₦airaland Forum

damidamsel:
@Xenadarl....congrats on getting through the POE and sorry abt d stress. Guess u didn't make ur findings about Philly POE though. I am in philly too, got in last week but i had heard long time ago that philly poe was tuff so i made sure to come in tru Atlanta which was a BREEZE(no secondary inspection). Anyways it's d good news that matters at the end. Congrats!!!

Thanks, but didn't hear anything on toward abt Philly. Good to hear someone else is in Philly. Which place are u planning on using

I think these border agency guys are getting more hostile by the day.
Ok here goes my POE experience, flew Lufthansa fm Abuja to Philadelphia via frankfurt. No issues departing was sent briefly to medical to confirm my fitness to fly letter. All was well.
After 15hrs of flying and roughly 5hrs stop over time we eventually arrive Philadelphia. Am extremely exhausted feet swollen n all.
Getting to my turn at customs took almost an hour, officer asks so you planning to stay at so n so, I replied in the affirmative.
Officer: Why?
Me: Cos I have family there.
Officer: name of person n occupation
Me gives details
Officer: how long are you staying?
Me: will be leaving by May
Officer: let's take ur prints
Prints taken, he leads me to their secondary inspection room and says you have a seat my colleagues will be with you shortly.
We were told we are not allowed to use our phones.
Been through this b4 so I knew they were going to keep me there to stew a while.
Quickly bring out a book and begin to read. Shortly turns into an hour l8r b4 another officer calls out my name.
I was still in the process of getting my pregnant body of the seat to approach the counter when he bellows out to the hearing of the entire room, "yes! (My name!), we know y ur here, you are pregnant and you are here to have your baby. You came here last time and had your baby here!
Now, everyone in the room (other officers and fellow detainees) are staring at me.
At this point a female officer joins the male one and two of them are firing questions at me!
I go like, yes am here to have my baby and that was what I told the Officer at the embassy when I applied for my visa.
Lady officer: why do you keep coming here to have ur babies?
Me: I usually have complications towards the end of my pregnancy
Lady officer: what kind of complications
Male officer interjects: She says she told the officer at the embassy, hang on I will quickly verify
Taps on keyboard, turns red faced and begins to gently nod.
Lady officer: how did u pay for the bills or did u use Medicaid?
Me: I paid all my bills in full
Lady officer: how much did it amount to?
Me abt 8000dollars
Male officer: Do you have the receipts with you?
Me: yes, get up from my seat again and begins to hand over the receipts one by one. He gets tired of seeing receipts asks me to go sit down once again.
Lady officer is busy scrutinising the screen that has my info, and she asks have u been denied a UK visa b4?
Me: No, I catch on to what she may be referring to and quickly add, I was denied a US visa when I was living in the UK and applied from there.
Lady officer: y?
Me: Cause I was told I didn't have sufficient ties to the UK at the time.
Lady:how much did u p how do u intend to pay this time, and how much cash did u travel with
Me: I don't travel with my money cash, just travel with my cards. I have tge money in my account
Male officer: sit down, ok give me 5mins
Both officers mumble amongst themselves.
Then Lady: you are a Dr?
Me: yes
Lady: where do u work?
Me: details
Lady: where
In my mind am like do u know anywhere in 9ja, y u dey ask me?
Me: in Nigeria.
Male officer: asks me to come forward, asks how long am staying and stamps my passport for 6mths, reminds me to always travel with my receipts even though he is going to type in that he saw them on this occasion.
Was grilling, but in all we thank God.
Subsequent check at agriculture was a breeze the guy there come dey pity me say everyone don leave.
Was like you must have been in there a long time, seems your the last one out! Asked me what foodstuff i had, told him fish/crayfish then he Just scanned my boxes n let me go!

ZillyO:
Don't mind Arik, I flew them last week, their policy says 30weeks, I told them OYO. Before I could show my doctors fit to fly they said they don't accept from outside that I have to do it at the airport. Na so I carry myself go Port Health centre, where a nurse use a measuring tape to measure my tummy and told me I'm 32 weeks, meanwhile I was 34. I used wisdom, told her I'm not 32wks, didn't want to say I'm 34 either, na so the woman write 30wks there and I paid the 1,500 fee. Gave Arik what they wanted to see and flew to JFK....

