MyCaseIsDiffere:

Yes, I was, sir.

Why going for another MSc and not PhD?

MyCaseIsDiffere:


My apologies for quoting you, sir. This is my first time of posting on this platform, after haven spent days reading the threads. Don't know any other way of doing my enquiry. Kindly pardon my ignorance.

I doff my heart to all the gurus in the house. To the big daddies, mummies, uncle's and aunties, I saw well done, sirs and ma's.

Straight to the issue at hand. I am about apply for my F1 Visa this year, and I will like to follow the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln. I have taken this long to even fill a DS160 form, cos I want to do it right this time.

I currently have a valid B1/B2 visa. My first visa was issued in 2012 while I was studying in a foreign country. Last year, I was denied a F1 Visa four times, all in August of 2018 ( I am ready to submit the transcripts if requested). I got a reinstatement this year and would be applying again.

School: Harvard
Degree: MA
Course: Theological Studies
Funding: Full Tuition scholarship with stipends as well a SOA from a bank in Atlanta, owned by my uncle who works with the United Nations.
Last trip: Nov. 2018 ( stayed 5months)
Highest Qualification: Masters from a country in Europe

@fairheart @shawarma @LagosismyHome in short, all the oldies come and diagnose me.

were you refused all those four times with full funding from Harvard?

And why going for another MSc and not PhD

SEQUIN:
Good day everyone, my interview is scheduled for next week and I dont have any assistanship only my dad. I have noticed from the trends that people who have fundings are likely approved. Please do I stand a chance because Im yet to see any approve transcript for someone without schorlarship.

That shouldn't bother you. Many people without any form of scholarship got their visa approved. your dad sponsoring you is a good one. Just make sure the account statement you are going with, has enough funds on it to covered the required amount.

BeyonSee:
Hello everyone! Please I am new here, my visa previously denied in January, but I have another visa interview on the 30th of this month. I have two concerns
1. The last time I was in the US, due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to stay for 5 months which was one of the queries I got last time from the VO
2. My school is Washington Adventist University, Maryland. Anyone has an idea if this is a good school?
Will post my transcript soon.
Thanks!

1. Only you can answer this well when asked during next interview. Staying that long is frowned at by most V.O

2. WAU is a very small university with less than 1,000 enrolments, not that great a university. if you have another option, kindly switch to it unless this university offered you scholarship.

dumbiri99:

What if the vo only asks for bank statement, is he allowed to pass the letter along with the statement

ofcourse. The letter should be infront.

Yhukay00:
I indicated my dad as my sponsor when filling the visa application form, but the bank statement he gave me is his company account, could this be an issue?

let the bank issue a cover letter indicating that he is the sole signatory to the account. you will be fine

Yhukay00:
Hello guys, I'm new here. My interview is on the 31st of this month, do I need to read from part 1 to catch up? Thanks.

from part 1? not sure you can finish reading from part 1 to part 15. what do you want to know?

TheZed:
Location: Lagos Embassy
Date: 9 July 2019
Status: Approved
PhD Full funding
Everything was barely 3mins

V.O: Good morning
Me: Good morning ma’am

V.O: Pass me your passport
Me: (Passed my Passport, I20 and sevis receipt)

V.O: How did you get this assistantship?
Me: It was recommended by....cuts in

V.O: I mean what made you qualified for this assistantship?
Me: Oh, My GPA and my GRE score.

V.O: What’s your GPA and GRE score?
Me: 4.66 and 304

V.O: Did you apply to other schools?
Me: I applied to just two schools.

V.O: What’s the other school?
Me: Tamuk

V.O: So why Ncat?
Me: Because it’s a fully funded PhD program and........Cuts in

V.O: Didn’t you get scholarship from Tamuk?
Me: I only got an instate tuition waiver.

V.O: How much did you have to pay after the waiver?
Me: $21,000

V.O: Do you have a masters degree?
Me: No

V.O: Oh, It’s directly from Bsc
Me: Yes

V.O: When did you graduate?
Me: 2017

V.O: What have you been doing since then?
Me: I went for my compulsory National Youth service program from April 2018 to April 2019. After which I returned back home to prepare for my graduate school travels.

