₦airaland Forum

My sister used it about 2wks ago and paid back 199.5. The extra charge was for withdrawing cash.
Infact it was her boss (she's a banker) who advised her to increase the limit to the max of 20k cos of this dollar issue.

Enyinne:
Credit card charges at black market rate .as I used it to pay my bill at WHMC last year @d rate of 220 per dollar when d official rate was 199 per dollar
.i hv diamond bank credit card .so beware

Quote author=shelly23 post=43014454]For the people rich enough to qualify for credit cards, pls go and apply. That's another way to get official rate.
I'm travelling in 2wks and my sister has given me Hers to use. SHe'll be paying back at 199.5 even when I collect cash, the extra charges won't be anything like 370.

For the people rich enough to qualify for credit cards, pls go and apply. That's another way to get official rate.
I'm travelling in 2wks and my sister has given me Hers to use. SHe'll be paying back at 199.5 even when I collect cash, the extra charges won't be anything like 370.

Just tell the person No abeg

jacksparow:
Well will search for the thread where it was discussed. Am not doing it. Just asking to know cause someone asked and I don't know a single thing about it. That's part of y we are here. Thanks though.

Don't do it! Besides being illegal, you're also exposing your child unnecessarily cos this person can use your child's SSN to apply for credit cards, etc and run up debt and destroy his/her credit rating.

jacksparow:
Hello House.

So someone asked me about filing tax returns with an infant's SSN.The pros and cons. anyone who understands this very well should kindly educate me.( esp someone that has actually done it) Highly appreciated.

tried to do it some yrs back in Houston and it was just looong!

They couldn't tell me directly how much I was getting back and they were going to send the refund as a check like 2wks later.

From what I observed, it was a private company doing it (not the govt) and they were also going to take a commission.

This was at Katy Mills mall, not sure if thEy're still there, it was one of those stalls in the aisle (close to the movie theater). There's also one at the Galleria close to the Neiman Marcus shoe dept exit. They were closed when I went (it was a Sunday), but I really Just wanted to know if it was the same company as Katy Mills.

The sales lady at Neiman Marcus Just advised to go up to their customer service and show my passport for an international customer voucher (or something like that) for 15% off which I did. They asked for my ticket to confirm that I was really a visitor and I Just showed them on my phone. Macy's has something similar and I think it's better than the stress of refund.

anonymousmum:
hello all,

can someone please give us a comprehensive expose on the tax refund for the US?

I know people have given bits and pieces of info but I have not seen anything that details the steps (I stand corrected though). Checked online but it's not very clear..

For example,
What states have this refund that have been tried and tested?
What tax exactly are we claiming the refund on? i.e the sales tax? the city tax ? other tax? etc
On what items can you claim the refund (for example in the UK u cant claim VAT refund on children's clothing)
Can you claim on items bought online? Within the US?
General process?
What to do when you get to the airport, do you go to Customs?
Do they pay cash?
Other details? Is the whole thing worth the wahala?

Do a google search of the daycares closest to your US address and check the reviews/ratings of the ones that come up. Once you've narrowed down, call the schools and schedule a visit and go with your child, make your final decision based on her reaction.
Hope you have her immunisation records with you cos they'll ask for it.
Where is Florida are you guys? I'm heading back to Orlando in a few weeks.

jacksparow:
Thanks.....noted though. She's 11 months. I just felt since she' with her Mom in Florida and DW is due in March, if i can put her in an American Preschool before their return cause the LO is over hyper.

How about a one way from Paris instead for her? It'll be pricey but definitely more convenient than saddling a stranger with the burden of carrying your child all the way to Lagos.

Stylishmum:
Hubby coming to get us is not part of my option, as his work wouldn't allow him, meanwhile his visa has expired. I forgot to state that Mum would be travelling with me from Houston to Paris leg, but she would be going to Manchester and not Lagos, and the ticket she has is non-reroutable.Another expensive option is to get her a ticket to Lagos and one way to Manchester.

As per luggage I dnt need to attach baby's luggage to a potential traveller on Jan 29. Hubby had gone with most of my luggages....I only have 2bags travelling with me (my two kids things inclusive).

All the options I am getting are rather expensive.
Is there anyone traveling on this date in the house or you know someone?

Pls!!!!

This feeling of entitlement again!

This rant was highly unnecessary, but whatever makes you sleep well at night.

Hope you feel better now that you've gottEn the anger/irritation/lamentation out of your system.

ifyalways:
I see this phrase is a sort of mantra here, lol. I actually noticed after my first post here and I want to address it.

