₦airaland Forum

pompeiimagnus:
Careful with this advise please. You can’t just change status “if you want”. EB1, EB2, H1B must be sponsored by an employer, unless the person meets the high standards to self-petition for the EB1-A & EB2-NIW.

If I may ask, what's in the sponsored visa and self petition option I should be careful of So if I want to self petition for EB1 and the rest in that category, is there anything that says I can't IF I WANT TO?? Or is there anything saying I can't go for H1B if I want. Obviously there are steps to that but I'm not going against my visa if I do either of them so what exactly are you saying??

CreativeWeb:
Please, gurus in the house, I have these questions...

1. The school I'm applying to in Boston pays $2500 per month as stipend. Can this pay house rent for two rooms and support me and two kids?

2. The school says I can't work, except during 2 months school holiday. Can I work online? I have some digital skills.

3. If I come with two kids (6 and 4 years old), how would they be taken care of? Like go to school.

4. After the 5 years degree, can I choose to stay back and work by changing my status or must I come back? What if I start another degree?

If 2 rooms are not necessary you can stay in 1 bedroom apartment. And to be honest, the $2500 is not enough. The oldest can start 1st grade. The younger one will have to be enrolled at a childcare center (that's where vigorous spending will start to be sincere with you). Childcare fee is not free but you can get subsidized fee depending on the center. Yes you can't work outside your school. If your GA is 10hrs or 15, you can add on campus jobs to it but keep in mind YOUR KIDS. Childcare center is 6am-6pm.
You can start another program if you want. Yes, you can apply to change your status if you want. We have EB1,EB2 H1b and the likes so if you like.

Paultaiwo101:
Tirinng, thank you for your response. I will actually be getting my funding letter in July. But I'm already working on getting my I-20. On my I-20, it will show that my dad and myself will be funding the admission. The I-20 will not show the scholarship. But by my interview date, the offer letter will be ready so I can show the VO. I hope this is fine as well. Thank you.

Please also reach out to me via 07067717883 on whatsapp.

Uhn just to chip in on this. Why don't you wait for them to update your i-20 before going for your interview? The thing is, the VO might not ask to see the award letter and you don't want to miss this visa opportunity. But if you can update your i-20 before going, the VO will be forced to obviously look at whatever is on it.

Radarada08:
Hi guys. Please I have some questions to ask the int'l graduate students who are currently in USA (I don't know if anyone has asked them before).

1) How do you cater for yourself? For people who receive GA/TA monthly stipends, is it usually sufficient for you for the entire month, especially after paying rent and other course fees? If yes, great! If no, what do you do to supplement it? (Besides asking for help from your family).

2) Are there other on campus jobs you can combine with your GA position (maybe for 2-3 hrs) that can pay you (just to make ends meet, especially if you don't rely on your family)?
I know F-1 students have 20hrs/week to work. But a student told me on LinkedIn that her GA is actually 23hrs. Hence my question.

3) How did you sort out your accommodation in the US before leaving Nigeria? Most of the students I've spoken with on LinkedIn said they had friends that they squatted with for a few months. What if you don't have any friend there? Are there websites once can check for available apartments (PS: I'm going to Tennessee).

4) How much will you advise an int'l student to enter the US with? Just something substantial enough to cover accommodation, feeding, and other miscellaneous expenses, pending when they start receiving their GA stipend?

@chibertha, @UmmZayd, @beejhay69, @Walspring, etc. (And any other person who can contribute to the questions asked).

Thanks.

These questions poo oo
It depends on the total amount of the Assistantship. Some will cover everything while some will not. Some stipend will pay for rent and food while some will not be enough for both. So it depends.

Yes, if you are able to secure a place in your school's dinning or library just to make some extra cash, you can do that as well. To cut your expenses, live in shared apartment if you can.

If you don't have anyone in the US . Like you're a lone range, first thing is to go and search on Facebook if your school has a student community or you reach out on LinkedIn. If you have used everything and you still don't get someone to stay with for first few weeks then reach out to that person on your i-20. There are also options of the international student office as well. Graduate coordinator etc. They will help you find a student that will accommodate you. Ehm when you finally see a student Biko don't overstay your welcome when you get there. Before you travel start making plans for your own apartment as well.
So you may find apartment with high rent at first. Just make sure it's something your stipend can cover. There are some places with lease agreement of 6month-12month. If your stipend won't cover every month then don't sign any lease. Just go with a place with a monthly payment (you may have to pay a month down payment though but it's refundable if you no break anything inside apartment)

Stipend will not drop immediately so hold some cash. $2000 is okay if you can afford it. $1000 will do too. Most importantly, spend wisely. If you need to get anything, search for Family dollar, Dollar store, Walmart around you to buy them at a reduced price. Don't buy anything you don't need Biko.