V.O: What do you want to do after your program?
Me: I want to be an industrial consultant and a lecturer.

V.O: Pick your passport at this location after 3 working days.
Me: Thank you (I was already in a trance at this point)

congratulations!!! finally

tboy47:
F1 visa approved dis morning
Lagos consulate
Was interviewed by dat blak man i guess window 3
Deficit = 5k
Got GTA of about 12k
Before i stat, na God do am for me oo. Nor b small fasting and prayers

Vo- pass me ur passport and i-20
I did
Vo- why did u choose dis sku
Me i was awarded a GA and more importantly, ( i started shaking and was confused) d research been conducted by professor cloiut on geophysics( nigga, what ar u saying, i started saying tins frm my head) it aligns wit my career ( vo was nodding his head) and also d program structure at TAMUC stands out for exmaple i will b learning experimental research on micro computer hardware, X-ray spectroscopy (vo keeps noddin) vo then started typing for like a minute..
Vo- who sponsoring you
Me- my elder bro here in nigeria
Vo- what does e do?
Me- e works at bleep
Vo- i can see you have assistanship
Me- yes sir
Vo- vo typed for like 1min30seconds. ( my heart was beating verry fast and i was also praying) Have you traveled out bfor?
Me -no
Vo started typing again and asked my undergraduate degree and school
I told him
Vo- i will b approving ur visa.
No single document asked..
I jst blank.
Pick up 3 days time wateva. D next tin i started doing michael jackson dance
I av been praying to God for favour and grace to speak for me. And behold e answered my prayers .
Tanks to dis forum and ur Contributions @fairheart, @sharwama and evevy oda members, i tank u all ooo

Congrats!!!

fairheart:
No. He cannot get expedient appointment. It is not for students who have been recently refused.

Someone got after been refused within a week. another was refused. so you can't say one cannot emergency appointment after a refusal. I don't know what they check but definitely not the 6 months rule. The fellow can give it a try, if he isn't granted... he should opt to reschedule to a better date when closer dates open up.

Perra:
Please o, ...Has anyone ever been granted Student Visa with their spouse and kid? ... My son is just a few no the old and I got admitted into an Accelerated Nursing Degree program. (For people that already have a degree in another field) .

Now this program is very demanding you will be in school from 8am to sometimes 7pm, ...its not something of day care for a 12months old. So I decided that my husband would accompany me for the duration ( less than two years).

Pls what are the chances of our visa being approved? Any advice? ... My son is too young to leave behind with the papa.

Many have, you should give it a try. you can search this thread and previous thread for transcript of those that were approved with their spouse and kids, you will learn from their experience.

Quoran:
Sorry about this. As others have suggested, try Abuja this time. I'm just curious. Why didn't you pick you University of Florida ?

He said no funding from University of Florida, was admitted for MSc.

dumbiri99:

Why change location. I thought they said changing location doesn't help

there is no right way to this. some changed location and got it. some changing location didn't help. if i will say, best option is to stick to one location.

Scholastica16:


Reapply and (if still available for a second-time applicant) opt for expedited visa appointment. Your funding letter, resumption date on a document and if possible a letter from your school or intended supervisor explaining that you are legit should facilitate your request approved forthwith.

I don't know why people don't belabour it, but being full funded is the first reason you should want a school over others except the rest of them awarded you some funding. You should always endeavour to put your best foot forward before garnishing your response with the nature of the research and the supervisor.

I am convinced your request for an emergency date will be granted and you could even get approved with dates ranging from tomorrow to Friday. Don't be dismayed. The VO was just crazy(for lack of a better word).

The V.O is very crazy. It's very hard to get emergency appointment approved now if one is refused within the last 2 months. I guess he should do as you have instructed, he might be lucky to get his request approved. A friend with funding and some deficit tried but wasn't granted an emergency appointment.

Wretch32:
Ohh

but he said Florida didn't fund him. He was put on waitlist for PhD and later offered direct admission to Masters without funding

Wretch32:
Full funding
Perhaps that’s why

university of Florida also funds all admitted PhD students.

DonGusfring:


I just did. Request sent. Thanks

I have replied your PM.

