₦airaland Forum

goobyparks:
Please wat visa did you use? B1/B2 (tourism) or medical?
If B1/B2, did u write to d embassy for change of intent or weren't you preggy when you got your visa?
In my own case, I was already preggy when I got my visa and I want to travel this October bt I'm scared of sending change of intent letter coz they might reject coz during my interview I said I wz going for vacation (and nt childbirth)

Well so you lied. Sigh. Good luck.

Your case isn't change of intent... it's basically fraud.

fasttrack:
meanwhile, justwise, a friend of mine is going to yankee this week and his passport is expiring in 4 months time, does that really matter because he's coming back next month before the passport expires.

He should crosscheck. I think most countries require your passport to be valid at least 6 months from date of entry. If that is the case then he may be denied entry even with a valid visa. Just get a new passport.

Onegai:
I believe the issue is, frequency. A situation comes up and it's understandable. 3 in 10 will have these issues and that's fine. But when 9 out of 10 show up, with the same "issue" and excuse, then it becomes suspicious. In the past, no-one cared as long as you paid your bills. They were delighted to welcome new citizens sef. Even UK was begging Nigerians who schooled abroad to apply for British citizenship. But what happens now? The system got abused and at Heathrow, Nigerians are treated like criminals and grilled aggressively. Same thing is beginning to happen in the US: someone came here a few weeks ago to say how a CBP officer tried to deter her by saying they no longer allowed foreigners to come give birth. I kept quiet, even though I could have mentioned that in my former county (a nice, liberal county), they found a home for wealthy Koreans used to organize childbirth tourism and called police on them and had them escorted out, it was on the news because protesters even showed up. Last month, a nurse at one of the popular hospitals mentioned on this thread was grilling my cousin "Why are so many Nigerians coming here, it's because of the birth by citizenship isn't it?" during her labour. Nigerians tend to see something, it makes sense and they flood it unthinkingly until it crashes (everyone does makeup and sings and is a model/designer now, before everyone entered IT, before then everyone sold lace, then everyone rushed into Banking etc).

Be honest: I'm going to give birth, here is my plan. Yes or No?

Once the embassy says "No need for letter of intent" and Trump's strategists push the new law for extreme vetting of visa applicants, including vetting their social media, next thing they will work on is that in 5 to 10 years' time, constitutional amendment: citizenship by birth and parental only. UK, France and Germany is suffering from from second generation (children of immigrants) turning into terrorists (they can't deport citizens). You think the US is not considering modifying things already? Okay na.

And for those saying "I have millions, I don't live in America by choice, I don't need them blah blah", great. Then why go there and hassle to give birth? The truly rich Nigerians are turning down US citizenship, in fact once you go to the US and spend some serious dough acquiring assets, they offer you citizenship (the entire family). No need for "please what is the cheapest state blah blah".

Difficult to see such a constitutional amendment happening at all. However, what i suspect will happen (if immigration reform ever passes) is likely the elimination of the ability to seek medical treatment in the US on a B1/B2 visa. People who wish to have kids in the US would then need to apply for a specific medical visa. That would eliminate all these cases of "sudden" pregnancies once visiting visas have been obtained.

0b100100111:
I quite agree with you, But the approach of recent has been kinda harsh. Instead of leniently addressing the issue and proffering solution, Someone just bumps into you as if he/she was aware of your intention, financial status and plans.

If you what to attest to what am saying, go through the previous parts of this forum and and see how matters re being addressed and compare to present when all most everybody is a VO and CBP officer. Its a faceless forum and you ned to respect the fact that you dont know who you re addressing.

A little courtesy is just my point which solely is just about the use of some words when addressing matters.

