₦airaland Forum

Sweetberry462:
Amen and me too ijn �

Olatundewilson:
VISA APPROVED
First attempt
Location: Abuja
Date: Thursday 26th May 2022
Appointment time: 9am
Interview duration: About 3 mins
Program: MBA, Business administration and management
School: University of new haven, Boston Connecticut.

***Window 10 Bald white American
He looked me through the glass and beaconed on me to come. � He had just dished out the green paper to the lady before me.

Me… Good afternoon sir
VO: Hello, May I have your passport and i20?
Me.. Right here sir.
VO: place your hands for biometric

VO: Why are you going to this university?
Me: The university of new haven has a central focus on entrepreneurship, it offers every student the chance to choose one out of seven available concentration courses, four of these concentration courses are STEM certified by the federal government to instill technical expertise in every student, which employers are looking for in the labor market today.
VO: I can see you work with a farm or something..
Me: Yes. I work with PMICH farms Nigeria limited, we are premium suppliers of high quality agriculture products across Nigeria but the company will be extending supplies across Africa and I see this as an opportunity for me to acquire more knowledge in my field to land a managerial position in my work place.
VO: Oh! You will be coming back to work in this company?
Me: Yes sir. The company has given me a leave without pay for the duration of my studies stating that I will return to take a managerial position as soon as I’m done with my degree. I have a letter to that effect here with me. Will you like to see?
VO: oh no it’s okay. Who is sponsoring your studies ?
Me: My father
VO: And what does he do?
Me: He imports high tech media equipments for private media companies and also buys and sells landed properties and he’s also a politician.
VO: …types for some seconds, everything looks good. (Handed me the white paper)
And I honestly didn’t hear anything he said after that…
Me… Have a good day sir�

Honestly…. It can only be GOD’S GRACE. BE PRAYERFUL�� AND PLEASE BE WELL PREPARED.

Maximum thanks to everyone posting their transcripts here and for all the guidance. GOD BLESS ��

BunmiBie:
Profile

16 May, 2022
First attempt
F1& F2(wife and son)
Undergraduate: mechanical engineering
Work experience: 7 years as automobile engineer
Going for: masters in engineering
Funding-8500 (out of state Tuition waiver)
Deficit:44, 000k
Sponsor: Self
School: Texas tech university
Interview location: Abuja
Window 8

God used my baby for me as the guard gave nursing mothers chance to be interviewed first when he saw my wife breastfeeding him. So we were among the first set called in. I was the first to be interviewed by the white lady.
Please, go early and try to be interviewed first if possible. Our slot is 8:00am

After all the biometrics

VO: How old is your baby
Me: 14 months
VO: where do you work
Me: xyz auto garage ltd
VO: your company is at university of Ibadan? (she must have seen that on my ds160) I noticed she was checking my ds160 and I was actually very detailed when filling it. Please, fill your ds 160 form properly.

Me: Yes, in university of Ibadan
VO: nods head
VO: what are your job duties
Me: I am in charge of servicing of motor vehicle engines, ordering of vehicle parts from manufacturers and.... She cuts in

VO: what will this masters degree do for you
Me: (this was where I knew I goofed at first as everything I rehearsed flew away maybe because I was nervous). I will come back to Nigeria to establish my engineering consulting firm and take a better role at my place of work.
VO: Is it a thesis course
Me: No, it's a professional course for practicing engineers
VO: who will fund this deficit
Me: me, I already have savings that covers the two years from my real estate business. (she was still looking at my ds160 I guess. Because I added the real estate business under my job duties on the form). She cuts in but I can't remember what she said here.

She nodded and typed for long and like a magic... She kept our passports and gave us the almighty white paper. No document was checked even though I went with everything including my property documents.
F2 was not asked a single question after all the preparations.lol

Hint.. Avoid the Korean man at all cost. We were on the look out for him and
I prayed and I knew grace spoke for us.
Please if you believe in God fast and pray too, it worth it. Prepare like your life depends on it.
We took a step of faith by purchasing our travel bags before the interview day. I thank God for everything and everyone he used for us on this journey.

