₦airaland Forum

smithsydny:
daddy ejo mabinu sir.. dem be children wah dey baff for belle belle

tomisinobbm:
Hehe I tell you

akset:
pls who know any school in the united state that can waive GMAT/GRE exam for master programme for nigerian

akset:
pls who know any school in the united state that can waive GMAT/GRE exam for master programme for nigerian

texrem:
Congrats buddy...I knew u would get it

ponpon:
This nairaland sha, so them Don finally unban me, wetin I do oooh!!!!!

babbs45:
Well said... Lol. And for the girls another option of getting a GC is through FGM. I know a ton of girls, especially East African who got their GC via FGM.

sputos:
I thank Almighty Allah for today. After the refusal on 20th June, Booked appointment for 14Th July and got TB response. Re-scheduled appointment for today 26th July , 12:45pm without paying another visa fee.

I got to VI as early as past 5 for 12:45pm interview (Lol). Although its because I hate driving in Lagos Traffic. I watched people come out with mixed feeling (refusals and approvals)

Got in around 12noon

VO: He said good morning
Me: Good afternoon

VO: Tell me about yourself, your study plans and where you are working
Me: Na God(Question I was expecting)
I studied Business Administration in Lagos State University in which I graduated with a 2nd class upper grade. I proceeded for my Compulsory NYSC programme and when I finished I got a job almost immediately in a Law firm - L.B.Falode & Co as a Facility /Property Manager. I got another Job at Accion Micro Finance Bank as an Operations Back Officer with the role of capturing data of all prospective loan applicants on the bank's database. I got my present job afterwards as Contact Centre consultant.

VO: Did you fill this form yourself?
Me: (I was so scared like I filled somtin wrong) Yes I filled it myself

VO: Which school did u graduate from
Me: (I said it b4 but he wanted to be sure I filled it myself) Lagos State University, OJo

VO: What Course did u study
Me: Business Admistration and I am going for MBA in .....


VO: How long have u been working with ur present employers
Me: I joined my present employers June, 2014

VO types for like 4ever and gave me d white paper

Na Baba God. I thank Almighty Allah for today. Paying for my ticket 2moro. Already booked with Royal Air Maroc for just N235877. Anybody wanna join me on this trip .Thank you Baba God

LagosismyHome:
I would have thought Lagos to Washington Dulles would be expensive....... BWI (Baltimore, MD) maybe cheaper blc DC airports route are more expensive

sunnypastic:
Oga texrem pls I need your help just sent you a PM.

Visa Approved on Monday @ Abuja.
Woke up repeatedly between 2 o'clock and 4:30, like about 10 times. (I no wan miss my Interview oo) . Finally woke up by 4:30 and said a short thank you prayer. Listened to a few songs and entered Nairaland. I arrived the embassy some minutes past 7. My interview was scheduled for 7:30. THe Husslers rushed me and started preaching. These guys wan chop my N1500, that my passport is not 2*2. I come check everybody own come see say my own dey different. I come fear small, lock up shaa. They were discouraging me that I'll be sent back. One guy use reverse psychology say make I go try and come back to them if i'm sent back. I passed the first security and was happy I scaled through. I jammed another document check and scaled through. I knew angels dey for my front (in phyno’s voice).


