edwina621:
Hello everyone, I currently live in the Nashville area. I am considering moving to Houston. I want to live in a bigger city with other Nigerians. I hear there is a lot of career opportunities in Houston. I work for the State of TN as a social worker for the Medicaid/Medicare program. Please can anyone living in the Houston area give me the pros and cons of residing in Houston? I would greatly appreciate it !

Are you single or married ? Send a Pm If you need help in moving.

The cons of living in Houston. I'll go through them first: It is hot here, and it is humid. We have summer days that will make you melt. Fortunately we have air conditioning everywhere. Unless you're a golfer or cyclist, you won't have to experience the heat unless you're going between your car and a building. I do hear they are plenty Nigerians but its just hyped, I rarely see them. Just 2-3 African stores and Resturant.

Traffic can be bad, but so is every major city. What we have are some bad drivers. They aren't the worst, but they are poorly trained. It is easy to get a license here.

Yes, we have no zoning here, but you really don't see new upscale development next to old ratty crackerboxes. We don't have trash strewn everywhere.

Oh, forget the University of Texas. Texas A&M University is the school to watch. We may not have the best coached football team, but it is a school of many proud traditions with friendly people.

The pros of living in Houston. First of all, there are people from everywhere here. Every nation on Earth is represented here, and their emigrants have probably opened a restaurant. Speaking of that, DINING. Few not much nigeria resturant. While we do have plenty of the chains here, most restaurants are family owned and have a great variety.

Housing is cheap here, renting or owning. Compared to the rest of the country, Houston is the cheapest major city (followed closely by Fort Worth)and look for a home in an area you'll like. If you want cheap food , rent and bill. Come to Houston. You can never be jobless.

I mentioned people from all over? For the most part, they're friendly too.

I could go on and on, but I need to hit the showers. Welcome to Houston!

happney65:
You beautiful i must say..Abeg shey u dey single or married?Cos Boys dey come wey never marry.. ..There are texas pipu for here..Zeezabee oya come,Your fellow sister needs help..Btw,Did i hear you say you work for mediciad?Isnt that Obamacare?

Wow, you didn't spell my name well so am seeing the post late.

Maybe your mouth stinks and she's just after the joystick satisfaction

finestcash:
a friend has an interview fo r 31st of this month,though he asked for an extention but d school gave him an i20 for spring with a letter,will he be interviewed and what are the chances of getting his visa

Tell your friend to cancel the upcoming interview and schedule for a day less than 120 days to spring resumption

Extension letter are only for a week or 2 and the school expects that there's no way your friend can make it to school because registration and classes have started.

He should look out for spring

firsttymum:
hahahhahahhahahhahahahahhahahahahahaha thanks for info

Sim card is $0.01 on amazon and you can get 0.99 on eBay lol. But since you will be arriving and need it ASAP.you can get In a store for 10.

When you arrive fully, buy from a store for immediate use and activate.

Then buy another one for keep but don't activate it. When next you come, you can activate and use

Thread 8

firsttymum:
How long does the U.S. Sim last ... Was in d us like 5 months ago... Will my sim still work?

After 90 days of no use. You will lose the number. So I guess you need a new sim on arrival.

godG:

I'm considering H2O and AT&T.

You should try lycamobile (they have good naija calling rate ), simple mobile and ultra mobile. Seems they gor sometime as low as $19. They are all pocket friendly unlike the others

imperiouxx:


A large bedroom including utility at $500 in a city.... they should be dancing and rejoicing.

Their mates that came straight to NYC are tasting serious mehmeh now. That's about $1100/mo here.

Talking about work on day one. I see lot of newcomers here trying to speed up things over night. I hope journey of 2-4 years won't be everlasting one for them.

Yeah, that's how cheap houses can be in Houston. Na even standard house oo. No be house with cats and rats like NY. I have learnt lesson on NL that helping is evil. I can't promise to even accommodate anyone because I hate insult. Am not so good in that aspect and I want my peace.

For those still searching accommodation, I pray you find breakthrough. It's always hard first few days. I could remember when I came and I had to contact few folks here but none showed concern. But if you got your money, you will find something.

imperiouxx:


I need accommodation too. Beggars no dey get choice... I fit stay with girls, I no mind.

Thanks!

Bring your mat and aso ibora along

OjaP:


You are right. Not everyone can accommodate another person indefinitely. Personally, I don't have a problem accommodating for up to 3 months. However, I wouldn't want to accommodate someone I don't know and who is out of status indefinitely. If the person in question is registered in school and still in status, then finding accommodation wouldn't be a problem.

So, what about the millions in the statement of accounts presented to the schools and embassy? Did the money disappear right after visa issuance? Many times, I begin to wonder if people think we are liars whenever we come here to advise people to be well prepared before coming to the U.S.A. With a poor preparation, a journey of 1 year may cost you 10 years.

Thumbs up, I really forgot to add that It will be hard to accommodate somone who doesn't have a source of living, Never enrolled, no Ssn. It's just gonna be hard.

Some people will say It's wickedness. I had a bad first 4days but since I got money to pay rent, I was able to sort out fast.

Advice to my people here, have your first year school fee even if Na community college and have your first year rent.

