reekadohbanks:
Got another post for y'all. And like I said in my previous posts, you're gonna have to get used to my sense of humor and brash delivery. Now that we have that out of the way, lets begin
Now that you have been granted visa and you know deep down in your soul that you cannot afford close to $15k and above per semester (by the way, unless you get a TA/GA, limited scholarships or some type of grant, international students do not get any type of financial aid!), youre probably wondering "How I wan take do am?". Got a couple of ideas, some of which I tried out myself. First of all, the honest truth, which a lot of folks don't tell you is that it is EXTREMELY HARD for international students to find jobs. For example, it's practically almost impossible to find any under the table jobs at places like target, walmart or any retail chain (unless the manager is your father!) because they all do E-Verify. International students don't get SSN (unless you get a job in school, and before you start thinking smart, your SSN is only valid for school employment. It will be written on your SS card). Having said all that, you still have a few options, if you're smart enough and like the saying goes "naija boys no dey carry last". IF you're able to save up some money (3k-5k), you can buy a car when you get here and get your drivers license asap. With your car, you can find pizza delivery jobs that'll pay you under the table. Its not much, sometimes as low as $5/hr, but the more hours you work the more money you make. you can be doing this, while you try to figure out how to get your papers straight and then you can find a better job. The thing is even if youre a doctor in naija or a lawyer or anything, and you enter here with anythin other than an immigrant visa stamped on your passport, you won't get a job (for health professions, its a little different, but that will come in another post).
Its good to have a plan before leaving naija. I can't emphasize that enough.

honeyad:


Texas is fine bro... Pm your new digits

Stewee:



You will have to play wifely duties!

Stewee:



You will have to play wifely duties!

slimmy05:
Visa approved consulate embassy lagos. Imperiouxx, ebdib, bigdrancis21, profojah, OjaP, godG, Amefrica, graviton2, walspring, innovativeame, justwise.

Have to prepare for work now. Transcript soon.

foohard:
Nice advice...

Just to add to it. It is a lot hard to get a job as an international student. Even when you get papers, and you did not get your bachelors in the states, competing with usa trained applicants is not easy even with your papers because most of them are citizens already.

Just luck up and know that usa is not home... I am in Chicago and 90% of Nigerians that have seen here are cab men which does not help. Indians and Chinese has great connections and you see them getting jobs even if when you know they cant complete any assignment without your help. I know you would not ask a cab man to help you get an IT job.. lol. So, I understand why YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN and you should always tell yourself that YOU ARE OWN YOUR OWN.

I have been a green card holder since June this year and I have had some interview experiences... My people, it is hard, especially when you did not get your bachelors here. To cope in Masters class, I had to read like crazy cos we were loaded with irrelevant stuffs during undergrad. So, do all you can to stand out because you are on your own.

As advised in quote, plan your finance appropriately because Nigerians are often not helpful even when they are in a position to help. Nairaland makes me happy cos have seen some good minds here which makes me believe things are getting better gradually.

ebdib:


CONGRATULATIONS MY BROTHER. WELCOME TO AMERICA. I'M HAPPY FOR YOUR RESILIENCE
HAPPY NEW YEAR....

slimmy05:
Please, how do I get card for MMR, varicella and tuberculosis? Can one get it at the airport clinic?

RexNdubest:

Don't disturb yourself about those test. Just come over, enrol in student insurance and do all the test here. That's what I did

abbeymaniak:


Prof. Horayce, sorry for disturbing u sir, pls wat are d things I need to knw and consider for taking Gre next year and where can I get original instruments to prepare for d exam and which is better. Tanks a lot in advance prof

osahons9:


Really? Alright oh!!

Horayce:

what specific info do u need bro? u can pm me i'll send u some general links to download prep materials from. @ sirriddy thanks for the well wishes, i'm currently in transit in doha. Happy new year to the US student visa family, wishing everone a smashing 2015.

profojah:
Happy new year gurus...2015 will be my year and others who await their visas...
Congratulations to all other gurus here who got their visa,.slimmy, Dotman, richard4ssky, osahons9, Horace,mcroyce, ctemi, charleee, innovativeame, frankarecords et al...You guyz should enjoy ur stay in obamaland..and God will grant u all a journey mercy..

