NewStats: 3,265,190 , 8,185,950 topics. Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 at 07:29 PM 6m4k6z

Tashi95:
Hello everyone, quick question.

I got ission to study for my phd. It is funded tuition and part of cost of living is covered. I still have a deficit for my cost of living and other fees (10k). I also want to apply for the visa with my husband (F2). I have to add 8k cost of living for my husband. That brings the total deficit to 18k. I have some personal funds and he has some but the money is not in our s. It will be sent in. My question is does it make sense for the money to enter my and his own in huge chunks. For me 13 million. and for him 17million. Also, how long does the money need to stay in my before I request for my i20. This is the statement I want to show my school.

18k deficit for a PhD that takes a minimum of 4 years. Altogether, you will have to pay 18,000 x 4 = $72,000. That's a whole lot money for a PhD that is supposed to be fully funded. I do hope you have plans for the remaining years, so you don't end up stranded!

Greatkenny2:
Hello guys, please how do I do a SEVIS transfer from one school to another, my interview wasn't successful but I've been itted into another school for spring 2025 and I'd like to transfer my sevis records so i wouldn't have to pay another sevis fee. Please how do do this? Do I need to the previous school to let them know? Ps, I've already gotten my i-20 for the first school, I asked for a deferral which they granted and issued another i-20 for spring but I've decided to accept another school... Please how do I go about it

You can do the SEVIS fee transfer by yourself since your F1 visa was not approved. Go to the link below, enter your SEVIS details and initiate the transfer of your current SEVIS payment to the new school you plan to attend.

https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html

Sneh7:
Please I need help:
Thank you for all you do for people, I learnt a lot from here,

1st attempt: 4/8/2022
School: LUSA
Program: MPH
COA:32,000.00
Funding:12,500
Deficit: 19,500
Funding: Father $35000
Embassy: Abuja
VO: chubby Fair Lady

VO: me your I-20 please
Me: here they are officer, good morning

VO: I can see you are on scholarship
Me: yes

VO: we're you going to?
Me: I'm going to LUSA to study master degree in public health

VO: who's funding you?
Me: my father will be funding me and I have scholarship of §12,500

VO: what does your father do?
Me: he is a businessman and he is into importation of building materials from China

VO: have you traveled before
ME: No

VO: what do you do
Me: I'm a practicing medical laboratory scientist in wimda medical laboratory in Lagos

VO: what will you be doing upon your return
Me: when I return I will establish medical laboratory center in my community, to help in solving health problems

VO: are you married
Me: no

VO: do you have a child
Me: no

VO: I won’t be approving your visa at this point under section 214b…
Me: can I please know the reason?

VO: I will not be approving your visa at this point under session 124b green paper served.


2nd attempt: 15/7/2024
School: LUSA
Program: MPH
COA:32,000.00
Funding:12,500
Deficit: 19,500
Funding: self $11000/ Father $35000
Embassy: Abuja
VO: pointed nose lady,

VO: me your I-20 please
Me: here they are officer, good morning

VO: have you travelled to the US before.
Me: no officer, I haven't

VO: where are you going to.
Me: I am going to LUSA to study master degree in public health

VO: who is funding you?
Me: I have a scholarship of $12500 an my father will be completing the feel for me.

VO: are you married?
Me: traditionally Yes,

VO: Were did you finish your BSC?
Me: at that point I was blank for a while, an I pick up again an mentioned the school

VO: I won’t be approving your visa at this point under section 214b…

Please I need advice on this 3nd one an going, an what will I use as a reason for denying me previously
Thanks as I wait for your response

Your denials are almost two years apart. Is there a reason why you stuck to the same school? Also, how did your funding remain exactly the same even after almost two years?

eyitoayomi:
Good Evening pls I need your advice.
I have Hnd in statistics Upper Credit
And Bsc Applied Mathematics and statistics First class
1 Publication,
I wrote my Gre today but my Result is not palatable I had 144 verbal and 144 Quantitaive
And Am looking for school with full funding in Msc Statistics in USA, I will be glad if u can suggest or Help me with advice on Next step to take, thanks

You can try University of Idaho. GRE is not required.

Mjosh1000:
Quick one guys, can I use my wife GTB to pay for my visa fee?

Yes.

PrimeTEA:
Good Evening House.

