₦airaland Forum

ladeonas:
I am Here to thank God Almighty:

Firstly for seeing me through my baby delivery days. Yes this is my second delivery and last one. The first was a Boy virginal and the second are triplets(2boys & a Girl)

The first time was a smooth sail. I did not realize how merciful God can be. Everything was already sorted by my Husband and uncle in the states.

For the triplets it was a drop-box also easy, however the coming back and settling the bills was a mountain I cant believe I scaled. Please Praise the Lord with me d 3 babies came out Via CS healthy NO incubator bill($1,500/night/baby).

Paid $320 for 2 of my babies and I found out that the 3rd baby would have to buy a specialized car seat and pay almost $2,000 for a one-way trip. Praise the Lord again for me ooo. I found a distant uncle coming to Naijs for a month leaving on the same day we were leaving. That how we paid only $220, can u imagine cheaper than the 2 going with us.


POE- The CBP officer asked us how long we were here for,(I and DH came in on the different days however we had same experience) DH said he will be around for 2 months and I will be around for 4months plus.


CBP asked no question about payment or all, just sent us to Agric section, we came in via LAX around 2pm with Virgin Airlines. He stamped us in.


The black American CBP officer in Agric was very friendly

I had my babies at Methodist Mansfield Medical centre.
My bill was:

Doctor c-section - $3,200 ( Includes ante-natal, all lab test and ultrasound)

Anesthesia - $1,270

Hospital- $8,000 (included Hearing Test)

Lab done at the hospital for me and babies, Total was $320

Pediatrician – sent $3,200 ( 3 days hospital visit) – still negoiating

Paid $320 to my pediatrician for 2weeks newborn screening (Not mandatory)

Circumcision – done in Niaja


Did visa on arrival paid $570.


Thank God for His infinite mercies, mother, father and babies are doing well and are back home. It is all by the grace of God.

Big hearty triple congratulations, bless the name of the Lord.

Brandagencies:
Hello everyone, I am in Chicago now and I MUST give back. It was a horrible experience but I got in.
I took the BA flight and arrived Chicago for 11;30.
CBP- good morning how are u and why are u here?
Me: good morning , vacation and to birth my baby.
CBP: Stands up to meet another officer, comes aback and says this way ma( secondary things☹️)
After sitting a while a middle aged woman calls me
CBP 2: madam, can I have confirmation that the hospital has accepted to treat u?
Me: stroger doesn’t give correspondence but here is the medical number opened for me it has my dates and my first appointment
CBP: that is not my job. What u have her is crap.
Me: Crap ke? Call first na!!( this point, I was already tired from the long journey)
CBP2: how much do u have
Me: 6900 in cash and 7000 In my wells card
CBP2: Go sit down, I’ll call u later.
Approximately 15mins after, she calls me in with a superior.
CBP: madam, these information u provided are not valid , we are sending u home.
Me: Home? Why? I can pay for these things( I begin analyse bla bla)
CBP: let me have ur phone and it’s password, please sit down.
Another 30mins after
CBP: you read nairaland?
Me: Yes
CBP: that nairaland devices u all, u should ask the us govt ur questions not a bunch of guessers
Me: I did contact the govt on a change of intent.
CBP: well, ure only allowed to birth here if Baby is high risk and ur doctor in Nigeria confirms it and u have an acceptance from a doctor here. You Nigerians just disgust me, coming here to quote what laws u don’t make. You are a burden to our govt. you just want to show off that ur baby has a passport:
Me: trying to defend myself
CBP: shut Up.
At this time, they had gone through all my phone emails and WhatsApp messages. Nothing to mail me with.
She comes back to ask for my contacts number and proceeds to call her. Requesting that my host sends me back because 6400 is not a reasonable fee to pay and I cannot afford it. My host insists that was the self pay package and she would use her insurance to cover if there are emergencies.
Me: very worried, already seeing them process travel docs for other pregnant women who have been turned back,some since yesterday. I had already started crying.
CBP : so madam, u will be going back home let me get approval from my superior.
10 mins later, please go get ur bags we need to check.
Me: with my big belle I run go carry luggage( I had just a cabin size box and a well wrapped ghana must go
CBP: all these clothes are too much ( biko which clothes)
Senior CBP patapata: madam, when was ur visa issued
Me: 2016
SCBP: it wasn’t given to birth
Me: yes, it was for a conference which I attended and I was not pregnant and then.
SCBP: ok ma, I will allow u into the USA but please show receipts on ur way out( she had a passport to junior CBP
Junior CBP: collects my passport and arrogantly stamps me in for 10weeks. Saying if I present a receipt less than 20k dollars on my way out, no visa will be resissued
Me: thank u ma.
CBP: Now very Angry, don’t thank me, looking at u disgusts me, just leave my sight before I puke.
Me: quickly carries my bag.
Moral :
1. It is now illegal to birth in USA if the birth can be handled in Nigeria( they showed me proof of that o)
2. Abort mission if ure using H Stroger.
3. Make sure u tell everyone u chat with that ure coming back
4. Hold cash of all the money u need.
5. Stay far from Ohare.

