₦airaland Forum

I would have switched to Lagos Consulate, just that it takes them about 3 weeks to respond. I don't have time again... Still wondering if Abuja Embassy will release dates this month. I am so confused!

taiwogabriel:
Lagos. So much dates in August!

Please has anyone who applied for EA in the last week been approved by the Abuja Embassy?

Anyone? Someone?? Please your response will go a long way. Thank you. �

Hello @Walspring, please I need your attention. I have just sent an email.

This is unnecessary! As much as denial can be demoralizing, they are doing their jobs. The embassy is not looking for "innocent" Nigerians but Nigerians "qualified" for F1 visa. If you approach this process playing victim, it won't help you much. Calm down, check your deficiencies, restrategise and go for it!

JaySterling:
You spent many years in Abuja embassy denying innocent Nigerians visa! Probably the one who denied me a few years ago, now you are here on our forum, acting like you care. The Audacity!!

I politely ask that you leave and do not ever return here, thank you.

Hello everyone, I have searched for UK universities that would accept WASSCE or GCE for English language requirements, I'm yet to see any, most I've seen still require some form of presessional course on English Language (I'm literally confused on what that means). I'm also drained by the idea of taking IELTS or any other English language qualification test. I hope to apply for Ph.D and also have a letter of English Language Proficiency from my institution... Please, I will appreciate suggestions of schools in UK that do not require IELTS and it's likes. Please help!!!

Hello Frankrobbn1,

I've sent a mail to you through nairaland, please kindly respond. I'm in need of your expertise. Thank you.

Frankrobbn1:
Happy New Year my fellow Nairalanders! I'm glad to be in your midst this year again.

To provide answer to your question, it doesn't appear reasonable for your brother who is resident in Canada to sponsor you and your wife. He already has his dependents in Canada which the visa officer is well-informed about and a simple background check on his immigration status would delcare same. My professional advice for you is that you (the husband) should fund your account and sponsor the trip to Canada.

I wish you the very best.

It will end in praise

Congratulations! Would be sending you a message.

Amenndmore:
God is awesome and to be trusted in everything:
Transcript :
Abuja 3rd of Nov: delayed
Korean vo: pass me your i20,
Why are you going to USA ?
I am going to study msc in public health in estu.
Who will be sponsoring you ?
My dad and I am kind of self sponsored cos he put the money in my account for the fees( my school put only sef sponsored even after I sent both my school and my fathers own. Their error )
Can I see your soa: showed him both
Have you ever traveled out of the country?
Yes I schooled in Europe and I listed the countries I have visited
How many are you guys in your family?
We are 3 and I am the last
Any of your siblings schooled in usa?
No !
Sorry I will be delaying your visa blah blah

2nd attempt : 8/12/2021
Vo: American woman a bit chubby. Visa approved
Vo: Why are you going to USA?
I will be going to USA to get my msc in public health with specialization in community health
I can see you have funding how come?
I got a graduate research assistantship in center for … in ndsu.
Vo: cool cool (shakes head)- I knew I was going to get it here
Vo: Are you working as a doctor now?
Yes but I will be switching to public health specialist.
Vo: Did you hear about what they passed about drs? The news is everywhere ?
I wasn’t sure I said no, didn’t hear. She said aren’t you a dr you should know this. I said please enlighten me. She said about the money 900k drs after to pay before practicing.
So I laughed and said I heard but senate suspended it. And by the way I have written my exams passed and I am working.(ps my md wasn’t from Nigeria )
Vo:Have you been denied visa before ?
No
Vo:Are you sure think about that well?
I tot I was like yes to Canada was just a tourist visa I was still in school. She wrote it down.
Okay take this I will be approving your visa.

See God works miracles . Anyone that say there is no God is a fool. I asked God to give me a vo who will listen to me and he did. !!

Ps I changed my school, i20, sevis transfer done and new ds160 after getting a surge date lol

It was Denial Surge in Lagos US Consulate. They would have notified us accordingly. I listened to very engaging good interview sessions today, but blue papers were flying here and there. I am mentally and financially drained! These people don change goal post. Phew!!!!!!!

I did that earlier, attached the necessary documents and my EA was denied...Twice!

vanessa969:
Since your date is 9th, you can apply for emergency and get a close date in abuja

Please are there available interview dates in Lagos? I want to switch from Abuja to Lagos. My start date is January 9th... Please help ooo!!!

