₦airaland Forum

Admitwithschola:
Yes, please PM. But it would have been nice to ask and answer questions here so that posterity can benefit.

Meanwhile, thanks for your comments. But you know, I've been into the game for many, many years, so that's expected. You too will be the same or better if you have same experience.

Legit215:
Thanks for all your responses all this is the school fault they weren't even prepared to have international students this fall that am sure of it was just this week my advisor told me all in person classes has been filled up that she's sorry. Then my DSO later replied my message I sent last week saying she has confirmed from the sevp rep for the school and I was advised not to travel at all if my courses were online.

PucciGuru:
Guys please I am doing my interview outside Nigeria and their embassy just opened meanwhile my school resumption of classes is 24th August, should I still book for an interview for next week because embassy has promised to give priority next week, do you think I should or defer?

kastgeraldino:
The lucky ones

fairheart:
I really hope they give you the visa, except you're in a EU country (even EU self no sure). Most Nigerians that applied for their F1s outside Nigeria, particularly from mid 2018 till early 2020 before the pandemic, got refused and were advised to go to Nigeria to apply. You can try and see how it goes. However, you can use the pandemic as a strong defense as to why you did not travel to Nigeria to apply for the visa, and especially because embassy in Nigeria is closed and your program is starting soon. I hope it turns out well. I'd love to hear about the interview. Do mention me and update.
Good luck.

Anybodie:
I know of a Nigerian that applied from Germany less than a month ago and was granted, he's now in the US

Admitwithschola:
Thanks for the mention. Glad you found the comments useful.

Yes, please send PMs, although my above comment about posterity would have been better

tizentos:
Hi guys,

Has anyone been able to schedule/get an appointment using the expedited/emergency appointment option? I know its stated on their website but I'm not sure if anyone has been interviewed via that option since the pandemic started. I plan to renew my visa in December and considering if emergency appointment is possible in Nigeria. Thanks

Friedpotato:
Yes yes yes we know the advantages of studying in the US that is why we are here in the first place.

Personally from my experience. I would say don't give up. Take the SAT first. The person that advises you above, advised you according to his experience. Not to contradict all the truth he said but i've seen
a different experience. I know people that had nothing but got full ride. One got into Minerva with 70k+/year scholarship and Minerva called the US embassy to put him on the opportunity funds program after the deadline of application has passed. One got full ride to Franklin and Marshall, another to Rochester, another to Fisk.

Anything can happen, Just take the SAT first. If you get a full ride, good. If you don't get, then you'd continue here.

LagosismyHome:
Since the pandemic the US visa services has been closed in Nigeria not to talk of expedited services. We all still waiting to hear when they will resume services

fairheart:
You have been enveloped by your dream, but tip the flap and try to look outside so you can see your realities.
Having a dream is not really hard, paying the price is. In my 20s, I learnt that if you want to help anyone who want to pursue their dreams, ask them what they have committed first. You know, what have they done for themself towards this dream? I can support one way or the other, but how far have you gone in supporting yourself to achieve this dream?
Let me guess you're from the grassroots. Life is very, very hard for youths who have beautiful dreams from this social class. But you have to look at the realities, so that you will be guided and not miss out.

Now, read this carefully. Getting admissions in the US entails many things: morale, consistent finance, academic soundness, focus to finish what you start. The financial aspect is the reality I want you step out of your dream to assess. As an undergraduate student, you have to apply to 2-3 schools at least, especially since you need full-ride scholarship and you don't have 100% assurance that if you apply to only one school, it will offer you that. Hence, 2-3 school is the best.

We'll use $/N400 for the calculation below.
Let us say each school application fee cost $40 X 3= $120 (N48, 000). SAT=N50, 000
Let us assume you manage resources and apply to schools that only ask for WAEC scratch card for admission. So, no WES or ECE.
Let us assume admission then came for fall 2021. SEVIS FEE = $350 (N140, 000); Visa fee =N70, 000
(God forbid that you're refused once, you will need another visa fee).
Let us say you need flight ticket in the fall, which would cost approximately N300K to 350K.
TOTAL: N608, 000

That's more than half of a million Naira. This is the reality I want you to partially remove the veil of your dream to see.
My dear, how do you plan to raise this money? How much can we give to support you from here? If you need moral and professional support, from the scratch to the end, I'm in for you. I will even try to support you with application fee, and get you people you can stay with in the States if your school is around them, for free. If someone here help you with 50K SAT fee, how will you get the 558K to run this race successfully?
If I were your mentor, these are the questions I'd ask you.

Now, sit down quietly and think. What can you do? How much can you raise? Who can you ask to help? Anybody in the family? If none, as that may be the reason you come here to ask for support, please focus on studying in Nigeria.

Nigeria is a wicked country and its entire system has been made hostile and shaped by difficult hands against children of the poor at the grassroots. It is what it is! But you have to fight for your dreams anyway. How you fight for this dream is now left for you to device...
You can study in the US, but it seems the best time for that is not now. Maybe Master's is ideal.
Got your request for DM. We will talk better.

fairheart:
Yes, it is possible. Remember I said "most."
I know students who were refused in the same Germany, Turkey, Russia and Dubai from this thread in 2018 and 2019.
The pandemic is really a good opportunity to get an F1 outside Nigeria. I hope Nigerian nationals with admission outside Nigeria take advantage of this opportunity.