This is where I drop my pen.

Whoa, very traumatic experience. It is well with you, make sure you rest adequately. This is way too much for a pregnant woman to go through. All the best

aremso:
House pls any idea of the earliest date in Lagos?

You will need to check continuously in case any earlier date pops up.

joanazubu:
i have o.. the hospital said is standard for all .....got this feed back from the hospital on the discount
""""The statement format is default for all our patient accounts statements. And the request to remove the discount is not something we will do for anyone. This is a valid statement given to you. You were provided with a cash discount price sheet from your doctor as well as OakBnd , you can provide the embassy with a copy of that letter/form. To explain the cash price discount that was given to you.

Then you would need to tell the VO what the hospital told you. As far as you paid all your bills, you will be fine. All the best.

TWoods:
1. You can go with your baby. Not a problem
2. Sex of the VO does not matter, you won't be able to select either way.
3. If you indicated that you were residents on the BC of your child, there is nothing you can do at this point.
4. The large "discount" will likely attract some scrutiny. That was a rather large amount and will raise suspicions.

All the same, you have no choice but to go for the interview and hope for the best.

Twoods is right. My advice is let your honesty shine through. If any document is requested and you have it, I believe it’s better to show it and explain the discount. You can also call the hospital to explain the discount to you, so you can be better prepared.

TWoods:
I am just as amazed. Sometimes I feel I must be living on a strange planet when I hear these costs.

Hi Twoods, it’s been a while, where have you been? I used to enjoy your constructive criticism, even though once in a while, it could be quite mean but I used to look forward to reading your opinions. For the cost, that was what I was charged by the service providers. All the best and have a lovely day.

sevule:
I was shocked that you paid $8,609 for a C-Section. My wife just gave birth via C-Section and the total bill was approximately $46,000. However since I have health insurance, I only paid $1,000 out of pocket, and the rest was covered by insurance.

The American Health system is truly a strange one!

Lucky you, having to pay only $1000 out of pocket, I wish I had insurance cos I heard the monthly fee is next to nothing for residents in the US but since i don’t have US insurance, I need to do the needful and pay the bill that was quoted to me by the service providers. If we continue to do the right thing as Nigerians, the outside world will begin to see that not every Nigerian is a fraudster. Little drops make the mighty ocean. Something I noticed in the US is that, a lot of people are in debt, I love that their insurance system works efficiently for the insured. It’s actually easier to pay $1000 out of pocket, not many people in the US can pay $8600 out of pocket.

chloe00:
Hi springdance please can I email you to get info on your paediatrician and doctor. Thank you

Hi Chloe00, you can email me.

Cretaceous:
Good day mothers.

Please kindly help me provide answer to these questions:

1. Is the Nigerian master card accepted for payment?
2. Is the epidural compulsory? Would you advise not taking epidural to save cost?

thank you

I know the Nigerian domicilliary card is accepted for payment, you fund your domicilliary account and you are good to go, our naira card did not work.

Epidural is not compulsory but like someone said earlier, it’s better to pre-pay if the option is available.

Coh15:
Good morning Springdance
I have a few questions:

1. How do you make payment / reservation on Airbnb from Nigeria? I have registered on the platform but keep getting "you don't have permission " when I try to book.

2. How did you go about turo.com car rental. Was it from Nigeria or when you got to Houston.

Thank you

Thanks

Hi, for Airbnb, initially, I got that too, so I went to my profile and saw that I still had put some info to complete my registration.

For turo, it was in Houston.

NayaNdupu:
Thanks for sharing. Can I have your private email so I can ask more questions please. I got referral to same same hospital you used. My email is nayandupu@gmail.com. Thanks

My email addy is myemail1960@yahoo.com.

happney65:
Okay,do you think paying the hospital bills before going for the interview is an added advantage to secure the visa or what do you think?

Thanks

I don’t think you need to pay your hospital bill, you need to have your doctor’ Correspondence and if possible hospital correspondence. Some doctor’s charge a fee which will be removed from your total bill to send you like an acceptance letter. You can get your doctor to send you that instead and take it along for your interview. Some doctor’s don’t charge you. It depends on your doctor

jaycribs:
There are way cheaper hospitals out there in the USA, please do your research and save your money because buhari is still president.
I had my baby in Virginia for $3600 Vaginal delivery, i think for a C section it was less than $4500. We still have to pay school fees ooo

Trust me darling, I did an extensive research, my preference was Houston and the hospital I used charges $3000 for vaginal delivery. For CS, hospital fee in Houston ranged from 4000-4500 and I chose my hospital becos anesthesia was 560 compared to 1000-1800 charged by other hospitals. At the end of the day, anesthesia made it cheaper. We are in the same boat cos i am paying plenty school fees and school fees in Lagos is not smiling at all. All the best.

happney65:
Excuse me please,Did you pay for the Hospital Bills before you attended the visa interview here in Nigeria?

Thanks

I got my visa first before paying for hospital.