Lastly, you will be fine after 2/3 months

isangjohnson:
The guy said my sister would have to pay the $250 before her gre result will be sent to the schools she applied to.
This information was not given to her before she paid the 50k for the registration last year October.
The guy that collected the money and registered her is NONSO by name.
Most guys here should know him.
He even told my sister to register again.
Could you imagine.
Please, I need help here.

Hmmmm the organization in charge of that exam put a stop to the discount so everyone involved will have to pay the full amount for the exam.

Systrom:
Hold on! For your second trial, you mean that you got to the embassy and after queuing up, you were not interviewed Because you ticked regular in your application appointment instead of previously denied ?

When yes they start that one

Yes because he/she didn't answer the question about rejection within 6months of interview correctly

brymorla:
I applied for EA since Thursday but till now no response and I can't even check for dates again since I have already scheduled a regular date.
Kindly help what should I do wait or cancel the appointment...pls someone should help o

Wait for response. You can reschedule to. Just click on the reschedule button

PS: there's holiday on Monday sha

Rzq009:
Thank you for this......but I can’t see request emergency appointment again on my dashboard

That's because you have used it. You still have one more reschedule or 2 sef on this visa fee. Until you exhaust it before using another one.

Garbia:
I don’t know how but please find a way and cancel that check and use western union. The person should take the coupon and go to the nearest WU agent and you will get your confirmation almost immediately.
Or use someone here and pay

Well it can't be cancelled. It in transit already.

guest31:
Can you open bank account in USA before moving there? What is the process? Please someone help.

No you can't!
You will need a US phone number, i-20 and passport

Festy8:
Please ��� need someone to help clarify this.

I paid Sevis fee by mail,how long will it take for the payment to be confirmed?

But then why mail?

Okay you can give it 21 days max.
PS: hope you paid insurance on it Incase Dem lost am

Best of luck

Blisstee:
Do I look like a scholarship board of trustee? It's either you fund your studies, get a sponsor, or a scholarship. Studying abroad is not usually cheap. People are just being career-oriented and trying to lay a good foundation for future.

So you are even aware it's not cheap yet you talked as if $14k is easy to come about

MzWendy:
Please has someone experienced delay in the issuance of I-20. They actually did tell me to be patient, that the process will take 5 working days or more but it has gotten to 10 working days and no response yet. My program is to start 16th of August.

You can send a reminder. Some take up to 2 weeks

sydney070:
Hello Everyone,
I am on a student visa (F1) and it will expire this month. I have plans of coming back to Nigeria to renew it and also marry my woman by December. Do I qualify for IW considering the fact that I traveled as a Single guy and will be filling my new DS-160 as married.

I anticipate your responses

With IW, you will still need to show face at the embassy but that aside. You can request for EA and you will get an earlier date

Blisstee:
The tuition is not as expensive as you think. $14k and living expense is $9k

It will be nice if you can fund him/her though

isangjohnson:
Please, how much minimum amount will be required in sponsor's account?
My friend wants to know as he prepares for her younger sister's MSc studies in USA.
I know the money must be in his account six months before the interview date. The account must be a servicing account as well but I can't just remember the minimum amount.

It depends on the total tuition of any school your friend is applying to. There's no general minimum.

wolfenstein:
Omo I thought it was only Sevis fee receipt and i-20

Even at that, your request has to be an emergency due to the short staff (as stated in some denial emails) before you request for one. Honestly if your resumption date is still August there shouldn't be a reason to request for EA in June when there's still a July.
So far, I think some students are not really making good use of that one-time EA application.

Valmichael:
Pls someone help, I used only my first name in the CGI portal I didn't include my middle name. I hope this won't be a problem?

It's fine without middle name

Mickey2135:
Hello please I am new to this forum I wanted to create two accounts on the CGI site to check for dates in Abuja and Lagos so that anyone I see sooner I will just apply I already created for Abuja and I want to create for Lagos but it keeps telling me that my profile details match that of another user and I have two DS-160 form for Abuja and Lagos please what can I do

What can you do??
There's nothing you can do because your profile details match that of another user

Keren12:
Good day guys, please I want to start trying the USA for my studies. I have 2.2 of 3.09, I studied mechanical engineering for my first degree. Is it possible to get partial funding without GRE? Please suggest a school that still has January intake for this qualification.

I have been refused a Canada visa 3 times. 1 visit (2016) and 2 studies (2021) what is the tendency that the USA will give me a visa since these two countries share information?

Thank you

Okay I'll not say it's not impossible but to increase your funding chances, you see that GRE you should write it.

Best of luck

Onah16:
Hello everyone. Please who knows of any group I can join that is geared at checking visa interview dates for visitor's visa(B1/B2). Please send a private message. It's very important please

Search for FRESHUSVISA on telegram

VirtueousWoman:
Hi Nairaland and gurus here, please did any of you face challenges filling this ds-160?