Friedpotato:
Hello bro, I think the best place to go ask this question is on Quora. You'd see lot of real life explanations from hundreds of people that have gone through the process. You'd get better advice there that anyone you'd get on Nairaland.

TheNoble007:
As far as they have a valid residence permit, they are free to apply without coming back to Nigeria. Embassies can only refuse in the case of expired residency or visit visas...

Guruindahouse:
I have been reading your comments for soemtime, I must say you are doing a great job as well sir.

Kindly help me to shed more light to these questions... How long can it take generally to get a green card in case I finish my PHD in USA? And do you know how difficult it is to get the card as a Nigerian? BTW, I am planning to move to US with my family. i will apreciate your reply sir.

If you dont mind, I can send you a PM as well because of my confidential details.

Thank you sir!

fairheart:
DM will be better, and I will be able to answer your questions to the best of my understanding.

Admitwithschola:
If you give more details about yourself, you could get sharp answers that will address your questions. Are you a man (>35 and especially >40) or you're a guy (<35)? What's your educational record and work experience like? Are you an academic in Naija? Which field are you into? And which field do you hope to do this PhD? Do you have research experience? Papers in decent places? Finally, do you have profs who are willing to write you the type of letter that I just finished writing for a student? . A letter that will make oyinbo beg you to come their country?

To your question, green card is doable. But one thing though - provided the government does not change status quo that much and if you;re self-petitioning, you would need a decent job with decent pay and a good research record. This is just one way. There are several ways/categories, and it's a good idea to do some google searches. it's all on the internet.

To summarize, it's relatively easier (not easy though) to get the green card via one of the categories if one i) has an advanced degree ii) has a nice job iii) has research papers (sometimes with citations) and iv) has the grace of God. In fact, people get US green card from outside the US. There is a colleague in South Africa who will be applying and getting the US green card there in SA. This person seeks the green card so they can enter and leave for life. Academic jobs in SA are very lucrative, at least at the professor cadre level, so this person does not plan to "ja komot" from SA, but they are open to opportunities nonetheless.

I hope this helps you. Meanwhile, if an academic institution hires you as assistant professor after your PhD, then you will get a green card. This is because many of them initiate the process of your green card application immediately you join them. In most cases, you join them with an H1b, which they obtained for you (no cap for academic people for H1B), and then they file green card for you once you are hired. The sad thing is just that academic jobs are hard to get in the US, but it becomes easier either if you i) attended a strong program or ii) do a path-breaking research which your advisor does a good job "shouting" about.

All the bestest, Sir.

fairheart:
Don't say what you don't know, or yet to experience. Those who were refused had everything. Your saying embassies can only refuse in the case of expired residency or visit visas shows you don't know how it works, and what has been happening. Read thread 14 to see people's personal experiences on the issue.

LagosismyHome:
If you have a valid staying / legal visa in another country , you can apply and don't need to come back to Nigeria. It a bit odd to hear a VO will tell someone with a valid staying legal visa to go back to Nigeria........ it is perfectly fine so I think what TheNoble007 means is they say go and apply from Nigeria only if its expired visa or visiting visa
Whether they give you the visa is another story. Non US Citizens all over the world get rejected

Guruindahouse:
To be candid, Google took me to Quora when I googled the question yesterday.

I believe that background/origin is one of the biggest factors in this kind of issue because the way Nigerian applications will be treated is gonna different from that of Europeans or some Asians. I just want to hear from Nigerian(s) or someone that know Nigerian(s) that has passed through the process in the past or going throught it presently.

fairheart:
Wait, are you still in Nigeria?

Legit215:
Yes am still in Nigeria, all this is just aching from applying to school to covid 19 to finding how to fly out of Nigeria to finding out online student can come in...smh

blueboy27:
I can do $1 to #410. PM me!

fairheart:
Don't say what you don't know, or yet to experience. Those who were refused had everything. Your saying [b]embassies can only refuse in the case of expired residency or visit visas shows you don't know how it works, and what has been happening. Read thread 14 to see people's personal experiences on the issue.

fairheart:
A Nigerian friend who has Germany residency applied about a month ago. He was granted F1 Visa from Germany. He resumed at ULL on 6th August precisely for his PhD.



I really hope they give you the visa, except you're in a EU country (even EU self no sure). Most Nigerians that applied for their F1s outside Nigeria, particularly from mid 2018 till early 2020 before the pandemic, got refused and were advised to go to Nigeria to apply. You can try and see how it goes. However, you can use the pandemic as a strong defense as to why you did not travel to Nigeria to apply for the visa, and especially because embassy in Nigeria is closed and your program is starting soon. I hope it turns out well. I'd love to hear about the interview. Do mention me and update.
Good luck.

fairheart:
I understand him perfectly. In fact, the Nigerians who got refused in Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Belarus, Dubai had valid stay. I remember someone in Dubai on this thread last year. It is not about valid stay or visa; it is about applying from your home country, where the embassy believe you have home ties.
For the cases mentioned above, the students were outrightly told to go to Nigeria to apply (despite having a stay in those countries), then they refuse them. However, there were cases of students who got approved. But they refused more, especially from mid 2018...