Good day to you all, any Nairalander in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?

My POE experience.

I give God the glory for safe arrival.
I arrived JFK through Doha though it was a long hour flight but smooth. The aircraft was A350, very spacious and not fully booked. I was the only on my row of 3 seats so I had opportunity of lying down to sleep. It was about 13 hours trip.

I arrived JFK 9:45am and proceeded to the self scanning matching. I scanned my passport and did the biometric after which a slip came of the maching.

The questions answers on the maching was similar to the one already filled in a form given to me in the plane which I handed over to the BCO. The questions includes;

1. To declare what you have in your luggage
2. What you brought to US that will remain in US which may be gift or other items, food stuffs, meat etc.
3. Cash in excess of 10k usd.
4. Address of where you will be staying.

For me, I had only $400 and £500. Few clothes, books and gown I made for my host which was the only thing I declared with its value in USD.

Fast forward to BCO, I handed over my passport, the firm filled in the plane and printout from the biometric machine.

I selected leisure as my purpose of visit which is B2, I was not asked any question why did not come with my family neither amount of money I came with. He asked me what I do in Nigeria, where will I be staying and I presented the printout of my booking and deposite already paid to him with printout of the GTBank Mail sent to me when the money was deducted from my account. He asked me how many weeks am I staying and told him 11days. He asked if I have visited US before and told I am a first timer though I had visited UK twice and still have unused 2 year UK visa resting on my passport. He stamped me 6 months and which me well. I am still observing New York City.

My first engagement, I went to Bank of America to see how I can open an account in preparation for my next visit with my family and to my struggle for Forex.

Warning for first timer, most especially if you say you did not have anybody in US. Please, travel light, don't come with what will raise questions, I was seriously searched at Doha, Qatar.

To God be the glory.

seyewest:
Hnmmmmmmmm that's a point oooo

Great people we have here, God bless you all. I will spend just 3 weeks and run back.

LadyGuinivere:

Dude. Did you misunderstand my comment or you misquoted me?
Kindly re read my post

Not at all. Your comments are highly valued and you are highly appreciated as well.

LadyGuinivere:

I work in a government institiution. In my state, there's usually public holidays. From december 6th to like 2nd January. So if I take my leave to coincide with that public holiday, would it be an issue at poe? I think not.
Every truth can be verified one way or the other. One must nt fit into a box because its the norm. If he can take 2 months off, IMO all he need do is take proof along shikena.

Many thanks for your comment. Not that one is trying to cut corners but i know what is obtainable in my organisation. If it is not possible in your organisation doesn't mean it is not possible in another organisation. We work like jackal in our organisation day, night and weekends with the power of technology even, being on leave doesn't stop me from working. I have taken 2 full time post graduate courses in the course of my employment of 10years. I appreciate all your comments, it is better to play safe as I would not want to create any issue when going again with my family.

justwise:


Are you an employer or an employee?

Oga Justwise, I am an employee. My leave as a senior officer is 30 working days and I am permitted to extend it as we would have been winding down activities for the year. We normally shut down our activities by Dec 15 to 20. I work with an international organisation.

Hello Good People in the house, Myself, wife and kids got our visas last month, the trip was planned to have my wife and kids birthdays celebrated in the state on vacation but wife got mouth watering wedding cake contract that made us shift the trip. My question is this, I am planning to go alone in few months time as I don't like staying in Nigeria during my leave, last year was in UK for a month but planning to spend 2 months in the state if I go. Hope there won't be any question at POE why I did not come with my family and why I am spending 2 months. Will definitely go with my family next year during school vacation. My POE is JFK. Awaiting your kind advice. God bless.

Glory! My family of 4 got our visas approved July 28. So many families and singles were denied, so many got theirs approved. Thank God we got ours approved. I will share our transcripts soon!

I have come again to share my testimony. I was here last week that I got my UK 2 years visa approved. My family of 4 got our US visas approved this morning. Wonder double agenda is being confirmed. I am a WINNER....from glory to glory......

askari01:


Congratz... told you to relax ur nerves. Enjoy your holiday.