DonGusfring:


yes. That is my first time at the US Embassy and I have never been denied any VISA before

Send me a PM

DonGusfring:
Location: Lagos Embassy

Date: 8 July 2019

Status: Denied

PhD Full funding, No deficit

VO was a black guy at window 9.

I was confident and I was one of the first few people in the consulate for 6:30am appointment, he denied the 4 people in front of me and one mind is saying change queue, another is saying don't worry �

Me: Good Morning
VO: Good mornind. Pass me your passport and I20 which I did
VO: I see that you're going to the University of Toledo, why did you chose the university of Toledo?

Me: Cos the department of Chemical Engineering at university of Toledo focuses on sustainability issues relating to the production materials and chemicals from renewable resources, also the research of Prof Bleep on Membrane process Optimization for carbon capture perfectly aligns with my research interest, and I was also awarded Graduate teaching assistantship that fully covers my tuition and living expenses.

VO: how many school did you and apply to and how many admitted you?

Me: I applied to 8 schools (VO cuts in)

VO: How many admitted you?
Me: 4 schools, MTU, university of Missouri, university of Toledo and University of Florida

VO: Have you traveled outside Nigeria before?

Me: Yes, I went on a week vacation to Dubai last year

VO: Sorry you're not qualified at this time ��‍♂

Like dream. Kindly advice on what next to do guys, I have full funding that covers tuition and living expenses, no deficit but excess of 9k more than the estimated average in fact.

is this your 1st time at the embassy?

Honeysweetest:
hello everyone,can someone refer me to religious visa thread, or can someone put me through,what I need to know about it.thanks

I don't think you will find anything like that. it's either you are going for a visit or you are going for studies (religion inclusive). This thread is for students visa

Mudicua:
Okay so here it is people.

First of all, my case is kinda peculiar and not the regular ones common here. As such, I do not know if my transcript will help due to that, but I sincerely hope it gives someone some clarity or guide for their own interview.

Date: June 26, 2019
Venue: Lagos Consulate
Time:6:30 a.m
Gender of VO: Male
Window: Window 9. (guy was doing fingerprinting initially, but later The CGI guys blocked him off for interviews) Kinda heavy set, with beard.

VO: Good Morning, Pass me your I-20 and passport.
ME: Good Morning again (VO looked up at me when I used “again” with the good morning. Well this was cos he had done my fingerprinting) while I gave him a very big smile… and then passed the requested documents to him.

VO: Why are you going to US?
ME: I am going for a doctorate degree in Human Sciences with a specialization in global family health (stumbled a bit) and wellbeing, at UNL, Lincoln, Nebraska.

VO- I see you are going to Nebraska?
Me- Yes I am.

VO: Is that the main campus? Lincoln?
ME: Yes.

VO: You been to Lincoln?
ME: Yes I have.

VO: How long did you stay in the US? And where have you lived in the US
ME: About 4 years, I lived in Oklahoma and Nebraska.

VO: So why did you chose UNL?
ME: The school has a very rich learning culture, and a very distinguished faculty. It also provides an opportunity for students to study families using a global mindset, where local ideas are adopted to solve global family issues and global ideas... (VO cuts off)

VO: Okay so why Nebraska? You been to Nebraska? So why there (in my mind I’m like shuo… shebi I just told this dude I stayed there)
ME: (Huge smile) Yeah I lived in North Platte during my optional training… (I stopped cos he gave me a look, and huh?) Well Nebraska is a pretty place to stay, I have interacted with persons from there, the people are nice and welcoming. It is surely more than the corn fields (another small smile).

VO: (Picks up my passport and start to flip through) Why do you have another student visa on your passport?
ME: (cannot remember exactly what I said, but it was more like) I applied to other schools, some of which were in the country and got admitted and also applied for visa which just came through (cuts in)

VO: But you wanna choose the US school?
ME: (smiles) Yeah, that is correct.

VO: (nods) Okay. So what other schools did you apply to in US?
ME: BYU, UMN, OSU and UNL (I said these all in full)

VO: (nods) How many gave you admits?
ME: UNL and OSU

VO: Your previous masters where did you do it?
ME: At the university of …….

VO: What was your major?
ME: Family life education …….

