Btk19:

Hello,

Have you been able to get another hospital in New Jersey please?

springmystique:
Thank you Mamaroon, you are probably right on the numbers and probability game

MLMum:
Hi Everyone, I would like to share my experience at the US embassy today.

Brief history, I applied for a B2 Visa in 2016,declared my intention to give birth and I was granted. Had my baby in 2016,got pregnant again and had my second baby the following year. I used Oakbend hospital and Dr E. And I paid all my bills, 7500 for the first and 8500 for the second, all inclusive.

Fast forward to Nov 2018,i applied for Dropbox for a vacation and was asked to schedule a follow-up interview under 221g. Interview was today please find the transcript below.

VO :Good morning
Me: Good morning
VO : Why are you traveling to the US?
Me: I'm going for a vacation
VO : You had a baby in 2016 and 2017,can I see your bills
Me: Handed over my bills, receipts and zero balance letter
VO: How much did you pay in total
Me: 7500 USD for the first baby and 8500 for the 2nd
VO: How much did you pay the Dr,
Me: 2300 USD
VO: I'm sorry, the average amount to have a baby in Texas is 18,000 USD
Me: The hospital has a package for self - pay cash patients, that's why I was given a discount.
VO: No, it's 18,000 USD
Me: But I paid what I was billed, *I brought the Oakbend package letter so she can see their bills *
VO: I have seen that a thousand times, your Visa is not granted. Gave me the blue paper and my passport.

It was really sad because I paid what I was billed, and the hospital wrote that I didn't use any insurance or medic aid.

My question
Is Oakbend running a fraudulent package? Because I don't understand why the VO is not recognizing their bills and receipt as legitimate, heck if I was billed 18,000 I would pay it. I don't understand why we should suffer for a hospital's shaddy business, because that's what I can deduct from this. I was very confident going for the interview, refuse me for another reason but not on the basis of not paying, because I paid all that I was billed.

My advise now, don't ask for self pay patient discount anymore, just pay what a citizen would pay.

In my opinion, those hospitals are the ones that should be scrutinized and not the innocent patients that pay what the hospital bills them.

Any advise on the next step I can take?

MLMum:


It was really sad because I paid what I was billed, and the hospital wrote that I didn't use any insurance or medic aid.

My question
Is Oakbend running a fraudulent package? Because I don't understand why the VO is not recognizing their bills and receipt as legitimate, heck if I was billed 18,000 I would pay it. I don't understand why we should suffer for a hospital's shaddy business, because that's what I can deduct from this. I was very confident going for the interview, refuse me for another reason but not on the basis of not paying, because I paid all that I was billed.

My advise now, don't ask for self pay patient discount anymore, just pay what a citizen would pay.

In my opinion, those hospitals are the ones that should be scrutinized and not the innocent patients that pay what the hospital bills them.

Any advise on the next step I can take?

teehey:
Good day house, please I need to send some document to consulate US Embassy. Is this the correct email address: support-nigeria@ustraveldocs.com

ozycy:

You can try and see if you will be able to get shared ride cos I believe the distance will be too far and will cost so much.

Grubsk:

VO: there have been a lot of medical insurance fraud in the US and we are trying to manage it the little way we can; most hospitals give you a lower cost for child birth and afterward they go back to claim it from insurance and we are trying to reduce it by making sure you are going to the right hospital; please can you show me your correspondence between you and the hospital?

VO: oh okay; I can see that you have been offered $8k for CS and the cost of childbirth in New Jersey is approximately $16k which means they will later go and claim the balance on your behalf.

ME: oh is that what they do? Wow that not good. If I was given a higher price I could have plan for it and if it’s something we can afford definitely we will go for it, we can afford it, it’s something I can actually afford on my own if that was the cost they gave me.

VO: okay can you please give me a minute let me talk to my supervisors?

ME: Sure not a problem

( aunty mute the microphone spoke to the people behind and I could literally hear their conversation)

VO: please can you do something for me?

ME: sure what is it?