SirRiddy....thank u boss for those stufzz , God bless u much,..
Walspring,...keep doing this good thing u love doing...We await ur testimony bro...2015 is ur year gbabe
Slimmmmmmmmyyyyyyyy.....I'm short of words bro ...your head is extraordinarily valid
May the lord surround u all with better people
Wish you all a wonderful 2015....

RexNdubest:

Yeah, u 're covered by (the blood of ...) ur insurance

slimmy05:
How have you been and how is your wife? I hope the funding from NITDA is cashing out?

foohard:


Congrats Slimmy05. My wife is awesome plus I have a 3 months+ old lovely daughter now .

Please dont ask if that's what NITDA sent me here to do

I got all my money from NITDA already apart from my air ticket to naija. I only have one class left in spring to graduate. Truly, NITDA money was really helpful.

Please, make sure you get your vaccines in naija, otherwise, you will pay huge amount of dollars to get them. Best of luck and Happy New Year.

slimmy05:
try and write GRE. Make sure you secure funding.

Chaleeee:

Was it the old guy at Window 5? That man is so nice...._unlike the bald-headed guy.

amen1967:
I heard someone saying that international student never get funded, How true is that?

slimmy05:
Any nairalander in Tennessee?

I pray I have time for nairaland when I travel

MrRoYCe:
My Transcript

VO- Good Morning
Me- Good Morning...How r u?

VO- So you're going to Troy Uni. for your Undergraduate degree
Me-Yes

VO- How did you get to know about Troy Uni.
Me- I did an intensive research on the internet using usnews.com, princetowreview.com

VO- What was the criteria you use in search for the school.
Me- I used their ranks, recommendation from other international student and accreditation for my major.

VO- Why Biology/Biological Science
Me- I hope to work in the medical field as a Medical Research Assistant

VO- How old r u
Me- 22yrs

VO- When did you finish you secondary school
Me- 2008

VO- So what have you been doing since then?
Me- I briefly work for my father and I later enrol into LAUTECH

VO- So you're a student of LAUTECH
Me- Yes ma'am

VO- What r u studying there and which year r you?
Me- Pure & Applied Biology...Just finished year 1

VO- So r u transferring your credit?
Me- No ma'am I personally contact the admission officer who advised me to re-start my program there since the courses are different.

VO- So did you talk any standardised test?
Me- No ma'am I contact the admission officer and she said I will talk the mandatory ESL placement test upon arrival with orientation and check in.

VO- Who is sponsoring you?
Me- My dad

VO- What does he do?
Me- He is a business man. He has an haulage business.

Types for some minute
VO- Pick up your visa on monday in isolo

Special thanks to all my Oga's at the top @walspring, @bigfrancis, @zeeze, @coobboy, @ctemi, @unnamdi79, @amerfica, @MsNas and everybody who have ever posted on this trend..

To folks storming the embassy soon....Pls sign your I-20 form o and remember what you filled on you. DS-160 form.

profojah:
Happy new year gurus...2015 will be my year and others who await their visas...
Congratulations to all other gurus here who got their visa,.slimmy, Dotman, richard4ssky, osahons9, Horace,mcroyce, ctemi, charleee, innovativeame, frankarecords et al...You guyz should enjoy ur stay in obamaland..and God will grant u all a journey mercy..

SirRiddy....thank u boss for those stufzz , God bless u much,..
Walspring,...keep doing this good thing u love doing...We await ur testimony bro...2015 is ur year gbabe
Slimmmmmmmmyyyyyyyy.....I'm short of words bro ...your head is extraordinarily valid
May the lord surround u all with better people
Wish you all a wonderful 2015....