To an extent i would agree with you and perhaps admit i may have been quite brusque with regard to some of my responses. However... you would also admit that a lot of our problem is that we are a society that expects to be "treated with respect" even when we are obviously breaking the law. Demanding respect, without character or integrity, is nothing. Now i'll try to address a few points in your note above:

1. Lets be honest, the intent of many here is glaringly obvious. Infact the very title of the thread makes it clear. Its lying about it that is the problem. If you are planning to have a child in the US, just admit so at your interview. Often times many complain that everyone has become a CBP officer, the part everyone tends to ignore is that the lies that others tell is why genuine travellers have a harder time obtaining visas. It is UNFAIR for others to have to jump through hoops to satisfy a visa officer just because the visa officers have had to deal with prior fraudulent applicants. We all deserve to be able to walk into a US embassy and not have to face embarrassing questions, intrusive requests and demeaning interview sessions just because the previous guy chose to present himself with false documents. So yeah, while we should not "carry people's problems like gala", their actions reflect negatively on everyone else... whether you like it or not. You're going to be the next pregnant family seeking a visa, don't be surprised if they don't believe your story regardless of how genuine it is.

For example - documents are no longer required for a visa interview in Nigeria... BECAUSE of the preponderance of FAKE documents. If you were applying for a visa in the US (or change of status), documents are required (because they can be verified easily). Documents are also required in other European countries. I remember a little over 15 years ago, an invitation letter used to be good enough to guarantee a visiting visa... well thanks to Nigerians with their "gala".

No one wants to be a CBP officer, but dear Lord help others to not have to constantly suffer the indignity of being treated with suspicion just for merely holding a green passport... because of your actions.

2. Financial status - if you can't afford to have a baby in the US, kindly have him/her in Nigeria. It is not worth it.

3. Plans - well, travel to the US is not the same as traveling to Ibadan. You would expect that someone who went through the process of applying for a visa has already made plans that are consistent with what they claimed at their interview.

Bottomline, there really is not excuse for lying... at all.

0b100100111:
Why some people dey always carry another person matter for head like Gala! Almost everybody for the forum don turn CBP officer!

If u know get any positive thing say, keep mute and stop accusing like you position to do.

Embassy dey pay una?

That right there, is the difference between the US and Nigeria... i bet you'd prefer your child had a US rather than a Nigerian passport. Ask yourself why... then read your post again.

tmoneyluvsu:
Hello nanairalanders
My aunt in the U. S wants to invite my two underage sisters for holiday..
Pls I need help on documents required.
Thanks in anticipation of a quick response.

Since they are underaged, they may need a parent at the interview. No other docs required.

debby516:
From what i have read today, i am of the view that some of us genuinely have fraudulent intent and this is not a matter of 'i didnt know it was legal to give birth in the US'. because if you had thot that it was truly illegal to give birth and you didnt disclose this at d interview, why then misrepresent during the visa interview with the intention of circumventing the law and deceiving the US officials for a false vacation, knowing ur intention is to birth your baby.

I am praying hard that I finish childbearing b4 Nigerians 'burn this bridge'.

The bridge will always be there for genuine travelers. Rest assured.

drgodson:
Thanks a lot justwise. I really do appreciate.

Retrieving a chat history of 2014 is a big challenge atm, be it on BBM or whatsapp and same for call logs, this is primarily due to misplaced, spoilt or lost phones, moreso 3yrs is a long time.
what would you suggest we do in this case? We are thinking of writing a cover letter to explain this.
Again, would you advise we wait a month or 2 before reapplying as we don't want to appear too desperate.
Will EEA family permit benefit from a Priority service?
From your wealth of experience, how many pictures can u suggest cuz i'v got over a 100?
Asides boarding passes, we've decided to add immigration stamps (on arrival and exit from Nigeria) + e-ticket.

Your prompt response would be highly appreciated.

Huh? You've misplaced, spoilt and lost that many phones in 3 years? Also in this age of smart phones, its easy to back up your phone (infact apple allows you to do this automatically and you can actually retrieve your chat logs on the internet!) from one to another. I have been able to maintain the same contacts list and chat logs for more than 5 years now. I can see why the officer is leery of your claims.

abdullahi45:
Hi house,
Can anyone advise me on USA universities i can apply to, i have
90% in my Bsc from Nigeria university, i have 84/120 in toefl but no GRE. I wish to pursue Master of Science in Microbiology or Biotechnology or any related discipline.