Thanks to
Moshkon, I was surprised to see him at our hotel to prep us. God bless you.
Thanks to Mahmoud, praise, Emillion..our mock sessions were great.
Thanks Mr Samuel, Mrs Deborah and every other persons that helped us
The appreciation is not complete without saying a big thank you to Nairaland USA student thread, we read chapter 15 & 16.
It was naija to Yankee thread that spurred this dream. Thanks to mackynaija

Brainner:
Abuja
Approved ✅
First Attempt
16/05/22
Phd Marine and Coastal Management
Texas A&M
COA- 41k
Funding- 53k
Window 10
White male
VO. Good morning
Me. Good morning sir
VO. Can I have your documents
After the biometrics
VO. Have you traveled out of the country before?
Me. Yes, I was in Kenya last Nov to attend a conference organised by the Commonwealth Association of Planners
VO. Are you married?
Me. Yes I'm married, got married Oct, 2015
VO. Do you have kids, how many?
Me. I have two kids
VO. typed for like a min
VO. asked a question I didn't really get, but I heard wife and kids
Me. We have a plan that they will be visiting me at some point or I'll come home during the holidays to spend time with them.
VO. What do you do now?
Me. I'm lecturing in a State Polytechnic...
VO. Cuts in, what's your plan after the program?
Me. I'll be returning to my position as a lecturer, but I have an ambition of becoming a university professor, so I'll be applying to universities upon my return and I believe my knowledge and the degree will give me a headway
VO. Nodded, typed for a while, dropped my passport by the side and reached for the white paper, passed it to me with the I-20 then the instructions followed...make sure you have your I-20 with you at POE blah blah
Me. Thank you sir

I need to point out that grace flows all through for me. I'm using this period to show gratitude to these persons:
Ebi1
walerush
Moshkom
Themaths
Captaintitan
walepepe21
Your updates at some points were very handy and helpful to me, I can confirm this forum is the best.
I wish all prospective interviewees the best, in all of these pls don't forget the place of prayers.

Ebi1:
Hi everyone. So my family and I just got our visas! I’m f1. Husband is F2 and child F2. I had a child in the U. S back in 2019. The lady who interviewed us was scary. Lol. African American. We wer praying for the white lady to interview us cus she was nice to others especially students… but yea we got the African American lady. She thrilled us! Lol first question- why University of Saint Thomas? I told her that’s where I got my master of liberal Arts degree from back in 2014 and the school does more than teaching, it focuses on morals and ethics and it’s a tight knit community cause it’s a small school that makes it easy to interact with lecturers … She then asked when last I visited the US… I said 2019. She said how long did I stay? I said 5 months. She said why did I stay for that long? I said cus I gave birth. She asked if I told the consulate officer that I was going to give birth? I said yes I was taken through secondary interrogation where I showed them my doctor’s invitation letter and receipt of hospital bill… I then had to back track and explained how I went for my sister’s graduation and during the visit I had to do a doctor’s routine checkup. Then the doctor told me he could help me through the pregnancy with ease as I had gestational diabetes that he wanted to control through diet…. So long story short, she said my visa was revoked when my husband applied for his visa while I was in the U. S then. I told her I wasn’t aware that it was revoked because I didn’t commit any offense. That The consular officer then thought I wasn’t going to come back and that I have no reason to overstay. Then she said ok. Do you know that it’s now illegal for foreigners to give birth in the U.S that hope I don’t plan on having kids during my program. My husband and I said no o that we have two for now and we are ok until after the program…. Then she asked Who will be sponsoring your program? I said my dad. Then she asked what he did. I told her… she then faced my husband and asked what he does… my husband said he has a restaurant… then I whispered to him to add Cotonou that our restaurant is in Cotonou… then he added it. Lol. She asked who will be running it when we travel… he said he has staffs that run the business. She said staff as in? He said he has staff and a brother that will be running it on his behalf. Then she typed and faced me again. What do I plan to do with the program… I said to add to my current business which is for African youths and that I plan to use my doctor of education program to create a training institute for young adults… plus she asked if I had any relatives in the US. I said yes two sisters. She asked if my two sisters are citizens. I said no they are non immigrants. She said what are they doing there. I said one is on H1B and the other is a student. oh I forgot to mention that she noticed I didn’t write my full name when asked for other names used… I thought I was meant to write any other name I’ve been called so I used my short name and maiden name instead of using my full name… anyways she was like she was going to correct it manually from her end…. So yea she gave us the Visa… we packed soooo many documents and she didn’t even care to look down at any… I even tried to show her some , she didn’t even look; she was just looking at the system…

Whogochuk:
Visa approved
First Attempt
Zero travel history
Lagos
12th April 2022 (Emergency Appointment)
COA: $84,300
Scholarship: $59,300
Mpower loan: $28,000
White Female VO at window 6

