Geewin69:
Yes, I filled a new DS form when I reapplied. Nothing overly different; just finishing touches here and there.

I also attempted to reapply immediately, but ultimately, the availability of dates determines how soon you can file another application.

Hope this helps.

Geewin69:



So here's the transcript.
Visa Approved
Lagos Consulate.
December 31st 2020
Previously denied.
Time: 9:30 am, arrived at about 9 am and went straight to the CGI place. No crowd.

Got into the consular section, three VOs were conducting interviews. One black american lady, I call her the drill sergeant. Then there was one white male with long hair and a cute smile. He seemed cool, like he was really interested in having conversations with applicants. The third VO was one semi-elderly man.

By the way, miss drill sergeant was drilling people and denying them. She denied three people right before my eyes. I wanted to meet the nice white guy, but I ended up in front of Mrs. Drill Sergeant. According to my wrist watch, my interview lasted about 25 minutes. We were less than six in the hall then, so they really took their time.

Here goes.

Me: Good morning ma’am. Compliments of the season.
VO: Good morning. Please pass your passport and I-20.
***Biometrics***

VO: Where are you going to?
Me: I am going to Bowling Green State University for my Masters degree in Healthcare Administration

VO: (starts typing)…so why did you chose this school?
Me: Several things stood out for me in BG ma’am. Firstly, in my preliminary research on all the schools I shortlisted, I discovered that BG is actually rated very high in terms of teaching quality. Additionally, the course content for this program at BGSU features a unique blend of theoretical teaching, clinical exposure, case study simulation, and core digital health applications. I will be taking courses in Health leadership, healthcare financing, Health services administration, health law and Ethics, Managing Healthcare complexities, and the one I’m most excited about, the Application of Technology in Clinical Healthcare Practice. This will equip me to become a more effective healthcare administrator, capable of proffering practical solutions to healthcare problems in Nigeria when I return. I am particular about helping to enhance healthcare accessibility for women and children in rural communities, because this is where I’m from, this is where I have roots, and this is where I want to make impact. So for me, it was about finding a place where I can build the right skills and competencies to advance my career when I return to the country.

I was gesticulating and raising my hands everywhere. My voice was shaky but grew stronger and louder with time. VO was nodding profusely, feeling my soundtracks.

Me: I continued. To top it all, I was also awarded a partial tuition scholarship to cater for some of my tuition costs.

VO: (looks at my I-20 and asks) So who will be paying your $26k deficit?
Me: My maternal uncle. He is the CEO of bleep. His sponsorship is capped at $30,000 per year for each year of my studies, and covers tuition, accommodation, living costs, health insurance and a return ticket after my program. (pause) I understand that I am not supposed to suggest things to you, but I actually have my sponsor’s personal account statement here with me. With your permission I will retrieve it from my folder.

VO: (nods and continues typing. All this while she didn’t break eye contact, and she didn’t stop typing furiously.)

VO: Give me one moment, I’d be right back.
Me: Okay ma’am. No worries.
(she put off the mic and left for about five minutes)

She returned.
VO: So where did you say you are going again? (glancing at my I-20)
Me: I’m going to Bowling Green State University for my masters degree in Healthcare Administration, for a period of two years.

VO: Do you stay on your own?
Me: No ma’am. I stay at my parents’.

VO: Have you been outside the country before? (she glanced at my passport and saw an Ethiopian visa there) You have been to Ethiopia…
Me: Yes ma’am. Last year I was invited by the African Union Commission to attend a high-level conference at the African Union Headquarters in Addis-ababa, Ethiopia. I also got some recognition for my work in telemedicine.

VO: Do you have any documentation for that?
Me: No I don’t ma’am.

VO: One moment please. (She walked away with my passport and returned after about 3 minutes)
So what did you say your Uncle does again?
Me: I repeated my earlier response, with a bit more emphasis.

VO: (nodding) Are you married?
Me: Not yet ma’am.

VO and me simultaneously: But you/I have a fiancé.
Me: Yes ma’am. (paused for a second) And she’s adorable ;-)

VO: What does your fiancé do?
Me: Told her what she does.

VO: And she’s not traveling with you?
Me: No ma’am. Not at all. We actually plan to get married on the 7th of January, 2023.

VO: So when did you meet?
Me: Gave her our history.

