₦airaland Forum

Petdaughter:
Thank you very much. Pls was there any baggage allowance for your baby?

Only 10kg. Useless people. I thought it was 23kg. Delta is not just it

Petdaughter:
Please how much did you pay to add your infant to your Delta ticket? Also did you pay over the phone or at the airport? The quote they are giving me is ridiculously high

I paid $417 over the phone with my card. I guess it's not cheap because of the season. People are starting to buy summer tickets and all

Gloriagee:
no be small e. delta sucks when travelling alone with an infant. On the domestic flight to Atlanta from Houston, no infant seat belt. When l asked the air hostess, she said we don't have infant seat belts on this flight. On the intl flight to lag- no infant seat belt and when l asked the air host ,he said ur hands are the best seat belt for the child and that was how l didn't even nap for one sec from ATL to Lag. Mcheww

They are horrible I tell you. With my first baby I used United. Excellent service all the way. I really miss them. Anyway this is my last child so...

Hi guys
Second missionary journey done and dusted. Came home 2 days ago. I will say two things:
DO NOT PAY ANYBODY MONEY TO GET YOU APPROVAL FOR VISA ON ARRIVAL! I stupidly paid a colleague just because I didn't want stories about not getting the approval email before my travel date and I have been seriously regretting it since.
DO NOT USE DELTA AIRLINES IF YOU WILL BE TRAVELING ALONE WITH YOUR INFANT. That was my worst trip ever. I made firm reservations for a bassinet only to find out they didn't even have any on the plane. I ended up carrying my baby the entire trip. This is why I miss United airlines.

Good luck to everyone. I'm done

Pinkstrawberry:
Pls how was your oakbend experience delivery, aftercare, e.t.c. I used WHMC the last time but their prices have increased considering using oak bend this time.
Thanks

It was awesome. It's my second childbirth there with the same doctor. However they changed their neonatal services provider and I wasn't impressed with them at all.

Hello all,
My baby girl arrived on the 26th of February using Dr E at Oakbend. Recovery this time around was way better than the first time. I have already processed all $0 balances and BC. Passport to come next week. I havnt received the SSN so I filled in zeros on the application. I didn't sign any oath to that effect. I'm hoping to travel back home next week so I'm really praying the VOA works for me.
I don hang my boot. Child bearing ends here

Bubbles123:
So does it mean that hospitals like oakbend don't give that kind of discount?

I used Oakbend in 2016 and I got my visa renewed last year. Infact my itemized bill states $23000 and i paid $3700 at that time. In fact I'm having my baby at Oakbend again this month. I don't know what that VO's issue is o

olufuumy:
I'm 8weeks pregnant and I will love to have my baby in the US, I have no previous travel experience + my husband's uncle lives in Houston TX(the man who raised my husband).

1. Is it adviceable to go ahead considering no travel experience?

2. What are the steps and procedures to take?

3. How much should I budget all together (I have a 2yrs old son)

Please advice.

Please go through the thread. Be patient, you will find all the answers you seek

@Omodadi I'm so sorry dear! I can imagine how horrible this must be for you. I think you should try Canada if your date is not too close.
Hugs..

LESSONS LEARNT:

1) NEVER EVER use an agent to fill your DS-160 form. Trust me, the form is pretty straight toward and there are some information that an agent might not put much thought to. But if you do it yourself you have all the right information in there and can't be thrown off





[/quote

I keep telling people This!!! The questions are so easy and straightforward that you'll be silly wasting money paying an agent to answer your own personal details for you.

funmiogunz:
Good day wonderful people.

I recently just signed on to this wonderful family although prior to now I usually check out comments of nairalanders via google search and I must say that I am inspired.

I and DH decided in December to take a 3 weeks trip to the USA in 2018 because we never got the chance to have a proper honeymoon when we initially married because I commenced child birth almost immediately (I was heavily pregnant at the time). Fortunately for us we recently discovered that we are pregnant for our 3rd child January 2018 and we have decided to birth in the USA this time since we can afford it. I work with a multinational and husband works with one of the best indigenous IT firms in Nigeria. We also have a registered growing business here in Nigeria and a couple of properties here and there. We have been out of the country severally and I once with our first child to the UK BUT never together.