Many thanks

zoomzu:
Very well done to all the great people in this forum. I salute you all. Oga Justwise, FrontpageLawyer etc
I have been having sleepless nights over the clashes in my applications. I submitted my visa application since July 1st and no update since the last one I got about 2 weeks ago that it has gotten to decision level. The issue is that the whole of my have US visa interview next. Is it possible to attend US visa interview without my passport? Will the copy of my data page and previous visa pages be tenable?

Oga Justwise, FrontPageLawyer and all the wonderful people in the house.
I got my package today with my 2-year visa. This is our year of wonder double agenda testimonies. It shall be good news for others waiting for their packages.

However, some documents are missing from the package returned to me (My cousin's British Passport Data page, His Tenancy Agreement, Invitation Letter and the Application form itself). Is it normal?


Thank you all and God bless

@Askari01 and FrontpageLawyer, many thanks for sparing time to respond to my question. I submitted it at Ikeja even paid for it be courier to me because of my tight work schedule to go and pick it. I keep my fingers crossed. Thank you all

Very well done to all the great people in this forum. I salute you all. Oga Justwise, FrontpageLawyer etc
I have been having sleepless nights over the clashes in my applications. I submitted my visa aplication since July 1st and no update since last one i got about 2 weeks ago that it has gotten to decision level. The issue is that the whole of my have US visa interview next. Is it possible to attend US visa interview without my passport. Will copy of my datapage and previous visa pages be tenable?

Good day to all the wonderful people in the house, your well of knowledge and wisdom will not run dry.

I am submitting my application for 2 years visa in few days time. I wanted to seek your opinion on the tenability of my building and survey plan.

1. The survey plan is the particular one they called backdating. I am yet to do the government survey which is the one acceptable for building approval.

2. My building is almost completed but I just did my building design this May in predation for the approval. I adopted my friends design to build it to the stage it is now.

My question, won't it look as if I am just about to begin the construction when the building is most completed. I have my Deed of Assignment.

Please, your advice will go a long way.

Many thanks.

justwise:


Yes NYSC.

Select NGN they will convert that to £ using the exchange rate of the day.

I am greatful. One more thing, I intend to travel in October. Is it not too early to begin my application now. Submission will be month end or first week of July.

Good day and sincere appreciation for the wonderful work you are doing here. Oga Justwice, Frontpagelawyer, and wonderful people.

Here is my query please, what should one select on the aspect of this new visa application that ask if one has taken part in (Compulsory National Service). It was NYSC that came to my mind. Please guide me.

Also, option of NGN and GBP was given on annual income and other finances section of the form, which one is better?

Thank you.

Same wit this one that will send you SMS that your BVN has issue asking you to call a particular number

rinw:
Good day to the good people on this forum. Please i plan to go for a 3 weeks vacation during my leave period. the trip would be self sponsored. I'm gathering all supporting doc now but apart from my salary account, i have a separate savings account and i recently transferred 700K from it to my salary account which i would be presenting as my SOA. But reading through previous comments on the thread i noticed its a wrong move. please how can i explain this huge lodgment.

You can present that account as well since it is yours unless you have something to hide.

Good day to everyone in the house, please I need your advise on the status of my bank statement. I have 300k and and cheque deposite of 800k from my cooperative savings making my balance to be 1.1m. The cooperative is my office staff cooperative. The account is my salary account with huge inflow and outflow of cash. Is this account presentable, I am planning to apply for 2 years. Was in UK twice last year on 6 months visa for just short period. Thank you as I patiently await your comments.

Good Afternoon to the very good people on this platform, your well of wisdom shall not run dry.

I needed your candid advise on my application. I am planning to renew my visa for 2 years. I travelled twice on the 6 months that expired last year. I have a good and promsing job, my take home monthly is 150k, which i spend mosty on my buiding project and some other goes into my coy's cooperative. I presently have 300k in my salary account and 1.5m with my cooperative. I just took 800k from my cooperative which was issued to me with a cheque which i deposited into my salary account. Also, huge amount of money comes and goes out of my account (there are couple of my friends i help secure land and they vested all the construction work in my care, they transferred huge cash to my account which i also transferred to those working on thier sites. Hope I stand a chance with this my account. I will be presenting like 1.4m i plan to spent around 500 to 600k on the trip. All other conditions are 100% ok.

