@ drOdu congrats.

rhemmie91:

Finally! congrats

. thank you. still waiting for the official letter tho.

exxy:

how far.

Thanks for your quick response. Hope you're enjoying mississippi. I have replied.

Fortissimo:


Thanks for your quick response. Hope you're enjoying mississippi. I have replied.

ok

Good morning to gurus in da house. I just finished my masters in public health at the university of ibadan and i wud love to go for my phd in the us. Pls is dere any school that accepts Nigerian university masters certificate for phd or i av to do msc in yankee before i can be considered for phd? Pls i will appreciate your response. Abeg ooooooo gurus in da house.

Ehimax:


Thanks for your reply, I forgot to add that I also have travel experience. The problem I have with Canadian schools is the part that you need to pay the required school fee 1st b4 you can be considered for visa

that's not entirely true, there are some schools that do not require tuition fee deposit, the likes of university of Regina , university of Winnipeg , check those schools bro, just that d rate of denial is much and USA student visa is easy to get unlike Canada .Good luck!

Fortissimo:


For the difference to be huge then you'd need to find off campus housing that is less than $400 per month. Just carefully weigh your options sha and remember hidden costs like renters insurance (I think) and utilities and tfare to school and furniture etc. If you do choose off campus, be very careful about the neighbourhood. Lots of horror stories about baltimore.

Congrats on your scholarship.

Thank you. I'll keep those in mind. I appreciate

OjaP:


Where do you plan to stay when school is not in session?

Uhm...would they ask us to leave the apartment when the school is not in session? I'm not sure but I doubt so. The apartment is only for international students in the department, it will be unreasonable of them to ask us to leave. Besides, they said it's for 12months, I understand it to mean 12 calendar months inclusive of holidays and all.

Holudarey01:


Is feeding inclusive? I mean meal ticket..me I like food o

Lol. Feeding was not mentioned in the award letter so I believe since it was not mentioned, it has been expressly excluded.

purplesummer:

Uhm...would they ask us to leave the apartment when the school is not in session? I'm not sure but I doubt so. The apartment is only for international students in the department, it will be unreasonable of them to ask us to leave. Besides, they said it's for 12months, I understand it to mean 12 calendar months inclusive of holidays and all.

Wow so it's even specifically for int'l students? I'd grab it!

biikeys:


You'll certainly get something cheaper in Baltimore...if you can do your research. Use rent.com,apartmentsearch.com and you get some bonus money if you mention you found them through these sites. If you don't have a car, you'll need to consider distance to your school.

Thanks a lot. I'm actually considering distance to school, utilities etc in relation to the rent. If I get something a bit less expensive off campus and then end up spending the difference on transportation and utilities...well, as you suggested,I'll do a research on it and let you know whatever decision I arrive at.

isi4luv:
Hello house! I was denied my student visa last year. I plan on going to the embassy again with a new i-20 from a different school and a different course. Will I need to pay a new sevis fee? Thank you

Can someone pls answer dis? Pls!

Fortissimo:


Wow so it's even specifically for int'l students? I'd grab it!

Yes it's for international graduate students.

purplesummer:

Yes it's for international graduate students.

Even better.

abnice2004:
Good morning to gurus in da house. I just finished my masters in public health at the university of ibadan and i wud love to go for my phd in the us. Pls is dere any school that accepts Nigerian university masters certificate for phd or i av to do msc in yankee before i can be considered for phd? Pls i will appreciate your response. Abeg ooooooo gurus in da house.

A lot of schools in the US(if not all sef) will accept your masters degree from a Nigerian University. All you need do is check their respective websites for entry requirements as these vary from school to school. I hope this helps boss.

isi4luv:


Can someone pls answer dis? Pls!

Sorry I don't know o. Why not ask the VO here: https://www.nairaland.com/2991174/u.s-student-visa-f1-m1

You can also check the US student visa FAQs.

stevecrun:
send me a mail to Stevecrun@yahoo.com

thanks boss. you have a mail.

isi4luv:


Can someone pls answer dis? Pls!