The way it times out is alarming, within seconds oo. It's so frustrating. I don't know if I am doing something wrong.

You have to make sure there's a strong and stable network. And don't waste time to it.

Quiver:
Can anyone who was refused especially in Abuja and has not torn his/her blue paper send it to me maybe via Whatsapp or Telegram? I want to ask for a refund of tuition deposit I made in a school in the US as I was refused twice but later got visa for study permit in Canada and so need my money back. Anyone please? Cos the US school is demanding I show them the blue paper of denial from the embassy before they can refund me back my money

This school!!!
Check your visa profile if you can get any evidence as regards that. There should be something that stated that you were denied.

Best of luck

africandictator:
Hello everyone how can one get a tourist visa To go to Nigeria from the USA. Before filling my paperwork at the consulates website I was informed before I proceed or make payments I have to first find out what days the consulate opens for appointments because the consulates may not open everyday because of covid. I have called countless times but I don't seem to get an answer and it's quite frustrating. Can anyone help? It's hard for Americans to get a visa to Nigeria because it seems the embassy/consulate isn't functioning well.

Oh well! If you have been contacted DC office, just don't bother. They don't answer calls. If you're close to DC and it's not stress, you can just go there and ask your questions.
To safe stress, try calling the NY or ATL office. You can send dem message on IG too.

Best of luck

ireneayeni:
Congratulations sir, Please I will like to find out if you used the School Address as where you will be staying.
I dont know if this is true but someone told me that If an individual uses an address asides that of the school and the contact info stated on the I-20, Visa Approval is not guaranteed. Please all gurus in the house @Moshkom, @Chibertha, @UmmZayd @justwise how true is this? I will be going with my two kids and I intend staying with my family freiend for a month Pending. the time I get accomodation close to my school(Georgia Southern University). I will really appreciate your response as I already filled the address of my Family friend however I want to know if there is a need to change it Asap befor my interview next week. Thank you.

It's fine because it's not all schools that provide family housing options

Kemo88:
Thank you for this vital information. Please is there still visa on arrival in naija for the new born?. Also I’m going to be close to Nigerian embassy in DC, is getting a Nigerian passport better?
Please now that we are kind of in the “post covid “ era, how long does it take to get the US passport? It used to be same day in some states before covid. Thanks

It now takes 3months to get a new Nigerian passport at DC and birth certificate from Maryland vital records is 2weeks with standard shipping and 5days with UPS. 3wks for US passport. Please note that the US passport was processed through post office (Maryland). Return of birth certificate, a month plus

HazelRenee:
Good morning all,
Thank you for the good work you all are doing.
please is it a good idea to write as a reason for denial "that i have no idea" i am really confused as i have no idea why i was denied. I was handed the blue paper when i applied for the tourist visa with my family. Please i would appreciate if some one could help me out.

Thank you.
@ Moshkom, Ummyzayd.. Please

The reason should be stated on the paper given after interview

Meetch:
I got accepted into the honors college of the school I applied to, is it a plus for me? And how can I introduce it during my visa interview to make the VO aware and increase my approval chances

It depends on the structure as per your school. If free money is involved every semester then it's a plus. On how you will report that during visa? It can come up on WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS SCHOOL?

freezy4me:
Please do I need to book the appointment first with the date I was given?

Yes or you keep checking for earlier date

freezy4me:
Hello house

Please am trying to schedule an interview appointment for b1/b2 visa in Abuja but the earliest date am getting is march next year. What should I do please as I need an earlier date than this if possible in 3 months time?

You will keep checking till you find earlier dates

Jydman7:
Hello everyone

1. I’m trying to apply for an undergraduate program in NJCU and one of the requirements is that I should send my secondary school transcript through WES for evaluation before I can be offered admission ……. But I’ve not been finding it easy to do and I have no clue about it ……. Idk if I can get a waiver for that…….. if not can somebody please put me through on how to go about it

2. My uncle is sponsoring my education In NJCU and I’m not sure if he can use in cooperate ( business account ) as proof of funds or is it compulsory it as to be a regular savings or current account……..

3. Can anyone please add me to the telegram or WhatsApp group? My phone number is +2349015854522 and my email is mabayomije360@gmail.com

I’m hoping to hear from you guys soon thanks

You will go to WES website and create an account with them. Follow and fill all necessary details then you will go to WAEC office (jibowu if you're in Lagos) and request for your result to be sent to WES.

Nozino:
Ok.

The first school is Florida A and M university which was a backup plan. PhD Industrial Engineering

Second and first choose is University of Central Florida, PhD Industrial Engineering.

Check these schools
University of Michigan
University of Cincinnati
Georgia Southern university
University of Houston
Western Carolina University
And few others. There are few schools that offer your course you can't just choose 2 out of everything