Hi guys,

I have been a silent follower of this thread (what we call 'waka pass') since February. I read all of Part 1 and followed the thread to Part 2. It has really been informative and some times hilarious and other times off the point with arguments and brawls. I did a degree in the US and I know how much I paid compared to my fellow Naijans who are American citizens, and so we prepared for this.

My wife just arrived the US yesterday. I'll give a summary of our experience.

VISA: She has a valid visa with which she traveled for a vacation 2 yrs ago.
CHANGE OF INTENT (we called it NOTIFICATION OF INTENT): I found about that on this page; we wrote them and got the generic reply. There's no harm in writing this.
MONEY: This was a major challenge as the dollar rose. When we started planning about this, dollar was about N165, and at the time we exchanged the money, it was N221 (black market). I waka tire visiting nearly every bank in my city looking for PTA. They kept telling me to check the next day, finally we settled for black market. I was really worried that she might have issues at the POE as the money we had (as at the time of her travel) was below our budget.
TRAVEL: She traveled alone, I'll be joining her later. Flew MedView to Lagos (she was harassed about flying at 34 weeks even with a Fit-To-Fly report; no wonder people lie about their GA). I had to speak English. With authority, I told them I love her more than they do and I won't want to risk her life if I know it's dangerous. Meanwhile I called AirFrance about 3 months ago, they said it's okay for her to fly until 36 weeks or so. If international flight of over 12 hours think it is safe, na this 45 minutes waka go be trouble?

She flew AirFrance from Lag with a stopover at CDG (Paris); na for Paris them begin quiz her. They asked for her medical reports, correspondence with doctor in the US, where she works etc.

POE: I didn't know this could be an issue until I started following this thread, because I've traveled several times to the US and didn't see it as anything. Well, her POE was JFK (new york), thanks to info from this thread. Conversation was brief viz:

CBP: What are you here for?
Wifey: To attend ******* (which is true) and to have my baby.
CBP: You mean you want to have a baby in the US?
Wifey: Yes.
CBP: How much do you have?
Wifey: Mentions in dollars and N15,000
CBP: How much is N15k in dollars.
Wifey: About 68 USD.
CBP was surprised) You mean N15k is just $68? That's interesting.
Wifey: Yes
CBP: stamps her in for 6 months.


Help us thank God for favour.

LESSONS:
Get all your facts right.
No need to lie.
Be bold if you are saying the truth.
Trust in the Lord.
Write the embassy to notify them of your plan. No harm in doing that.
Load your phone so you can roam and receive/make emergency calls.
Newbies: Be diligent and read the entire thread, you'll get answer to any question. This is better than asking a question that has been answered several times over.

NEXT: We pray for the Lord to perfect what He has started. Cheers.

queenestty:



thanks newmum15 have search again and found information on Northside hospital.

what i plan was

1. To pay for the hospital bill and get receipt sent to my e-mail if possible so i can present at POE (but did nt get info on anyone who have done this or how they go about it)

2. To get a doctor appointment letter (that i have contacted an ob/gyn of atlanta, they ask me to fax my record, fax was difficult for me, i asked for an e-mail and have send them mail attaching my record, no response from them yet, send a reminder twice, no reply to my mail.

3. As for pediatrician, do i need to book them too.

4. Is a question, the gynecology fee, is it including the blood works, or u pay seperately for blood work r

5. Those that have giving birth, how do they dispose the placenta. just wondering.

I need to finish all these to get prepared for the POE as i have booked my flight already.

this are my worries though for now. pls need advice

thanks all.

I don't think anyone paid Northside before leaving Naija.Just show them at your POE the personal letter that has your name written on it of their price estimate.Then try to get a personalized letter from your Obgyn stating they'll be accepting you and how much they'll be charging.
I really can't tell what your Obgyn package is,some are inclusive of all test and blood works while some aren't.so you'll have to discuss with your Obgyn.There are several Obgyn affiliated to Northside,you can speak with them and decide which works for you.
You can source for your own pediatrician if you want but from what I've gathered Northside would give you one if you don't have any.
As for the placenta disposal,that one pass me o,lol...still on the waiting line.@shawbabe would be in a better position to help with that.
You shouldn't have much problem at the POE.Just have your cash(and cards if you have any)your correspondence from your hospital and Obgyn and you should be fine.

