₦airaland Forum

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People get a lot of information from here including how to get into schools. GRE is a process too. I agree that the discussion took a while. But IMO, such is needed sometimes, as long as the arguments are constructive. For me, I learnt a lot. What should people be talking about anyway, vetting transcript?

Geewin69:
What does my getting a visa have to do with this?

You're missing the point bros.
Is discussing the GRE wrong? Absolutely not.
This is the issue I had:
Some folks began to bicker over the GRE, and at a point they obviously became so overwhelmed by the desire to prove the superiority of their opinions. To what end?
It took up 3 pages of unnecessary arguments
Now, should that be done on a public forum?
That's the issue I'm tackling bro.
Of course the GRE is essential, and schools/departments only temporarily suspended it due to covid.
People come here everyday hoping to hear about a new development regarding schools, visas, etc, not some prolonged personal arguments.

As a reminder, the name of the thread is 'General USA Student Visa Enquiries' sir.

And I pray the same prayers for you too.

I don't know if you are trying to apply for US student Visa or not. But in the case you are, when the VO asks you if you took any standardized test. Reply "Yes", then start listing GNS305, EDH419, MPT213, basically mention all the courses you took in the university

sexylassie2:
You do not understand what is standardized test.

Continuous assessment tests and final exams are all standardized test.

Internal exams are all standardized test.

From primary to university, we all took standardized test to get admitted into any department we want.

I hope you know that to gain admission into a department, you have to write a standardized test called post jamb, and the best are given placement.

BTW, most exams whether internal or external are made to be taken once.

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You can do better than the "Nigerians and ..." narrative. We can all do better.

iWise:
Ah ha! Nigerians and hubris!

The news article and your argument doesnt tally. In fact, on it's own, your argument is just too vague

segunbolawole:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/immigration-agency-bailout-furlough/2020/06/30/93ee2a3a-ba45-11ea-86d5-3b9b3863273b_story.html

This tells a lot of how important our visa app fee is to their economy, yet them go dey bounce us... Just imagine if Nigerians decide not to apply to USA but other developed countries. NO wonder when there was a rumor of US denying visa with a reference to Pastor Oyedepo, they debunked it knowing the adverse effect. Over 12k Jobs... Just imagine

I think the GC is trying to be helpful. So you need to be smart too. You might not be able to be in the US by this fall so let him know that. This will make the school prepare appropriately. Also, let him know that what is stopping you is the closure of the US embassy which is a worldwide thing and not particular to Nigeria. Craft the email in a way that he will keep an open mind and so prepare the course works for you incase you did not make it. I really love what the school is trying to do here

felixboye1:
Hello Guys,
Please I need your inputs here. I received an email from my GC last night. These are the email and our subsequent conversations. Please what's your understanding about this and what do you think I write her now?
Note:
I am on Teaching Assistantship and my deficit is $4235.

(First Email)
Hi, Felix,

I have been asked by the University to check in with international students to find out whether they will be able to be in Kent for the start of classes in August. This does not impact your acceptance or fellowship funding at all. We just need to know how many graduate students we may need to accommodate, making course work available to those who are still overseas.

Could you let me know whether you will be in Kent at the start of classes in late August?

Thank you,
Dr. Mazzei

(My Reply)
Dear Dr Mazzei,
Thank you for your email. I will definitely be in Kent by this August for my enrollment. Although the embassies here and other parts of the world are not open for routine Visa services for now but I have submitted my Visa application and requested for expedited interview appointment. The embassy here is assuring me they will give us priority processing of Visa when they resume Visa services and they are optimistic we will be able to attend our in-person classes in the fall. So definitely, I am preparing for my arrival at Kent next August.
However, I will like to ask Incase the Visa services do not return in time due to embassies closure amidst rises in covid-19 cases in the U.S and I could not come to Kent in August, is there possibility of taking my courses online here in Nigeria and come to Kent in the Spring 2021 for in-person classes? Will I still be able to enjoy my graduate funding (full tuition remission) please?
Thank you.

(Her latest reply)
Hi, Felix,

As I noted, your acceptance, enrollment, and funding are not impacted at all.

In fact, what we are trying to do is identify who will need to have course delivery even though they are overseas.

Are there flights continuing into the US right now? There are many country with COVID-related regulations that are prohibiting students’ travel.

So I just need to confirm that there are not regulations preventing you from traveling to the US.

Thank you,
Dr. Mazzei

Then you should ask yourself if he became more intelligent within the duration of his first and second try

sexylassie2:
I still do not understand from the examples you gave why standardized test are not true measure of intelligence.

