VisaOfficer:
Good morning, everyone! It looks like our previous thread was a casualty of the recent data loss, so I'm starting a new thread here. Nairaland, I missed you and am glad you're back!

I am a U.S. Foreign Service Officer working at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria, primarily handling Immigrant Visas and Diversity Visas (IVs and DVs). The purpose of this thread is to provide a forum for your questions about these types of visas. My colleagues and I will make every effort to answer all questions within two business days.

Please note that we cannot answer questions about specific cases, except as based on the information provided here in this discussion thread. Any responses in this forum are not to be taken as legally binding, as they will be based only on what you tell us in your questions, not on the information in any actual case. While we will attempt to explain U.S. immigration policies, any opinions expressed are the personal views of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government.

We may not be able to respond to every post in this thread, and we will not answer abusive posts. Also, please don't send me private messages -- I don't even read them. If you need personal attention, please send an e-mail to LagosIV@state.gov.

There is a separate thread for Non-Immigrant Visa Questions, also handled by U.S. Foreign Service Officers serving in Nigeria, at https://www.nairaland.com/1792662/u.s-non-immigrant-visas-listening . Please use this thread right here solely for questions about Immigrant Visas and Diversity Visas.

All the best,
VisaOfficer

ags4cfa:
Hello, thanks so much for all your help and assistance. My name is David Olayemi. I reside in the States, but my wife is still in Nigeria. I had filed CR1/IR1. She went for her visa Interview on December 23. The consulate officer told her to pick her visa the week after. Today is January 6, the visa is in no way ready. We tracked the passport on ustraveldocs.com even as I type this message this is the message I got "Passport Status :
There is no status update available for the passport number submitted". I had called all the numbers provided on the site to track or communicate with the pick up location, all to no avail. Not going through at all. May be you can please provide a good number to call.
On ceac.state.gov tracking the visa status I got "issued" and a few messages saying depending on the location, your will pick or the visa will be mailed. Please, help, why is it taking so long. I thought the IV process doesn't linger long. This is a bit upsetting, please no offense. Thanks a lot for your help and prompt reply. God bless
David Olayemi

VisaOfficer:


Greetings! No offense taken. As we told our interviewees that week, visa delivery would likely be delayed because of all the holidays. That said, I don't see an applicant with the surname Olayemi on Dec. 23, nor is there a petitioner named David Olayemi in our worldwide records. Please assist.

ags4cfa:
Her name is
last name: Ojo
First name: Ayobami Olubunmi

My name is David O. Oke
Please help check thanks.
PLEASE SEND NUMBERS TO CALL TO CHECK ON THE STATUS. THANKS

VisaOfficer:


The visa was printed on Dec. 24 and should be available at the collection center. Their contact information is:

HELPLINE: 094601748
EMAIL: support-nigeria@ustraveldocs.com
WEBSITE: www.ustraveldocs.com

If they don't answer, please try again. Thank you!

VisaOfficer:


We can't schedule an interview until we know your DS-260s are ready. As we e-mailed you earlier today about the screenshot: "We have forwarded your email to the appropriate unit. We urge you to wait patiently for a substantive response." That means we're working on it.

ags4cfa:
Thanks a lot. I really appreciate you. Yes, that is what it says- "printed" on the status does it mean it is available for pickup? I have tracked her passport but it says not available. I hope it will be available for pick up, if she goes tomorrow or thursday. It is just a bit frustrating because I don't want her to go there and not be able to pick it up, she will be traveling from Osun State - about 5 hours drive.
I really appreciate you. Thanks again. God bless you.

fames432:
Good day VO. Happy New Year. My question is on filling out I-134 for K1 visa, specifically the annual income part on no.7. My fiance started his current job last November 2014 and at the same time is getting paid on oil and gas royalties. The payment he receives for royalties is not fixed. What amount should we put for his annual income? I understand for the salary it should be the current one and not the one on his 2013 income tax return. What about for the oil and gas royalties? Can we put the amount on his 2013 income tax return or from the stubs he received in 2014, but he doesn't have all the stubs in hand for 2014 yet. Thank you so much for answering our queries.