Seriously? You have no access to google?

phawwaz:
what of langston university

First time i heard of it. Not good if your intending employer has to search for your school on the internet just to get an idea of the quality of education you may have received.

customised87:
I don't see a problem since she wasn't pregnant at the time of your interview. Get your self prepared for the birthing( Dr,hospital,etc)

Semantics. Not declaring your intent, even if you were not asked, is equivalent to misrepresentation here.

rex0105:
Dear Nairalander,

I urgently need help concerning my case which I'll explain below so you good people can grasp my condition and help out accordingly:

We applied for B1/B2 Tourist visa on the May 26th and to God be the glory it was issued to the entire family of four...myself, my wife, 5yrs and 3 yrs old boys. We were supposed to go to New York for the vacation by June but duty calls due to some urgent concern at my company and I had to return to my work station in Qatar where I'm working as an Engineer, we then agreed to postponed the vacation till January 2017 which would be my annual leave.

My wife called a week later that she think she was pregnant and I've been having a sleepless night ever since because a lot of things are at stake, I immediately begin to make inquiry how this new development would impact our chance of getting to US by January considering the pregnancy would be 7 months or thereabout and evident hence it can't be hidden from the officer at the POE.

I am capable to finance the birth of my child in the US but my challenge is...would they allows us entry into the US because I've heard series of advise from people....

- some said I should enter before the pregnancy becomes 3 months by when it would be obvious and noticed by the CBP
- some said even at 7 months, they will allow us entry provided we can show evidence of medical reports from a US hospital
- some said we'll be deny and the visa cancelled.

I can't leave Qatar now as my annual is not until January except I want to resign my position.

Pls good people, I need your advise cos decision needed to be made.

Thanks.

Ok first off, can we leave the clearly false "to God be the glory" out of this? God is not a respecter of fraudulent persons.

Your story is way too convenient:
1. You had your interview May 26, for a vacation in June... if this were true, you must have had travel plans already at advanced stages of planning, including where to stay, costs of flight tickets etc.
2. How is it that duty called so quickly and you've cancelled "vacation plans" within 2 weeks of obtaining the visa? So clearly there was never any intention of a vacation in June.
3. Your wife discovered she was pregnant a mere week after the visa interview and your "vacation" is now planned for January. By my calculation, your new "vacation" date is exactly around the time your wife would be about ready to have her baby. How convenient!

Sorry but your story sounds all too familiar, Nigerians who think they can basically pull the wool over the eyes of everyone, while claiming "God's glory".

Have no sleepless nights... the deed is done. Most likely the CBP officer will not deny you entry so go and have the baby as planned. More likely the biggest issue you will face is that your renewal visa will be denied, as it should.

Good luck.

goobyparks:
Hello lovely people !
Please this is my case:
I got a B1/B2 visa this June with hubby & son, said we were going on summer vacation next month. (Shld have read nairaland before doing that).
My EDD is November and I plan to travel October (i'm thinking of Texas coz I heard hospital is cheaper there, still researching abt that)
I can't write to embassy for change of intent coz I'm scared of rejection since I didn't declare that I will give birth there during d visa interview (tho I wasn't asked if I was pregnant, d VO jst faced only hubby). They might calculate and know that we lied
Now I think I'm left with looking for an easy POE.

Pls what do you all think? I need your good advice.
Also pls which POEs are easier?

That excuse is not tenable. At your visa interview, you were aware of your pregnancy and you obviously intended to have the child in the US, so you did lie at your interview about your true intentions for the visa - you claimed a vacation in july but your intended travel is in October.

1. There are no easy POEs - CBP officers are professionals and not every country is like Nigeria.
2. This is why letters of intent are not tenable, they are simply a scam, to help perpetuate deliberate misrepresentation at visa interviews.
3. You should have your vacation as planned in July.
4. Go have your baby in october... most likely you will have issues at the POE and/or when you renew your visa but at least one child will be a US citizen.