Now to my questions:
1) Can we apply together as a couple bearing in mind that this will be our first attempt at the USA embassy? If yes what sort of Visa should we be looking at bearing in mind that I am pregnant now and will be due in September hopefully. We intend to have our holiday before I birth and will be using that same trip to birth our child. I do not intend to lie about my pregnancy status if asked. We do not intend to go with our 2 other kids at least for now because school will be in session.
2) What documents should we have handy with us to aid the application process when asked
3) We are looking at birthing in Texas and will be staying with my husbands childhood friend who is a citizen and works in a Oil Rig in the USA, will this be OK?
4) Do we have to make a deposit for delivery to the hospital via to Visa interview date to aid our chances?
4) Will appreciate any relevant info on cost of birthing via CS in a reputable hospital in Texas
5) I will like to know if its BEST I apply alone for now and maybe after birthing and back to Nigeria we can then apply as a family or a couple for holiday later in the future.
6) Will it be OK to apply separately. My husband applies first while I take my time to get all my documents then apply later.
7) If my husband applies first bearing in mind that his major intention is for holiday with me can he clearly state that if asked and hope it will not affect his chances as I currently do not have a USA visa but will apply after him.

I will appreciate if I can get a feedback soon while I continue to check other comments in other post.

Really appreciate.

Welcome. Please thoroughly search through this thread. All your questions and concerns have been dissected.
Happy reading and enjoy

MyEkwueme:
Thanks a lot. Pls can u pm me his full name?

Send me a pm

OnJosh1:
Please people of GOD can anyone recommend a good Pediatrician for circumcision here in Houston? Had my baby at Oakbend. Or should I simply wait till we get to Nigeria? Baby will be 6weeks then. I shudder at the thought of the pain but I'm worried about doing it twice as I've heard not so good reports about circumcision done here. My brother's baby and my friend's baby had to be redone back home in Nigeria after first attempt here in Houston and El Paso respectively were not done properly... Not the same hospitals though.

Pls pls I appreciate your prompt response.

Honestly I would advise you to do it when you get home. I had to redo my son's own back in 2016 because it wasn't done properly in US. It was traumatic for both of us.

MyEkwueme:
Pls can u recommend of a doctor in Houston who can accept me at 35weeks. I hv been seeing Dr. F and Dr. Z. I don't even know their full names to Google them. Pls which hospital did u use. I need to start contacting the doctor. Houston mama's help a sister...

Usually you start building up a communication line with the Dr way before 35 weeks...I usually inform my Dr when I'm about 5 months gone so that the dr's clinic can be aware way before I enter the country. I am using Dr E/ Oakbend

I've been a long follower of this thread from the journey to have my first baby in 2016 and now my second. I want to immensely thank everyone who has contributed to this thread. I've learnt so much and refered many people.
Now straight to my own experience:
I got a B1/B2 visa for a conference which I attended in 2015. This visa was issued in London. I also used the same visa for childbirth in May 2016. My POE was Houston. I was grilled for almost 2 hours. I believe it was that tough because I was caught using my phone at the secondary inspection ( which you shouldn't be doing) After the CBP guy finished ransacking my phone and checking my documents, I was stamped in.
Now to my second missionary journey, I had to apply for another visa because the previous one had expired. I could not do Dropbox because the visa was issued in London and I was reapplying from Nigeria. At first I was so disappointed because I was not ready for another interview but I'm so happy I did. My interview started with the VO cancelling my previous visa without prejudice since it had expired. He asked me all the generic questions (purpose of visit, why I chose to give birth in the US, dr's correspondence, burden of proof, where I work and proof, payslip) At the end I was issued a visa.
I came in to Houston yesterday with Klm at 35 weeks. My hospital demanded 15k for fit to fly letter which I refused to lay for and I went straight to port health on the morning of my trip. At port health, the nurse was insisting I was about 38 weeks gone high I knew was not true. I knew she was saying it because she wanted money smh. After much back and forth with her, we (my husband and I) paid her 2k extra in addition to the 1500 fee and she issued us the certificate. At Klm checking I was not even asked for the fit to fly so we basically wasted 3k5. But I'm not even angry because if I had paid 15k at my hospital it would have been worse. The flight to Amsterdam was just basic. The food was bleh. After a four hour layover at Amsterdam, we continued to Houston.
When we got to Houston after 10 hours, got straight to immigration where the queue was long but pretty much moved fast. When it got to my turn I got to the CBP officer with the following transcript:
CBP: Hello, why are you in The US?
Me: I'm here for childbirth
CBP: You mean you are pregnant?
Me: Yes I am
CBP: How many times have you been here?
Me: Twice, in 2015 for a conference and in 2016 to have my first child.
CBP: Can I see proof of payments for your first child?
Me Handed over all $0 balances (hospital, Dr, Paed, anaesthesia)
CBP: So was everything up to $10k? Because this looks very cheap.
Me: it was more than $10k before I got my applicable discount usually given to self pay patients.
CBP: So you don't have insurance here...
Me: No I don't.
CBP: So how are you paying?
Me: I have $4k on me with $13k in my Wells Fargo account and $10k in my Nigerian USD Dom account. I can show you the statements if you like.
CBP: Let me see them (I hand the statements over to him at this point) I see here that these are November statements
Me: My USD accounts are accounts I don't use unless I'm outside Nigeria. I can't quickly open up my online statements if you want further proof.
CBP: No problem. Just to remind you you are not entitled to Medicaid....
Me: I'm absolutely aware
CBP: Great. I'll be stamping you in for 6 months, have a great day mama
Me: Have a great day, and thanks

The whole process took approximately 4 minutes.
My first dr's appointment is Feb 1st.

