₦airaland Forum

Brendaniel:
Well, hate him or love him, one thing I like about him is bluntness in handling issues, He tells you he hates you, you know he hates you and he is not faking it, rather than tell you he loves you only to kill you from behind, He handles issues by what he stands for and not going by the crowd and that costed him the election because majority of the world right now only want to hear what is pleasing to their ears even if it is deceitful, I'll rather have one friend that will tell me the truth than a billion friends that will lie to me...

He was president of the United States, his job was to govern and be the face of the American people, not just people he likes though.

Best rationale for making sure you get a foreign passport and ditch the Nigerian passport.

BlessedatFest:
Hello Everyone, please kindly help critic my transcript and tell me where I went wrong, I wish to reapply as soon as possible.

My interview was today at the Lagos US embassy.
Here is my transcript :


VO: Where are you headed?

Me: (Intentionally) I’m headed to Montclair New Jersey, I’m going with my husband for his PHD program.

VO: How long will you be there?

Me: 5 years, It’s a PhD program it will be for five years

VO: When did he leave?

Me: He hasn’t. He’s still in the country, we want to leave for the United States together

VO: Why didn’t you come for an interview together?

Me: He was able to get an expedited appointment

VO: Oh I see.When are you leaving?

Me: His program is starting in February so we are planning to leave together by 15th January.

VO: (Mumbles, I heard something like “oh, he has”)

Me: (Can’t remeber what I said, but I attempted further clarification)

VO: Okay. And how long have you been married?

Me: We got married last year September

VO: Do you have any kids?

Me: No

VO: How do you plan to sustain yourself in the United States?

Me: My husband and I have been able to save over the minimum requirement for a dependent. He’s also recieveing an assistantship that waives his tuition and offers him $21000 annuallly

VO: Have you made accomodation arrangements?

Me: Yes, we rented a place in Newark

VO: Okay. How much is it monthly

Me: About $800 monthly.(Don’t know what prompted me, perhaps a fear that she would ask more questions and I felt I should explain first) It’s an Airbnb

VO: So how much is it daily.

Me: I’m not sure

VO: I know Airbnb is rented daily

Me: (May have quickly jumped in without, maybe it felt to her like I was cutting her short) No it was a long-term rental (Know I had gaffed and lost my confidence, even looked down at my fingers at a time and realised it was a bad immpression so quickly looked up)

VO: Okay. And what do you do?

Me: I’m a writer for a media agency here in Lagos

VO: Do you have any kids?

Me: No

VO: (Asks a question about the money but I cant’ remember how she put it)

Me: Over the required minimum…

VO: So how much do you have.You say Over 6000 but below 7000? How much?

Me: Approximately $8000

VO: Okay. For a year.

Offers her rejection speech.

Please where did I go wrong?
Looking forward to your feedbacks.

Considering neither you nor your husband would be permitted to work in the US for 5 years, the VO didn't think you proved sufficient funds. $21,000 per year in stipends is roughly about $1500/month (after taxes/healthcare costs). If your rental is $800/month, that leaves you $700 for your bills (phone, electric, food, gas/car insurance)? That isn't enough, especially in NJ.

Also, average rent in Newark is well over $1000/month. Obviously the VO would be able to check this with a simple google search.

Also an airbnb is typically day rentals, you need concrete long term arrangement with a landlord. I would wait a few months and then try again.

Joclins:
Guys, members dey dm me say they supply
Hope it's not scam?

You asking for a "way to go about it" when you know you do not possess the required bank statement is a scam in its own right. Spend more time thinking of your own attempt to scam the visa process than others trying to scam you.

lawali:
Pls house I need clarification on pathway program. I observed 1 yr was written in the I-20 instead of 2yrs for the masters program.

Following the observation, the school was contacted but we were informed the duration of 1yr period is correct and new I-20 will be issued after 1st year.

Pls, what’s the implication on F1 Visa duration ? Is it that the student has to return after a year and do another F1 visa application and interview when new I-20 is issued.

Thanks

Your F1 visa is not super important, its your I-94 that matters. Likely your I-94 will have the same duration as is indicated on your I-20. Which means you'll have to leave the US and re-enter after 1 year.

Princewillalex:
Please can I do a Masters in Law or any other course in the US immediately after completing my LL.B without going to Nigeria law school first?

Of course you can. Nigerian law school isn't a requirement to do a masters in law program in the US. You'll need the LSAT i think. See the link in my post you quoted. That should give you all the answers you need.