Sigh - why the average Nigerian can't just be straight for once astounds me. We could then save God's glory for more important things than wasting it on hoping to get by with lies at visa interviews.

Good luck.

FrontPageLawyer:
@Twood. Stop beating up yourself in a faceless forum. Respect people's decision. Let them write as many letters as they wish. They don't care about most of your comments. For me, I don't even read. Can't be bothered about your ego. If you think the "letter of intent" is a Nigeria invention, then leave it to us. Let us write. You can't know more than the Consuls and CBP officers. Have had a first-hand experience at JFK, so there's NOTHING you can tell me. I don't care about your nationality. I love my green passport and have used same in more than 9 countries, including The UK, Canada and your U.S.A.

Of course I do not know more than the consuls, which is why my very first post on this issue was the direct quote from the visa officers here themselves.

Thou dost protest too much... it is not clear to me why you're taking the issue so personally. Sounds to me like you're more upset that you have to apply for a visa in the first place. Relax. It's not life and death.

OluDare01:
Please don't go to anyhow school. Go to a good school so that you can get a good job.

That point should be mandatory reading for intending students here. I've seen the repercussions of this many a time - sorry to say, but if you attend many of the lesser known historically black colleges, many big companies will simply thrash your job application.

Texas Southern University... take note.

successflow:
I conquer to u, but the point we must understand is that people see this thread has a community were we help each other to achieve a particular goals ( secured F1 visa ) and be informed inorder not to be a candidates of fake dude call agent, how I wish it is possible to identified new members so we can know how to address them...

This thread is a community only because some people did their homework and thus can provide answers to questions. Imagine if we all came here asking questions such as - which visa should i apply for to study in America? The thread would be dead in 2 days.

markmard:
hello,with all due respect ,it 100% true there is bias and racial prejudice in the American system even at the boarder post ....send a white European from Bulgaria, Croatia,,Ukraine, Russia Cyprus, Poland, or Romania to the same officer if they will make the same comment . Absolutely no!!!
and what i love most about this forum is even the authority are reading and trying to make amendment to some of the issues raised , so let keep the words,information , the debate and to Communicate in a Healthy, Constructive Manner with no insult or been too judgmental regarding issues .

Well if we are being honest, how often would the CBP encounter fraudulent applications from citizens of those countries, compared to us? Lets call a spade a spade, their suspicion is valid and is a result of the actions of our brothers and sisters. We can't keep hiding under the banner of "racial bias" forever. Ask yourself, if you were a CBP officer, what would you say if someone presented themselves at the border seeking entry to have a child when the visa information on that person said absolutely nothing of the sort? As the VOs have enumerated here many a time - letters of intent are a uniquely Nigerian invention - purposefully used to circumvent the usual visa process. Color me surprised that the CBP officers are immediately suspicious as soon as you present a Nigerian passport.

gaviria:
This is very true. I didn't want to talk about it before because it's none of my business. But the way some people answer some questions here is really rude and very annoying. Yeah I know y'all most time give solution or answers to the problems but other times some people answer questions in a very rude and insulting manner like the person you're talking to is inferior or very dumb. And yes I know some people ask some very ridiculous questions but instead of making jest or answering in a rude manner just ignore no one would crucify you for ignoring. Shey Lagosismyhome is a person too, no matter how stupid the question she finds a subtle way to answer or redirect the person. Not every time say rubbish just because you want to comment. We're all supposedly mature here so I expect we'd do the right thing. P.S: It hasn't been done to me before but sometimes I see replies people give and I'll be like "wtf is this, just ignore the freaking question! Your name wasn't attached to the message"
My 2 cents from my observation.

Lets face it, quite a few people here appear to be quite dumb. I have to give thumbs up to the gurus here who seem to have a great deal of patience. In my view, there are some "questions" that should not be answered. For example, someone asking others opinion about a school - what happened to doing a diligent google search about the school's program, ranking (you can find this easily on USNews), alumni etc.? Often times people ask questions about how to fill in ordinary forms, how to answer obvious visa interview questions etc. The whole point of an F1 visa is that you are a bonafide student... the huge number of obvious frauds who appear at the interview is the reason we need to fast and pray just to obtain a visa. Lets call a spade a spade and stop this sickening attitude of making excuses for adults who seem to not have the intelligence required.