MikoMe:
Hello, I was advised to sign up to Nairaland to ask my question.

I'm a US citizen, but have lived in Nigeria for 4 years (it was closer to home and I have a decent-paying job in the career I wanted). I recently met a wonderful guy (we come from the same background), he has a better paying job, in an oil and gas and chemicals firm. We've gotten engaged and are expecting our first child. We plan to do our Registry marriage in February but the other wedding ceremonies in June (our parents may want a big wedding).

My pregnancy is not so straightforward (I'm a bit older than the regular moms) and some concerns about Nigeria has us wondering if it may be time to relocate back home.

I've heard from people that the Spousal visa K3 is really tough to get in Nigeria (I understand you need a lot of proof and it feels like an interrogation most times, but we have nothing to hide, as he schooled internationally and has experience with different countries) and I don't have any recent tax returns for the US (since I didn't maintain any assets while coming to stay in Nigeria). He's travelled to even more countries than I have (work and personal) including the US. He has a US visa which will expire before the baby comes (which he sadly didn't use because of work) so he will apply for a non-immigrant visa to be with me when the baby is born and will come back to Nigeria 2 weeks after.

Will it be wise for us to file for him in Nigeria (since I'm already here) or do I have to stay with the baby in the US (I have family to support me) and file for him (I'm more concerned about leaving my new husband in Nigeria and being without his support for such a long time).

Thanks.

onyiblanche:

Good evening Ma. Pls I humbly ask: like how long are we expected to wait. We are a bit worried and the last time we got the message " we have forwarded........wait patiently for a substantive response" , we waited for about 2weeks and didn't get it. Pls ma I hope you understand our worries and please use ur good office to help us. We did our medicals since oct/nov and its quite hectic(cos of the kids). Pls do not take offence. We are just worried.

oluwolejulius:
hello @visa consular, am so happy to be here and I will like to ask some few question. if for example my spouse won visa lottery nd at the time of interview we were refused the visa because of my spouse can not answer question on her education aspects base on the matter that she not too good and slow not that she has fake documents.does it mean we have been ban for 10years or we cannot apply for visa again plz I need answer

LUCAS99:
Dear Visa Office Please I submitted my F-1 Student Visa Renewal application through the Drop Box Visa Renewal Program on 29th December 2014 at GSS Document Collection Center DHL, 82 Trans Amadi – Ellah Estate, by Bewac Junction Port Harcourt, Nigeria but as at date I have got no response. I tried tracking my application online and got this message 'There is no status update available for the passport number submitted’. I am worried because school resumes next week Monday January 12, 2015 and I am expected to report to school not later than Friday January 9, 2015.
Please find my personal information listed below
Name Provided:
Passport Number:
DS-160 Confirmation #:
DropBox Confirmation Letter #:
Kindly advice on what to do.
My Humble Submission,

Evasparkling.

VisaOfficer:


Greetings! The purpose of any immigrant visa is to reunite the petitioner and the beneficiary in the United States, so if you're not domiciled there, the visa can't be issued until you are (or until the beneficiary convinces the officer that the two of you plan to relocate to the U.S. together). Considering the situation you describe, it sounds like you could go ahead and file an immigrant petition now, then figure out later whether you want to move back to the U.S. first or whether you'd prefer to relocate together after he gets the visa.

If you don't intend to live permanently in the U.S., it sounds like non-immigrant visas would be a better option for your spouse.

Hope this helps.

LUCAS99:
An email containing my contact information has been sent right away to LagosNIV@state.gov.Please I respectfully ask you to do everything that you can to ensure that I PRINCE EGU UDUKA receives my renewed F-1 Student Visa this week to enable me complete my studies in the United States. Thanks once again for your esteemed help.
My Humble Submission,

Prince Egu Uduka.

VisaOfficer:


Sorry, I don't work in that unit. Someone will respond to your e-mail within two business days. Good luck!