Amylew:
Seasons greetings guys.
I just joined this thread and I am happy with the abundance of help available. I have been busy reading transcripts and learnt a lot.

Pls, I don't know much about US so Pls can anyone give me pointers on Universities that offer masters/ PhD in law so i can do the research on the school.
I have checked a few i saw here but no law. Unis of Alabama, Houston, Clarkson etc.

I work as a prosecutor, undergraduate in Law 3.67/5. Want to apply for masters.
Will be self funding if I can afford it.

From what I have read I don't need to write GRE but do I need Toefl/Ielts.
What schools are cheap and can I get full funding? Do I need to apply for the funding or its automatic.

Thanks guys.

Start your search here - https://www.lsac.org/discover-law/types-law-programs

If you want to practice law in the US, you will need more than a masters degree in law. You'll need to definitely go to law school but you can do that after your masters.

Johnnyessence:
A Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday blocked the state from certifying election results in the presidential race and all other races pending an evidentiary hearing to be held on Friday.

Commonwealth Judge Patricia McCullough ordered the state to hold off on taking any further action to certify the results of the 2020 election.

“To the extent that there remains any further action to perfect the certification of the results of the 2020 General Election for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America, respondents are preliminarily enjoined from doing so, pending an evidentiary hearing to be held on Friday,” the judge wrote.

“Respondents are preliminarily enjoined from certifying the remaining results of the election, pending the evidentiary hearing.”

Recall, the Pennsylvania Secretary of State on Tuesday certified the presidential and vice-presidential election and Governor Wolf signed the Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of elector for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

However, Republican lawmakers late Tuesday filed an emergency brief and argued there was no need to rush because Pennsylvania certified election results on December 12 in 2016.

The Republican lawmakers sued Governor Wolf, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

The Republican plaintiffs, Congressman Mike Kelly, Sean Parnell, Wanda Logan and others argued that Pennsylvania’s vote-by-mail measure, Act 77, is in violation of the PA constitution.

The Epoch Times reported:

“Act 77 is the most expansive and fundamental change to the Pennsylvania voting code, implemented illegally, to date,” the lawsuit, filed in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, states.

“As with prior historical attempts to illegally expand mail-in voting by statute, which have been struck down going as far back as the Military Absentee Ballot Act of 1839, Act 77 is another illegal attempt to override the limitations on absentee voting prescribed in the Pennsylvania Constitution, without first following the necessary procedure to amend the constitution to allow for the expansion.”

The plaintiffs include Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Republican congressional candidate Sean Parnell, and Pennsylvania House of Representatives candidate Wanda Logan.

Marc Elias, one of the top attorneys leading the Democrats’ post-election legal battles, called the lawsuit frivolous.

https://twitter.com/JennaEllisEsq/status/1331646615350898690

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/11/breaking-pennsylvania-judge-blocks-state-certifying-election-results/

Pay attention - Pennsylvania certified their results on monday. The ruling does not ask the state to "decertify", it simply places a temporary procedural hold on "any further action"... for which there is none. This is a moot order that changes nothing.

Amazing. How did we get so brainwashed that we have learnt to see those who look like us as the devil? FFK thinks Kamala is the anti-christ and Trump is ok?

fairheart:
You're just an ignorant person. I wonder what type of education you recived from the U.S!
That post was almost 2 months old. We have all moved on from it, and I was only clarifying on a subject, and the original commenter did not object. It was brought up by the user who said he needed help. Must you ignorantly object to whatever I write that you did not like? Se won ran e simi ni?

I have warned you several times to avoid me on this thread. We are two different people with different views on certain things. You're nobody to puzzle on my comments, and it is none of my business however you feel. Deal with you idiotic manner! I am not here to please you or share views that matches your own. The same avoidance on posts you were advising me with could have been followed if you're an intelligent person.

You simply never need to mention me or quote me on this thread, never ever. Avoid me, okay? The distance between me and you is as far as the West is from the East. Please stay away from mentioning me. The next time you do it, I am going to use some very strong words on you!

Go for it, make a fool of yourself
You have a serious inferiority complex. It’s obvious from your obsessive need to be liked around here. Grow up, the world doesn’t revolve around you and your hypocrisy.

fairheart:
I think it's healthy for our relationship with people that when we talk with those we don't really know their age, background, etc, we should "show" respect or communicate it in our choice of words.
It's sometimes funny how some people address people they don't know anything about on this thread. I have communicated with bank managers, branch managers, millionaires with thriving business, mothers, fathers, and even people that occupy influential position in their professions from this forum. Same for several young people. Some of us who are very active here must have had the same experience.