I’ve been following this thread for a while. I got a PhD. ission into a school in the US and awaiting a funding decision.

My question is how long must a required deposit sit in my before I print the statement and send to the school as proof. I have an investment I can liquidate, I’d like to know so I can withdraw it earlier so the days can start counting.

A PhD without funding is not advisable. Huge financial implications.

ARISTOCRATDAMMY1:
Hello everyone,

I'm seeking advice. I received a Form I-20 from a school, but I don't plan on attending it. My primary school is still in the process of issuing my Form I-20, and it might take them two weeks or more. Considering the delay in the appointment, can I use the initial Form I-20 while waiting for my school's issuance? Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

I would advise you wait for the I-20 from your preferred school since it would only take a couple of weeks. There's no point rushing to use the I-20 from a school you won't attend.

SMBH:
Good evening all,

I submitted my ds160 on 27th December 23. Please Do I need to fill another ds160 considering its been more than 30 days since I created the current one.

Thank you

If you've submitted your DS-160 and do not have any changes to make on the submitted form, then you are good. You do not need to fill another one.

dest4real:


What's this again please?

I think I read it here that upon submission of visa application, an appointment date will be sent to you.

What do you mean by "you haven't secured an appointment date"?

House,

Please upon submission of FI Visa application, how long does it take to communicate an appointment date?

NB: I'm not asking of the waiting time!

No one will send you any appointment date. It is your duty as an F1 visa applicant to constantly search for a favorable appointment date.

Chiezzh:
Dude listen
I am not here to insult anyone , I have been on this planform for 7 yrs now. 2017, I got my visa , by God grace and with assistance from some great fellow on here. i graduated from ETSU 2 yrs ago and i am a nurse presently, working and living in JC TN . i am telling you all this history because I am not a scam or here to tell lies. I am too busy for that. i am helping my cousin with ission at ETSU , i applied for emergency request which was approved, but at this very moment, i can only see the same date i saw before i applied for the emergency . meaning i have not see any recent date , i can only see later dates. IF ANYONE HAS EXPERIENCE THIS BEFORE , PLEASE I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE ON WHAT TO DO. does any one know the number for CGI help desk? Thank you

Seems you did not to your CGI immediately you received the emergency approval message. Sometimes, if you delay in logging in to schedule the emergency approved date, you may not see it anymore. I guess that's what happened.

You can check Google for CGI .

NewBoyKhashoggi:




Hey 🤠

I don't usually respond to F1 transcripts because there are many FAKE TRANSCRIPTS ON NAIRALAND FOR MENT PURPOSES ...

But i am responding to yours because.. 1. You are genuine . 2. No one has given you a near match advice . 3. I don't want you to repeat same error ..


1. Don't apply for MBA again . MBA, Mass Communication , any program that end with studies ie.... International Studies etc are counted in the USA as ; Personally Beneficial programs . There re lot of explanation on this but there is no space ....apply for MBA again if your employer is sending you over for it .

2. Are you sure you did not over-stay your B1/B2 visa when you and your department visited America the last time ? The CO (consular officer ) was supposed to ask you ...HAVE YOU TRAVELED OUT OF NIGERIA B4 ? But instead , she asked you .. EVER TRAVELED TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY ?

3. I don't know your age ranges but why is your elder sister sponsoring you for an MBA ? Was she the one who has been responsible for your academic upkeep right from the onset ? Why not MSc instead of MBA ? MBA are even for professional people (COs thinking ).

4. At the end of your transcripts , you were giving advice that future applicants should get fundings , tuition waivers etc ..who told you that ? Was it written in the Blue paper ?

NOTE ;

People may argue this , but the CO (Consular Officer) respects F1 applicants who got no fundings but whose parents or company or families have more than enough money to cater for all their academic expenses.

Those who got 100% fundings in a program that won't be beneficial to AMERICA (because they knows you may not come back again) have had their F1 visa applications rejected 😊

The COs also see those students who are agitating for application fee waivers , tuition scholarships or loan as FINANCIALLY UNCAPABLE S who may jetisson their studies while in America . Therefore, visa issuance is not based on what amount of fundings you have aquired.

The CO (Consular Officers) most times communicate with your Host-Institutions without your knowledge via your Form I 20 and from there , they decide your financial and academic backgrounds.