I need help on this, too. Just sent you a mail.

Vahn:
you wont get a date, send me an email, let me tell you what to do, i was in the same shows for months

Congratulations to you! More wins ahead...

clandie:
Hello everyone. This is my first time commenting here but I've been following the comments since August and a lot of the comments, especially those containing transcripts were very helpful so here goes...

Portland State University
MSC Communication
Graduate Assistantship but with a deficit of about $7k

Visa approved -7th September (expedited appointment)

Me: Good morning.
VO: Good morning.

I passed my documents through. Just i-20, appointment and confirmation page, SEVIS reciept and passport. None of my other documents were looked at or even asked for including bank statements, admission and offer letters.

VO: I can see you're going to Portland State University to study communications.
Me: Yes ma

VO: Okay, so what will this degree do for you?
Me: I'm planning to focus my studies on Health communication and campaigns. I have a bachelor's degree in Law and my undergraduate project was on mental health laws and policies in Nigeria. I discovered that we had policies but the issue the government had with implementation was that they could never seem to communicate effectively in order to make these policies grassroot projects. By studying health campaigns and with my background, I would be able to work with the government or NGOs to create effective health campaigns...

VO: (cuts me off) that's okay. I can see you have a deficit. Who would be covering that?
Me: My cousin. She has lived with and been a part of my family since before I was born and is more like an elder sister.

VO: So what does your sister do?
Me: She's a business woman in Aba. She...

VO: (cuts me off again, lol) Okay. You work here? Where?
Me: At a media company.

VO: What do you do there?
Me: I work as an assistant manager.

VO: (types for what seems like forever but couldn't have been more than 30 seconds, opens my passport, looks up at me for the very first time) Your visa is approved... (Says some other things but I've blanked out) ... And have a safe trip to the US.
Me: Thank you.

All of this took less than 2 minutes. She was rapping (like talking really fast), I was rapping too.

Passport was legit ready by the next day. Abuja is the place to go just in case you haven't gotten to this stage yet. There are seats so you can sit while you wait your turn.

Congratulations to you. More wins ahead. Thank you for sharing in details and the tips as well.

bunmisoar:
I give thanks to God for the success of my Interview
My visa was approved on Tues, 7th Sept, 2021 for FALL SESSION. Yes, FALL SESSION.

I learnt a lot from this platform regarding my preparation and my conscience will not let me rest till I post my success story for others to learn from too. I thank everyone here, God bless you for the helpful tips, and by the Grace of The Almighty God, every other person here will testify too. Be relentless, pursue it like your life depends on it, above all, Gods Grace is supreme over all we do.

SO my school, Morgan State University resumed since the 23rd of Aug, with faith, I registered for classes (I didn't make payment though because the school gives so time before payment) and resumed classes online. I made my department aware of my delayed interview and pleaded with them to write an extension letter for me to take along to my interview. My department did, and sent me the letter.

Here's how my interview went: (a black male in his early 40s interviewed me)

FALL 2021
NO FUNDING

VO: Hello good morning
Me: (with a smile) Hello, good morning sir, how are you doing today (be as friendly as possible in your greeting, it will help in reducing the anxiety in you)

VO: Pass your documents
Me: (I gave him passport first, then passed my I-20, extension letter, and DS-160)

VO: (as he was collecting the documents) SO why are you going to the US?
Me: I am going there to study. I will be studying my Masters in Public Health at Morgan State University, which is located at Baltimore, Maryland.

VO: I can see from your I-20 that school has resumed
Me: Yes, we resumed two weeks ago, 23rd of Aug. However, i have an extension letter from the school which i have passed to you. I have also begun classes online and I have been actively involved in all class activities. I have also been in frequent communication with the course instructors and they are all aware of my travel delay, i can also show you our conversations (i already printed the email communication between me and my lecturers incase he sked, but he didn't )

VO: So why MSU?
Me: I had the option of 3 schools, New York University, North Carolina University, and Morgan State University. However, my decision to settle with MSU was based on their syllabus. I compared the syllabus of the 3 schools ad I discovered that for NYU and NCU, the ir syllabus is constructed in such a way that at the beginning of the program, the students go right into their areas of specialization, but for MSU, their approach is more holistic and comprehensive. At the beginning of the program, the students do all courses in the 5 core areas on public health, and at second semester, they specialize. I wanted something as comprehensive as that

VO: What will this course do for you?
Me: In the short run, on my return to Nigeria, I will be reabsorbed into my current place of work. I currently work as an assistant health administrator at XYZ hospital, and the management is aware of my plans. They have also agreed to grant me a 2 years study leave. However, in the long run, i have passionately followed the work of several NGOs her in Nigeria. They are doing a great work in the Health Sector her and I have always wanted to be a part of them. The likes of UN, WHO, APIN, E-Health Africa, and many others. I believe that on my return, the certificate and knowledge i would have acquired will give me a leverage and make me more marketable.

