₦airaland Forum

TenaciousOrphan:
A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT REQUIRES URGENT ADVICE:
A female friend whom I knew here in the USA is in serious trouble. She needs advice and assistance:
1. Though she has an M.Sc and 6 years teaching experience with 28 publications in Nigeria, she was admitted to one of the highly ranked Schools in USA as an Msc student without funding, she didn't admissions orientations before we met. After 30k GA was given to her, Her Tuition is still 35k yearly. She has managed to pay 11k, but the remaining 24k needs to be paid b4 registering for spring but she doesn't have the money to pay and she was advised to take leave of absence.
2. The major problem is that, she has her husband and 3 children in 9ja. The goal is to enter a Ph.D by fall 2024 in my school or any other school here and I am already helping her with that. BUT SHE WANTS TO LEAVE THE CURRENT MSC PROGRAM TOTALLY, AND CONCENTRATE ON GETTING PHD ADMISSIONS WHILE DOING UNDER-G JOBS FOR NOW.
THE BIG QUESTION IS: WILL THIS LAST STEP OF LEAVING THE PROGRAM AFFECT HER FAMILY WHEN THEY WANT TO APPLY FOR F-2 FROM NIGERIA: SHE NEEDS ADVICE PLEASE?

Let her get student loan to pay the balance, I'm assuming she hasn't tried that option.
She can not be out of status

flamxy682:
Thank you for your reply.

Can one who has applied for F4 also apply for spousal visa (permanent resident)?

And how long does it take, that's if you have an idea.

It's the petitioner that applies on your behalf
USC in the US applies for spouse in Nigery
USC sibling in the US applies for sibling in Nigeria

To your question YES you can have multiple immigrant applications applied for you.

anduyo:
So you applied 3 yrs from your wedding? I thought you have to wait for 10 year green card or after 5th year wedding anniversary.

If your green card was gotten from marriage then you can apply after 3yrs if you meet terms and conditions

Winter is coming!!!!!
A few tips in my opinion

Thicker or Bigger clothes don't always mean warmer
Try fleece or fleece lined clothing look for inner thermal wear
Clothes for skiing are good options especially the gloves

You lose heat from your extremities

Top of your head, sole of your feet, fingers, nose.
Be intentional about your shoes being lined on the inside, ski gloves or fleece lined gloves. wear caps and head covers. For women pls use wigs, no cornrows or braids

Footwear and coats are an investment
Buy shoes that are waterproof because when snow melts it is still water
Spend money on good quality boots. Lined inside and with heels grooves so you don't slip. You buy a good pair it will last you years
Coats? Pls stick to those with padding, avoid those heavy coats that weigh so much but are useless.

Black skin cracks
Use creams as opposed to lotions , in my experience they provide more hydration.
After the cream use a body oil to seal it.
Or use Shea butter
Or add vegetable glycerin to any cream or lotion you have and mix it

Heater is not always your friend
Heaters can give you headaches, stuffy sinuses because it dries out the air
You can open the window to bring in some moisture
Or use a humidifier or leave a bowl of water in the room like with a flower vase

Or if you have carpeting in the room, wear fleece lined housewear and use winter duvet/comforter then you can switch off the heater.

JaySterling:
Hey guys, I’m currently in the US on a tourist visa (B1/B2)

Can I use it to enter Canada ?

I have an important meeting to attend in Ontario

Nope. You can't use your US tourist visa to go to Canada .
You need a Canadian visa to do that.

You might need to find out if you can apply for one whilst in the US

queengift:
Hello my people,

I did my biometrics on the 16th Oct, for work visa. The wait is tiring, am becoming afraid. But it's well. I applied for Standard Visa.

Hehe..it's just two weeks na
Relax

DrHippocampus:
Hi, good day. Please why shouldn't one mention anything or anyone that has to be a US citizen? My dad's brother is a citizen and I'll be going for an exam in the US. I plan on staying with him for my short stay of less than one week in the US. I shouldn't mention this if I'm asked where I'll be staying?

If you are asked where you will stay then answer. They won't ask you whether the person is a US citizen or not. And if they do ask his citizenship say you don't know which is true..abi did he show you his US passport.

If this issue bothers you so much then book hotel/ Airbnb and put those details in your form and answer that question if it comes up.

But you can not fill something in your form DS160 and then deny it when you are asked during your interview.

Non immigrant visa holders have to prove they do NOT have immigrant intent.
You need more reasons to return back to Nigeria than to stay back.

Lamabel:
Hi Everyone,

I need your opinion, especially visa gurus in the house. My parents were recently denied their visit visa to come for my graduation in the US.
To put it in context,
My dad has not traveled before; however, my mum has been to the US three times, but her visa expired in 2018, so she could not do Dropbox again. She has applied again twice (alone), and this recent denial with my dad is the third one.
She used 179 days during her second visit to the US, and I think that is why they kept denying her because they always asked what she was doing for that long all three times, she was denied.

