₦airaland Forum

kodilyjoe:
Hello everyone,

Thank you for your useful tips on everything concerning abroad study. I have been a silent render and have learned a lot.

I was recently offered a full ride scholarship + stipend and TA position at Iowa State University, thanks to the tips I read here. I am currently preparing for the Visa process and I have absolutely no idea on how to proceed.

Here's my situation:

I have two children, 4 and 1, and they will be staying with their dad here in Nigeria (for now) to allow me study time. But I want them to be able to visit me throughout the duration of my study (3 - 4 years).

Should I go for a visiting Visa for my husband and our kids or should I opt for a resident Visa for them?

How long before a visiting Visa expires?

Can dependents with a resident Visa live outside the US for longer than 6 months? (What I mean here is, can they still live in Nigeria and visit me like twice a year if they have a resident Visa?)

How much (in naira) should I provide as proof of funds if I am going to get a resident Visa for them?

Like I said, I know nothing about all this. I'd appreciate it if someone who has been in such situation or knows much about it gives me helpful tips.

Thank you.

Congrats
Your spouse and children can apply for F2 visa. This will allow them visit you anytime they want as long as you remain in the program. They get the same duration (D/S) as you. About fund to provide, ask your school the estimate of each dependant and they will provide that.

BunmiBie:
Please, will the wife be asked questions too
Also, can the f2s be included in F1's health insurance plan.

Thanks

Yes, you can add dependants on your school insurance.

Danielsoncollin:
Till now, I haven't seen a school offering full scholarship. That is why I am asking for recommendations

Okay University of Maryland is one.

arizona20:
Just got an admission offer from Michigan Technological University but no funding
What next please guys cos I need funding

Congrats. Next step is to ask for funding or what you need to do to get funding

Best of luck

saintbizero:
Hello house, I just recieved my I-20 form this evening and there is a major concern on it, my date of birth on my passport page is different from the date of birth on i-20 form. Anyone with this kind of issues should advice me on this.

You will have to inform your school

Danielsoncollin:
Thanks so much.
I didn't get the information I was looking for on google. I don't know any schools yet. Can you please recommend schools for me in the US for my undergraduate programme that can give me a full scholarship?

I don't know the type of information you are looking if. If it's "schools in the US that gives scholarship for undergraduate programs" then you should see different schools popping up. Another way is to search state by state. There are 52 states so you can take them one by one. I'm sure by the time you get to the 10th state you should have at list 20 schools. If not, there was a list of schools posted on the previous page you can start from those ones too. They all have undergraduate programs.

Best of luck

Danielsoncollin:
Good evening.
Please I need advice. I have taken the SAT, and I got 1330.
My GPA is 3.86. What schools in the U.S. can I get a full scholarship from? Beyond that, can my SAT score get a full scholarship?

With that score, you can pretty much get full scholarship to handful. Start by using Google to search for schools that offer your course then read through the requirement.

Best of luck

solelyfornow:
Good morning everyone,

I am new here and kindly seek your advice.

I recently got a fully funded PhD offer with a tuition waiver and stipend of $31,000 per annum. I have two daughters aged 7 and 2 years. The 2 year old is a US citizen. I wish to go with my husband and two daughters. My questions are as follows:

1. Is this stipend amount enough to cover for a family of four? If not, how do I calculate the amount needed?

2. Do I need to include my two year old, who is a citizen, in my I-20 as a dependent and consequently apply for F2 visa for her?

3. If the two-year old won't be applying for F2, it means her upkeep cost will not be reflected in the I-20. Should I, nonetheless, let this reflect in my POF?

4. My older daughter and husband were denied J2 visa twice in 2018 (before my baby was born) when they applied with me as dependents. Only my J1 was approved as it was self funding then. Would this affect their chances of getting F2 visas this time?

5. Is it likely the VO would ask for proof of payment of hospital bills for the birth of my younger daughter? I completed all payments, though it was by installments.

6. Due to past refusals, I'm thinking of applying with my older daughter first, when we get approval, my husband can then apply for his. Or should we all apply at once?

7. Finally, my daughter's Nigerian passport and mine will expire in June 2023. The PhD program is for 5 years. Do we need to renew our passports before applying for the F1/F2 visa?

I will be most grateful if I get answers to these questions as I have no one else to ask.

Thank you.

Congratulations. You have a long list
1. The stipend is suppose to be for the student ideally. For proof of funds, you will have to tell your school that you are coming with 2 dependants and they will calculate amount needed.
2. Your younger daughter doesn't need to apply for visa since she's a citizen.
4. About this, you can't really say. It maybe because the J program was for a short while and also depending on how well the interview went.
5. Yes you may need to go with the birthing receipt just in case
6. You can either apply together or separately. Weigh your options for this.
7. June 2023 is more than a yr from now. You will have to renew while in the US.

lokoventurex1:
Good day good people,

I need our advice.