Toks07:

Hi has anyone use fidelity bank for PTA in ibadan? I went to the one at ring road and they said I have to have account with them for atleast 3 month before I can get PTA. Pls I need PTA o. Pls help anyone in ibadan.

I bought at Fidelity bank Iwo Road Branch,on 15/6/15 ,no stress what so ever. I dint even have an account with them,i i had to use my spouse accontt,hey just asked for my ticket and passport

Newmum15:
This is quiet informative.But are you saying you paid $232 for Naija passport alone?How much did you now pay for visa?

U are in Atlanta so don't follow what she did. Her process from what I read was quite different from mine and like she said that's for DC. Passport is $107 in atl. 77 for passport and 30 for processing. Visa is $180

Newmum15:
I don't think anyone paid Northside before leaving Naija.Just show them at your POE the personal letter that has your name written on it of their price estimate.Then try to get a personalized letter from your Obgyn stating they'll be accepting you and how much they'll be charging.
I really can't tell what your Obgyn package is,some are inclusive of all test and blood works while some aren't.so you'll have to discuss with your Obgyn.There are several Obgyn affiliated to Northside,you can speak with them and decide which works for you.
You can source for your own pediatrician if you want but from what I've gathered Northside would give you one if you don't have any.
As for the placenta disposal,that one pass me o,lol...still on the waiting line.@shawbabe would be in a better position to help with that.
You shouldn't have much problem at the POE.Just have your cash(and cards if you have any)your correspondence from your hospital and Obgyn and you should be fine.

MFM things - placenta should be anointed with oil and burnt. not buried or flushed down the toilet and not stolen by winches and wizards, else the persons destiny will be stolen thankfully winch no fit follow person Go America ( in Jesus name) as such placenta is safe anyhow, anyway. lol

Gratefulaheart:
Ok Thanks. About dhl, do you mean u got it 3days after he sent it? Let's say he sent it on a monday, you got it on thursday?

yes

Shawbabe:


U are in Atlanta so don't follow what she did. Her process from what I read was quite different from mine and like she said that's for DC. Passport is $107 in atl. 77 for passport and 30 for processing. Visa is $180

Lol...was starting to wonder.Thank you so much.

hotmummy2015:



MFM things - placenta should be anointed with oil and burnt. not buried or flushed down the toilet and not stolen by winches and wizards, else the persons destiny will be stolen thankfully winch no fit follow person Go America ( in Jesus name) as such placenta is safe anyhow, anyway. lol

Lmaooo!!Youre a real clown

dere5:


I bought at Fidelity bank Iwo Road Branch,on 15/6/15 ,no stress what so ever. I dint even have an account with them,i i had to use my spouse accontt,hey just asked for my ticket and passport

They do sell on spouse's accounts so they would not treat you as a walk in.

Newmum15:
I don't think anyone paid Northside before leaving Naija.Just show them at your POE the personal letter that has your name written on it of their price estimate.Then try to get a personalized letter from your Obgyn stating they'll be accepting you and how much they'll be charging.
I really can't tell what your Obgyn package is,some are inclusive of all test and blood works while some aren't.so you'll have to discuss with your Obgyn.There are several Obgyn affiliated to Northside,you can speak with them and decide which works for you.
You can source for your own pediatrician if you want but from what I've gathered Northside would give you one if you don't have any.
As for the placenta disposal,that one pass me o,lol...still on the waiting line.@shawbabe would be in a better position to help with that.
You shouldn't have much problem at the POE.Just have your cash(and cards if you have any)your correspondence from your hospital and Obgyn and you should be fine.

Thank u Newmum15.

I appreciates.

dere5:


I bought at Fidelity bank Iwo Road Branch,on 15/6/15 ,no stress what so ever. I dint even have an account with them,i i had to use my spouse accontt,hey just asked for my ticket and passport

Good. My branch told when am like 1wk or 2wks to my travelling, that I can applied.