Transcript
VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning
VO: pass me your passport and I-20
VO: why this school and why are you going for MBA
Me: After the COVID 19 pandemic, there was a rush for risk management specialist as banks and other financial institutions try to upgrade their risk management framework. However, one requirement is that the applicant must have a Masters degree or MBA. Therefore I decided to research about MBA schools in the US and went for QS educational fairs.
VO: How are you funding your education
Me: I have a full tuition scholarship and then I took a loan from Mpower financing for the deficit.
VO: What is MPOWER
Me: It's an international organization that gives loans to international students with a maturity of 10years
VO: what's your current salary
Me: I earn over 400k monthly
VO: typing... I will be approving your visa. Bla bla bla
Me: thank you very much

This forum has been very helpful to me on this journey. Thank you all.

krcboy:
join the military you get pr eventually

DAramis:
Done my own personal research and also read few pages of this thread. It is safe to say, I can be able to start this journey.

Prospective Fall applicant.
May Funding fall upon us, just like the dews fall upon the earth in the morning, o Lord.

favch:
Thank you, I've checked mpower nd undergraduate can apply for a loan.

favch:
Good day house.

It seems like this thread is majorly for graduate students, just an observation thou


I need help and advice pls. I'm an undergraduate student

I got accepted into university of Colorado but I don't have funding, I've applied for need aid but I'm yet to get a reply from the school.

I'm thinking of cancelling the admission as my parents aren't Willing to fund my education

I'm also thinking of getting international student loan but I don't have a US consigner.
Is there also anyway I can get funding for my education?

Can anyone refer schools with full funding here pls.

Themaths:
You can DM me for a compiled list of GRE materials. Goodluck!

oluzdreamz:
Hi guys, I’ve been a silent participant on here, great job from everyone for all the insights, tips and ideas being shared at all times. So I got this offer from Ball State University. A 50% tuition remission and GAship which makes my tuition instate...the stipend makes a lot of sense though, I wish I had a full tuition waiver though, what do you think bout it?

Iamhighbee70777:
Lol grace is not by religion or nationality…you have to go through transcripts on here and you see that interviews at times can be beyond criteria just being met, for instance the below

I want to wish everyone of us a successful outing at any embassy. It's not easy but with luck and favour from our creator, we will pull through. Thanks to everyone that has contributed in one way or the other.

Here is my transcript.

First attempt
Location: Abuja
COA: $37,248
Funding: $35,052
Deficit: $2200

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning.

VO: let's start with you biometrics.
Me: okay. I placed my fingers and all were captured.

VO: Thank you
VO: So you are going to Tennessee technological university for you masters program in chemistry right?
Me: Yes

VO: What do you intend to do after the program
Me: I intend to return back to Nigeria(VO cuts on)

VO: please speak up.
Me: now in louder voice - I intend to come back to Nigeria (VO cuts in)

VO: congratulations, I will be approving your visa, take this white paper to guide you in collection process, congratulations to you
Me: Thank you.


Even though I believed that my DS-160 was well detailed,I still need no one to tell me that I was lucky today.

OlamideTosyn:
Sent. The drive contains volumnuos prep materials and apps essential for other standardized tests too.

OlamideTosyn:
Have you gotten? If no, what's your email, so I can send the few samples I have?

Zeeefold:
Transcript
1st Attempt
Abuja 14-03-2022
COA: $71,850
Funding: $30,000
Deficit: 41,850
Status: Approved

VO: You are going for an LL.M at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
ME: That's correct

VO: What is your concentration?
ME: Regulation, Sustainability and Compliance Law

VO: Where do you work?
ME: I work at ***** as a Company Secretary. We offer compliance and Legal services to different client companies.

VO: What are you going to do upon your return?
ME: I am going to continue at my present place of work and thereafter apply for better opportunities in any of the big four accounting firms in Nigeria. I would also like to open my own compliance and legal firm in the nearest future.

VO: Who is your sponsor?
ME: My uncle ***** he has been my guardian since i was 3. He owns an electrical cable and wire manufacturing company that has been in existence for the past 44 years and has over 50 staffs in his employment. He also owns a LPG distribution company.

VO: Makes a move to give me the white paper. Your start date is August 1st?
ME: Yes, but my school has notified me of an introductory course commencing in July.

VO: But your start date is August 1st.
ME: Yes

VO: I cannot issue your visa now as it is more than 120 days to your start date. (Gives me the yellow slip) Bring this along with your passport and I-20 any date from 1st of April. You don't have to come in person, you can send it through DHL.
ME: Alright, Thank You.