So what is true measure of intelligence?

The matter has been settled. You are really going off point. What GRE verbal is trying to test is different from what TOEFL/IELTS tests. Besides do you think native English speakers will always have perfect scores in language tests like TOEFL or IELTS? Americans struggle in GRE verbal too. But then no need to keep going on about the issue. It is settled

Gerrard59:
It is poor oh Upon the mouth making Nigerians do online? There is an urgent need to improve math pedagogy and the verbal scores prove my point that Nigerians must not get waiver for the IELTS/TOEFL. Never! Our people must write them!

I believe you will have to pay. Maybe if you have scholarship, you might not have to. But this is really a kind of question you should ask your school. You won't get the answer you seek here

nayo10:
Good day guys, please I need advice on some certain issue, I got an admission at University of Houston, we did a zoom meeting today about the course, the department is proposing we enrol online and start classes while we wait for embassy to open. So my question is can I start classes online pending the time embassy open without paying tuition due to the risk of the visa. Thank you

Congrats on your admission. There's really nothing much going on now in terms of Visa application. Ofcourse it is due to the pandemic and most US embassies are currently closed. One can't really be sure if there will be any changes and Visa appointments can be booked in time for fall enrollment. All US schools know this and are trying to be flexible with regards to their international students so you really have to work with your school and program. However, you can choose to proceed and pay your Visa fee, fill the visa form, e.t.c. I learnt the earliest appointment date in Abuja embassy is November.
Again, have you requested and received your I-20 from your school? If not, it should be the first step and you can proceed from there

Rbab:
I had a late application picked 4 schools due to my professional and academic history plus the covid 19 pandemic.I was given a GRE waiver after sending my synopsis to some school. Can any one help me out on how to go about visa application. I need to move fast pls

I had a similar issue last year when I was paying application fee to a particular school. In fact I was concerned that I had to go to my bank. The problem is not about American Banking System, it is with the particular site you paid to. Some site's security are set that they simply dont ask for OTP, so if the security doesnt require it, your bank too allows the transaction to proceed. One reason why we should always keep our card details safe. However, you will rarely see e-commerce sites with such lax security

Nostradamus1:
So i was lucky to register for the SAT exam today but an incident occurred which kind of baffled me .When i finished inputing my account card details , they simply made the withdrawal without sending anything about OTP. I was just wondering if American banking system is really that porous.

PS: i used Access bank debit card so i guess any Visa or MasterCrad is good to go

There are different crimes, some of which are peculiar to certain countries. All these lead to unwarranted stereotypical assumptions and prejudice. Even though the number of Nigerian Internet fraudsters are negligible when compared to our total population, the negative effects of their actions are indeed significant on our reputation.

pompeiimagnus:
I will never be in support of crime but are you guys implying that we are worse than these nationalities you just mentioned?

It is very funny that you kept arguing about this issue.There are a lot of positives on @fairheart's post and what actually led to the argument was just a side note on his part. And I believe he is right actually. A lot of Nigerian students do very well in the US, they excel,
but so are a lot of Chinese, Indians and Other Nationalities. In fact doing well has become the new normal, personally I know at least six pals of mine who graduated with a 4.0 CGPA at various postgraduate programs in various schools across the USA during this may commencement programs. Let me also tell you that we are inherently more eager to punish than to reward. US administrators have a duty to protect their country and if there are bad trends from a particular nationality, they have to look into it and do something about it. For example, currently, students from countries with high rates of religious extremism do not have it easy with the Visa process. Just last year,
an Iranian student who was supposed to resume in Harvard was detained and later turned back at the POE.

I think the point the OP was trying to raise is the slippery slope these evil perpetrators and bad representatives of Nigeria has put us. Follow the narratives from the US media closely, even that from US movies and TV series, they can't help it but make reference to Nigeria and fraud. Just last week, I read about an unemployment benefit claim scam that was ran by Naija guys. With time, even the citizens will start clamouring for action from the government. If you do research, you will know sometimes, decisions are made from experiences

pompeiimagnus:
I basically have lots of time on my hands to counter whatever you say because my virtual internship is still a few weeks away. The positive ones you mentioned know what is right and will follow the law while they are here. So when you try to discourage them with irrelevant news about "Nigerians staying back and committing cybercrimes" I will keep tackling you.