I have an admission for my graduate studies at the University of Arkansas Little Rock. 1-20 has been sent to me. I've also paid for SEVIS fee and payment confirmation code has been sent to me. Fortunately, I'm considering my finacee in the whole thing. Before now, I thought of travelling alone if visa is granted, but plans changed and would want to go with her.

I got to know on this platform that if my wife is coming with me (provided our visas are approved), she won't be able to work. Her 'unable' to work in the United States is my major issue.

I need our sincere advice on how we could go about it.

My resumption date is August 22 2022,. But it's obvious I won't be honouring it now but ask for a deferment till Spring Semester.

My question is how I will be studying and she can still be doing something while my program lasts ?

Congratulations.
1. If you defer to another session it doesn't change the fact that "F2 applicant are not allowed to work during their stay in the US"
2. Your wife can enroll into a SEVP- certified school and do a part-time vocational course for as long as you want to study in the US.

Best of luck

oab1:
Lagos or Abuja?

Oh Lagos

November 28 available for normal interview
Lagos

bishopkinkin:
2. Engineering Management
3. After Deposit balance left is 19k (tuition fee)

Okay. I personally don't want to add too much but if you have made a deposit, see the whole interview process through and hope for the best.
2. Engineering Management would have been a straight forward application if you had applied directly to either q MSc or PhD program.
3. On the other hand, while you go through with your remaining interview process, you can create time to look into MSc or Phd programs in Engineering Management against next academic session (this is just a backup plan). You don't have to involve any agent. These are the steps
a. Search for schools that offer your course. Streamline your options to those that consider standardized test for funding and those that waive standardized test but will still give funding.
b. Once you have your list of schools, read through the admission requirements. Check financial aid for each. What you will check in financial aid is how they fund graduate students (will graduate students be considered automatically for funding as long as they meet requirements? will they consider GRE and GPA for funding? will students have to secure a Professor before they can be considered for GA positions?) These are the things you want to find out. If you Don't see anything concerning those questions on this page, go to your department page. If you don't see any information on it then mail the graduate coordinator with your questions.
c. Once everything is checked, arrange your documents and make sure you have all the required documents then apply.
d. You can request for app waiver code if you think the application fee is too much for you too

P.S: If your school requires you to secure a Professor to work with before you can be considered for GA position, that's extra work but it's possible. Then you go to your department page and look at the list of Prof. with same interest as yours and start mailing. So you don't want to just send any random mail. Prepare your CV, read any publications from them then compose your mail of interest to work as a graduate assistant with them.

Best of luck

vivasimby94:
What could be a possible response please

"The graduate pathway program in the United States allows students to earn credit toward a graduate degree while building English language and academic skills. Learners who do not meet standard admission requirements can take part in these programs in anticipation of full-time graduate study"

This is a definition of graduate pathway so from this you should be able to give a response.

bishopkinkin:
I’m exactly in same boat, same Cgpa, graduate pathway also before main course. Please what would be the best answer to give the VO, as my agent advised me that because my Cgpa was low and the course was quite competitive for Direct master I should go for graduate pathway. I already paid the tuition deposit sadly just waiting I-20

1. Please leave your agent out of your interview.
2. What's the course gangan and how competitive
3. After the deposit, hope you don't have any huge amount left?

P.S: You may even be lucky to get approval without stress sef so it's nothing serious.

exxy:
So nobody they sell date like those days again ?

I have no idea

vivasimby94:
I have gone really far. Expecting the school to send the I-20 before Monday . I just want to one if graduate pathway has any effect on visa interview. Wouldn’t have accepted it from the agent if this page was fund earlier because I actually felt a rye f way about it.

Okay it's not a problem. The VO might ask you, "Why Graduate Pathway and not a MSc or Phd"
It's not a big deal really. Just be calm and prepare a possible response. Just relax and finish the process.

Best of luck

appshare:
Hello everyone. I recently got admission to RISD and I was awarded partial scholarship. I have two questions to ask
1. Can I present a company as my sponsor?
2. Are there other funding opportunities I can reach out to?
Thank you

2. You can reach out to your school if there are addition funding opportunities you can apply to.

Best of luck

Debbiey:
[/color] I'm an F2. Looking for a date in April. I don't have any emergency except that I miss my husband. Should I be hopeful that closer dates will pop up, or I should schedule a date in October? (But that's far ) Kindly advise. Thanks.[color=#990000]

If you see a date in October, you can take that then keep checking since you don't have an emergency

Best of luck

vivasimby94:
Thank for your response.
I was a pure novice until I joined this platform. I used an agent and he advised me on that because I have 3.13/5.0.
Pls is there anything wrong with that. He explained it’s like a foundation to applying for graduate program.