Best Wishes 🙏

What statistics is the bolded conclusion based on? For your information, no school in the US would offer a program that is not beneficial to the community and the country as a whole.

Every program is of equal importance. It all depends on the ability of the individual to carve out his/her niche in their respective fields.

damil96:
Hello Sir, please I just wanna know if there are schools in the USA, that can accept a polytechnic graduate with a CGPA of 2.70 out of 4 for Post Graduate studies (something like a pre masters).. majorly considering University of Kentucky as they have an acceptance rate of 85% and according to my research accepts 2.6 CGPA at their school, just wanted to ask the house if there are other schools that can accept such CGPA?

Google would be your best bet in finding such schools. Also, you can consider doing a WES evaluation if you haven't done so. It may boost your GPA a bit.

chimax1:
Hi guys,
I have submitted my statement of for the I-20 but the university is presently on break to resume on Monday. My resumption date is Jan 15 and I am a bit pressed for time here,
While I wait for the I-20, is it possible to pay for the Servis fee and DS-160 to cut the waiting time. What are my chances for getting an appointment date in Abuja given the time i have? please I need honest to plan. Thank you.

You can't pay the Sevis fee without your i20 because you need the Sevis ID on your i20 for that. I suggest you patiently wait for your school to resume next week.

Teminio:
Good morning people!
I'm wondering why I don't get response to the question asked over several days now.
I know response is a favour, is there a criteria for response or is my question not cleared? I don't understand, please help!

Below is the question, I will appreciate response from kind heart based on experience
Does embassy accept GTBank receipt that was not stamped or signed? the original was misplaced.
If no, what should be done? Thank you

The GTBank receipt does not have to be signed. All the embassy needs is a copy of the receipt as a proof of payment.

logoscope:
Good day everyone. It's been a really long time I visited nairaland. But of recent, the university I've been trying to apply to has rejected the two bank statements I submitted to them.

Anyone experiencing the same with schools they are trying to apply to in the US?

Thanks.

Ensure the bank statements you are submitting are stamped and signed by a bank official.

Please can someone send me some TOEFl materials. Thanks.
[email protected]

jojoey:

Why on earth will the us embassy seize your port? Do they have such right?

Yes, the embassy can seize a port if they find any of the stamps on the port to be fake.

Francangel:
Yes, I was.

Also, on the visa application portal, that place where the address for port pick up is displayed in now has the statement that “Your port is ready for pickup”.

Okay, mine is showing my port is ready for pickup as well. Was thinking that I will be sent a specific mail telling me to come and collect my port. Although, I was sent a mail that my port is now at the collection center.

Francangel:


Yes, it is.

Were you sent an email to come and pick it up?

Francangel:
Good morning!

Please does DHL operate on Saturday? Other sites on google have it that DHL operates on weekends from 9:00am to 2:00pm, but on their google business , Saturday is closed for business.

Is your port ready for pickup?

Arizona042:
What is the best browser for filling ds-160. I'm having a hard time filling it. It keeps on timing out every now and then.

Change your network, use airtel preferably. Use chrome as well

Walspring paid my SEVIS fee in less than an hour. I was indeed satisfied. him if you need a quick and seamless payment of your sevis fee. Thanks again Walspring!

Good morning everyone, please has anyone ever gotten a conditional masters degree ission and the i20 was issued as bachelors degree level pending when the prerequisites are completed. Please if yes, I would like to know how you handled it at the embassy. Thanks.

HorlarJP:


I went with airpeace and I booked it 135k, and you have to be with a covid test and yellow fever test!
But my friend booked his 81k but simply because I booked mine 2 days before the day i fly and he booked his a week before ! So the nearer the date you are flying the more expensive your ticket is

And also you have to show a $50 note because you will do another covid test on arrival at the Aiport in Ghana. The $50 will be payed on arrival instantly and you don’t have to pay any $50 for Ecowas stamping!
And for someone going for 14 days you have to do one in Nigeria tho Guys dey run am, then another one on arrival at Ghana Aiport and then another one after your 14 days !
I hope I have answered all your questions.

Hi, please from which website did you book your flight?

Good day people, please is jamb DE form on sale now?

Hollyholy:
Hey guys.

I cried all night and still crying after being denied yesterday.

I totally tended up and blanked out.