VO: can you look for another hospital in New Jersey that can give you the right bill, I understand you have family in New Jersey but they are other cheaper states where you can have you baby
(And she looks back, talking to her supervisors “do I need to take her passport? “ Oga said “no we are not revoking her visa so we don’t need her passport”
And she turns back to me after bringing out a white paper )
Can you send in your correspondence with the new hospital and attached your bank statement and send it to this Dhl address, since we are not revoking your visa I don’t think we need your passport.

NothingDoMe:
I hope Gru.bsk's encounter is not an individual VO thing and I hope it will cut accross board to those who had "smaller" bills before now.

I just read the transcript of ML.MUM. I decided to check oakbend and saw their prices online so it's not hidden. The VO also confirms that she's seen the bill about a thousand times.

So if the Embassy can easily get those documents online, is that not enough evidence to prosecute oakbend for medicaid fraud since they are convinced that such discounted bills are a fraud?

If it is not enough evidence to prosecute Oakbend then why is it enough to refuse a Visa?

Lets take it down a notch. You've seen the bills a thousand times but have you ever launched an inquiry into oakbend's medical practices? At least this would put them in the clear or expose the fraud once and for all except there's a bigger picture I cannot see.

Ejiroogidi:
Good day all,I sent my passport in for renewal of my visa in December,passport was sent back with a 221g paper.
I tried to schedule a follow up appointment and got a date this same January.
On the 221g form,I was asked to bring my bills for child birth.

I replied and told him,child birth.
He asked to see evidence of payments.
I started giving the receipts one after the other and explaining the receipts to him.
He then told me that the average cost of birth in Texas is $33,000 and my hospital bill is showing way below that.
He said taxpayers get to bear the burden of this underpayment and the government.
I then showed him the mail I sent Dr X when I took in and and the bills I was sent from both Dr X and HNWMC. I told him I paid what I was asked to pay and even have receipts for as little as passport photograph I took for the baby at the passport office. He smiled and continued typing.
He asked what other countries I have been too and I told him,Canada,Uk,Spain,France,Germany,South Africa,UAE,Belgium etc.

Dlordschild:
hi All,

I binge read this blog and topic and i gained a lot so thanks to all those who drop their experiences here. Accordingly let me give back with the hope that the new question i have can be answered.

** Long Post Alert*

i applied for visa (using a highly recommended agent) yes o i used agent, not because am lazy but because my work is so tight and i didn't want to make any mistakes. Moreover i didn't have enough time to waste as my pregnancy is far advanced so i needed a close interview date. i applied for me, my 2year old son and my mom (to help out in the US)

we all had separate interview dates (an error but it worked for our good). All in Lagos

First Transcript - Me (applied for B2 Visa) no need to lie, belle don dey show already.

interview lasted less than 5mins. happened early Jan so no queue at all

Questions asked included
- Why are you travelling to the US - Child birth / vacation
-Where do you work & what is your job title / how long have you worked there
- Where does hubby work
-Asked to see budget sheet - i made that substantial and way over the quotes i got
- Asked to see Doc correspondences
-Asked to see Bank statement , proof of fund
- Who are you staying with - will make my own accommodation arrangement (used intown suites for the interview)

next thing, madam your visa has been approved, blablabla... white paper, ensure you don't use any medical aid or unexplained discount
me: thank you ma

Second Transcript - Mum - mid Jan so long queue at the embassy but short interview as well
VO: Why are you travelling
Mum: to help my DD who is going to give birth
VO: does she have a visa,
Mum: yes - shows her my visa
VO: have you traveled before
Mum: Yes, Germany
VO: How many children do you have
Mum: Bleep
VO: Your visa has been approved, blablabla... white paper,

Final Transcript - SON
VO just asked if i had a visa, if i had traveled before outside Nig and how long am staying.

though one over zealous guy before the main visa section (those guys that check your appointment and affix something on your passport) flexed muscle for me. saying he wont clear me to go in because of his silly Ego. Nigerians Sha SMH but its all good.

what i learnt
1. be Honest- this interview guys are smart. if your story is not straight they will see through it
2. be composed
3.be prepared
4. Then leave the rest to God

On Hospital search, if you no get time, use agent (dont be stingy lol, shebi you wan go spend million in America then verify what they got for you. or read Nairaland and google the rest. its best to search for an OBGYN in your desired area first then they can tell you the hospital they use or even share the hospital rates with you

Now my question - abeg make una help me
For the visa interview i used Virginia and said i didn't know anyone on my form - now i have an offer of accommodation in Dallas Texas (family friend). however total medical bill for Virginia (CS) is lower than that of Texas. Bill from Virginia was gotten via agent, the one for Texas i got by myself

Do you advice i go with the original plan which is Virginia / Henrico hosp or should i go to Texas. will i have issues at POE if i change locations?