I'm so happy I had to go for that visa interview whe're I had the opportunity to declare my intentions of childbirth because I know it made my entry a huge breeze compared to my last time. There's nothing that gives you confidence like knowing you did not lie and your intent is as clear as day.
Houston POE is highly unpredictable though. You just keep praying for favour.

Okija_juju: [b]Obi is a fo'sho governor..

In the course of his administration, he has handed out more cheques to people than all other governors put together..

He handed out over 30million Naira Cheque to Chikason for road construction
he handed out 200 million Naira cheques to 2 private Universities in Anambra for no apparent reason.
He handed out billions in cheque to the Anglican & catholic churches to rehabilitate mission schools
He handed out a 50 million Naira Cheque to saint Charles Bonnereo hospital


Infact, google Peter Obi hands out Cheques and see what you will get..

Thats why in my village, we call him Gov. Peter Donatus Cheques Obi..

LWKMD!!!! Gov Peter Donatus Cheques Obi!! Hahahaha

No be small injury time governor o!
A to na planning, no execution.
Btw why is he even handing out cheques?
And why can't we ever think of building something that can comfortably rival hospitals in any part of the world instead of all these makeshift shacks? Smh
God dey shaa

We destroyed ourselves by ourselves. We should not blame any country for dissociating themselves from us. Corruption is the order of the day. We disgrace ourselves everywhere we go. Why should other countries respect us? then when we need to plan a way forward, we start pointing accusing fingers at a tribe that isn't ours. The joke is on us. As far as I'm concerned, we deserve every bit of ridicule we get. Until we get serious, push tribalism aside and genuinely think of how to make every coner of this country great.

I disagree with No 1

So if I like being funny, I should reduce it because I don't want my man's ego to be harmed and be competing with him. Really?
Whatever happened to being urself?
And oh, I think the last point completely negates no 1 so that reasoning is flawed

But seriously, what's this obsession with Igbos?? I'm just asking a question o. Any thread on here about Igbos ends up being anoda mudsling contest between Yorubas/Igbos.
Are you guys not tired??

Powerful pictures...
Some of these pictures make me still have faith in our humanity

The way anything Igbo just pricks some people like needle ehhh.
Una well done o

Anyway, I think its not just an Igbo thing. Generally people like to stick to what they are familiar with when it comes to marriage, not just Igbos.

1) I talk with a lisp. My bf thinks its ok but sometimes it jst makes me feel somehow
2) My weight.

Pink lips *swoon*
Large hands *cough* and a broad chest
My man has all that and more so...

Its even very funny because not every place in Igbo land does this. I'm from Anambra state and in my place, we take a tiny bit of the whole. This is usually the norm in Anambra and Enugu. There may be exceptions. Usually, the grooms people present a certain amount and the bride's father 'dips' his hand and collects a single note from the bundle, and gives them the rest. It may be #200, #500, #1000, depending on what they present. Every other tin required from the groom on the infamous list is usually around 50k. That's in my own area shaa, because we believe a woman is priceless and there is no amount that would be enough for her head so there's no use asking you for money.

U people must shaa bring tribalism into everything. Are u guys not tired of this BS?
If u don't understand d culture, then forget it. Its as simple as that. There are many places in Naija where you don't pay a dime. You can as well go there. Its not by force to pay bride price.
Nobody is even talking about 'idu uno', where the parents of the bride do something akin to a 'send off' for the bride. Sometimes what the new couple get from this idu uno is way more than the bride price paid.
Please if u don't understand a people's way of life, its ok. But at least respect it. There are 250 ethnic groups in this country, each with its own vast customs. We should learn to respect people in this country

LMAO! Everybody knows this is sooooooo not true. Enugu ke? So what happened to the other report when it was ranked safest? Ndiala!

I love the consecration of the Holy Eucharist. A certain peace washes over my spirit when the chalice is raised. Nothing comes close to that feeling.

I'm Catholic

So 6 people is now ONLY 6 people??
When will we start seeing human life as precious and sacred in this country?
God help us! Respect to the dead. So sad

Trust me, dat whole friendship gist is over rated. You will likely be friend- zoned. Women are complicated human beings o, you may start out as friends, then when you now mk it known to her that you wanna b more than friends, she'll be like 'argh, but we are friends for life, how can we kiss or make love'. trust me, most times that's wat happens. The best thing is to approach a girl telling her you dnt wanna play games and you really wanna know her better and go from there. That way, she knows from the beginning what category to place you, while you guys slowly learn each oda .