I want to apply for them again next year and was wondering if there is anything I can do to improve their chances.

Nothing you can do
As you stated she stayed 179 days on her previous visit. Her answers to that is what they want to know. Yes you are permitted to stay up to 180 days but after 90days that your record go begin dey suspect
If she doesn't want to give a reason or her reason doesn't seem tenable then you might just have to wait it out till a VO thinks differently.

Besides she can travel anywhere to visit or you can travel to see her.in Nigeria. That's probably how they would assess it.

Your Dad can reapply on his own alone.

Ifeuche:
Hello Everyone,

please I need your advice. My parents are planning to visit for my graduation (I'm an F1 student) in the USA. My dad's friend's son is also graduating in May 2024 close to my graduation date. On their DS160, they plan to use his (my dad's friend's) as the contact person in the USA since he's a PR holder and is more financially suited to host them and also since they would be going there first before coming to my state.

My questions are:
1. Is there any risk in doing this?
2. Does he need an invite from his friend or my school to take to the interview?
3. Has anyone (student preferably) had an experience of inviting parents for graduation, and did it go well?
4. Any other advice on this?

Thank you and i look forward to your responses.

Put what you said
Invitation letter is not relevant
That being said ..your graduation i s the reason for the visit so details of your graduation would be important.
Your dad's friend is where they will stay for the visit.
What is important is your parents ties to Nigeria. What will make them return back to Nigeria

abubarakat:
Yea i tried that yesterday morning but got stuck at the point where they wanted to send a code to my Nigerian phone number. Unfortunately i no longer have access to that sim.

As for internet banking, i had a feeling that would be the case as that's how i'm able to always retrieve my BVN. It got linked to my GTB account but the NIN isn't.

I have asked a friend to help me go the center i did the registration with the slip. Hopefully he is able to help me retrieve the NIN number.

Thanks for the suggestions. Appreciate it.

Have you checked gtb recently?
Was it the same phone number you used for NIN that you used for your gtbank acct.? If so then your NIN is probably there.

ThatgirlO:
Good afternoon house,
I applied for a student visa on the 8th of august 2023 and it seems like I am the only one still waiting for my visa outcome. Although my resumption deadline was 16th of October but my university had to defer my admission and update my CAs to the next intake which is 20th of November. My visa application is still pending, this week is going to make it the 12th week since I submitted. It seems everyone has gotten their visas and others that haven’t have withdrawn their application and planning to reapply for January intake. I was lucky that my course has a November intake but right now I feel alone and frustrated, I am just waiting. I have done 5 paid calls, I have escalated twice, the last escalation was last week Thursday and the last paid call was done yesterday. I was told I cannot escalate this week since the last escalation was just last week. I am really really worried and I want to know if there is any other way I can reach the home office so that I can get my decision on time. This delay is causing me a lot of distress physically, health wise and financially, please I will appreciate any help or suggestions. Thank you, gurus in the house please help

This may not be what you want to hear but you can only wait. I suspect you'll get some feedback by first week in Nov.
I'm assuming in your paid emails you indicated your school has extended your enrollment date.

Do you want to take the option of January intake

Sonniajude:
Good morning everyone
Please I need an enquiry about visa curtailment for an undergraduate student whose visa was curtailed because he has no academic activities for the next 60days due to a resit that is meant to be written next year and the university has asked him to leave the uk and reapply for a new visa from Nigeria . Please has anyone been in this situation before and what was the outcome as he is very scared about the situation. This person still have to more years to go for the current course and the current visa was meant to expire 2025 . The person did not also get any letter from UkVI and immigration status still shows details of the current visa. Please I will appreciate it if anyone who has any information about this response to my trend . Thanks in advance

[quote

Ask this in the Living in the UK thread.
There should be a means to reach the VC of the school. You'd find better answers there

abubarakat:
It's not there unfortunately. It's just an acknowledgement slip for my application.

Go to nimc website
There's a code you can use to get your NIN number.
As long as you still have access to the phone number you used to register. Hopefully you're roaming the line that way you can still send ussd code.

You can also check your bank through Internet banking. That's how I found my NIN number (how they linked I don't know cos I didn't give the bank)

bigtt76:
Na custom officers de check passport now for naija abi na immigration officers?

It's the same organization
NIS

damosade:
I need to be cleared here. Why is Canadian Government says you can convert your visiting visa to work?
Or am I not making sense?

The option of converting VV to wp was introduced due to COVID, since ppl were stuck in Canada so they allowed them to look for work if I recall it was to end this year but it has been extended.
However as other posters have said the intention of a VV is to primarily to visit that is still the same.

