no visa stamp or any foil5ij my passport, and my status still remain on the traditional "Refused" for administrativd processing. There was an inscription in the passport where they ticked that there's no action required from me and make your account set to public was underlined. However, my social media accounts all in public, tested these through people who aren't my friends on social media. What should I do?

We're on the same boat. Do nothing as said...wait for another 2weeks atleast

Has anyone received the F1 visa under the new policy. How does the 3-month validity work?
Does it start counting from the issue date or closer to the school resumption date?

For example, if someone’s program starts in January 2026 but gets a visa in September 2025, will the visa still be valid by resumption?

None that I know...all on AP. The 3months validation starts from the day of issuance

kes4glory:
Please someone here should help mentor me, maybe there's something I am doing wrong or I'm not just lucky.

I have applied to schools and the story have always been the same rejection upon rejection.
See the mail I got from a professor at Grand valley State University.

While I have been on this since 2021 , I'm trying my best to keep reaching out to professors, I recently reached out to a professor at Texas and we had a zoom session, the session lasted over an hour and since then she has ghosted me , no response from her even after asking for recommendation letters that I sent to her.

What should I do? Somebody should mentor me.

This bank work don tire me ooooo, I want to practice my passion and do what I really love

■■


YOU
Please someone here should help mentor me, maybe there's something I am doing wrong or I'm not just lucky.

Everyone God created has element of luck. You are doing something wrong.


YOU
I have applied to schools and the story have always been the same rejection upon rejection.
See the mail I got from a professor at Grand valley State University.

If you are genuinely qualified, one of those schools would have admitted you. U.S. institutions operate Equal Opportunity for All, and admitting international students gives them a reputation.


YOU
While I have been on this since 2021 , I'm trying my best to keep reaching out to professors, I recently reached out to a professor at Texas and we had a zoom session, the session lasted over an hour and since then she has ghosted me , no response from her even after asking for recommendation letters that I sent to her.

As I mentioned above, reaching out to professors or having hours with a professor on Zoom and sending application materials does not guarantee admission. Your overall academic standings doesn’t worth the department you are seeking, and that is what the Texas professor concluded , therefore, getting back to you is not necessary (though she might still get back as profs are usually busy).


YOU
What should I do? Somebody should mentor me.

This bank work don tire me ooooo, I want to practice my passion and do what I really love.

I can not accurately direct you until I discover your academic background, i.e., cgpa, course of study, intending program, etc. You may also need more wisdom and concentration in sending out your admission applications. You may also have a problem in the area of SOP and recommendations. 👍

kc6964:
Has anyone received the F1 visa under the new policy. How does the 3-month validity work?
Does it start counting from the issue date or closer to the school resumption date?

For example, if someone’s program starts in January 2026 but gets a visa in September 2025, will the visa still be valid by resumption?

■■

3-months visa policy cannot work on F1 visas . Take it to B1/B2.

Chemist4life:
As f2 applicant, what is the best anwser when vo ask:
1) who is going to fund your trip
2) why dont you follow your husband initially

■■

1.. It is stated in your Form I-20 as a dependency on F1, but as you are applying alone you may mention anyone.

2.. I discovered I was pregnant. My awaiting contract was renewed. You were hospitalized. My kid got government scholarship. Our travel funds was delayed by out bank. Etc . 👍