ayobj: I just picked up my B1/B2 visa from the VAC in lekki.
i applied with my wife.
while her picture on the visa was clear,mine was dark and i can barely make out my face.its a 2 year visa and i dont want issues with immigration during travel.
i wish to know what to do.
any body with a similar experience in the past.
i am due to travel late next month.
please advise!

not meant for this site.
am sorry.

I just picked up my B1/B2 visa from the VAC in lekki.
i applied with my wife.
while her picture on the visa was clear,mine was dark and i can barely make out my face.its a 2 year visa and i dont want issues with immigration during travel.
i wish to know what to do.
any body with a similar experience in the past.
i am due to travel late next month.
please advise!

geeez:

Thanks for your time justwise, the.n I stated that I wanted to visit my cousin. As a matter if fact, when I applied, I stated that I will be traveling in a week to visit my much older cousin and more so it was to coincide with his birthday. However, the visa was granted like two weeks after I applied but then the pressures of work and a professional exam I had to take took much of my time

Try and understand what people are telling you here.
The fact that you have a visa is not an absolute right to enter the UK.
I have seen supposed visa free countries citizens being repatriated at the port of entry-this include americans,australians,south africans etc.
You can get this by viewing Uk border force on you tube.
You will get the message.
www.youtube.com and search: UK border force at heathrow

justwise:

How will that work? No immigration checks in those airports? How will he land at Newcastle or Glasgow without touching down at Heathrow airport first?

There are many airlines that fly into the UK without getting to heathrow!!!!
Plenty.
There are flights from dubai to cardiff,glasgow,manchester,newcastle etc.
Also,most european cities connect directly to each other without berthing at heathrow.
I flew with a nigerian last year from lagos and connected to newcastle from amsterdam.
Similarly, a nurse flew to manchester on my flight in august 2012.

The BA gimmick I was talking about sometimes work.
Once I arrived new york around 1:30pm last year.I wad dead tired,similarly,the border patrol lady was tired.
She asked questions which I didn't answer very satisfactorily,she then stamped my passport and gave me 6months on my I-94.
I only had a 2 month visa from naija.
Wished me all the best.
On picking the luggage,an overzealous guy came again and started asking if I have money to spend.
I wanted to show him,he said no.That I should just tell him.
He checked my baggage and allowed me to go.

justwise:

Travelling just a week before the expiration of your visa 'might' be a big issue at the POE.

If you insist on travelling,options are that you use a busy aircraft eg BA.the UKBA officer may be overwhelmed with the crowd.
Also,you can use an airport outside london; manchester,newcastle,glasgow etc...........you just maybe lucky.

You really don't have a good case.
All the best.it seems no matter what we say here,you will still take the trip.

geeez: Good morning

A few questions in house

Got a six month family visit visa for myself and my son in April and I've not been able to travel because of the pressures of work and a course I had to take. The visa expires October 11 but I wanna just dash off October 3 to return October 9. Will I encounter any encumbrances. I will also like to know how to source for a PTA and how long it takes and if it will be issued by a bank as cash of what? Wlll I be able to spend it because honestly after paying for my ticket, I have barely N300,000 left in my account for this expedition.

Wow.this is a tough one!!!!!
I have done a lot of budget travels but this is so difficult.
If it were you alone,I will know how to arrange it?
Sorry,but you need more funds.Maybe another 300K.
Even at that ,do you have any host you will be staying with?
The 300k will not buy the return ticket for you and the child.
The entry officer may also raise a red flag about travelling few days to the expiration of your visa.
This will trigger questions which will be made worse if there are no funds.
All the best.

hajbash: Hello justwise,vicjustice and other nairalanders visa gurus pls I need ur help urgently; my sister want to travel to uk on tourist visa with her two kids all of them under two years. My question is she going to fill only one application form or she must fill another forms for two of her children?.Second question is if she will use only one application form for all of them,then is only one application fees she will pay or she will pay something 4 her children as their visa application fees?.finally pls is their any website she can book hotel in london without paying a kobo? pls I need ur help its urgent.

I have been in your shoes this time last year.
Everybody pays the usual fees for the UK visas.
Similarly,everybody fills forms.you will have to fill them for your infants/minors.
Your financial and work details will come into play at the required portions.
ALL THE BEST!!!!!!

Try hrs.de or booking.com for the hotels.

southprince:
Pls any1 dat hv been issued a visa based on conference visit should please confirm dat its same 2yrs..tnx

Yes he is right.
I was issued a conference visa last year for 2 months.single entry.
It was issued from 18 november 2011 to 18 january,2012.
I stayed only 12 days .
The Entry officer however stamped 6 months on my I-94.which would have been valid till may this year.
Also,she used her biro to mark my passport and visa indicating the single entry.
We were about 20 nigerians at the conference.some got 2 years for first appearance.
I also sat beside a CBN staff in the plane who had a 2 year visa for her 1 week course in virginia!
Usually,its a short stay ,single entry visa.