VO: I see you have been to Canada?
ME: Yes

VO: How long did you stay there?
ME: Just a couple of weeks.

VO: Where in Canada did you go?
ME: Ontario, Toronto

VO: (picks up i20 and looks through) Why did they not give you full funding? Why do you have partial funding here?
ME: (omo I did not prepare for this question) Oh, I myself was surprised, and actually called the departmental chair about that, who said they have a lot of outstanding intakes this year, and it would only be fair to ensure everyone gets some sort of funding. (V.O nodded)

VO: Okay but you seem to have a whole lot more money than your deficit why is that?(picked up i20 to show me)
ME: Oh that, (smiled) the deficit is the total funds available to me minus the funding already taken care of by the school. The whole lot of money is inclusive if funding as well as my family funds. (VO nods and start to type)

VO: So who is gonna pay this balance?
ME: My brother and his wife.

VO: (nods) Okay. Where is he?
ME: In Uk. (V.O nods)

VO: What university did your brother go? (this question shocked me)
ME: University of Benin (V.O nods and starts to type again)

VO: Do they have kids?
ME: Yes.

VO: (nods) Okay. In your first masters program who paid your tuition?
ME: (Huge smile) My mom. (V.O nods)

VO: So why is she not paying now? Why is your brother taking charge of your bills?
ME: (with another killer smile and a sweep of my hair… lol) she is a senior citizen now, and is retired.

VO: What is your duty as a GRA?
ME: (did not hear very well) sorry?

VO: You have assistantship what are your duties?
ME: Oh… I’m gonna be assisting my supervisor Prof TTTT on her research on refugee women in Kenya. She is interested in African families and so we will be working together. (VO Nods) however the details of my research and other duties will be finalized in the first week of fall.

VO: And after your program, what is the program going to do for you?
ME: First I am very passionate about families, and the growing trend of domestic and intimate partner violence in Nigeria is a cause for concern. Hence after my program I will be able to contribute to policies that can help families in Nigeria and in developing countries.

VO: Are you married?
ME: No.

VO: (nods) Okay. Your Visa is approved. Passes the white paper and my i20, and asked that I pick my passport in 3 working days.
ME: (Now smiling widely). Thank you and have a great day.

VO: You too.
ME: Smiled again at him, put my white paper and i20 in my folder, and then walked out.

Now these are some of the things that helped me:

Confidence: I was nervous… (normal reaction) but after my first 2 sentences with the VO, I relaxed and started to flow.
Collected: I did not rush, nor was I too slow in answering the VO. But I took time to think.
Background history: I did not violate any immigration rules while previously in US (so I had good background history). All my previous school bills were fully paid. I filed all my taxes as well, even this last tax season. (for those in US please do not take this for granted, and file correctly)
Travel history: My travel history in and out of US is there on my DS160… so when he asked if I have been to Canada, I told him yes… and how long I stayed. (but it is on my i94). Also I did a lot of traveling home while I was schooling there.
God Factor: Yes oooo… this is key. The scriptures say “when ye are prepared ye sha not fear”. I had all the right documents, but I was worried what if I said something out of place. P kept praying to be able to say the right things to the questions asked. And then I was prepared. and was able to say the right things.

Gratitude Corner
I want to say thank you to everyone who contributes to this thread. This is why it is still alive.

To those who proffered suggestions to questions I asked on this platform and even privately I say a very big thank you.
@Brown2green, @Time2win, @Walspring @Texrem for taking time to respond to my email and questions I asked, thanks.
And to those who did not or could not respond to my email request, I also want to say thank you cos I understand how crazy schedules can be.

@Twoods, I want to say thanks as well. Your comments on my post actually made me think more clearly… I actually wanted to send you an email, and in afterthought chose not to. Thanks for responding to my email request. I quite understand why and how you react the way you do. But again it is better to advise or give suggestions rather than put down others and trample on their hopes and aspirations.

Finally, A very special thanks to @Sharwama. See this girl, she took time to respond to me, went through my transcript, provided suggestions and even gave me a mock interview. Most importantly she allayed my worries… she kept telling me to breathe and just go do me… and do me I did. . Thanks mama... I stan!!!