Last night all my responses kept flowing in my head and sounded like I was muttering gibberish.

I feel so hopeless.

It was like someone else possessed my body as all I heard rehearsed flew out of my head.

I sent an email to my program director and her response brought more tears to my eyes.

She said she will keep the ission open all through next year, hoping I can them.

I am afraid to book another date and go through another heartbreak.

I am hiding in my office toilet as I type still crying.

I feel so sad

I feel your pain dear. It's not easy to go through a visa denial but you just have to forget the past and forge ahead. I guess you must have been very tensed that's probably why you forgot your prepared responses. Try to calm down next time and take deep breaths in quick successions. This will make you relaxed and enable you speak more coherently. Dry your tears and prepare to refire. All the best. that nothing good comes easy.

Temillion:
Please I need someone interested in Writing TEF, I will like to enroll at IEF for training, I don't mind if we can enrol together

Hello, I'm interested. Is the training online or in-person?

Pjomo:
Appointment was 7am

Me: Goodmorning
VO: why USA
Me: Answered
VO: Why NCAT
Me: Answered
VO: what research
Me: Answered But seems she wasn’t impressed, (VO cuts in)
VO: Are you married
Me: Answered
VO: I’m sorry you are not qualified bla bla bla, and she gave me a white paper

As I was going out of the building past the security men, the CGI guy came to call me back
CGI: (running fast) Mr Pjomo Mr Pjomo, the VO is calling you
Me: calling me?. She just denied me. I replied
CGI: yeah she told me to call you back
Me: Look, I’m not here to beg for visa, if US doesn’t grant me, another country will
CGI: we are sorry sir, just obey her call
Me: Okay. (I obliged)

Back to the main building
Same VO: I was only joking with you , I just wanna see your reaction
Me: I thought as much as my answers were amazing and I spoke audibly
VO: (utter the sweet words) I will be approving your visa. Pick it up on bla bla and proceed to pay the reciprocity fee.

It can only be God. Thanks to fairheart, julsbaby, slimmy2005, lagosismyhome, imperiouxxx., walspring, justwise, holuwadarey ftos. You guys are the best! I owe you alot

Wow..this is a testimony. Congratulations

Good day people, please is there anyone here whose appointment is on the 13th of November who has not been able to make the emergency request on the CGI as instructed by the embassy?

naijaeclectic:


-

I am the daughter ohh!

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for the transcripts, advice, and encouragement here. You were extremely helpful. God bless you all.
-

I think I got there at some minutes to 6. There was a crowd already. I had to my bag for N2,000. Then, I learned that I was not with the correct copy of one payment receipt (the one paid to GT). They said that I needed something with a CGI logo.

A guy there showed me a sample of the correct document. Then, he said it would cost N10,000 to and print it. I didn't know when I told him he was wicked. Lol!

After bantering small, I started speaking pidgin/Igbo. I told them not to look at my clothes or smell my perfume, that I'm from the streets, and we're all here to hustle. All na packaging. Lol.

We later agreed on N4,000 for printing that paper and photocopying my port data page. Photocopying costs N1000. If I hadn't argued, I would have paid N11,000 to print a sheet and photocopy a page.

I only agreed because I knew time was far spent. If you have time to argue or you don't have cash, please tell them you don't have the money. They'll drop the price.


Please, everyone going should ensure they're with the correct documents. The guys there are seriously looking for how to extort money from us. Someone behind me on the line said she paid N10,000 to print something.
-

After paying the N4,000, I ran to the line. My interview was for 8 a.m, and they'd already called that set when I was sweating/haggling over the price of printing. I lined up. It wasn't time yet, but they usually check documents first.

We stayed on that line for about three hours. No seats. Please wear comfortable clothes so you won't suffer more discomfort. Also, dress decently (like, nicely).

Your documents will be checked on the line. Carry your reciprocity fee, or you'll have to start looking for that.
-

At some minutes to/past ten, five of us entered the building. (We'd been entering in groups of five.)

We kept standing inside. We submitted the GT payments to someone, then ed the line for the interviews.
-

There was this terrorist at one window. He kept grilling people, and when he got to one boy that said he's studying Creative Writing or English (I'm not sure which), the boy was there for a while. I come dey sweat because I'm also going in for Creative Writing. He was grilling STEM-inclined people, and now, an art-based person was almost sleeping at his window. Jump and , na my prayer.