Vicjustice:

Man, these reports or analysis or whatever is exaggerated and is directly deceptive: you are encouraging people to loose their money on visa application even though they don't have satisfying financial stance.
Which visa officer would issue a Tourist Visa to a Person having a bank statement with N300k balance, or which embassy will approve a Tourist visas to a Husband and Wife if all they have in their bank account is N590.000?
HA, PLEASE!

Well,I don't think it stands too good to be true!
I have heard anecdotes of people with lower account balances.
I will however agree if you say my visas were not determined by the account balances.
I used only the salary account and it was busy with traffic within.
My circumstances and ties are rather weighty to be discountenaced .
I am a specialist medical doctor.12 years experience.
Don't work for govt.work in a thriving private practice in Lagos(names witheld)
Married for 10 years,3kids.landed property.but no huge sums in any bank account.NONE!!!!!!!
I earn much more than the 300k.I just spent some part of my salary and printed out the balance and applied.
My advisers then even said I could apply with zero balance!
Since the account is busy.
So I applied with my 300k balance.
And 2 weeks after,it was granted.
My wife just said it is the Grace of God.
I concur it is!
Any doubter should send give me a mail add.I will send the details as I filled them on the form and the account balance page as well as the visa.this will correlate with the dates.

I wish all applicants well in their applications.I will advise that you don't go aborrowing or sell things in order to have 1.5million naira for a UK visa.
When I go to the UK,many of the nigerians I see there with visit visas don't seem to have these huge sums!
Is the economy that bouyant
I KN0W very few nigerians have these luxuries.

I don't know.Maybe I should just not use my personal experience to advice anybody again.
It is well!!!!!

Vicjustice:

Man, these reports or analysis or whatever is exaggerated and is directly deceptive: you are encouraging people to loose their money on visa application even though they don't have satisfying financial stance.
Which visa officer would issue a Tourist Visa to a Person having a bank statement with N300k balance, or which embassy will approve a Tourist visas to a Husband and Wife if all they have in their bank account is N590.000?
HA, PLEASE!

Well,I don't think it stands too good to be true!
I have heard anecdotes of people with lower account balances.
I will however agree if you say my visas were not determined by the account balances.
I used only the salary account and it was busy with traffic within.
My circumstances and ties are rather weighty to be discountenaced .
I am a specialist medical doctor.12 years experience.
Don't work for govt.work in a thriving private practice in Lagos(names witheld)
Married for 10 years,3kids.landed property.but no huge sums in any bank account.NONE!!!!!!!
I earn much more than the 300k.I just spent some part of my salary and printed out the balance and applied.
My advisers then even said I could apply with zero balance!
Since the account is busy.
So I applied with my 300k balance.
And 2 weeks after,it was granted.
My wife just said it is the Grace of God.
I concur it is!
Any doubter should send give me a mail add.I will send the details as I filled them on the form and the account balance page as well as the visa.this will correlate with the dates.

I wish all applicants well in their applications.I will advise that you don't go aborrowing or sell things in order to have 1.5million naira for a UK visa.
When I go to the UK,many of the nigerians I see there with visit visas don't seem to have these huge sums!
Is the economy that bouyant
I KN0W very few nigerians have these luxuries.

I don't know.Maybe I should just not use my personal experience to advice anybody again.
It is well!!!!!

DOMINION1: vicjustice It is supposed to be very easy for anyone who receives your kind of salary to get a visa to any country in the world as long as s/he doesn't have any criminal or terrorism records, and s/he has genuine documentations: and ultimately knows what to say on interview.
And though your job can represent an obligation or home tie, but like I explained before, the N700k in your account is questionable and can really cost you your chance

what is your advise? like how much balance can one have that will be suitable please advise

See the question the applicant is now asking?
It is this mindset that leads to the so called"building of accounts" and cash lodgements.
By the way,what do you do for a living and how is the salary paid monthly?
If there are pay slips with tax clearance and you have a good job and educational background,you don't need more than the 700K.
You are good to go.
When I got my first 6 months UK visa,I had 300k balance and it was below my monthly salary.it was granted.
It showed no evidence of savings.
I had letters of appointment,confirmation and payslips.
Also marraige and other ties were there.
But financially I had 300k balance.Had been denied 3 years previously for lack of funds!!!!!!!!!
So if you satisfy the other criteria and you have the documents and you have already done hotel booking,you are good to go.
A friend told me all her visas to the UK from europe were with account less or equal to 1000 Euro.
Much less than 250K.Now she wants to renew in nigeria with same details.