VO: How long have you been together?
Me: Gave her the history

VO: (scrolls on her system..) Now in your previous interview in November…(I wanted to say, “yes I was denied”, but I believe God just kept my mouth shut. Then she stopped talking and started focusing on her screen. Then she asked)
What does your dad do?
Me: I told her the same thing I told the previous VO. (I think this was a make or break point, because the previous VO probably took notes about that; so if I had told her something different, I would have been a goner).

VO: (continues nodding and typing) So what do you do presently?
Me: I actually resigned in June 2020 to prepare for my graduate studies, which was previously scheduled to commence in fall 2020. However, since I was unable to secure an appointment, I deferred to Spring semester. And instead of rushing back into employment, I decided to keep myself engaged by taking relevant online courses and volunteering for Eagle World Outreach Global Food Support Project, where I coordinate the distribution of free food and relief materials to poor families in my community. I actually heard about this organization online, and I reached out to them to extend their program to my community. They sent me funds, and I set up a small team, purchased food items and distributed to poor families.

VO: So where did you work before?
Me: Up until June 30th 2020, I worked as a Laboratory attendant at Ikorodu general hospital. My day to day roles involved taking inventory of lab supplies and reporting in case reagent stocks were almost exhausted, performing haematological and pathological tests including malaria tests and widal tests, and directly assisting the head of lab services as often as occasion demands.

VO: Where did you work before this place?
Me: I actually co-founded a health tech start up last year, and I worked as the Team Lead of the Research Design team. My work required me to design qualitative and quantitative research to get information about specific research fields within our target demographic. I stopped middle of last year because I lost my main funder, and my co-founder bailed on me and joined a direct competitor.

(She kept nodding and looking at her screen.)

VO: Give me one more moment, please. I’d be right back.
Me: No worries ma’am.

VO: (returned after like 2 minutes and started typing furiously)
Me: You’re welcome back ma. (at this time, I was already tired. My legs were sweaty)

Me: I hope you are enjoying your stay in the country ma’am.
VO: Oh yes, thank you. Now just hold on a minute okay. (she kinda asked me to not talk while she typed)

All this while, I was praying and raining fire on her brain. Then she stopped typing and her hand hovered over the blue slip I was given before. My heart broke. Then she lifted her hand, looked around for white slip, and finally found one on her wall. Then she said those magic words…

VO: Okay. So I will be approving your visa. Take this white paper…(then I didn’t hear anything again. The popular deafness, I guess; but I wasn’t having any of it...)
Me: Uhm, ma, many people speak about this deafness that comes after receiving the white slip. They say they don’t hear anything afterwards. I think the same thing just happened to me, but I’m really interested in hearing that thing…

VO: Oh, I’m saying that this paper will tell you how to pick up your passport. You should also keep your I-20 well, as you’ll be needing it every time you go in and out of the US. Las las, she said some other things again that I didn’t get, but I let go.

That is how it happened oo! God is faithful!

Side notes: prayer works, but preparation + prayer is a match made in heaven. Pray like you’ve not prepared, prepare like you’ve not prayed. More importantly, the delivery is more important than the preparation. Prepare all you want, but make sure you bring your A-game to the interview.



Best of luck to all those having interviews soon.

zeeLady:
Sure your company can sponsor you, but does your 1-20 show that? or is it a combination of company support and family support? any funding? what age are you sir?

Only family support.
I'm 30 years old.

fairheart:

You should add writing to your hobby. It was your articulate and fine writing skill that glued my attention to your first long e-mail to me last year or so. I still remember that your choice of words and the things you said you want to achieve by going to the U.S, inspired me. You told your story so well, and I think this is a skill everyone should learn. We should be able to tell our unique story in a way that will make others see the goodness in us.
I actually didn't do as much as I would have done for a younger brother I cared about, but I am glad that the little I did was impactful.

I also love that you took out time to remember those who helped in your journey. This is the attitude of gratitude and it will take you far and make people always want to help you. As you grow in the U.S, keep nursing this attitude; you'd meet even empathic people that will be there when you need another human being to advance your goals.
I also thank Northeastern and Texrem and Aunty Lagosismyhome for their supports toward your success.
The seed to excel is in you and I hope you will study well and graduate at the top of your class. AMEN to your prayers for me and God bless you!

vincent7000:

You need to speak to a professional ..like fairheart to advice you better ..the issue here is not your answer but other factors such as age ,and previous interview history

vincent7000:

You need to speak to a professional ..like fairheart to advice you better ..the issue here is not your answer but other factors such as age ,and previous interview history