DrHippocampus:
Hi, good day. Please why shouldn't one mention anything or anyone that has to be a US citizen? My dad's brother is a citizen and I'll be going for an exam in the US. I plan on staying with him for my short stay of less than one week in the US. I shouldn't mention this if I'm asked where I'll be staying?

In you DS160 there will be be staying. Just put the address. If it asks with who then put the details of who you're staying with.

If the question comes up in the interview answer plainly . He's your Uncle.
Just focus on providing answers to the purpose of your visit which you said is for an exam.
I think it's more important to focus on why the exam has to be done in-person and assure you will return. Where and who you stay with is not as important.

Be calm and relax.

Athena6:
I didn't get the money by working, I got it as a sort of inheritance, if I was earning very very high I might stay but I just wanted to leave the country

It's your inheritance that your cousin and friend want to chop

Athena6:
It's my cousin friend so it really not possible

Lol!!
No be Joseph brother dump him a well and sell him to slave traders
No be ppl sisters and brothers charge them for visas sponsorship in millions of naira that COST them nothing.

Please humans are humans

2Banty:
Hey guys,

I am visiting Nigeria for thé first time in years this December. Will my American debit and credit cards work in Nigeria?

Do NOT carry your DEBIT CARD.
If you're using a hotel that's you booked already with your credit card then that's fine, follow typical precautions for using credit cards overseas.
I'd say carry some dollars in cash( not a lot abeg) and change to naira as you need. You can change at the airport when you land just 100usd at first.

Lastly travel light and try to open ngn bank account

Adakole27:
Please I need someone who would help with securing accommodation in NY.
Please is urgent
Will be coming soon

I can't help with securing accommodation.
I can suggest options.
Where are you going to NYC or Upstate NY?
Look at Facebook marketplace or Craigslist for options. However don't pay until you arrive and see the place
Airbnb or Hostels are options for the first two days. Hostels are cheeper but you need to show passport as ID since they are for temp visitors, note there are no private rooms in hostels.

Note you'd need to understand that most accommodation is by lease and you'd need to show some evidence of income, credit score to get lease and you'd pay security deposit plus agent fees.

Or you get rent from private landlords based on friends you tell.

Another place is spareroom.com , just put the area you are interested in . You'll find people who are renting ONE room in a shared apartment or studios . Typically you can get places without security deposit or agency fees and even short let's like 2months.

If you're a student then reach out to your international students liaison. Spareroom.com also has ppl renting to students.

Finally NY state and California and Washington DC have the highest rent, living expenses in the US .
NYC is more expensive than upstate NY. But you'd need a car in upstate NY

DaniDani:
Please I need your help everyone. I have someone (a lady) who wants to return back from Libya urgently. Please link me up with any organisation that assists to return Nigerians from Libya. It's urgent.

Let her contact IOM backed by UN

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/22/libya-repatriates-161-nigerian-refugees-in-un-backed-scheme

heroshark:
Can people who have applied and received their passport within 2months comment on the Number of Pages and duration they applied for?

I applied for 64pages, 10years and got my passport in about 5weeks (Bio on 17th July, passport delivered on 23rd August).

I wanted to confirm if the no of pages and duration affects the processing speed. Also If you applied for the same 10years, 64 pages and yet to receive your passport after 2months also comment.

Good point
The type of booklet currently available may be factor

EPEAKS:
Stop this. We also came here last month and my husband is on his 2nd job. I as his dependent will be starting my job on Monday. Our children have since started school. If you want to come to UK come. But carry God along. He is the only one that is faithful.

I suppose you're talking to the main OP fullcrib
That you and your husband got jobs fairly quickly does not mean others did not wait 3months plus before getting jobs.
Supply of jobs are a matter of location, tiime and chance. Besides having God on you side doesn't absolve of you of trials nor of making mistakes. Life has seasons .
If someone has a bad experience let them share
If someone has good experience let them share
Transparency is important

Many new immigrants are in dire straits because they hoped on paying all their school fees and living expenses from working .

julzz:
Hi guys, I tried renewing my visa via Dropbox but passport was returned with a slip to schedule a follow up interview 221g, have anyone had similar experience?

Okay so this new process is Interview waiver
In previous years it was called Dropbox

Regardless of the term the embassy doesn't say you will never be required to come for an interview. They are at liberty to require interviews at their discretion.
So to your question YES, ppl still get called for interviews even though they qualify for interview waiver.

teefex:
Hi everyone,
Please I need help!!!
I was refused visa twice . Since I gave birth to my second child in 2017 haven’t gone for a visa application so I went in for interview on September I was refused. I had all my receipts then I got a date for today which I went for as well and I was refused again. I had my children in 2016 and 2017 respectively. I sent letter of intent and I also said it at the POE so I wasn’t hiding. I paid all my bills. It’s just that my kids really wanted to visit the USA. They haven’t gone since they were born. Please how can I go about this. Should I get an immigration lawyer and please does anyone know a very good one

I don't think you should have applied again after your refusal this September.