I agree we are all expected to be mature here, but maturity goes both ways. We should stop rewarding mediocrity by pretending "we were all there before". There was a time NL did not exist, i wonder how people secured admission to US schools and passed F1 interviews.

4tiwa:
Well ds letter if intent thingy.one should get sufficient information and decide if u want to write or not.
It depends on favour, the Poe,experience of the officer.
I planned to give my Poe stories later but can't ignore this.
Letter of change of intent almost sent m back to naija
I entered via the Philadelphia Poe probably not a common Poe.
The guy after asking for reason for my visit.if I notified the embassy of change from vacation to childbirth sent me to secondary inspection
The only thing the officer in sec inspection kept shouting about was that after notifying the embassy of the change they should have revoked the visa since it was no longer to serve purpose of issuing it.
I was like "wwwwhhhhaaaaatttttt'
He was just boiling and kept saying he does not know whats happening in this foreign consulate bla bla bla
It was not funny cos left to him he wanted to return me based on that. If not for God.he then stamped me in up to date on my return ticket which was less than 6 months.

So all depends on God,the Poe, the officer u meet And his level of bias towards the black and the mission to have 'the American baby'
So just choose a Poe that s used to seeing letter of intent change or whatever and pray pray

The CBP officer was right and don't be surprised if this becomes the norm - revoking visas should you use it for a different purpose other than what you stated at the visa interview. Favor or not, expect a harder time at your renewal as the CBP officer is likely to have entered his thoughts on your profile and it will invite additional scrutiny at the embassy.

As the visa officers here have reiterated over and over again - letters of intent are simply a way to circumvent visa requirements. What is asked of you when applying for a tourist visa is completely different from when applying for a medical visa.

It is unfair to label the CBP officer as biased towards blacks... he/she probably sees this type of misuse of the visa everyday. He probably let you in only because technically, you did not commit a crime - not because of "God's favor" ( a term misused way too often here).

Colouredgirl:
Oga Twoods have come again ooo ..scam ke?out of the country ke?..majority of us on this platform have gone to the US and we back home and dont even intend staying or living there..majority of us,the affordability level is lit,we can afford to get our kids dual citizenship..i.e. Naija and yankers thus we develping two countries simultaneously..woos ogbeni those funds we pay as hosp bills ..make money in naira,spend in dollars..to lit and legit..oh baby! Oga twoods everything on here na luck,chance,favor,honesty no body be VO hear.:for ur ears only oga twoods my canadian visa is on ground for my second missionary journey..if i like i enter india,singapore,barbados,chile for my 3rd,4th,5th missionary journey...no be my fault na naija do am..its a faceless forum,we can brag as we like*peace*

You're trying too hard. Its a faceless forum... no one is concerned about your money.

ekoboy:
Ok so it appears to be a good invention because its clearly serving some purpose. What exactly is your grouse? You believe everybody that uses it is lieing to your country? Incidentally/fortunately, the real owners of the country give people benefit of doubt and don't automatically think someone is lieing simply by writing that letter. Maybe that's the reason they are a great country and your real country a s**t country. It will be nice if you imbibe some of the culture and attribute of your newly adopted country. Make them proud of you.!!

you and your likes are a perfect reminder of why my birth country is as much a disgrace as you admit. How many other nations on earth have such lengthy forums dedicated to figuring out how to scam their way out of their country?

Good luck.

Nigerians spend too much time looking for the hand of God rather than seeking his face. It's all about miracles, mighty wonders etc... nothing about righteous living, holiness, faith etc.

stargirlprod:
please how can one get married to a black American without him coming over to Nigeria.... I have never left the shores of Nigeria either... and my uncle that linked us is not helping matters

You will run into problems convincing the consulate that you are really married. If he's marrying you, he should do the needful, come to Nigeria and marry you. Call me old school, but i don't believe a woman should be the one worrying about how a marriage is going to take place.