I see it as a deadbeat excuse being thrown around here for reasons best known to some of yous here,IMO. I had to go back to read a few pages of the NIN visa thread and I don't see the VO using that same dead line on folks asking questions that might appear silly, ignorant or outrightly over flogged but trust Nigerians to use it cos they've been privileged to get hold of some information they think is gold.

Is it not absolutely ridiculous to expect anyone to read through over 300 pages just to get information. What exactly was the purpose of this thread? For throwing banters, avenue for Mgbekes to feel funky or what? Lol

So I checked on the first page, there's no list of basic " requirements and directions" as to actually guide a first time mom or poster here yet y'all keep singing " it's already discussed bla bla".

Thanks to the kind lady that sent me the PM. Much appreciated. I will try and get the basic steps together and forward to Justwise to add to his opening post on first stage. That will save a lot of sane folks from the Yeye wey dey smell here.

Oshisco.

They're great o! Young lady has settled well, her big bro has resumed school, nanny is back from holiday and I can now enjoy my leavee in peace

nefertitiram:
Area!!! I hail oh! How are you angels doing?

I gave mine (plus used clothes sef) to the junior staff in my office who Have infants and the way they thanked and prayed for me ehn!!!

firsttymum:
I'm just waiting for my mum to finish omugwo... D way I will dash these things out en... The diapers are just takin space... And they buy in large quantities.. I'm grateful... God knows I am..mayb dey were Given to me to help others

No worries!

dyout:
Shelly23 thank u very much.

i have been on ur page for somedays now, trying to get details of processing naija visa. Anyway, i felt they might delay my order, i had to use Tanko. Becos i have limited time left.

How now? My 'area' person

nefertitiram:
Happy Sunday mama!

Even searching on google will bring you to what you r searching for on NL. I just taya

Just wait and see, ppl will still come and tell you they've read the FAQs and then ask the same questions!
I'm all for ignoring such questions but sometimes, ppl act entitled on this site when they start spamming and gettiNg upset over some of the replies they get.
Just treat nairaland like google and make use of the search button.

bbaby84:
Fantastic suggestion. I also suggest that people should ignore instead of being rude or taking the Mick at someone else's expense.
I have to agree that the questions come a tad annoying especially when theystart off by saying they've read the whole thread from part 1-3 and didn't find an info that has been flogged over and over again.
@neks31 you make sense.

Let's be a little kinder (ignoring an annoying post is kindness in my book as opposed to being sarcastic)

New members please try and make use of the search button and try and read up as much as possible it's worth it.

Florida is not cheap (Orlando sha), even if you find 5-6k range, it's usually not all inclusive.

ucystan:
Pls does anybody know of any low price hospital in Chicago Illinois or Florida. Hmm... if I can't find any under 5-6k in these places that's to say my American Baby dreams is in shambles. Pls helppppp...

Just seeing this. Your best bet is to pay with money order cos the card thing is loooong (you Have to register the card with them by submitting all sorts).
When you get to the payment section, select money order and you'll see more options.

dyout:
firsttymum, shelly,Nef, Shawbabe, Modath, Phema…...

Master Tevas. Please i need una help. Any other person can also assist

Ignorance is not a good defence for sin, so just because you didn't know about this thread before you got your visa doesn't make it excusable to go and lie at the embassy, regardless of who advised you. Whatever happeNed to just being honest and trusting God for a favorable outcome?

There are tons of other Nigerians who know nothing about this thread and still went to the embassy and gave honest information.

And we keep screaming about corruption! All join in my own book sha, may God help us all.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud! I can only imagine what was going through your mom's mind.
I'm the one who shared the story about my baby. She's 9mths now and doing great with her hearing aids. It's been a long, emotional, expensive and trying experience, but I can only continue thanking God for the American opportunity. My husband took my son to our hospital in Lagos and bumped into my doctor. After telling him about our situation, this man told him that the white people just wanted to collect our money that there's no way they can detect hearing loss at that age. More reason to keep thanking God!
Anyways, please to all the preggie moms, include the $350 for hearing test to your budget, it is not a waste.
A parent whose son is completely deaf and will need cochlear implants as reached out to me recently, so it's not as uncommon as we might think. I hope he'll share his own experience soon enough.

Nogen:
This hearing test of a thing sef. When my babies were still in the NICU, a nurse kept telling me about an important test the babies would go through before they got discharged. I kept wondering which test that could be and if it was part of NICU bills, an already paid one or a separate bill.