Leave it alone for at least a year. The visa is for you not your kids, visas are privileges you are not banned so relax. Try again in a years time besides your kids can vacation anywhere else.

If you want to look back at the interview then after they asked about you seeking medical treatment then you could have said you might consider giving birth in the future but this trip is for a vacation.

Now it doesn't matter, keep your receipts and try again next year. You didn't seek medical treatment on your first visit, you did on your second and third. You declared at POE both times. You paid your bills.
Fortunately you'll get a CO that will give you room to respond.

Gerrard59:
The question is: what is the percentage of Nigerians who pay complete fees upfront? That is what we should consider. If out of 10 Nigerians heading to the UK via study visa, only 3 paid complete fees upfront due to the high costs involved, then it means many will find it difficult to complete their fees while being students. Let's see things from his perspective. If OP is not attending an elite university and he mentions sums like 35 million, it means LSE, Imperial fit nack 60 million and Oxbridge go reach 100 million. How many Nigerians attend those schools sef?

I still maintain that many pay upfront.
I already added that schools accept installments in fact they don't expect you to pay all your school fees at once You will come with one payment for school at least.

The real struggle for majority is living expenses and raising cash for the next installment.
OP arrived on student visa and didn't pay ANYTHING for school at all. He's only been here 1month plus na and he says school is on his neck. E no pay nothing for school be dat na

Would a student even do that in Nigeria ? Enter school no pay notin yet

adeolaspecial:
Yea...my story was that someone ( a senior staff) defrauded my then IT company. They found out he was the one and then because he was close to the company owner, they covered it all and made us took the fall for it. We asked the Nigerian Police to investigate and we pleaded our innocence, but they wouldn't have it. They moved us to SARS where we were locked up for a lengthy period of time. It wasn't a pleasant experience. While in there, my dad was running around to see i was freed, they refused to charge the case to court, they didn't and my dad fell ill and passed away. I didn't see my dad when he passed and was buried. I slipped into depression and it impacted me greatly. Eventually we were released after 2yrs and i wasn't myself. Had to move to my village for awhile to get over the trauma and it took me time. I left the IT industry cos it reminded me of so much. That's my story. Starting a new life here in the Uk, i consider going back into IT, but where do i start ? How do i focus without triggering my past trauma.

That's why I'm kind of struggling. Yea, that's my story. But I'm trying to see how best i can find a way back in if I'll fight to. And thanks to all for the contribution.

Have you considered therapy? It would help you work through this. Most organizations in the UK provide anonymous therapy, pls take advantage of it
Your Dad believed in you that's why he fought for your release. Consider your return to IT your way of making him proud. You are here and you survived that's a testimony. Don't shortchange yourself.

fullclub:
let me be plain. have you seen anyone that have paid their fees upfront? except a guy i saw that said he did paid his upfront on nairaland.

i repeat have u seen any that paid his fee upfront, if you have, how many have u come across?

No need to argue
There are plenty who pay their school fees upfront. Schools take installments too. You on the other didn't pay anything at ALL that's the issue.
More people are struggling with paying living expenses and second installment of school fees.
You sef no say you no try rara

Spend your energy on finding how to eat, bills increase as it gets colder

Well at least you're sharing the reality.
I repeat you can not PAY school fees on student visa with 20hours work. If that was possible then even UK citizens won't take loans to go to school.

School fees are paid in installments and they will keep to those deadlines. Your visa and that of your dependent is TIED to your continued stay in school.

Work is based on location too so you may want to consider looking for work online or your dependent moving to where there are more jobs.

Winter is coming and bills will increase.

If either of you get a job you can consider getting a loan or credit card to pay some bills..

Lastly you can always return..there is no shame in returning. Don't dig your self in a whole.
When you make a mistake you can retrace your steps that itself is growth.

fullclub:
i recently placed a land with foundation for 9m but no buyer yet... even if i sell it and change it to pounds how much nko

Amigo101:
Add another 3 years after being DQ'ed. Oh..and add another 2 or 3 years when you finally become current.

Another reality sadly

Schoolhike:
Finally got a permanent solution to mold in my house.

Bought a and the rest is story.

Reason for choosing this is because it does not only dehumidify but also purify the air and very low electricity consumption.

Yeah, dry clothes as well.

If you’ve got mold issue try get this product aswell.

How much was it?