gbadeolu1:


Good question. Here's the transcript of my first interview at Lagos consulate sometime in Nov., 2020.
I can only guess because I couldn't prove my current employment. And yes, I had this assistantship then.

VO: Good morning, I'll like you to place your right hand four fingers on the scanner.
Me: Good morning (placed my fingers)
VO: pass me your passport and i20 (I passed her everything)
VO: Where are you going?
Me: Missouri uni of sci and tech.
VO: for what purpose?
Me: for a doctorate program in Mechanical engr.
VO: Ok. How did you hear about this school?
Me: I read a publication by Prof XY and was fascinated by it, and I contacted him indicating my interest to join his research. After series of zoom meetings, he asked me to apply to the school for admission.
VO: Did you apply only to this school?
Me: No
VO: Which other schools did you apply to? (I called all the schools)
VO: Ok. But to what purpose do you need a PhD degree?
Me: I currently hold a faculty position in a Polytechnic and my goal is to become a Professor in my career. And for that, a PhD degree will be necessary.
VO: Ok. Are you married?
Me: Yes
VO: how many children?
Me: I have a child; a daughter.
VO: And your wife and child stay here in Nigeria?
Me: Yes
VO: (After a long typing moment) You have some funding, who is sponsoring the rest?
Me: My have full funding, my assistantship is xxxUSD and that's in excess of about 4,000usd to my overall expenses.
Vo: Ok.
VO: Where did you say you work?
Me: (Named my place of work)
VO: And you just have a master's
Me: Yes
VO: Can you show me a proof of your current employment?
Me: ermm... I don't have that here with me.
VO: You seem to have some more documents there, is there anything to prove your employment?
Me: No
VO: What are the other documents?
Me: My marriage cert., My daughter's birth cert and letter of offer of assistantship. (Let me have that, referring to the offer letter. She glanced through the two pages and returned it, looked again at my i20 and typed at length)
VO: Thank you for your interest in blah blah blah, I'm sorry you do not currently meet the requirements for an F1 visa. This paper will explain why, and she handed back my documents.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and congratulations once again

gbadeolu1:
Hello guys. Got my visa approved today at the Abuja consulate.
2nd time attempt. Again, first to be interviewed.

Here's my my transcript:

VO: Good morning (I replied)
VO: have you ever been to the US before?
Me: No. Not to the US.
VO: OK. How about any other country?
Me: Yes.
VO: Where?
Me: China. (He didn't hear, and I had to repeat that)
VO: for how long were you there?
Me: 2 years (he said oh, cool)
VO: what did you go for?
Me: I went there for my Master's program.
VO: Ok.
*The conversation above took place under the first one minute or so, even before taking my biometrics*

VO: ok, please place your fingers for capturing. (I did)
VO: pass me your passport and documents. (He perused my i20 and typed at length. At a point he nodded his head as though in agreement with something. That sent a relaxing feel across my mind. I was like, this man is getting convinced I'm worthy o. lol

VO: What's your highest qualification?
Me: Master's degree
VO: In what?
Me: Mechanical Engineering.
VO: what's your specific area in mechanical engineering during your MS?
Me: Electrochemical Corrosion (At this point, I was uneasy because my PhD research will not be exactly in this area any longer, and I will have to explain why it so. I wasn't really happy at this point. Thanks I have my nose mask on, cos my smile went away momentarily. lol)

VO: Ok, I see you have assistantship. How much of your tuition does it cover?
Me: My tuition is around 33k but my overall expenses is $52,741 and that's even below my assistantship. And I have about 4k in surplus.
VO: Yeah, that's right.
VO: Are you single or married?
Me: I'm married. (He briefly glanced at my ring finger, it was empty.
VO: So, will your family go with you to the US?
Me: No they won't. (He waited for more explanation) I continued to say, "but I plan to pay scheduled visit to Nigeria at least once in an academic session". A beautiful expression came on his face when he heard "scheduled visit" I really could perceive it. And he continued to type at length.

VO: What does your wife do?
Me: She's into sales of clothing materials, shoes and bags.
VO: Ok. He puts my newest passport in a box beside him leaving the old one behind at his front. At this moment, I knew it's a YES!
He handed me the white paper and said "It will take about a week before your visa will be ready and you will need that paper to claim it"
Me: Oh, ok.
VO: You can go.
Me: Wow. Thank you very much. God bless you.
VO: you're welcome.

I'm the happiest man today!!!

Congrat. Can you help us with the reason for your first denial.
Were you denied with this assistantship?
Thank you.

Congrat. Can you help us with the reason for your first denial.
Were you denied with this assistantship?
Thank you.