The situation just as it is for every other prospectives here require a lot of thinking. So give yourself enough time to think about it. From the link you provided, I think it is better to 1st contact your program for advice because things might be different from program to program. For example, some programs will allow you to defer to spring 2021 while some won't. About the OPT,
to me it is important but from the link you provided, it would only be a problem if you're going for a one-year program. Nevertheless, you should ask yourself if you are ready to commit resources for online class, knowing fully well you might not get the full experience and it still wouldn't guarantee Visa. Truth is US immigration are not saying anything yet.

For Canada, they already decided that fall will be online. International students can apply for visas online, if you get it, you can proceed to enrol by August, if you are denied Visa,then you are denied enrollment, nothing else changes. I think that is fair enough. I am in your shoes too and I doubt if I will enrol an online class. It depends on the conditions my program give me though but I doubt it.

My advice, talk to your program. If they let you defer to spring 2021, consider it, since you will not have to go through the application process again. You can choose between that and enrolling online for fall; well, if you don't mind

Tella26:
Hi guys....If you got Admission to TTU and intend choosing the school. check this updated info from their website: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/admissions/covid19/index.php . I also want to ask great people here, please what will you advise? Is it either to choose Online classes for fall semester or defer my admission. Although, they said that once I defer admission, I will have to go through the process of paying application fees then it goes thru normal application process. While that of Online classes will just be that I wont be eligible for OPT ( To be eligible for OPT u must complete a full session ie Fall and Spring in person) . I think OPT should not be a big deal naa? my fear is also getting Visa even if I have started Online classes. Please kindly share your experience. Thanks.

In summary, your advice is "chill, chill, plan", "be realistic". I find that funny because one would have thought what people are trying to do is to grow wings.

You keep saying facts but I guess we have different definitions for the word FACT

You are right though, maybe someone here would benefit from your opinion so I rest my case

sheke01:
People also come here to hear facts and know what's happening.

You can air your perspective independent of my opinion. Don't wait for me to post something then you come out to find "exact advice" or do witch hunting.

What you think is not an advice to you can be advice to someone else. Live and let me live too

People come here for advice so if you have one to give,
be unequivocal about it. Like I wrote earlier, what is your exact advice?

Also, no one is taking your posts personally, remember I even thanked you for it. But if your posts are about your opinion, I also have the right to look at it from my own perspective. I'm sure that is why Seun Osewa included the 'quote' option. Remember the topic on ground is open to different interpretation

sheke01:
Am not in a position to tell people what to do. All I can do is tell situation on ground, whatever anyone do with such news is up to them.

And please for Pete sake, stop taking my posts personally. This is an online forum, I have a right to my opinion as long as it's not misleading.

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Your interview was not cancelled because of Nigeria's lockdown. US embassies are closed worldwide and till further notice; no interviews, no appointment booking. Just stay in touch with the news to know when there's any change.

HisEminence:
Hello everyone, I just have one or 2 questions to ask. My interview was slated for first week of May, but cancelled due to the lockdown.
Pls I would like to know if anyone has applied for interview since last week that the lockdown has been eased. Or has anyone received a mail from the embassy recently? Also how can I apply for an emergency interview?

Pls I need your urgent replies. Thank you in anticipation.

In January, I was having an admission interview via Skype. Internet fuvked up. Interviewer had to ask me to send my mobile number and called me directly

Predstan:
A friend was trying to do DET online as a replacement to the TOEFL test as requested by the school. Even with 3 attempts, internet bleeped him up. Its either he couldn't submit and upload after completion or that while taking the test, the speed runs as low as 500kb per sec. If anyone tries that with graduate school, Na OYO ooo. Lol.
Even with my 190mb per sec internet, zoom still buffers.

Well, Canada is immigration friendly so it understandable that they are making such modifications. I'm not expecting any real change from Trump tbh. However, I know a lot of schools are already offering online classes. I'm sure even funded students would have to pay for such online classes since their funding wouldn't have been activated yet.
I don't think one should consider it anyway, deferal should be the option. Imagine power outages that happen for days and one not being able to power phones and computers and then finding it difficult to meet deadlines, quality and cost of internet is another thing to consider. Overall, one can't even get the whole graduate school experience, especially research students that have laboratory works too

Eniolakiite:
Canada is doing this

Let’s hope the US does similar

Most countries are adjusting their rules about many things.