VO: I can see you did Geography, so why Public Health
Me: Yes, but my specialization was in Medical Geography

VO: So is Medical Geography same as Public Health?
Me: Yes, it is all about Public Health nd Epidemiology
(at this point, he typed, and I guess to confirm what Medical Geography is on google. He then looked at me and said okay good)
(P.S: if your first degree is not related to what you are going to study now, or the work you are currently doing, look for a way to link it all together. VERY IMPORTANT. I thank God I already prepared for this question)

VO: I can see its a relative that is sponsoring you
Me: Yes, my Uncle

VO: Who is he and what does he do?
Me: He's an established engineer her in Lagos and has his own construction company with over 100 staffs. He is also a Federal Senator (My uncle is a politician, so i made sure i included that)

VO: What is the name of the company? Spell it
ME: A B C D E ( then he kept typing. This man googled the company in my presence then asked me questions)

VO: (looking at the system) where is this company?
Me: it is at XYZ here in Lagos

VO: Good. Anything to show that you and this man are related?
Me: Yes, I have a family photo here with me (though he didn't ask for it)
(Guys, please go prepared!!!)

VO: Why will he be paying this much for your fees?
Me: He has been sponsoring my education since my secondary school and he's just like a father to me.

VO: (began to type oooooooooooooooooo, then he brought out white paper)
VO: I will not be giving your visa now because the extension given by your school is not on your I-20 so...

Me: (i no allow am land o) But i told you i have given you and extension letter from the school and I also registered and resumed classes online and ...

VO: (Him sef no allow me land) Calm down sir, I didn't say I am not approving your visa, see your white paper, I have approved it. However just do one thing. Email your school today, tell them to indicate the extension given to you on your I-20. I will also give you back your passport and this white paper. Once the school has updated it, take the updated I-20 and your passport to our DHL office at XYZ You don't have to come for another interview. Your visa has been approved!!!

Me: (with all manner of Joy and smile): Thank you sir!!!

(So if your department is giving you an extension letter for resumption, contact the International Affairs department of your school, send them the letter your department gave you, and tell them to reflect that extension in the remarks section of the I-20)

Shalom!!! Wish you all THE best!!!

You should have made this changes earlier. I doubt if it is adviceable to make changes within 2 days to your interview date.

kekeakinwale:
Please help me please,
My interview is on friday, I was suppose to resume in august, but I deffered my addmission till spring when the emergency appointment date I requested for was not forth coming.
Please do I need to fill another ds160. Please o beg I need a reply, please

I commend you for this, though I missed it...

Ayusma:
Sept 16 dates are currently available in Abuja! 4 slots left

Congratulations on your Visa approval, a little more details would go a long way for others to learn from. On DS-160 form, who did you put as your sponsor, since it's a combination of MPower loan, personal savings and uncle?

BabsofAbj247:
Visa approved.

VO: What school are you going to?
Me: Stated the name of my school
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
Me: Told him the schools I applied to
VO: What program are you going for?
Me: Stated my program (Masters)
VO: What do you intend to use the program for?
Me: Upon the completion of my program, I intend to come back to Nigeria to focus on at my company. In addition, I intend to use the knowledge obtained from my masters to improve my start-up.
VO: What do you do currently?
Me: Explained in detail the nature of my job and the companies I have worked with
VO: Wow
VO: How do you intend to fund the program, I can see you got some scholarship?
Me: I would be using my savings and MPOWER. In addition, my uncle would provide financial assistance.
VO: What does your uncle do:
Me: Told VO the companies my uncle own
VO: I would be approving your VISA blah blah blah

It is very important to know what you have on your DS-160 form. While I was talking about the things I do for my Company, the VO kept looking at the screen to verify what I said.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

*need

SparkleU:
Hello everyone,
Please I been your advice. I intend to co-fund my studies. Can I present my domiciliary account statement at the interview, although the account does not really have traffic. I hope to deposit some money in it.