Okay about the last part, the only foundation you need for graduate school is a Bsc or ND and HND combined. If you have any of BSc or ND+HND , you can apply to graduate school either MSc or PhD direct. I don't know how far you have gone with this Graduate Pathway but your GPA looks okay to apply to graduate school.

exxy:
I’ve been trying to get a date for a family member, nothing for 2022 ? What can I do at this point?

You will keep checking noni

kiwistrawberry:
I need to go for my interview appointment in May as that's when I will be in Nigeria. Should I start checking for appointments now or wait till it's closer to the time?

You need to mail them first about your intention to come home to renew then they respond from their end on the rest. As a returning student, I shouldn't say it's easier since it's still the say process but mail them first.

Princessemily:
Hello, good evening nairalanders. Please if I am given a fully funded scholarship do I still need to show any other proof of fund or do I still need to get a loan

If this is for your I-20, yes proof of funds is needed if the school is asking for it.
If is for the embassy, it depends on if your i-20 is showing any deficit.

Pamelayoung:
Is it for EA or regular cos the date appearing is October

No, I was referring to interview preparation

Osasbrose:
Hello guys,
Many thanks for your wonderful insights and contributions.
Please I need assistance as I have an interview at the embassy in Abuja in couple of days time. I had booked it since last year June and I want to know if I can still have access to my DS 160 form because of some info I had entered.
Thank you.

If the"couple of days" is more than 4days, fill a new DS 160 if you can't retrieve the old one then go to your visa page and update profile.

Cap91:
I have my sponsors statement of account but he didn't ask for it. He's a reverend Father and also a citizen of US

That's what I'm saying. You can have all your documents but you didn't even get the chance to present them. Questions can come in different ways. In your case, the VO saw your i-20 then the tuition on it then he was interested in who your sponsor is. He/she probably feels your response after that doesn't tally with the amount he/she is seeing on your i-20 or there's something on your DS 160 that shouldn't be.

I just want to quickly say something. Please schedule mock interviews with your friends before you go for your interview. I know everyone wants to keep to themselves about leaving the country but have two or three sessions with your families or friends before you appear infront of the VO. It helps you to prepare.
Summer and Fall 2022 students are already getting approval. Don't mismanage your opportunities.

Best of luck to everyone and congratulations to those that got approval today.

tonnymexx:
Hello good people, my case is this am going for another bsc course at college for 2 years course.. And I have a completed NECO result please can I use my NECO result to apply? Also please I need the affordable college I can apply. Thank you

Okay.
Why another Bsc? If that's your choice, why are you applying to a community college?
So even if you want to go for a second Bsc which is allowed, make sure you go there for free before it's not cheap. You can check Coppin State University Baltimore. It's one of the affordable universities I've seen with or without living expenses.

Best of luck

hayesconcept:
Thanks for this info. My wife studied mathematics in both first degree and master's. I wish to apply for her but I can see the application fee is $150. Is there any way around that, like waiver for the application fee? Thanks

$150 is much oo. You can request for an app waiver

Babnxst93:
Please is it possible to sign up without filling your ds160 cos I was told you must have fillied it before sending mail for them to assist you

Assit with what exactly?? But you can leave DS160 pending till a week to your interview date

chibertha:
CHECK your DS160 information again.

This too

Cap91:
Visa denied
Today 1st March 2022
VO: I can see you are going for a masters degree in......
Me: yes
VO: who's sponsoring the program?
Me: Rev ...... He's my spiritual father and has Been my sponsor ever since in high school.
The VO typed for a very long time and issued me a blue paper which states that in section 214b . That I don't have a strong ties at home. Whereas he didn't ask me and I'm married with 3kids.

My question is what should be the problem and what will I do to schedule another appointment before sevis fee expires. I read from the blue paper that I need to pay for another visa fee before rescheduling.

Next question: if I pay for another visa fee, will I be able to schedule another EA because my school resumes May 16.

Please help innocent soul

about this. So now, how much is on your I-20 that you are paying because that was the problem. Do you have assistantship or nothing at all? If nothing at all then the VO is probably wondering how your sponsor will afford it. And the word "spiritual father" must have sent another meaning about the profession of your sponsor even if they have another profession apart from being a Pastor.

Best of luck

MommaNG:
Good afternoon. I want to ask of advise on D's issue. I newly got admission to one University in United States to study public Health but with 30% funding from the school. I do not have any means of paying the fee but I am hoping to make a try on it. Pls is there a way to copy possibly get loan or other source to fund the school fee on getting to US or how can I possibly go about it?. I obviously do not have the fee and do not have any one in US. Who has a testimony share that went through D's process?. Please advise

Congratulations. Okay I'd say if you don't know how to sort the remaining fee before you even leave Nigeria, don't. Make all plans on how to clear the deficit before you leave. Although your school will have a payment plan but have a plan before you leave.

Best of luck