This sounds more like a scam to me. Why should your uncle be "helping matters"? Is he the one getting married? Thankfully America is getting wiser to these sort of scams. Good luck with your "marriage".

kokoboy4life:
I understand you but I want you to know that the Trip will be sponsored by Osun State Government and King of Ife his also aware of the program and you people have mentioned countless time on here that if some don't have travel history That doesn't take effect on VO when making his/her decision.

and a US VO should care about the King of Ife because?

Daodudavid:
Guys please I need help with a school without GRE requirements, my sister needs that info, she wanna apply for graduate study in criminology and justice, and scored 3.8 on 5 point scale.. 3.29 in 4point scale...

Cc: Walspring, Oludare, lagosismyhome, other gurus..
Please egbami ASAP, You guys did it for me please do it again GOD bless you all

Why?

realone009:
Haven't accepted? When u go to a church to confess your sins they dont blame you for buying the weed, they don't even blame you for going to rob a bank. They'd admitted that the devil is who to blame that he deceived you. How can the crime repeat again when he knows what the consequences are and how the sorrow he faced, just like someotheres here who thought assault wasn't enough to send one home he may have thought the same, or the devil may have made him believe that. He needs someone to support him by saying "you shouldn't have done that but that's not the end of the world try somewhere else, the devil wanted to ruin you, just keep praying and things could work out again." I didn't blame it on the girl, he did. I just believed because I know that girls lie. Even if you just cheated on her and you started arguing she could say you pushed or slapped her. I have heard of some girls who wanted a guy to have sex with them so they allowed them then said that they raped them after. And most peopele believe girls.

The devil is responsible for every bad thing. The devil is there to take your peace away from you. Bad is the opposite of good, and the devil is evil and evil means bad. Thieves are tricked by the devil. Rapists are deceived by the devil. Jesus wants to help us, but the devil is here to ruin us. The devil is like a sadist. You need to understand first because u don't.

lol ridiculous... at this rate, why should anyone go to jail for anything? Lets just catch the devil and jail him and the world will be in peace no? This is how false religion warps the Nigerian mind. Why should you take responsibility for anything when you can simply blame the devil?

justwise:
Women indeed are really complicated species.

I prefer to blame the pregnancy hormones.

It's in plentiful supply around here.

TripleKMama:
Just because you're in a rush to attack-
Wot if EDD is dis year -close to d said vacation? because it says "a year later" doesn't mean its next year. Wot if visa was Got last year and d travel is dis yr?
Wot if dey're on a budget?
Wot if dey simply changed their mind and decided to travel as a family - and combine it with childbirth.
Let's be considerate of other pipo's situations. Goodnite y'all.

Huh?

Seems you just needed to say something, anything to me... even if it didn't make a shred of sense? Attack who?

Shadolla:
Please house i need ur candid advice,If someone is not pregnant b4 given b1b2 family visa and later after a year can someone to use it for the family vacation and as well to give birth,that's going together with your family for vacation and stay behind to give birth. Is it possible?

Why don't you go for a vacation now and go give birth next year?

firsttymum:
But they always ask " did u inform the embassy?" Hence the notification of intent.
Vacation I wasn't asked. But to have my kids I was both times

What they mean is did you inform the embassy at your interview. As I mentioned, afterthought letters of intent are a wholly Nigerian invention. You won't find this requirement on any US immigration site.

mimimum:
My dear write the letter. You won't lose anything by doing so. If they don't use it at the border, u still haven't lost anything. Better safe than sorry. I don't understand why people automatically assume that everyone that intends to write the letter lied during their interview. Some are just notification of intent not change of intent for pete's sake!

Notification of intent or change of intent letters are a uniquely Nigerian invention. It is not a US immigration requirement.

justwise:
No don't tell the truth, just pray, God pass those VOs.

smh

I think she should ask God for favor. I hear his new name in Nigeria is olowogbogboro...