Hello everyone,
Please I been your advice. I intend to co-fund my studies. Can I present my domiciliary account statement at the interview, although the account does not really have traffic. I hope to deposit some money in it.

Thanks... 72 hrs had elapsed, it kept prompting me to change password; which I earlier refused to change. The moment I changed my password everything returned to normal.

Damzyk:
Once the 72hrs elapses, it will be opened. It happened to me too.

Just relax

Just sent you a message for Abuja dates.

Wanderlust18:
If it’s for Abuja. Strictly for Abj dates. Pm me

...account was frozen, please (not banned)...please someone should help me with this.

SparkleU:
Hello everyone! I was banned for 72 hrs while trying to book an appointment on CGI page, because I had exceeded the no. of logins per day. 72hrs has elapsed, I have opened my page but the usual options for booking/ rescheduling etc are no where to be found... Please I need help! Anyone experienced this before? What do I do?

Hello everyone! I was banned for 72 hrs while trying to book an appointment on CGI page, because I had exceeded the no. of logins per day. 72hrs has elapsed, I have opened my page but the usual options for booking/ rescheduling etc are no where to be found... Please I need help! Anyone experienced this before? What do I do?

In my opinion flight is an aspect of your trip spent in an aircraft/plane, conveying you from one destination to another. Whereas trip includes every aspect of your travel plans including time spent at your destination.

Viquetohr:
I don't understand. Isn't the trip a flight? Why the need to select a sponsor when I know I am the one paying for the trip? I don't understand.

Congratulations on your approval. I have sent you a message, please I need your attention.

AydotNX:
NEVER GET DISCOURAGE ON THIS JOURNEY, JUST REMAIN FOCUS.
3rd attempt at Abuja on August 24 gave me the long await VISA APPROVAL

After my rejection on June 28, I reapplied and available date was December 15. I deferred till Spring 2021.While wait for updated I-20, I keep checking available dates and re-applying for EA. EA was rejected 3 times at ABUJA from July- August 15,2021.On August 16 EA was APPROVED and I changed to September 24 with the hope that I can still make fall 2021 or just wait till Spring 2022. On August 21 I requested for another EA and it was approved within 25 minutes. Available dates was August 24 from September 24, I could not pick the date. It was so close and I stay in Lagos while interview is Abuja. (Friday 21 is not far from Tuesday 24) .After consulting my friends and wife, I picked August 24. Monday night I enter Abuja, after serious prayer and fasting.
10.AM with a young white lady.
V.O : I see you are going to Eastern Michigan UNI. with 100%G.A to for a doc. degree in Eng. Tech.
Me: I said yes ma and i completed the statement by mentioning my area of conc.
V.O : what will you do after this?
me: I will return to Nig. to take the position of the country manager in R& in my company
V.O: SHE checked where i work in her system and mentioned it.
me: Yes ma.
v.o: Is your wife travelling with you?
ME: No, she enjoys her career here in Nig. she works in an oil n gas firm( I mentioned the name) as Professional accountant and she has given her support and consent to start the program.
V.O: your VISA will be approved.
ME: I was shocked, just like that. All the questions i prepared for have not been asked. I tried to pay attention to what she was saying after getting the white paper but i did not hear much other corvid 19.... restriction.
I was crying that wao...... this is God. People taught I was rejected. Mean while i dressed very very causal and people were actually looking at me that do i really come for interview. Thank God for everything. This is just to encourage someone, don't give up until you hit the target.


See you at the top.

Congratulations. Very brief interview! Please I need your agents contact. I have sent you a message.