VO: Good morning, Pass me your I20.
VO: So why NCAT?
Me: Because of the ongoing research by Dr. Gary lebby on Biologically Inspired Energy and Engineering Systems. Also, the University has an Agric and BioEnergy farm which uses a Biogas Plant designed and maintained by the Electrical Engineering Department. I will be learning how to build and maintain this biogas plants 'cos I plan to build and supply this plants to Institutions when I come back after my studies.
VO: What's your program?
Me: Masters in Electrical Engineering.
VO: Explain how the Biogas plant works?
Me: It involves the anaerobic decomposition of organic wastes from pigs, cattle and birds to produce Methane and Carbon dioxide. These gases are used for lighting and heating.
VO: Who's sponsoring you?
Me: My Uncle
VO: What does he do? Me: He supplies and distributes petroleum products.
VO: Types, then looks up. From my Findings , biogas studies in under Biological Engineering? Why did you say Electrical?
Me: I studied Electronic Engineering as my first degree, so I decided to Apply to Electrical Engineering. Also the research by the Dr. Gary Lebby in Electrical Engineering exactly aligns with my career goals.
VO: Did you write any Exams?
Me: Yes, I wrote GRE and TOEFL.
VO: Let me see your scores.
Me: Shows him the scores.
VO: Which universities did you apply to?
Me: LSU, IIT, NJIT and NCAT
VO: Typing furiously, then looks up again. It doesn't rhyme with what I have on your score card. Which universities did you send your scores to?
Me: NCSU, TAMUK, NJIT and LSU (Note: NCAT is the least ranked of all these schools). But I applied to only LSU and NCAT and NJIT.
VO: Why didn't you apply to NCSU?
Me: Cos their TOEFL cut off was 92,and I scored 91. So i decided to apply to another school.
VO: Have you been to the US?
Me: No I haven't.
VO: Why didn't you apply for visa last year?
Me: I wrote my exams in October and November, then applied thereafter. I got my i20s this year. I paid my Sevis after I got my I20s, then paid my Visa fee and applied for Visa Interview.
VO: When exactly did you apply to each of these schools?
Me: I applied to NCAT and LSU last year, and NJIT and IIT this year.
VO Leaves for a minute to cross check the scores? (Note: I wrote my ETS username and password to my GRE and TOEFL accounts on the score sheet - A trick I learned on NL)
VO: Comes back and stares at me for a while. Types and then utters the "I'll be granting your visa..."
Me: Was just staring at him, blanked out (Thought this blanking out na joke oo). I just said thank you when he slid my I20 and the white papers.
I walked out of the embassy keeping a straight face. All those securities and Husslers will be like this guy no make am. Inside my heart was just singing "Chineke Nna emegokwa nwa Nairaland Ezege…"
Got back to my lodge and viewed the white papers very well, to make sure na White e be.

My thoughts:

Be confident, know the purpose of your visit(your program) very well and be ready to communicate what every detail of the program is all about, and how it will influence your career goals (In your home country).

Be Concise. Go straight to the point when answering questions. Be truthful in all your answers (my interviewer repeated questions indirectly). Speak confidently and yet humbly and truthfully.

Know about the school and why you chose it over other US institutions (both in US and other countries).

Answer truthfully about past visits outside your home country, whether US or other countries. IMO it doesn’t matter. I had a virgin passport.

Dress professionally like a student, but don't overdress (I wore a white shirt and tie, on a trouser).

Carry all your relevant documents (I went with my I20, Admission Letter, GRE and TOEFL scores, Financial Docs, Sevis, DS160 and Appointment Confirmation, Visa Fee receipt from GT Bank, Transcripts, UG and NYSC cert, Birth Cert, 2*2 passport) and most importantly International Passport. Pray to return with all docs together with the White papers an excluding your Intl Passport.

Maintain a positive attitude at all times (I just kept on smiling even though my heart wanted to escape).

Last but not the least, Get knowledge about the whole process (from start to finish) and prepare well. Nairaland deserves more acclaim than we give it - from the GRE thread, to the Visa thread, to the other student threads. Nairaland has been my Weekly Digest since last year. Chillax and study the threads.
A lady applied to different programs in different schools, she had a tough time defending her actions. Don't know the outcome of her interview, My ears were just tuning in and out to the 3 VOs' questions.

Thank You God. Nara Ekene, Riwo Otito Fada Fada!

Thanks to all the big guys helping us out here (So many). This is one true big family. Forget the squabbles, we doing great a great job here.
CC: Onyembu2013, Femi321, CuteMorgan, BigFrancis21, SirRiddy, DanjaNinja, Walspring, etc.

Kapitain:
Thanks to all the big guys helping us out here (So many). This is one true big family. Forget the squabbles, we doing great a great job here.
CC: Onyembu2013, Femi321, CuteMorgan, BigFrancis21, SirRiddy, DanjaNinja, Walspring, etc.