Thank you and God bless for the wonderful work you are doing here.

justwise:


If you don't present the other account how will the ECO know where the money in your salary account came from?

It was a cash deposit, thats why I will present the copy of the memo/official document signed by me and other recipients of the cash gift and photograph of the award presentation.

Oga Justwise and Frontpagelawyer, I am humbly awaiting your responses on my issue. Thank you for your helps at all times.

justwise:


Not running it properly does not mean that you can't present it, just saying that you have other account without presenting it will not convince anybody let a lone the ECO.

Thank you Oga Justwise?

What I meant by that statement was that, it will be reflected in my salary account I am presenting that certain amount was transferred from my other account to it, not that I will put the highlighted text in my application. what's your opinion on other issues raised? God bless.

Good Day Oga Justwise,

I am back with the analysis of my travel plan and to also know if the papers and explanations in additional information are relevant/necessary.

1. Type of Visa - General Visitor (2 years)
2. Purpose of the Trip - Visit
3. Duration - 2 weeks
4. Have you travelled before (Yes, 2 times - June (6days), September (30 days)
5. Salary after PFA deduction - 142,000
6. Amount spent monthly on living cost – N40,000
5. Amount Available for the trip – 2,392 GBP
6. Cost of flight and local travels – 798 GBP
7. Cost to me personally for the trip – 1,150 GBP (my calculation is N405/1GBP)
In addition to this analysis, I put in my cover/additional information, evidence of monthly paper signed by staff for some money received in cash i.e communication allowance, I was among 4 staff that received 2015 productivity award recently which come with cash bonus of N200,000 plus deposited in my other account, I am not presenting that account because I don’t run it often. I have official correspondence as regards the case give and photo of the award presentation. Is it also proper to present a letter from the cooperative where me and my have also have some savings?
I also wanted to point out that huge amount that form major part of the money in my account was taken from my savings with the office cooperative society (Cheque deposit from the cooperative) I will also attach the duplicate of the cheque. Is it also proper to include the evidence of property jointly acquired in my wife’s name for the expansion of family business being managed by my wife? I intend to travel between June and August during my leave. I have all the required papers from my cousin that will accommodate me for the two weeks visit.

justwise:


All you need to do is to write down how much you will be spending and on what...even if you are only going to pay for the ticket alone.

Thank you sir, I will fill a draft form to have the spending spelt out and present it for evaluation again. On the other hand sir, what's your view on all the documents put together? Your well of wisdom will not run dry.

justwise:


How about the breakdown of the cost of the trip?

Thanks for the swift response, I have almost £1000 (N450k) for the trip which covers my flight ticket and all other sundry expenses. I am not paying for feeding and accommodation. Our local food stuffs I will buy for them will be more than what I will consume on them.

Happy Holiday to you Oga Justwise and all the gurus in the house, God will continue to increase your wisdom. I want to present my document to you before I fill my form.

1. My appointment letter indication my annual income of 1.85m and 700k as yearly training grant.
2. PFA statement of 800k plus
3. Letter of recommendation from the office
4. Letter of Salary increase from 1.3m/pa to 1.85m
5. Document of recently Government allotted store for jointly own business with my wife with receipts of all payments made.
6. Data page of my cousin inviting me
7. Tenancy agreement
8. Tax clearance and NI number
9. Invitation letter
10. Photographs
11. 500k cheque paid into my account by my office cooperative with photocopy of the cheque of the cooperative, cover letter indication it's just part of my savings.
12. 400k balance in my salary account.
13. I travelled twice on the 6 months I got last year June. (1st trip 7days and 1month second trip)
14. I want to apply for 2 years now with the plan of traveling around July or August for 2 weeks when on leave.
15. I have 900k available to present out which the cost of my trip will be 400k to 450k.

I humbly present my case before you. Thank you as you guide me on what else to do.

Lets pass the information through Ben Bruce.

Do not take an accommodation that the annual rent exceeds 3months of your salary.

Many thanks for your guide, Oga Justwise.

You truly responded to it but no definite answere was given on how to present it. By concern is that, I I get the money from my cooperative and put in my account, won't that signifies huge cash lodgment? That's my concern. Thank you Sir.