Respect is for all people, no matter what you may happen to do for them in the future. Using "Hey" is very fine and goes well with all people--both in the first world and in the third world nations. But using "Kiddo", in my opinion, can send a bad message. Kiddo means child or kid. I mean, we shouldn't really address people with that when you don't know them?

First impression, good impression, respect for all people, communicating with the right words--says a lot about who we are than the people we are communicating with. I am even very slow at identifying young men and women I have talked with on this thread as my junior, let alone using kiddo. This is my opinion though. But I understand the perspective you're talking from.

Unclear what all these is intended to convey. I'm always puzzled by the propensity for Nigerians to genuflect to others based on societal status.

This is an anonymous forum, if you don't like the tone of a post, you can simply ignore it. You've been just as rude without knowing the status of others too.

Tulacious123:
Good evening all.Will this new development affect PhD applicants in terms of study duration?

Don't worry about what you can't control. As long as you're a legitimate student maintaining valid status, you should be fine.

LagosismyHome:
Thanks for the info.... but that an additional cost of applicants then worrying to travel to home country every 2 years.

Unless explicitly stated, you should be able to get a new I-94 through automatic revalidation by crossing into Canada or Mexico and coming back in - no one knows how long the new I-94 will be. Or you can apply to renew your visa in Canada or Mexico.

LagosismyHome:
Time will tell then ...what this actually means. It cannot be just 2 years renewal as you said. That is the standard practise

Guardian and Vanguard has interpreted this new change to mean

What is changing isn't the need to renew the entry visa every 2 years, it is the duration of status issued by CBP at the border that is changing. Previously you would get D/S (i-94) stamped on your passport. That meant you could stay in the US for however long your program of study was. The need to renew your visa after 2 years only applied if you leave the US at anytime after the expiration of the visa. If you chose to never leave the US, you could stay in the US for however long your program of study, transfer to another program and continue on for as long as you wish.

The intended change is that rather than stamping you in as D/S at the border, your I-94 will now include a definite expiry date 2 years from date of entry to the US. It means if you are in a 4-year study, you must leave the US before the expiration of your I-94 to renew your visa. That gives the US more control over anyone who comes into the US in F, M or J visa status, as your status would need to be examined every 2 years rather than never, which is currently the case. It doesn't really change much, as long as you remain in status, you should be able to renew your visa easily.

sayfe:
Hello all, I need some advice. Does anyone know any private student loans institutions t[b]hat would give loans to international students without a co-signer.[/b] MPower hasn't been accepting applications all year.

Prodigy isn't giving to my school (Illinois Tech) anymore. Any ideas or suggestions?

It would be very difficult to find these, perhaps you want to look at scholarship opportunities?

Are you planning to deliberately "lose" your passport?

When you warn Nigerians to stop their predilection for fraud and dishonesty, they attack you and tell you "na who holy pass"...

Look at what one single fellow has caused.

Threads like this are what make me appreciate my wife more and more. Thank you Jesus.

Matinho:
Its just so sad that the Visa officers treat people with no esteem or regard on these interview. And when you compare with people in other parts of the world, they dont get these unfair treatment.These students have worked hard to gain admissions and want an education to better themselves but achieving their dreams lies in the hands of one person who may or may not give them a fair hearing at a 45 seconds interview. Every country has its shortcomings and just because there are many bad eggs from naija doesnt mean there are no genuine students going to study and hoping to make an impact in the world Goodluck to the guy going to the film academy, hopefully one day we go see you for the next black panther movie and you will make naija proud. These unnecessary inequitable treatment to prospective naija students to USA too will pass someday.

1. A large number of Nigerians don't treat their visa or immigration rules with esteem or regard either. This is the root cause of how they treat us. As you said, others around the world do not get the same "unfair" treatment... because they don't flout the rules like we do with impunity.

2. The VOs are simply doing their jobs, as they are required. They are not obligated to grant us passage to their country.

3. We don't have to go to their country to "make impact in the world". We can do that in our own country, we are just too corrupt, too dishonest, too lazy and too incompetent to do that.

4. When you beg Nigerians to do the right thing, mindful of the fact that their actions unfairly impact the innocent... they tell you "na who holy pass". Na which VO fair pass?

Alakryy:
Most people just wanna judge here like they’re perfect and haven’t done things they regret.

Please I don’t need any one to tell me BS about what happened to me.

If you can’t offer solutions or reasonable things don’t bother to comment, just read and continue living your perfect life. Thanks

Stop with the victimhood. YOU were aware it was an offence, yet YOU made the DELIBERATE choice to commit an immigration offense. YOU did it on purpose, thinking you were smarter than the immigration officials.