Lastly, no matter how hard you help people on NL, they will still come back here to insult you so I actually don't blame people who won't give a helping hand

iphyconsult:
Hello house,..
the accommodation wahala is just for the main time naa, see as indian guys dey follow demself for tail here to fix there broda b4 dem settle,.. all d naija dude I relied on r flawing,..the one way won assist dey 3hrs away,..u can imagine

$75 per night no b small tin but i make sure say i packed the free breakfast after bele full,all my day food inside my school bag,..lol

Pls any one ready to help d guy,..dat money is too much ooo.

Thank you.

They should be some $35 hotel around you. Or go get a studio Apartment and you could find somone to share. What u think ??

GboyegaD:



It is unfortunate that I don't have single female friends in Houston otherwise, I would have approached them on behalf of the person. I believe it is a phase the person is going through and she will cone out of it stronger hopefully.

It still boils down to the same thing, not everyone can accommodate people. Go to the give birth thread, some people will eject a pregnant woman from their house.

You do not expect a fellow intl student to accommodate another person for months. If its for few day, then it's fine but for so long, then it's a NO no. I know the first 1 week is always hard because you need to get some things right.

I can allow anyone to stay with me for few days but for months, I can't.

GboyegaD:


There could be further notice if the person is sincere. She could approach a friend and explain her situation or even a member of her religious group if she is active and humble. In all, I wish her the best.

For those who are quick to judge people because of their present situation, kindly desist from such act and instead, be kind to all and grateful to God.

Seems the person is just arriving from Nig and might not be able to have any religious group or anything. What I advice just arriving is to have at least 3-6 mths rent till they are able to make friends and find a way out.

Nothing is free in America. Not everyone can to take people in their home for free.

rajkelvin101:
because my major shows liberal arts and science instead of computer so i had to drop it.

Community college shows liberal art until you are done with your prerequisites and you enrol in computer science

rajkelvin101:
Good Morning fellas
am so curious to know if the i 20 has changed and also, i transferred to a CC college, but the i 20 i received shows that my transfer is still pending, but the woman that issued it to me said is ok but i rejected it and walked away. My question is, will i have any problem with if i try to reenter in the US?

So you rejected it , so you want to be outta status right

It will always show pending for like 3-6 mths and reason is that you might probably be owning the other school and some other uscis/dhs issh.

You won't have any problem with it because when you are travelling , you need to notify your school nd they will print a new I-20 for you

worry359:


It will with sim
But everyone will look and point at you
saying "Look at poor African who can only afford old phone."

Never, iphone5 is not an old phone. No one cares about watever phone you use here. Have you lived in USA before ??

Stewee:


What if the person snores like a train?

firstEVA:
If you reside in America, pls go aheaad and fvk away your sorrows, but if you are in Naija...

And you think America is the best place to do shitt

coobboy:


This one is even an oncampus hosuing for the college and it spans for one year.
If i run, they wont see my break light again, they might even report me to the school, before they do, i would transfer

I dont even think i can sublet the apartment, cos they always do constant checkups on the students living the oncampus apartments.

Then sign a 3 months contract. Tell them you might be transferring

coobboy:
A question: As an F-1 student if i break a lease agreement of an apartment, like moving out of the house before the lease expires, what would be the penalty for that. Would i ever get my security deposit back?

F1 student or not, you break an agreement then it's a bad one

In Texas, if you break a lease, you will be made to pay for the remaining months and sometimes forfeit your deposit. The money is so much that you wont have any choice than to stay back or sublet the apartment.

If you move out of the house without notifying the leasing agent, it will go on your record and it will be so hard to get anOther apartment.

I don't know how it works in other states but I know breaking a lease is a huge game. My advice is sign. 3 mth or 6mths lease and you can move later in peace.

peren:
Hello all,

Pls i am applying for a student visa, its a short course in the US, my passport will expire in march 2016, my course starts in oct-nov. i don't really know the process of renewing my passport and i fear it would be a long process, and my visa interview is at the end of this month. Wud this be enough reason not to grant me visa? what wud be my best course of action?

Thanks

Go to the immigration office in your state. It takes less than 1 week to get a passport. I think it's now 25/27k. If you wanna do it yourself, it's 17k but could take forever.

So best bet is walk into the immigration office and talk to an officer.

bbdd:


Hey zee.
Sup. Hope you're good.

I dey manage. I guess Stewee took care of you at the airport

Enjoy your stay

warriboy21:
guz i saw some nice 2bedroom apartments with individual lease
does it mean i can go n pay for my own only without getting a roomate?

Sign your lease, ask questions about the apartment. Check out if everything is working fine in the apartment. If theres any, tell the, to come fix it. It's Parton your money

HoneyBronzed:
Hi Gurus, how/where do you buy money orders using your nigerian ATM card? Who has done that recently?

Kroger, Walmart, us post office , gas station, any food store. It still used mine today at the post office

djmakson:


Thanks Zee. It came in handy. Document sent successfully.

My pleasure

djmakson:


I called WES and for about 5 minutes, they were still playing music like those CC lines of Naija network providers. My friend in the US called on my behalf using my reference number and they confirmed they've actually received my transcript and sent copies to my school for verification.

Now they are asking for my certificate. The only option I have is sending it by fax as there's no email contact.

Abeg who knows where I send documents by fax and an idea of how much it costs?

Go to fax zero.com or http://www.myfax.com/free/ .

All you need is scan the document and send it

coobboy:

Omo i believe now oh.
Prep dey well, na apartment i dey on now.

Pm me, I just got the email from arewa