Stewee:


You better!

sirRiddy:
Just as this year is coming to a momentous end, I wish to appreciate everyone who has added value to my life on this thread in the most diverse ways I ever imagined. Really grateful to a lot and cannot mention all.
My best posters are:
1.BigFancis21: He is always willing to help you no matter how little he knows about the subject matter. That guy na customer care and he has got a big heart. I hope he keeps on doing it BIG till the end of time, sir.
2. MsNas: Her posts are just too relevant. With a radiating sense of humour, she gives suggestions in an array of issues that is usually characterised by great insight and benevolence. Wish you the best in the new year and like I said earlier 'That soilder don dey barracks dey wait any stymie for your life'. Just keep doing your thing.
All the visa 'grantees', congrats and wish you a successful sojourn in the foreign land. To those who are going to the embassy in the new year, good luck.
Walspring, I am specially awaiting your breakthrough transcript which I am certain would be epic. Just keep working hard.
Horayce, my GRE prof, have a wonderful trip to obamaland and happy new year.
Happy new year, all my people.

slimmy05:
Sure, I will. Good to hear you're now a dad. I had the feeling in a weird way but am good now. Hope you would host me some day?

Oga imperiouxx, the quadruplets you've been trying hard to shoot for the new year, we are all waiting for the baby bump picture as you can see Mr Foohard has his planned even before he got to US.

Wish you all the best of 2015. I am indeed very grateful to be part of this wonderful thread and meeting such wonderful and kind Nigerians. You just have to be good and come out plain. Success to all who heads to the embassy for visa.

elmadavida:
Please can i re-apply for emergency date? The previous application i made was denied because i did not include evidence that i have paid the SEVIS fee. I have scanned copies of my I-20 and SEVIS fee, can I re-apply with them?

My school is resuming on the 5th of January and I am so confused now.

ifedapsy:
I'm sorry for just posting my transcript. Been down with post-interview fever (strange, isn't it?).
The interview:
Me: How's it going?

V.O: Good. I can see you're heading to Texas State University to study Human Nutrition.

Me: Yes.

V.O: Why TSU?

Me: I settled for TSU after conducting an extensive research on the internet using usnews.com and princetonreview.com. I got in touch with some of the Professors in the department and was particularly fascinated by the publications of Dr. B.J. Friedman, Head of Integrated Metabolism and Physiology Lab. After exchanging mails with him, I became convinced that the school is the right place for me. (all d above na this thread-inspired lies )

V.ONods in acknowledgement). Which school did you graduate from?

Me: LAUTECH

V.O: What course?

Me: Biochemistry

V.O: Which year?

Me: 2011, Nov. 18 to be precise.

V.O: Good. (She stares at the screen and types). Who is your sponsor?

Me: My Dad

V.O: What does he do for a living?

Me: He's a maritime consultant to Nigeria Ports Authority and he also owns a firm that's into Haulage (Transport n Logistics).. Another lie again. Jesus, you just av to forgive me.

V.O: What does your mother do?

Me: I never prepared for this type of question but as a street-groomed guy, I had to come up with something. "She runs a chain of eateries in Lagos", I answered.

V.O: Visa approved. You'll need blah..blah blah

On hearing the verdict, I started perambulating on the same spot like a zombie. I just couldn't find the exit door for about a minute.

My Maximum Twale to: Imperiouxx, GboyegaD, BigFrancis, Walspring, MsNas, Slimmy05, Zeezahbee et al. I've gained a lot from all your posts on this thread.

In a nutshell, to fellows who av been denied on one attempt or more, please do not give up. I nicked mine at the 3rd attempt. And for those with upcoming interviews, it's yours already.

The real battle has just begun....

hammed7867:
pls house I went to embassy to apply for visa but I was unable meet up wit my sevis but d consular tell me dat u have been granted visa but return my visa back to me nd I 20 nd tell me to com back when I pay sevis if I go back aday going to give me the visa d same day?

aanowai:
Hello solomond1, happy new year in advance.
I was denied F1 visa on the 3rd of December, since then I haven't been a happy man.. Cos, i honestly don't know why that lady refused me a visa, after i answered all the questions she asked me to the best of my knowledge. I couldn't reapply immediately cos, there was no available date for interview in December and early January.

I read ur msg and I am truly inspired. Pls what's the next step for someone who wants to reapply?

I also want to know if the SEVIS fee I paid on the 2nd of December is still valid for fall 2015 admission.

Thanks.