While you're here playing the victim, you still remain selfishly focused on YOURSELF. YOUR actions have made things that much more difficult for other genuine travelers. Thanks to folks like you, it will get harder for others to apply for the same class of visa that you dishonestly abused. You've unwittingly helped others to learn how to skirt consequences for their own immigration crimes. You've made it apparent that if you get deported, make sure you hide your passport and lie that it was lost - have someone mail it back to you and then try your luck elsewhere. Immigration officials read these threads, it is why the rest of us who genuinely lose our passports now have to get detailed police reports and jump unnecessary hoops just to be believed.

Alakryy:
Hello everyone,

Quick story...I’ve been to the UK twice and on the second trip I overstayed and I was removed with a group through chartered flight from the UK by the Home Office(immigration). I didn’t commit any crime but yes I overstayed. I even applied for asylum to try and stay in the UK when they detained me in the detention center but it was rejected.
I was removed to Nigeria with a travel document they got from Nigerian embassy.

Thank God they couldn’t use my International passport to remove me cause I hid it in the UK. And I later found out when we arrived the airport in Nigeria that they used a stamp to cancel all the people’ International passport that was on the flight with me.

I later got my passport from the UK sent to me in Nigeria by a friend. The passport had UK stamps on it but shortly after that it expired.
So I had to renew it and I got a new passport.
My questions are

1) Can I still get a Schengen visa even though I’ve been banned 10years by UK?(I’ve used 4years on it already)

2) Can I submit my old passport with the new passport to show my UK travel history when applying for Schengen visa to help my chances ?

3) My old passport has 2 UK visa stamps. But the second visa doesn’t have an airport stamp that shows I arrived back to Nigeria because I didn’t use it to travel back to Nigeria as I was removed by the immigration. Will that be a problem if I add it with my new passport when applying for Schengen visa ?

4) Or should I just submit only the new passport so as not to complicate things for myself?

Please I need someone to advice me on what to do. I’m very sure someone here has been in my shoes before...so please help a sister on how you did yours.

Nigerians are quite hilarious... "thank God" for lying and dishonestly claiming my passport was lost so i could use it to deceive another embassy to grant me a visa. Quite funny.

Timitex85:
Hi everyone,

I nees your input on this .

I got admitted earlier this year with no funding(I submitted my admission material s late )..so, I got a mail from graduate coordinator advising me to defer my admission till next year so
That I would be consider for funding next year..my question is does that necessarily mean my admission would be coming with full ride next year?

No.

Paragontek:
Does this apply to MSc candidates?

It applies to anyone.

Guruindahouse:
I have been reading your comments for soemtime, I must say you are doing a great job as well sir.

Kindly help me to shed more light to these questions... How long can it take generally to get a green card in case I finish my PHD in USA? And do you know how difficult it is to get the card as a Nigerian? BTW, I am planning to move to US with my family. i will apreciate your reply sir.

If you dont mind, I can send you a PM as well because of my confidential details.

Thank you sir!

All the information you need is available online... not sure why Nigerians pretend that its some specialized knowledge known only to a sacred few.

The speed at which you get a green card after your PhD depends on you and your employer.

1. First step... finish your phd and worry less about a green card. It isn't difficult for a Nigerian at all.
2. After your phd, get your OPT, your school's office of international students should help you with this and any questions you have regarding the process.
3. Get a job, make sure your employer understands that you intend to apply for a GC. Note, the GC process (via employment) is your employers. You don't apply on your own (well unless you're going through the National Interest Waiver process - which is more challenging).
4. Once you get a job, your employer will apply for an H1B on your behalf. The H1B gives you more breathing space for 3-6 years, during which time you should be applying for your GC.
5. Your employer basically takes care of the rest. The process is divided into 2 - the I-140 and I-485 stages. The I-140 stage depends on whether you have enough experience and qualifications to apply for EB1 or EB2 (you can do EB3 but this is not really for you since you have a phd). The EB1 route is far easier but the EB2 route is also ok so long as your employer is willing to put in the effort. - it requires an intermediate Perm step by the Department of Labor.
6. Once your I-140 is approved (should take about 1 year), you're basically close to the finish line.
7, Apply for your I-485, barring any backlogs at the USCIS, this is usually a 1-year process and should be more of a formality. After this is approved, you should get your GC in the mail in a few weeks. Your family is automatically part of your application so they get GCs too. Chances are you and your family may need to sit for an interview but this is relatively simple.