The Nurse was correct in her measurement, it's not an exact science usually the measured value is + /-2weeks the actual value and that is if everything is normal. Other conditions cam make this vary considerably.
The nurse probably went along with what you implied cos the 32wks she measured was still in keeping with 30wks.
Anyways thank God u got what you needed

Thanks Zilly

ZillyO:
It depends on the bank, some banks will want to see a letter from a Naija doctor stating what is wrong with you and referring you, then the one from doctor abroad accepting you plus his invoice showing what it will cost you.
But I think diamond bank is simple, just the invoice from the hospital bearing your name and amount, you fill a form A and give them authority to debit your account for Naira equivalent.
Form A typically means accessing FGN money and you need to show genuine proof to gain access, the Bank will bid for you and pay on your behalf to the hospital. But always remember to ask for telex copy, that's your proof of payment and might be useful at POE

Hi everyone been reading and reading! Lots of info! This Dollar thing is giving me the creeps! I will be travelling to Delaware next month and don't have PTA, I live in Abuja and every bank I go to is saying no PTA. Pls for those who have used form A when you apply to pay with form A how long does it take to process?
Did your bank ask for a referral from a Nigerian Specialist hospital to your US doctor?
How did you go about it?
Does the bank give you the money or send it directly to the US doctor/hospital?

Thanks @vcole, are you in Delaware presently or planning to go?

vcole:
No info on doctors or hospitals. However i believe it takes 45 days to get your baby's birth certificate in delaware.

Anyone birthing in Delaware, need info about affordable Drs and hospitals. Pls help a sista out
Thanks

Hi all interesting read.
Pls Beryl15 if you are still following this kindly contact me
Thanks

Heard UPTH advertised for residents, for those interested

Does anyone have any idea abt when the next update course in paediatrics by the national college will hold

You really dont need to show any documentation, just give them the names for your baby n it will be processed. No one is going to ask for marriage cert n all.
My own passport is still in my maiden name n when I filled my baby's forms for processing of birth cert n passport, no body asked why the surnames were different. Am sure it happens all the time over there as some parents r not usually married when they have kids.

Hello House,
I just got my visa approved but my name on Passport is still carries my maiden name. Pls would Marriage certificate and newspaper Publication fly when I want to do baby's documentation so he bears hubby's surname or what other documentation do I need.[/quote]

My advice as per breast pump would be to buy either a tommee tippie or avent. The medela and other types are not easily seen in Naija in case u need to replace bottles or other parts.

stinux:
Hello fello NLers, pls has anyone bought electric breast pump from the USA? If yes, does it work well with nigeria electricity. Pla mamas in rhe house, your urgent response is needed to make a decision. Thanks as always.

Hi I bought a Philips a vent electric breast pump in the US via amazon, I ve been using it here in Naija without qualms didn't need a step down. Just connected it to an extension cause our socket shape here is different from the US. It works just fine no issues.

Beryl15:
I think so but will call the hospital to confirm again. I'm staying with family so going there would not be a problem.
Someone who used Christiana paid 3.5k Dr fee and almost 13k for hospital(CS). Don't know about St Francis though.

wow, that's pretty steep! Pls let me know when you confirm. Thanks

Beryl15:
I plan to use DCMH, they have a self pay plan of 7,500 all inclusive. 6k for hospital and 1.5k Dr. Have not gotten one yet cos you have to pay the hospital bill before you're assingned one. I'll do that when I get there, don't want to make any payments from here and hear tori later.
Only problem is it's about an hour drive from Wilmington. St Francis and Christiana hospital are quite expensive.

Thanks, is that irrespective of weather ur having a vaginal or caesearean delivery? The hospital bill is still pretty expensive. Do you have someone who ll drive you to DCMH or do you plan on driving? Cause cab can be pretty expensive as well. Do you know exactly how much st Francis n Christians charge?

Beryl15:
Nice second person going to Delaware.

Hi Beryl, Do you have a Doctor your planning to use yet?