I started praying specifically to be sent to a friendly VO on the left (Window 10, I think). He occasionally asked people to stop sounding like robots, but from his demeanor, I could see that he was nice. Plus, people spent less time at his window.

Please try not to recite what you read online word-for-word. It shows when you're repeating it. Just pick valid points and mention them. Be confident.

Someone said you should smile (even behind your mask). I agree. A smile in your voice shows you're not intimidated.

When I got to the front, I saw that I'd either go to Mr. Terrorist or Mr. Nice Guy. They were delivering finishing speeches to the candidates in front of them. I prayed harder for the person in front of Nice Guy to pack his things and walk fast. Immediately he did that, I raced to Nice Guy. Two seconds more from the applicant, and it would have been too late.
-

TRANSCRIPT:

V.O: Good morning (smile).

ME: Good morning.

V.O: Please, your papers.

ME: (es papers.)

V.O: What school will you be attending?

ME: I'll be going to Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

V.O: (Laughs.) Not to be mistaken for University of Miami, Florida.

ME: Yes (laughs).

V.O: So, I see you're going to study Creative Writing. Why Creative Writing?

ME: Well, I'm an editor, so I understand the power of language and how stories can be a powerful tool for sharing information about and addressing issues in the society. (It was basically something like this I said).

V.O: So, you're an editor. Freelance?

ME: No. I co-founded an editing company with my mother.

V.O: What kind of editing?

ME: Fiction and creative non-fiction.

V.O: Have you published a book?

ME: (Laughs). Not yet, but I have stories and poems in literary journals.

V.O: (Smiles). Well, that has to change soon. (Taps on my 1-20, and I believe it's because he knows my final year project is going to be a book).

V.O: (Tikka Tikka Tikka on keyboard.) Are you married?

ME: No.

V.O: Do you have kids?

ME: No.

V.O: Have you ever traveled out of Nigeria?

ME: Yes, to Denmark.

V.O: (Surprised look). Denmark? That's an odd place to go. Why did you go there?

ME: Well, I gained ission into the Erasmus Mundus Journalism program. I did not get the scholarship, but since it was a subsidized program, I ed. In my second year, I was supposed to go to Swansea but could not make it due to financial issues. (NOTE: Some Erasmus programs let students school in different countries. Depending on your course, you can school in 2 to 4 universities before you're done. One school per academic year or one per semester. Something like that.)

V.O: (Nods like he could feel my pain). But I see you have a full scholarship now. (Happy smile on my behalf).

ME: (Happy smile back) Yes, I do!

V.O: Well, I'll be approving your Visa. (Story story story.) Miami University, huhn? It's a great school!

ME: I know, right! And it's public Ivy, too. (I laughed and said that because the school is on a list of public Ivy League schools. The guy slipped my port and the yellow slip back to me. Told me to have a nice stay. I told him to enjoy the rest of his day, smiled, and ran to the reciprocity place.)

-

That's all.

The interview lasted about a minute. I was worried he'd ask complicated questions, but nothing like that. Seeing as they were grilling people doing super-complicated courses, the chit-chat for mine was just a miracle.

-

Lessons learned:

1. Carry extra cash. You never know the stuff you'd need it for.

2. Calm down. Confidence helps anywhere. Overthink it, but don't overthink it. I hope that makes sense. Overthinking will make you tense, but you still need to realize how important this is.

3. Know why you're going to study the course. Me, I just need a space to chill and write in peace while chopping life, but I gave a valid reason for why I'm going. And what I said about why I'm going down the writing path is true.

These guys have interviewed people long enough to know lying patterns and stuff. Plus, when you deal with humans, you'd learn to watch their faces and decipher speech patterns.


That's all, guys. I wish everyone going the best. Please stay safe. Also, let's just say they're happily giving out visas. Stay optimistic.

God bless you, and good luck!

(Forgive any grammatical and punctuation errors in the text. Don't use this to judge my editing skills ohh. Lol.)

Congratulations dear. I really enjoyed reading your transcript.

Asguard:

Were you given an expedited appointment before?

No but I've previously requested for an emergency appointment.

Asguard:

Then use the link provided in the email sent to you.

I tried that as well, it didn't work. The emergency request option is not showing at all.