They never mentioned hearing until I asked for the name and how much it was? They have already wheeled their equipment into the room. I asked them not to please proceed until I was sure of the package. The nurse said 350 dollars per child and I asked if it was compulsory. The response was no. I quickly declined the test , that they would be carried out when we returned to Nigeria.

In all honesty, I would have loved to have the test carried out but when I did the maths, I couldn't just pay that money. When the babies finally got home, I started carrying out my own hearing test on all of them. I kept remembering the case of a Nairlander whose baby failed the test at the hospital and began treatment immediately. That pushed me in conducting my own hearing test. I would make loud noise in the room and watched if the babies would get startled.

My mum was wondering why I wouldnt let the babies have a good sleep. Whenever, I remember my antics, I laugh. God help us make good decisions in life.

Much cheaper at Walmart or on amazon. It's called a nursing shield or something.

Or just drape the blanket they give you across your chest.

olokings:
Hellos firsty. ..
Goto babies r us and search for breastfeeding shawl. ...or Google it. ....I may need to ask DW d name. ..I know I searched for it when there was need four her to breastfeed in public plus d oyinbo iyanga. ..
It's a fitting cloth of diff designs which allows you to breastfeeding on the go comfortably even in public without bothering yourself or anyone. ...
Bear regards

For those of you looking to save some money on the naija visa, If you read/follow all the instructions on the website you can actually do the visa yourself, pretty straightforward.

I did mine and got it back in 2 or 3 days. TVegas also did a post on his Naija visa experience.

MumTee:
@Ozycy, did u apply for the visa directly or used an agent? If agent; which of them did u use as I learnt Tanko and Eddy don't charge d same fee. Biko dollar ain't smilling o.

I usually don't swipe at Walmart or Sam's, instEad I insert the card in the slot at the bottom of the machine and it always works.

My Zenith card never disappoints, their rate is just really high at N230+

LI:
Have they changed it back to $300. It used to be $1k.

My card declined at Walmart and Sam's Club. Must be something to do with their machine

I agree. I did the visa myself and paid $180 to Innovate, $30 to the embassy and $40 for 2 priority express envelopes (1 to send to the embassy and 1 for them to send back). We've used the visa twice now and i'm Not in a hurry to get a naija passport.

ozycy:
Even though ETC seems cheaper (depending) , I still went for Naija visa, I felt comfortable doing d visa rather dan the ETC. For me the difference was $52 including postal fee.

You're not alone o! My own baby is 8mths and my belle now has a life of its own.

I'll suggest to start exercising and watching what you eat, e go beta!

Modele35:
dear new mums, I had my baby in June and my tommy has refused to go down. I had CS and my tommy is embarrassingly still big. Any help? i now wear a size 14 bottom and 10 top.. ëpp ur sista bikooooo!!

Why don't you sign up with boss revolution for international calls? Just google boss revolution and you can buy credit for international calls. Or if you have skype, you can buy credit, I just discovered that the rates are the same as boss revolution.

Able15:
Hello beautiful people, am now In LA, I want share my Poe experience. Flew BA from Lagos 3 days(was skeptical at 1st about BA but decided to use them after reading most of the reviews here) good flight experience I must confess, booked wheel chair services and it was really awesome. Though I dint get the service at Lagos.

Got to Lax at 2:30pm, very long que but thank God I was on wheel chair so it dint take up to 2 mins to get to my turn.
I dint spend up to 3 mins at Poe, no secondary inspection, no agriculture inspection, no question on money or payment. It goes like this:

Officer: why are you here?
Me: child birth
Officer: how long will you be here?
Me: end of January
Officer: where will you be staying?
Me: my sister's friend place
Officer: have you been to the US before?
Me: yes, but not this state.
Officer: do you have good stuff with you?
Me: yes
Officer: do u have fresh fruits or vegetables?
Me: no
Officer: place your 4 fingers and face the camera.
You are welcome to the U.S.
Was stamped in till May.

Will advice all new moms to be courageous and answer only the questions asked. Be honest and book wheel chair,it's free and it helps reduce stress.(opportunity to be served by oyibo....lol). Then most importantly pray.

Had all my burden of proof with me but no document was requested. I really thank God for granting me favour and smooth journey.
Though Am not a new mom on US birth waka , I stumbled into this wonderful forum mid this year and I read some poe experience that made me nervous. Nevertheless, I ve learnt quite a lot.