Newmum15:
Lmaooo!!Youre a real clown

Lollzzz u still never answ my question, do they give it to u or not. Like here in nija dem dey package am for u carry go house do anythg u won do with am.

Hw dem take dey do am their or hw u take do ur own, na by mountain of fire thg (burning) dem no go raise alarm if u start burn somethg for....... Make dem no say person dey make African sacrifice. Lolzz.

hotmummy2015:



MFM things - placenta should be anointed with oil and burnt. not buried or flushed down the toilet and not stolen by winches and wizards, else the persons destiny will be stolen thankfully winch no fit follow person Go America ( in Jesus name) as such placenta is safe anyhow, anyway. lol

Lollzzz u still never answ my question, do they give it to u or not. Like here in nija dem dey package am for u carry go house do anythg u won do with am.

Hw dem take dey do am their or hw u take do ur own, na by mountain of fire thg (burning) dem no go raise alarm if u start burn somethg for....... Make dem no say person dey make African sacrifice. Lolzz.

queenestty:



Lollzzz u still never answ my question, do they give it to u or not. Like here in nija dem dey package am for u carry go house do anythg u won do with am.

Hw dem take dey do am their or hw u take do ur own, na by mountain of fire thg (burning) dem no go raise alarm if u start burn somethg for....... Make dem no say person dey make African sacrifice. Lolzz.

I honestly don't know how its done there as I haven't given birth yet. baby is still cooking. but I wouldn't worry about placenta abeg. (otherthings like bith certificate, naija passport, infant ticket, blue pali) to deal with

J

queenestty:



Lollzzz u still never answ my question, do they give it to u or not. Like here in nija dem dey package am for u carry go house do anythg u won do with am.

Hw dem take dey do am their or hw u take do ur own, na by mountain of fire thg (burning) dem no go raise alarm if u start burn somethg for....... Make dem no say person dey make African sacrifice. Lolzz.

I really don't know too,not had my baby yet.But I'm sure you can discuss what you want done with it with your Obgyn.

dere5:


I bought at Fidelity bank Iwo Road Branch,on 15/6/15 ,no stress what so ever. I dint even have an account with them,i i had to use my spouse accontt,hey just asked for my ticket and passport

Thanks so much. Paying them a visit tomorrow. Pls what is their rate.

Toks07:

Thanks so much. Paying them a visit tomorrow. Pls what is their rate.

It was $199.4 on that day. If you or your spouse dose not have an account with them,you can discuss the possibilities of them selling to you if you open an account with them immediatly.

As far as I know, it's disposed of as biohazard waste. I don't think you should be asking them to package the placenta and give it you. They probably won't answer you anyways.

queenestty:



Lollzzz u still never answ my question, do they give it to u or not. Like here in nija dem dey package am for u carry go house do anythg u won do with am.

Hw dem take dey do am their or hw u take do ur own, na by mountain of fire thg (burning) dem no go raise alarm if u start burn somethg for....... Make dem no say person dey make African sacrifice. Lolzz.

shelly23:
As far as I know, it's disposed of as biohazard waste. I don't think you should be asking them to package the placenta and give it you. They probably won't answer you anyways.

They can package for you if you want. People eat their placenta and others encapsulate it and take as medicine. Read that it good for energy and nutritious postpartum.

dere5:


It was $199.4 on that day. If you or your spouse dose not have an account with them,you can discuss the possibilities of them selling to you if you open an account with them immediatly.

Thanks once again. I will do just that.

hotmummy2015:



MFM things - placenta should be anointed with oil and burnt. not buried or flushed down the toilet and not stolen by winches and wizards, else the persons destiny will be stolen thankfully winch no fit follow person Go America ( in Jesus name) as such placenta is safe anyhow, anyway. lol

lemme gross u out a bit!
Oyinbos de chop placenta ooooo!