One Last Note.
Please note this key fact... it is important to know what you are going for.... be passionate about your course of study. When you are passionate it will show in your eyes and your hands. Y
When you pick a course or school without much knowledge about it, then there is room for error or gaps in the conversation with the VO.
Best of luck to all visa hopefuls.

nice one! Congrats. enjoy trumpland

hybeenoni:
To God be the glory, collected my stamped passport today.
Special thanks to Fairheart, Brown2Green, Time2win, and others active members on this forumn for their selfless acts on here, including Lagosismyhome, and Shawarma for your humour filled post while responding to questions.

Had my interview on 27/06

Interviewed I think at window 8 by the bearded VO


VO had already approved one, denied one and placed on one AP.
Next was my turn and felt now us my turn to grab this thing.

VO: What school are you applying to me?
Me: Texas tech university to study MS Mathematics

VO: why this degree ?
Me: This decision to go for a further study was informed by my current job as a maths teacher where I have grown to enjoy the job and earning this degree will enable me attain the minimum requirement needed to take up an Assistant lecturing position at my Alma Mata.

VO: Why Texas tech university?
Me: Coupled with the fact that I was awarded a GTA that covers my tuition, living expenses and health insurance, my proposed research work on Stochastic epidemic model, perfectly aligns with the primary research work of prof Bleep and also I have been able to build a good Faculty-Student relationship with my Graduate coordinator, Dr Bleep

VO: Have you travelled outside Nigeria before?
Me: No

VO: Are you married?
Me: No

Next I will be approving your visa

I just said thank you and have a nice day, after collecting my white paper

congrats

Milkshakes01:
Good day everyone,

Please who knows if a blind person can take GRE?

Hope this explains it

https://www.ets.org/disabilities/documentation/documenting_vision_loss/

exousia058:
Baba don vex, sorry Sir! hahaha... some persons tend to think there are shortcuts to this Yankee grad school thing.

Nothing good comes easy, there is no shortcut. He has to sit down and do some research.

Wretch32:
Easy there tiger

Nothing like easy there. People want everything at the platter of gold. Imagine that kind of work, listing schools that will give him full funding lolz. Nobody even knows his profile. I call it laziness and unseriousness. So many schools put up all these details on their program page, so it's not something that's hard to find. He can as well mail program directors of prospective schools.

Mohs:
Hello guys.. I would like to get a list of schools in the U.S with full funding.. I want to pursue masters degree in human resources management but I need financial opportunities

What happened to Google or did you pay anyone here to do the research for you?

dheee:
Fairheart keep calm, your dreams are still valid!
Visa approved this morning 6:30am. Zero funding, no AP and SOA wasn’t all that rich. Would post my transcript once I am settled.

Congrats!!!

martinz1:
Sevis fee has been increased to $350 from $200,
Why are these people like this

They made the announcement since.

dikachi484:


I have told the person to send it but no receipt yet

I am not sure the person paid it. Ask for receipt

Olumuyiwalasode:


who's this guy?? well, my only mistake was quoting you, but if you read my post well, i was addressing Brown2Green, and not you....so u obviously didnt take ur time to understand my post....

Wait, did brown2green also charge you?

BIMestBabe:


Tani bro e?
Anyways, I've gotten my visa!!! Yea, I believe it! So, bad energy, stay faraway! I'm going to one of the best schools, and my funding is renewed every semester, plus, for my case, God has given me victory! So, watch out for me!! My testimony is sooner than you can ever think!

You believe you have gotten it already and you came here to seek for help? Use your faith to get the visa please. There is no need seeking for advise here when you have such strong faith

Auditmonkey:


No. The school didn't refuse to transfer my SEVIS, I did not initiate the SEVIS transfer process at all because I didn't have admission to the schools I wanted to transfer to. I came home way before school was back from break, I informed the school what I was doing and I came back home. No illegal days or anything. I made sure of that

You shouldn't have come back home unless finance was the issue. You should have continued, get admit from the new schools then ask the school to transfer your sevis record. Right now, can you still resume in the old school since your visa is still active? If not, you have to attend a new interview and explain to the V.O so you don't have issues at point of entry