PJMasks:
Please, how did you apply for Visa on arrival. I sent an application and i got a response about 5hrs later that it was received. Now, ive not heard anything from them. I called someone at the NIS and she told me it doesnt work like that, that i should have called an officer that works there to follow up. This wasnt on the website. Please, help me out. Thanks

I got the received response and in 2 days I got the visa on arrival approval letter. I didn’t have to call any officer in Lagos.

Kudos to all the contributors on this forum

TWoods:
I agree... I find those who have a problem with my posts are often the less than honest...

Here we go again, generalizing and calling people dishonest. I think you are actually a dishonest person and that is why you think every one is dishonest and a liar. Dishonesty begets dishonesty and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. You see everyone as a liar and as dishonest because that is what you are but guess what, not every one is like you.

TWoods:
I assume you don’t expect anyone with half a brain to believe this plot?

Your statement above is very rude and you are directly implying that she is lying.

TWoods:
You had a baby, got divorced, your husband relocated to the US (now married to someone else)... and you also found someone new and got pregnant again... all in the space of 1 year? I assume you don’t expect anyone with half a brain to believe this plot?

Whoa, how rude can you get, who made you judge and jury. If you read clearly without prejudice, she said they were already separated before the divorce and she didn't say her husband was remarried, how did you come to that conclusion. The way you attack people on this forum is uncalled for.

Emirates has joined the sales bandwagon for tickets, I think it starts March. Go to travelstart.com.ng or wakanow to book.

Also for those looking to book airbnb in America, don't be scared of the price, contact the host and see if they will give you a further discount. My host gave me a further discount of $1000 for my apartment.

Ramj:
AirbnB in Nigeria... please be sure of this option.
Anyone

Airbnb is available in Lagos with reviews. Go to airbnb.com type Victoria island, Lagos or lekki or Yaba or where ever you want.

Thridbaby:
Good morning house. please I will like to know the amount I can lodge in an hotel very close to Lagos embassy Lekki. Amount & address pls. thanks

Also try airbnb.com, type Walter carrington in the search

Deemama18:
Good morning. Please help. Am also looking at Houston. Could you pls send hospital name, contact and possibly fees. Thanks
Cicidoyin@gmail.com

Went 4 my first appointment yesterday with Dr. F, Paid my OB/GYN fee, did several test with scan & was schedule for next week 4 second appointment.

Please, has oakbend implemented their new fee policy. If they have, pls what is the new fee?

Bisoye76:
@springdance
Thanks for this info pls does this Oakbend quote include all scan and lab tests pls.

It excludes lab, I reckon you will need to pay for additional lab test done by the doctor and hospital.

Thanks for all the info on this forum

paddedbabe:
Hello everyone, please for mums who had a C-section delivery, how old was your LO when you were able to travel with him/her back to Nigeria .Im flying emirates and it's quite a long journey though we will transit in Dubai after 14 hours from Houston. I just need to know when to fix my return date for LO and myself. Thank you.

My LO was one month and one week old. All the best dear.

[quote author=Dollarsolution post=63679309][/quote]If you put in your intended length of stay on the airbnb site, you would get a cheaper deal because most host give monthly discounts and you can further negotiate with your host, when it's monthly. You will be surprised that you will get a fantastic deal.

All the best.

jaysmom:
Confirm from Delta office when you get to the airport to avoid stories that touch. Those wakanow staff can hardly help especially with Delta (maybe things have changed).
My 2014 experience won't let me fly delta with an infant even if it's a free ticket, yes you heard me right.
From moving my Houston to Atlanta ticket forward without informing me leaving me with just an hour to hop into my Atlanta-Lag flight
TO
insisting I buy a return ticket for my infant (if I remember correctly, that cost me about $700, and there was no sensible person to answer my questions. They just gave me a number to call)
TO
refusing to let me take in my infants carry-on because the cabin was full even when their fellow hostess mentioned that we could put it in business class cabin. I had to just pack diapers and wipes into my handbag(we were actually amongst the last to get on the plane).
And just when I thought I had seen the worst, 2 of my boxes didn't come to Lagos with me and I had an Owerri flight to catch the next day.

Lastly if you need a bassinet, then don't pick the middle seat, you won't be given any.
My upgrade to economy comfort was a waste of money.

Please check and check and check again.

Thanks will do.

dere5:
This your deal sweet nor be small.

Na God o.

MamaE3:
I booked via Travelstart 1 adult and 2 children , I got for 840k . Looks like urs is way cheaper , plus did u book from delta direct ?I couldn't do dat

I booked via wakanow, spent hours looking for a good deal and tweaking my dates. At the end of the day na Baba God. I think the promo is now over.

Omodadi2:
I hope one will be able to add baby to this promo ticket when coming back?

I confirmed before paying and was told it won't be an issue. My last trip I booked via wakanow and when it was time to add my baby, called the airline and it was done without any hassle. By God's grace it will be smooth sailing again this time.

Michoolu:
Thanks for these. But 2 quick ones it the offer only to Houston and how do I book online or their office

I saw the deal on travelstart, also checked wakanow and it was the same thing, so I booked via wakanow. I am going to Houston, so am not sure about other states.

You guys should keep your eyes on emirates, they might start their own soon.