Mamas that have used henrico please advice if the bill is truly affordable with no hidden charges??

Travel date is fast approaching (end feb) and i need to book a ticket.

Thank you!!

Dlordschild:
hi All,

what i learnt
1. be Honest- this interview guys are smart. if your story is not straight they will see through it
2. be composed
3.be prepared
4. Then leave the rest to God

On Hospital search, if you no get time, use agent (dont be stingy lol, shebi you wan go spend million in America then verify what they got for you. or read Nairaland and google the rest. its best to search for an OBGYN in your desired area first then they can tell you the hospital they use or even share the hospital rates with you

Now my question - abeg make una help me
For the visa interview i used Virginia and said i didn't know anyone on my form - now i have an offer of accommodation in Dallas Texas (family friend). however total medical bill for Virginia (CS) is lower than that of Texas. Bill from Virginia was gotten via agent, the one for Texas i got by myself

Do you advice i go with the original plan which is Virginia / Henrico hosp or should i go to Texas. will i have issues at POE if i change locations?

Mamas that have used henrico please advice if the bill is truly affordable with no hidden charges??

Travel date is fast approaching (end feb) and i need to book a ticket.

Thank you!!

flourishing247:


Please still follow the honest route. Go with your earlier plan don't let awoof accommodation put you into wahala. These guys are becoming something else @transit points and Poe. Prayerfully go about this one. Also you said no relation so let it be

flourishing247:


Please still follow the honest route. Go with your earlier plan don't let awoof accommodation put you into wahala. These guys are becoming something else @transit points and Poe. Prayerfully go about this one. Also you said no relation so let it be

Dembuk2009:
Can a woman who keeps loosing her pregnancy around 5months and feels she can get the best over there be granted visa?
Please what are the procedures?
Thank u

Msadesina:
Hi All

Please can someone assist with what to do concerning this issue. An invitation for 221g was received but the drop down to book interview is blank. We have used the provide feedback option but nothing has been heard from them till now.

Mumbuk731:
Good Day people,
I went for the 221G interview yesterday and the VO requested for all the bills i paid when i went to give birth in 2015.I had 15k plus from the hospital for myself and 2k plus for my son excluding other practice bills and i gave her all the bills i did not make any copy at all for myself and she gave me a another 221G paper stating administrative process.
My question is that will they return my bill back to me or i should wait for any other update before i send an email.


Please house i need information from any body that have experiencing this ie will i get my document back and also how long does it take for the adminstrating process.

thank you

Ejiroogidi:
Good day all,I sent my passport in for renewal of my visa in December,passport was sent back with a 221g paper.
I tried to schedule a follow up appointment and got a date this same January.
On the 221g form,I was asked to bring my bills for child birth.
The interview day came and we were 171 people for 8.05am appointment mainly 221g.
It got to my turn and the VO asked my purpose for traveling and I said holiday.
He looked at his computer and asked why how long I stayed in the us the last time and why I stayed for 2 months.
I replied and told him,child birth.
He asked to see evidence of payments.
I started giving the receipts one after the other and explaining the receipts to him.
He then told me that the average cost of birth in Texas is $33,000 and my hospital bill is showing way below that.
He said taxpayers get to bear the burden of this underpayment and the government.

I then showed him the mail I sent Dr X when I took in and and the bills I was sent from both Dr X and HNWMC. I told him I paid what I was asked to pay and even have receipts for as little as passport photograph I took for the baby at the passport office. He smiled and continued typing.
He asked what other countries I have been too and I told him,Canada,Uk,Spain,France,Germany,South Africa,UAE,Belgium etc.

dere5:

Call them or send them an email

fehinebony:


Congratulations on your visa approval ... it seems the male VOs are more considerate in matters relating to this.