LUCAS99:
Unfortunately I am unable to return to the Consulate any Monday or Wednesday (not including Nigerian or American holidays)at 12noon because there is no way I can fly back into Nigeria without my International passport and Endorsed, valid I-20 which was submitted together with my F-1 Student Visa Renewal application on my behalf by my cousin through the Drop Box Visa Renewal Program on 29th December 2014 at GSS Document Collection Center DHL, 82 Trans Amadi – Ellah Estate, by Bewac Junction Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Please be informed that school resumes next week Monday January 12, 2015 and I am expected to report to school not later than Friday January 9, 2015.
My Humble Submission,

Prince Egu Uduka.

VisaOfficer:


You're not in Nigeria? Where are you? Our website does say "Please note that participation in this program does not guarantee visa issuance. Additionally, the consular section may request applicants to attend a visa interview in certain cases, despite having submitted their application through the Drop Box program." It's a very bad idea to have someone submit your passport to us on your behalf when you're not even in the same country!

Well, at any rate I can't help you. Please address your inquiries to LagosNIV@state.gov.

LUCAS99:
I am still in the United States. I asked my cousin to submit my F-1 Student Visa Renewal application together my International passport and Endorsed, valid I-20 to the U. S. Consulate General, Lagos because back then in December I was still attending fall classes.

abujaniv:

Your sibling can drop off your materials at DHL.

This is a case of a mother filling for a daughter. The case was filed in 2008 and we recently heard from the NVC asking for submission of some documents. I am supporting my mum in putting the said documents/requirement together for my younger sister. I would like if you could take time out to respond to the following questions to allow me know the next steps to take;

This is going to be kind of interesting, because it emerges below that your mother cannot file a petition for your sister at this time. Let's go through your questions....

Mum’s due for her naturalization interview any moment from now, I want to know if that has any effect on my sister’s case?

Yes. You state below that your sister is married. That means that your mother cannot file for your sister until AFTER your mother has become a U.S. citizen. There is no visa category for the married children of Legal Permanent Residents.

Is it advisable at this point to add my sister’s husband in the form we are filling as she got married 2years ago? I ask this as we wouldn’t want any delay whatsoever in her case.

If she is married, she must say so on her forms. Otherwise, when we find out she is married, we will conclude that she was lying in order to obtain an immigration benefit, and she will become ineligible to enter the United States under INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i), material misrepresentation. Further, she will have difficulties bringing her husband over later if she somehow gets a visa and it turns out she lied to us at the time of her interview; additionally, she risks deportation or, at the very least, denial of U.S. citizenship.

Given that she is married, there's no delay involved in including her husband in the petition; there are major delays involved in failing to disclose an existing marriage.

LUCAS99:
Well when I asked your non-immigrant visa colleague back then he infact admitted that my cousin could drop off the F-1 Student Visa Renewal application together with my International passport and Endorsed, valid I-20 on my behalf

beekie:
Thanks so much VO for your speedy response to all of my questions.

In light of the highlighted response above, please be informed that the petition for my sister above was put in when she was young and now she is married,the reason why i asked if we could now include the husband in the forms we are requested to submit. BUT do we envisiage a problem with the petition now that she is married or what, as am not so clear why you mentioned that Mum cannot file for her until she becomes a citizen.

But if this is the case,do we put a halt to submitting the required documents as requested by NVC even though mum is still a PR and yet to naturalize or we just go ahead and see where this takes us. OR is there an adjustment that can be made?

Finally, if mum cant file for her now till she becomes a citizen, will a new petition have to be made entirely?

Thanks much for your time.

VisaOfficer:


People can drop things off on other people's behalf, but applicants have to be physically present in the country in which they're applying for a visa. If you had mentioned that you didn't plan to be in Nigeria at all, you would have received a much different reply.

LUCAS99:
So should I go ahead and communicate with LagosNIV@state.gov regarding the present situation.

abujaniv: This is a pretty complicated question--and, again, we don't comment on specific cases. But a few general points jump out. As we mentioned in response to another question, the law is fairly strict about not issuing non-immigrant visas to people who are intending to immigrate--indeed, one of the requirements to get a student visa is an intent to return to the home country afterwards. Also, the dropbox program is meant for Nigerians living in Nigeria. It's not meant to let someone skip answering awkward questions in an interview because they're afraid of the result.