8. And this is the most important part - DO NOT take public support (e.g. medicaid) or break the law, both will affect you at your I-485 stage. Do not drink and drive... a DUI automatically revokes your visa and you have to come back to Nigeria to take care of it.

Overall from start to finish, you're looking at 3 years depending on your employer.

It's an easy process... spend more time making the best of your phd and good luck.

Phenomenalopeye:
Nairalanders, if I'm not passionate I wouldn't spend this much time typing and asking questions, pls help me fufill my dreams, I'm sorry for disturbing y'all.

You’re not passionate about studying, you simply want to leave Nigeria.

Phenomenalopeye:
Thanks, pls can you help me out?
How do I contact the education USA or any order related organization that can help me out?

For someone who prides himself as smart, you seem to not know how to use google to do your own homework.

Phenomenalopeye:
But if I get admitted into a uni in the US, it's a win-win, a one time spending, no extra spending, highest I'll work on campus to feed myself.

You haven’t thought this through. Covid-19 being a good example... what campus jobs do you think are available at the moment?

Phenomenalopeye:
Hi pls can I send u a DM? So u can also link me with Daniel

Thanks ❣️

My WASSCE grades

Mathematics B2
Physics B3
Chemistry B3
Biology B3
Dyeing and bleaching B2
Further mathematics B3
Agricultural science B3
Civic education A1
English C4
I'm 16

High school GPA 4.95/5.0
Almost straight A's though with just 1/2 B's

Interests mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science
I've got Olympiad experience, NNPC science competition, cowbellpedia, pz cussons chemistry competition, Lagos State jet& science competition e.t.c
I've also taken lead positions in school clubs and societies.
I was recently awarded scholarship by Lagos State to study at any Nigerian University, but I'm not really interested in studying engineering in Nigeria because of it's incompetency in practicals.

List of universities I'll be applying to

MIT
Stanford University
Yale University
Princeton University
Harvard University
Northwestern University
Amherst college

I also have recognition in Lagos State as one of the top 100 best students.

Pls what's my chances of getting admitted and also chance of getting my F1 Visa approved.
I'll be using the common app though, but ain't taking SAT, reason colleges are test optional+ SAT not administered amidst the pandemic. Also don't hesitate to scrutinize my write up constructively and help get admitted!!!
NB: MIT is my dream college

Thanks ❣️

Your WAEC results aren’t that great to be honest... considering you’ve listed mostly Ivy League schools as your target. You’ll need to ace your SATs to have a chance at all. You stand little chance of getting in or getting full ride scholarships to those schools... so how do you intend to cover tuition at MIT?

Best advice - see above.

Phenomenalopeye:
no don't get me wrong, why would he suggest that you shouldn't render assistance simply because someone who doesn't know what's going on said something kinda negative.

I do believe in God!

Why don’t you study in Nigeria and then go do a PhD in the US? That might be an easier route and would save you thousands in the end. Not everyone’s dreams will follow the same path. Don’t be distracted because others are going to America now... I hope as you try to register for SAT, you’re also working to gain admission to a good college program in Nigeria. Always have a plan B in your back pocket. All the best.

fairheart:
The goat in Twoods at it again! Maybe you should remove the image of the goat on your profile. Since you are too pained to understand joke, I have no choice than to come hard on you.

One of the problems with Nigeria is a man like you, who's too weak and full of himself in the face of people who are mentally superior to him. You don't know how far I have gone as a youth trying to fix a portion of Nigeria's problem; you don't know what I have even sacrificed. It's an escapist like you, who claim to know the problem and have the solution to Nigeria's problems, but will never lift his sore finger or put himself to the airport and go to Nigeria to tell us what solution he has.

Ah here goes the pompous self promotion my experience has been that most people who are truly active and making change don’t find the need to flaunt it on anonymous message boards. Only the weak and the insecure do so... with lengthy tomes to boot.

Because the rest of us aren’t camped here night and day you think we don’t do anything else? Ridiculous.

By all means...

fairheart:
Lols. . Your comment is riddled with bitterness and unnecessary envy.

This is the funniest comment of the day!

Envy at what? Being nairaland thread monitor?

You’re the one with the lengthy screeds my dear...

fairheart:
Lols.
Since you have refused to see the message in that sentence in the context it was used, I couldn't help it but put it out well for you to read and understand.
Lift your cap when you see a man with a deep mind.
I be set of your professors for school

Your last 2 sentences summarizes part of the problem with Nigeria in a nutshell. Everyone is an Einstein in his own mind.