LagosismyHome:
Some of these boils down to personal choices...
1. Some sims dont work with our naija phones. Dont have d technical reason why this problem but i have heard of At&t sim not working but then u put lycramobile and it works. ..and vice versa
2. You can bring your old handset from naija...but if u need to buy a handset then paying small small in contract better than releasing that money one time in buying outright
3. Iphone or Android. ...no answer . This one na personal preference

In america to call and recieve no difference so u have to be aware of that. If u take a contract plan which states lets say 100 minutes then that applies to any calls in or out. Most contract will be unlimited minutes so that helps if u get that package ....contract package will work out cheaper than pay as u go.. ... lycramobile or At&T is popular these days as a cheap contract package but without phone. You can get AT&T monthly package of $25 or if u feel its too expensive u shop around. So all comes down to personal budget

If u homesick and need to call naija frequently. . Calling through rebtel is not bad. You can download on your phone and buy credit to call

Mekurexx:
Personally I think Simplemobile is the best $25 includes free international texting. Its also good to check the coverage map of any carrier/simcard plus the phone compatibility (if its a simcard and non-contract). Contract is a No-No. paying for the phone plus the plan!. I thought you were in the US

KimoraW:
Thanks man. Pls what do you know about phones from Nigeria not working properly in the US?

slimmy2005:
that's false. Even blackberry works here. You would only have little issues with phones like techno, infinix and co. In as much as the phone is unlocked.

KimoraW:
Ok. Thanks Slimmy. because I wanted to get a phone here and was advised to wait cos internet might not work well when I get there.

cutemorgan:
Alhamdulillahi Rabb ‘l’ A’lameen for safe flight and journey mercies.

Got to MMIA at about 1pm for my 2:30pm flight. Proceeded for immigration checks and that took less than 10 mins. Then the passport and online booking verification before I proceeded to the counter to get my plane ticket and bag claim. Both bags weighed about 47.5kg (46kg is the limit) but the fine Aunty at the counter told me not to worry about it. She checked my booking and said; I can see you checked in online. I told her it’s actually my first time, that I just felt I should try it out ni. Then she told me that was a very nice thing to do. Collected by ticket and luggage claim, bade my family farewell amidst plenty emotions and proceeded to the boarding area.
After all the checks and verification, I proceeded to the plane and the flight took off as scheduled. The inflight entertainment was very dope. We were served twice before we got to Doha. We got to Doha in Qatar around 12am (10pm Nigerian time). No hotel reservation for me, so I had to chill at the airport for my 8hrs lay over. There was free wifi, so I quickly got in touch with some of my ogas to update them.
Boarding started for the flight to Houston around 7am Qatar time. The flight took off around 8am after all checks. We were served thrice this time (na 16hrs flight sha). We were given the custom declaration forms on the plane, and I declared all my declarables eh. Plane landed in IAH around 4pm USA time.
Immediately I touched down at IAH, I sharply connected to the free wifi (make the wifi nor go dey waste). After then came the CBP screening. The queue wasn’t as long as I expected, spent less than 30 mins there.
I got there and handed him my passport and i20.
CBP: Oh, I see, you are a student (takes my finger print and photo)
Me; Yes sir
CBP: Is this your first time?
Me: Yes, it is
CBP: What are you travelling with/Do you have anything to declare?
Me: Passed him my custom declaration form.
CPBP: Went through the form, signs/stamps the form and my passport. Then he told me to have a nice semester.
I proceeded to claim my bags, took me about 30-45mins before I could get my bag (the thing just dey roll ni, it nor dey tire). Then I proceeded to food/luggage declaration area. A woman attended to me.
Her: Good afternoon
Me: Good afternoon ma
Her: Are you travelling with any food material?
Me: I am travelling with fried cassava (passed her my declaration form where I filled in my small garri, egusi, crayfish et al).
Her: Fried cassava?
Me: yes fried cassava. It’s called garri.
Her: You can go. Enjoy your stay in the US.
Me : Thank you maam
Went out through terminal D to meet one of my friends. I met him on my school webpage. He is a Nigerian but resides in Houston. Very nice guy (May God continue to bless him). He dropped me off at Oga Aadeyi’s place. Oga Aadeyi offered to pick me up at the airport oo, I just say make I nor too stress my boss ni (se I wan even enter two moto at once ni ). I got so comfy at Oga Aadeyi’s that I almost extended my stay in Houston. Chai, oga Aadeyi is too nice abeg. I really appreciate big time boss mi. May God continue to guide your path and protect your ways sir.
Oga Aadeyi dropped me off at Houston greyhound station where I took a bus to Louisiana around 1pm USA time. Got to BTR around 7pm.

texrem:
Nice one bro...welcome to obamaland...greatest lasuites