Hi, the sevis fee last for a year so check the time you paid last if its already a year then you need to make another payment ( now I don't know if it's a calendar year or a year after payment) go to sevis website for more details at fmjfee.com

Do I pay the fee for every Form I-20 or DS-2019 I receive?
No. If you receive acceptance packages from several schools or Exchange Visitor Program Sponsors, please select a school or program and use that Form I-20 or DS-2019 to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee.

We highly recommend that you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee using the form from the sponsor or school you will attend. Fee payment is made for a specific SEVIS ID number. Each Form I-20 or DS-Form DS-2019 has a SEVIS ID number. All SEVIS ID numbers start with the letter N.
The SEVIS ID on the payment confirmation receipt must always match the SEVIS ID on the student’s most current Form I-20 or DS-2019, unless the F or M student is considered a border commuter student. If the SEVIS ID is different, please email fmjfee.sevis@ice.dhs.gov to confirm if a new I-901 SEVIS Fee payment is required

Fortissimo:
So my people, my visa was approved today which is exactly 120 days before the start date on my I-20. My interview itself was very short with just 3 questions, so I will try describe my general experience today to add more benefit for those that may want to have an idea of how things might work.

Got to the consulate about 45mins before my scheduled time and was immediately accosted by some "gentleman" that tried to convince me that my printouts had to be coloured, stapled in some certain way, some new requirement/ regulation, etc. He tried leading me to his shop near the carpark to do the needful and obviously part with some money. From the knowledge gained on NL I knew to steer clear away from him and other shysters.

So I joined the queue but I guess I was a bit early as they were calling people for an earlier time slot. Met a lady and her brother who had come to renew their H1b visas and I made small talk with the lady. Tried making small talk with some other female F1 applicant but she wasn't having much of it. Perhaps nerves?

They finally called us to go through but some people were held back because they brought in prohibited items. This obviously delayed them. I think there is a rule that you have to join the queue from the back if you have to step away to drop prohibited items.

So finally entered the highly venerated US Consulate! Joined a queue that I thought led directly to the VOs. I started hearing the infamous speakers announcing denials...So the queue coordinator told me to go to a window and I thought wow finally! I walked up to the window full of nerves...the lady there wanted to take my biometrics and asked me to place my left hand fingers...I kept placing my right hand fingers until she repeatedly chided me. Mehn I thought wow this interview is going downhill. She asked for my documents and I struggled to pass them through the little slit until she told me just to slide them in. She did some checking and handed me back my passport with my I20 inside. I though I had been denied! I stared at her dumbfounded and refused to collect the documents until she said I was to go give them to the actual VO! I was surprised sef cos she had a Nigerian accent and I expected a VO with an American accent.

So I joined the real queue to speak to the VO...she was very respectful and courteous. Greeting people even before they reached her cubicle. Even those that she denied, she denied respectfully.

So now the transcript:

VO: Please pass your documents...just your passport. Are you a student? Ok please pass your I-20 as well. Ok...so tell me about your travel plans.

Me: I am going to Mississippi State University (MSU) for my Masters in Chemistry. I will be working with Dr. Bleep in the synthesis of natural products and I expect to use the skills I learn in MSU, when I come back to work for a pharmaceutical research institute in Nigeria.

VO: Typing...So where are you working / are you working currently?

Me: I used to work in Bleep but resigned 6 months ago to give myself sufficient time to prepare my applications and prepare for studies at the graduate level.

VO: Typing...so how are you financing your studies?

Me: I was awarded full financial aid by the school. I also have some additional personal funds.

VO: Typing...Ok I will approve your visa...(couldn't hear much past this point. she gave me the white slip and said I would need my I-20 and Sevis receipt when I enter the US).

No documents were requested.

At numerous points in the interview (especially during the pauses) I started having doubts that maybe I might be denied. I had to keep pushing those thoughts away.

Glory be to God alone!

NL is a treasure trove of info. We even have threads here that VOs themselves respond to queries. I also encourage applicants to look through the US Embassy (Nigeria)'s youtube videos, facebook page and also educationusa's facebook page. Knowledge is power.