Thanks to everyone who had made meaningful contributions to this forum, God bless you all real good.

Please I need help with phone line, in part 2, I remember ultra or lyca were said to be the most affordable. I went to the store to get any of them but I was told that ultra no more give free 1000 mins to naija is now pay as u go and lycra $29 plan can only call land lines in naija not mobile. Pls advice me, is there any other affordable line I can buy that will enable me call naija or should I take lyca $59 plan with 600 mins per month......

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but was the ticket round trip or one way? If your baby has a naija visa in her US passport, she'll have to get a round trip ticket. I got a similar quote earlier this year but had to change my date and when I called back the lady I spoke said they made a mistake with previous quote cos my baby could get a one way ticket with her naija visa and they would've charged me more at the airport for round trip. I eventually paid $190 for round trip and got a refund for $85 a month later for the unused leg of the trip.
Just check again to be xtra sure.

Popri:
Just booked my baby's ticket to Nig and Delta gave me an unbelievable quote of $43.20..
I called from the U.S. so no need to buy it from Nigeria, il pay at the airport on the day of departure.
#feelinghappy#

My husband just remindEd me, we have an old one at home that we used for my son (I thought we'd given it out), bought it for taking walks round the estate so it's not very rugged but can serve you while waiting for us.

If you're in Lagos, you'll have to pick from Yaba before friday cos he's traveling then.

You can PM me for more info if you're interested. Would've PM'd you, but I don't know how to

nefertitiram:
Thank you dear lifesaver. I will wait. Went to work with her today, was on my feet all day at an event and had her strapped to my chest. I can't even describe the body pains.

To think I still have about 4 major events to still cover ds year

12kgs at 8mths? What is she eating? Lemme even not talk too much, I don't know what my own will weigh by then.

welcome to my world!

I have an 8mth old that weighs 12kg+ and carrying her is no joke.

Unfortunately I can't spare my stroller now, but if you can wait till Dec, that's when we're due back in Lagos and I plan to buy a lighter one so i'll have one extra to part with.

nefertitiram:
My people, especially the veterans...

Who will be nice enough to bless my life with a stroller? My job is very active and allows my baby roam with me, but her weight is not very friendly to my chest and back, sometimes I may need to have her next to me while I work and realised a stroller will solve my problem.

She is almost 3mths and weeighs 7.5kg.

So this is me saying

HELP A SISTER!
Those of you laughing at my predicament... yes, I can see you

Congratulations! Hope you delivered like a 'Hebrew woman' lol!

God bless you and your family.

firsttymum:
The Lord that does what no man can do.... How excellent is His name.

I'm a Mother... I give God the praise.

If you find shippers who can do sea freight, it'll be cheaper for you cos they don't charge by weight but by the dimension of the box.

Just make sure you do it well ahead of time cos it take 2mths plus to get to Lagos.

QueenWest:
Thanks favoredgal and bbiz for the response. Will weigh my options.

Doesn't your baby's ticket include a 20kg bag and stroller/car seat or is this part of the 4 too?
I'm asking cos I flew with my 2 suitcases, paid for an xtra suitcase and then my daughter had a small suitcase and I check in her car seat and stroller too.
We're flying again in December and plan to do the same.

FinanceFitness:
Always wanted to mention this, but keep forgetting.

For those flying Delta, they have a check in luggage of 4 bags/ items per adult ticket. So if you have extra luggage, it's better to increase the weight of each bag than buy extra bags. They also consider stroller and car seats in calculating maximum of 4.

The bad part of it is that they may not tell you until you've reached the maximum at which point you may not be able to rearrange your bags that have already been sent in.

Thank God my sister was with us, don't know what we would have done with the last bag we couldn't check in.

For those planning to travel with their naija cards, just got an email from zenith bank saying that the monthly limit is now $1000. Not sure if it's the same for other banks, but it's looking like cash is still the best option. And if you have money, start buying dollars now cos it usually skyrockets in December.

I did my daughter's own myself and had zero issues. A few other people here also did theirs without any issues.

shrekandfiona:
People that apply for naija visa direct have it rough and it takes ages for the visa to come out but agents get the visa same day Hmmmm

Systemic failure everywhere we go

Haba! Bailey's ke? You should be shacking big stout or Orijin.

Meanwhile, iz like that your village wife drugged you with pounded yam and native soup as you refused to show since yesterday. Pls tell her to take it easy o

justwise:


More Baileys please.