Thanks to God for his kindness and grace
All these happened in less than 2 minutes.

Tips
1. Fill your DS160 yourself, be as detailed as possible
2. Get your story straight, if your story doesn't sound believable to you, you won't be able to convince the VO.
3. Watch you-tube videos from ARGO VISA, this really helped a lot.
4. Lastly, PRAY.

Cheekybae:
Congratulations!!!! Please how/when were you able to get an appointment date?

Tamad101:
Visa Transcript
My profile:
Second master’s degree
Location: Abuja
COA: $36,500
Scholarship: $8,000
Status: Approved!!! (Window 9)

1st Attempt – Lagos, (December 1- surge date) MTSU
2nd Attempt - Abuja (9th March) MTSU.

After my first delay, I was disappointed and this is because I’ve been to the US couple of times and had two kids in between in the US. However, the Lagos VO wasn’t even interested in my I20 but more about my kids and my sister who was supposed to be in the US at the time but was in Nigeria trying to renew her F1 visa.

Anyway to the transcript proper, (questions in no particular order)

VO: Have you been to the US before? I see you are going to MTSU
Me: yes
VO: how many times and what did you go for?
Me: thrice, holiday with family and other times to have my babies
VO: So you have 2 America Citizens? Any other children
Me: yes, 2 citizens and no other child
VO: I see you are going to MTSU. What course and why?
VO: IT project management. I choose the course because while I was considering a career change and looking for a degree to empower my transition and offer me new and better opportunities, it came top on the list.
VO: Tell your study plan?
Me: for the successful completion of my course, I’m required to complete 30 credit semester with 2 years. I’ll be taking courses like IT project risk & recovery, IT planning & implementation, IT project strategies for success, applied business analytics, big data analytics amongst others (she was nodding and actively listening).
VO: why did you pick MTSU?
Me: I picked MTSU over my other admits because my graduate coordinator assured I could cope despite not having an IT background and most especially because I got 23% off my COA.
VO: How did you get it (scholarship)?
Me: well my school has merit scholarship for international students which is dependent on your GPA evaluation. In my case, I had 3.64/4.0 hence why I got it.
VO: Where did you do your bachelors and course?
Me: I graduated from xxxx University here in Nigeria and studied Tourism management.
VO: So what did you do in the UK?
Me: Well I had a master’s degree there in 2013 and I have since returned back to Nigeria.
VO: (still nodding) So you don’t intend to work in US?
Me: Not at all.
VO: So where do you work?
Me: I work at a federal government instruction and I intend to transfer from there to Galaxy Backbone Limited to take up the role of an IT project manager upon return to Nigeria.
VO: So this will be your second master’s degree.
Me: Yes, it will.
VO: Are you married?
Me: yes, I am married
VO: Will your husband and be going with you?
Me: No he won’t.
VO: I see you have a sister in the US, where does she live and school.
Me: She schools at Campbellsville University. (she interrupted, what location is that?) I replied oh it’s in Kentucky.
VO: Oh I see you had an interview in Lagos.
Me: I had an interview but I couldn’t get my visa so I deferred from spring 2022 to fall 2022.
VO: Ok ….. (she typed and typed, erased somethings too).
VO: I’ll be recommending you for the visa, take this white paper, it will tell you how to pick up at the VI location. Also kindly go with your I20, you’ll be needing it at the POE as its very important.
Me: thank you, thank you, thank you very much (with smiles).
VO: Its ok….(she smiled).

Things to note……
1. Oh my God, I prayed ehen because I was disappointed in Lagos as it was also my birth month and I got such a news on the first day of the month.
2. I immediately paid another visa fee same day but didn’t check for a date until January 2022.
3. I initially picked April 7 only to get a mail from the embassy that my appointment had been moved from April 7 to March 9. I got the notice 5 days prior to my interview date.
4. In answering why I was refused a visa in my DS160, I explained my ties back home as the reason why I can’t be going for long (I figured she was reading through them).
5. No documents was requested.

Zeeefold:
Visa approved
Transcript coming soon
Thanks be to God

FVA89:
I will drop this same message around june this year by God's grace. congratulations

Themaths:
He was told offer letter for funding will be disbursed this month, so we are waiting.

Pekun210:
Who got offer from university of Georgia here please

Themaths:
I have a friend who got admitted to UGA, Electronics and computer engineering, MSc, but no funding.

degxyflexy:
I got admission from University of Alabama yesterday.

Osof:
Congratulations. Is this for fall or summer. What Location?