Saintkollyjoe:
Visa approved at Abuja embassy this morning.
Transcripts.
I have been blessed by the members of this forum and I thank everyone that have shared their Transcripts or have answered questions here. I have been a silent participant in the forum. In April 2021, I got admission with full funding to University of Wyoming to do M.A history.
Fast forward to June 29 when my i-20 arrived, tye available dates for interview were in 2022. I asked for emergency appointment but when it was not forthcoming, I engaged an agent to find dates with the reschedule appointment tool for me and I got August 20 appointment. My resumption nis august 18 on my i-20. It was on this forum that I learnt that I can get a revised i-20. In short my revised i-20 reached my email in the midnight of August 20.
Now I must print but my appointment is 7.30 am. I got to the Abuja embassy before 6am. Omo entrepreneurial NIgerians are already on ground! Printing was expensive but I was happy to pay. They also scammed me by saying that my DS 160 submission confirmation read Lagos instead of Abuja and so I must change it to Lagos otherwise they will send me back. I said no but being my first time , I ended up paying. The gate hustlers also condemned my passport photo graph. Anyway Sha I snapped another one. In all I was milked of 22k naira.
I joined the queue at 7.15am. I have read all transcripts here and I was prepared with responses. Someone also coached me the day before interview. I have with me two company certificates, landed property, marriage certificate and many rehearsed speeches on why I will return to Nigeria.
I entered the interview and it was then I knew that my Lagos information for DS 160 is to be transferred to Abuja and I must wait Another 1 hour. It was then I knew that gate hustlers don scam me. While I wait only two approvals were granted and about six denials. At that moment, like a person given life imprisonment sentence, I started imagining how beautiful life under NIgeria and Buhari can be if one accept your fate.
Then I was called to enter again for interview.
V.o good morning
Me: good morning ma'am.
V.o I can see you are going to the University of Wyoming
Me: that's correct.
V.o: what do you do here in Nigeria?
Me: I'm a teacher and I teach History. ( In the cubicle there was a male white guy standing near the white female interviewer observing the computer screen. The white guy nodded at my response). She typed.
V.o: said something I could not pick. And I told her that please come again. She Held up a slip on which 'thesis was written'.
Me: yes my masters is thesis masters.
V.o: no, I mean what is your proposed thesis topic?
Me: oh, I shall working on prostitution during the colonial period of Nigeria

V.o : oh colonial prostitution.
Me: yes, that's correct.
V.o what will you be using this degree to do.
Me: I shall be coming back to teach History at the University of Ibadan.
V.o: teach at University of Ibadan?
Me: yes, I've been promised a position there.( The white guy beside her nodded at this)
V.o: I shall be approving your visa....
Me: I became deaf.to other things she was saying but I picked transit and pick up. I was given a white paper and she bid me best of luck.
My interview was less than a minute. Please prayer works! I prayed. My pastor prayed. While at the interview my mum, my dad, my wife, my mother in law and an aunt, my children were praying for me. This is the first time in my life that things that is supposed to be difficult became absolutely easy!
Ebami yin oluwo logo oooooo!

Congratulations on your approval. If you don't mind I have sent you a message, pls check your spam folder (if not found inbox).

Shuayb0:
3rd attempt.

*Visa Interview Transcript:*
*Location: Abuja*
*School: University of New Hampshire*
*COA: 72k*
*GA: 58k*
*Deficit: 14k*
*Attempt: (3rd attempt )*
*Status* *VISA APPROVED*

V.O: Good morning

Me: Good morning, how are you today?

VO: Didn’t answer

Pass me your I20
Me: Pls have it. (Placed my hands for biometric)

V.O: You’re going to the University of New Hampshire to study business statistics

Me: I corrected her that it’s business analytics.

V.O: I can see you have an assistantship.

Me: Yes

V.O: What do you currently do?

Me: I work as the business intelligence lead at ***, where I collect sales and customer data and use that to create marketing strategy, better target our customers and improve business processes.

V. O: What are you going to do when you return from this program?

Me: I will return and take up the position of Director if Analytics. I already have a written commitment from my organization.

V.O: You mean ****?

Me: Yes ****

V.O: longest 90 seconds if my life typing and clicking. Then the white paper.



*Personal tip:*
If you’ve been refused before, use the comment box to your advantage. I talked about why I think I was refused (financial plan), then explain what has changed like gre, GA and how I will be working with an eccentric professor. So I think this is why I wasn’t asked much questions, cos I already answered some of them with that explanation. She was focused and impressed with the assistantship and she didn’t even asked about anything pertaining to financials. Plus I wore a suit (if you say you will come back to a management position, please dress like a manager).

Bonus points: If you haven’t, please watch Suit or Billions before interview, so you can start feeling like Harvey in front of the VO��


Thanks to everyone on this group. Fairheart, you’re just a blessing. My brother Kelvin messaged me in the midnight and told me he said a prayer for me, then I knew I will get it. I appreciate everyone.