Congratulations bro. So how are we bathing it now? LOL I am really happy for you

drOdu:
Hi guys,

Been Following this thread quietly for a while. I got my F1 on Monday thanks to information here.
Visa process (lagos) was pretty easy, no documents asked.spent like less than a minute or so, I was graced but had travel history with a running B1/B2 visa already.

My school of admission is the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Grad Course of study; health care organisation and policy (mph)
Program date on my I20; May 5 2016( orientation day) for summer
Funding; non-yet

I have some few* questions, I beg to be answered;
1. when am i to enter in the u.S before the may 5 written on my I20 or after may 5.
2. If I must enter before may 5 ( which I'm not ready yet for) how can I push it further, do I request for a new I20 to present at the border or what do I do?
3. As regards funding, I can really honestly probably only afford my 1st semester fees at the UAB, and I'm not on any form of GA/RA, scholarship etc. I wanted to get my visa first before a concrete pursuit.How do I go about my search for funding/GA opportunities. How do I survive the 1st semester n beyond?
4. How is money been transferred currently here from Nigeria and at what exchange rate ( black market or normal) cos cant be carrying tuition in hand bag abi?
5. Any NL'der in Birmingham, Alabama that can help me integrate into the society and put a friend through as regards accommodation, and life in Gen. Pls DM me or sumfin.

P/S; Excuse my naievity at this stage when I'm supposed to be packing my bags, but i believe it's better I humble my self now and ask the world questions "before he clear for my eyes for Yankee"

Answers may not be restricted to my questions... Abeg I just need lots of help and clarifications and yabs tootoo ..

congrats bro

Hello house,
I got my I-20 today and waiting for my interview next week God's willing, pls who is to sign on my i20? My parents or my sponsor since I av a different sponsor which r not my parents, and pls what do u advise since I will be going for a short course of less than a month, how do I convince d vo? Thanks fellas

Fortissimo, u have a pm. Please reply. Thanks

Fortissimo:


Thanks for your quick response. Hope you're enjoying mississippi. I have replied.

purplesummer:

Yes it's for international graduate students.

Hi i sent you a PM, hope you dont mind. pls kindly check up. thanks

iamleye:
Hello house,
I got my I-20 today and waiting for my interview next week God's willing, pls who is to sign on my i20? My parents or my sponsor since I av a different sponsor which r not my parents, and pls what do u advise since I will be going for a short course of less than a month, how do I convince d vo? Thanks fellas

Are you below 18? If yes, you parent will sign it but if no, you will sign it

rydow:
Good evening Famz,

I Av been Patiently following this threat from PART1 to 8,

It took me time and I ensure I read all and followed the procedures judiciously.

I have been admited to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. But I wonder why I haven't been hearing about Nebraska from NLders.

My interview is scheduled for Next week Insha Allah. But am yet to pay my SEVIS.

I got someone to help me out but it seems he isn't a straight fellow.

Please I need anyone who can help me with this SEVIS fee payment and I will reimburse such person either to a Naira account or any other media.

This help will be much appreciated.

Thanks My NL fams.

super duper warriboy21 is your friend.. He helped with mine

monsieur2016:
Fortissimo, u have a pm. Please reply. Thanks

I no see any pm o

sofadj:



Hi i sent you a PM, hope you dont mind. pls kindly check up. thanks

Hello sir, I got your PM and I responded on 11th April at exactly 10:18am. You could check your spam messages if it's not in your inbox. Nevertheless, I will resend the mail to you right away.

Modified : I just sent the response again.

@ purplesummer, you look beautiful. Any secret?

don4ye:
@ purplesummer, you look beautiful. Any secret?

don4ye:
@ purplesummer, you look beautiful. Any secret?

*shy*
*runs outta thread*

abnice2004:
Good morning to gurus in da house. I just finished my masters in public health at the university of ibadan and i wud love to go for my phd in the us. Pls is dere any school that accepts Nigerian university masters certificate for phd or i av to do msc in yankee before i can be considered for phd? Pls i will appreciate your response. Abeg ooooooo gurus in da house.

Greatest Uite.
you go enter US straight to PhD.
depends on your profile tho.