The placenta is an organ that your body creates to give your soon-to-be-baby oxygen and nutrients while in the womb. But once the placenta has done its tour of duty, are you done with it? For some moms, the answer is no. Some moms want to keep the placenta to eat at home as a way to potentially stave off some of the less enjoyable after-effects of birth. Others want to plant it with a tree to commemorate the birth... "Hospitals are very worried about safety, because the placenta really is a biohazard," says Titi Otunla, a certified nurse midwife at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women in Houston. "It's full of blood, it's not very sanitary-it could be a public health nightmare." Even though placenta eating is on the rise, it's still not a common request, so you may find that you get some pushback from hospital staff when you make your request.

http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/pregnancy-health/take-placenta-home/

Hass anyone else considered or done cord blood donation?
I hear it saves lives and used to treat blood cancer and sickle cell anaemia

queenestty:



Lollzzz u still never answ my question, do they give it to u or not. Like here in nija dem dey package am for u carry go house do anythg u won do with am.

Hw dem take dey do am their or hw u take do ur own, na by mountain of fire thg (burning) dem no go raise alarm if u start burn somethg for....... Make dem no say person dey make African sacrifice. Lolzz.

When I had my baby, the nurses took theplancenta away to dispose off. That is thepractise there. How it is been disposed, I don't know and didn't even care cos I was overwhelmed with the joy of seeing my baby. She was the only thing I was seeing at that moment. But I remembered that I was asked prior to delivery if I wanted to donate it to a cord bank and I said No

[quote author=shelly23 post=34937387]As far as I know, it's disposed of as biohazard waste. I don't think you should be asking them to package the placenta and give it you. They probably won't answer you anyways.


[/quote

shelly23:
As far as I know, it's disposed of as biohazard waste. I don't think you should be asking them to package the placenta and give it you. They probably won't answer you anyways.

My dear friend, I am not taking abt packaging, how do they dispose it, is the questions. Package it for u to take to where?

Their system are different from ours that's why am asking.

But if dem package ur own for you, u fit let me knw. Lolzzz

aye88:



When I had my baby, the nurses took theplancenta away to dispose off. That is thepractise there. How it is been disposed, I don't know and didn't even care cos I was overwhelmed with the joy of seeing my baby. She was the only thing I was seeing at that moment. But I remembered that I was asked prior to delivery if I wanted to donate it to a cord bank and I said No

Thanks my sister this is what I need to hear.

Don't thk I need it self, giving it to me what will I do with it in a strange land, na load now. D joy of see the baby is enuf.

Just want to knw how it works their.

Thanks so much.

Biobioliscious:



Hello Nogen,

I went through the thread and saw your message of being in Elpaso presently. Please i really need to speak with you urgently as i will be leaving for Elpaso on monday ( June 22nd). Please how do i get to reach you? can i plls have your BB Pin, mail addy or phone no? Pls it's urgent.

Thank you in anticipation.

Hello dear, i just sent u a pm. Please respond

[quote author=mamades post=34200162][/quote] am planning to come down to El paso in August, please can you give me ur doctor's details so I can book appointment with him? Will await ur reply.

I am beginning to change my mind from Dallas to El Paso. Having a great thought

Getting US visas to take more time as technical snag hits American embassies across the world


New Delhi: Getting a visa for the United States is likely to take more time as the US embassy is experiencing technical problems with their visa systems across the world. As a result, all visa interviews between June 22 and 26 at US consulates in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad have been cancelled. The US embassy has said that the interviews will be rescheduled.
In a statement issued by the US Embassy in India, the problem is continuing across the world. "This is a global issue, and we are working around the clock to fix it. More than 100 computer experts from both the private and public sectors across the United States are working on this problem 24/7. That said, we do not expect the system will be online before next week. Unfortunately, this has caused a serious delay in our operations," the US embassy said.
Visa applicants with appointments during June 22 to June 26 are requested to reschedule their appointments for biometric enrollment and visa interview to a date after July 6, 2015. "There is no need to contact the call center or customer support. You can login to your visa appointment system profile and reschedule both of your appointments at www.ustraveldocs.com/in,"

Nogen:

I'm in El Paso now. So if you need info on anything, just pm me.

Please I also need ur conatct. Coming by October

Gratefulaheart:
Hello dear, i just sent u a pm. Please respond

So sorry. Was napping. Have responded.