And It’s looking more like fall classes will be online

Well there was a topic of discussion on ground before on whether people should be hopeful that embassies will open in time for fall enrollment. While some people said they chose to be positive and hopeful and maybe make some harmless preparations, some said they shouldn't. My take is one can strike a balance between being realistic and being optimistic. The OP decided to further buttress his point by giving us updates about California State Schools. I say he is being subjective just to make a point on a faceless forum. He should probably extend his Tentacles to other states, say University of Texas system for instance, or give his updates of yesterday's senate inquiry he made a reference to yesterday. Truth is everyone is just planning and projecting based on the current situation and the way they can interpret it. Dr. Fauci, Cuomo,
Trump and the likes.

LagosismyHome:
Is it really negative update or the reality on ground ....

We are in a pandemic and it might take a while for the world to go back as we know it . 1918 pandemic took 2 years to resolve .

If I didn't know better, I would have thought you are really desperate to prove a point. It's all well and good though, I now have a plug for the negative updates.Thank you for all you do. Our Hero!!!

sheke01:
San Francisco sta1te University and all 23 campuses of California state University just announced that fall semester will be online. No in person class till at least 2021.

let's keep watching

We can keep doing analysis till eternity but it still wouldn't change anything. Come August, embassies might still be closed, in fact, it is very likely. The point is that you can maybe advise people not to make any active financial commitments; like paying SEVIS fee. It is really wrong to tell people to stop being positive and hopeful. Optimism is free and is inherently embedded in people that chose to be. Even as messed up as Nigeria is, some people are still hopeful that things will be better. Should we crucify them?

sheke01:
please don't misquote me. I never said schools won't plan to resume on campus. Everyone will plan to resume if it's safe to do so. Everyone will plan but no one can guarantee an on campus fall semester at this stage. All they can do is plan for on campus semester.

An international student in a foreign country without a visa and closed US embassy and borders cannot possibly plan for an on campus semester. Semester resumes in 3 months, no talk of reopening embassy, schools are still putting their reopening plans together and they might not have communicated this plans to DHS and yet people keep getting high hopes of arriving here for fall semester.

What is the possibility of DHS believing other countries are safe enough for their citizens to go and reopen embassy?

Let's let this rest now. we'll surely revisit this in August

Congrats on your admission. SEVIS fee expires so I would not advise you to pay. I think you should just get your payment channel/contact ready. If things open up fine and if it doesn't, you wouldn't be losing anything

fedabol:
Hey guys, I am new here, I got admitted to WIU with part scholarships. May i ask if it is wise to still pay SEVIS fee now considering the closure of the whole situations around embassy closure and all, Or is it wise to wait a while before paying at a later date?

Thank you.

There's nothing to be reasonable about here. It isn't like I have anything to lose, also, optimism doesn't cost anything, at least it isn't costing me anything. My point to the guy is everyone has the right to be optimistic.
We are all adults here. I'm not advising anyone to pay SEVIS or MRV fee. From recent posts on this thread,
all I see people posting are how they can get funding or schools they can apply to with no application fee and standardized tests waived. Tell me how that hurts anyone. At worst, you get the admission and defer or you don't even get it at all. All of which happens even during the pre-covid era. Same with Visa getting denied and hopes of travelling dashed.

sheke01:
Even while you try to be optimistic also try to be reasonable.

The press secretary to the US vice president tested positive to Covid 19 last Friday. Panic is high once again. Borders remain closed. Lots of temporary visitors are stuck in the US with no viable way of leaving. Lots of H1B and OPT workers that recently lost their jobs will become illegal by July if something miraculous doesn't happen between now and then and you think what the DHS is thinking right now is how to send their citizens to African countries to reopen their embassies and conduct visa interviews for potential fall semester students and bring them to the country without a vaccine

Please tamper your optimism with actual reality. The impact of Covid 19 is bigger than what you see on the surface

What the whole academic/immigration world are trying to do is to stay positive and maybe be prepared incase things turn out well. A lot of recommendations are being made by the stakeholders concerned to adapt to the situation. Schools, SEVP, USCIS are all trying to modify policies to suit the current situation. An example is allowing schools to send i20 to students' school email addresses. Everyone is only trying to be hopeful, preparing for both the worst and the best, the alternative is doing nothing at all. Worst case scenario, one can defer the admission. Good for you that you got admission and funding and good for you that you are sad about it but everyone must not share your pessimism

kastgeraldino:
I find it interesting how people are still hopeful about the possibility of resuming this year despite all that is happening. I got full funding to a top 30 US MBA program but I don't feel excited at all, given the uncertainties. I wish I could be more positive but it's hard.

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Yes

Micholo5:
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Hi, are you for postgrad?