Vicjustice:
Your Salary is impressive to earn you the merit of any visa, but your financial stance is highly questionable: N700k as the closing balance of a person who receives N210k monthly is highly suspicious. And apart from it being as it is, the Visa Officer might not be encouraged to approve your application for concern that your trip would render you broke and may ruin your financial future

I beg to disagree.
700k for a someone earning 210k is not too little or too much by any standard.she may have saved this over a period of time.she can spend 500k on the trip and have a great time for like 7 to 10 days.
Its sure a lot of money and she may not be broke at the end of the day.
I submitted here that I applied for a visa for me and my wife with 590k balance and it was given.
The ECO should look at the clearer picture and not the fact that 700k cannot be enough for a holiday.
Wetin she wan go buy for UK.
I just returned from a trip which I spent extravagantly,I still did not spend above 500K.
The granting of entry visas have principles but they are not add and fast!

Hi all,I just returned from a trip to the UK.visited 3 cities and stayed in hotels in london and manchester.also was at old trafford to watch manutd versus fulham FC..
I didn't get a lot of resistance at the passport control.
There was no crowd and we were very few.asked for my mission and I said vacation and will attend a course in plymouth relevant to my proffesion..asked if I knew anybody in the UK.I said she is also on vacation.said I will be staying in hotels and doing a lot of travelling within.He stamped my passport and said enjoy your stay.
Nice to be back reading feedbacks,
It is well

justwise:

What exactly are you going about?

he is still under the tutelage of his parents being a student.he has not graduated.IT is not NYSC.i stand to be corrected.

justwise:

I will be surprised if UK embassy issues you a visa, people still doing their NYSC are not allowed to travel.

industrial attachement is different from NYSC.i beleive the guy is good to go.A 24 year old is not a self sufficient adult in nigeria.i spent 8 years in the university and still graduated at 25.all my junior ones and other classmates had graduated but i was still a bonafide student.many thanks to the ASUU strike of the Abacha era.the applicant,oxatto is good to go.he has 6 months on the IT.he can take 1 -2weeks off it.the company if reputable may also write on his behalf.
in my applications to the UKBA,i have noted that if you provide real documentations no matter how many,it augments your chances.
while applying for my children,i had to include my pay rise though not a promotion.the letter that stated the pay rise was included as i was the whole sponsor.
hope the bank accounts are real anyway.
hope you are not using visa agents.

oxatto: As for the letter from skool, is 2 letters not too much I will also be submitting my school ID card, my admission letter and my school calender for this session and resumption for next session.

No ammount of letters is too much and is very much used to buttress the facts you presented in the form.sometimes ECO crosschecks these things and that should clear the doubt.You can also get a letter from the bank.by the way,how old are you?someone said you are too old for sponsorship!

oxatto: I will be getting 450k from My Dad to cover for my 2 weeks in UK will that be OK.

dont do cash lodgements into your own account.let your dad give you a covering letter of sponsorship detailing that he will be responsible for the trip.
you can then fill in N450,000 on the form.i did a similar thing for my wife and kids last summer.similarly for my wife this july for our 2 year renewals.
it is not expected that a student works in nigeria so you having 450k may be suspicious except if you are a mature student above 30 years of age.
also pick up a letter from your dean of student affairs and your HOD.
it is well

nifty: hi guys am trying to ask for advice on here,i am a 300l computer science student of a university here in nigeria which means i have 1 more year to have my bachelors but i won the american visa lottery and presently in the us,my plans where to go get my green card then come back to naija to complete my bachelors and then go back to american to compliment it with a masters degree in america nd wld probably be able to get a job here in america,but peeps and student i met here said my naija degree is useless even if i have a masters wiv it that i shld just take a transfer to a university here then continue from there.........and wld have 2 more years to be thru instead of one if i return to naija...............i need some advice

let me share my personal experience with you.
about 15-17years ago,at the university of ibadan,my 2 friends won the visa lottery.they travelled to america and then came back to finish up their degrees.they are very succesful proffesional now in the USA.except you wish to tell me that the uni degrees then are better than now.
one read agric economics and presently works in a bank,he has an american passport now.visited the family in queens,new york in december as he is my inlaw.
the other read medicine in my class and is now an attending somewhere in the state of virginia.
he even did immigrant visas for his parents.
i wish to ask,which university are you in nigeria?
will you have enough funding to travel within your remaining one year.do your exams and come back. a semester is just 15 weeks and you can arrange that.
i wish you all the very best.

The following vacancies exist for a new diagnostic centre scheduled to open in ibadan soon.
A new diagnostic facility will be fully established before the end of the year at a major location in Ibadan and needs the services of core clinical and radiological staff.

Facilities offered will include the mordern imaging modalities-3d/4d USS,digital radiography,multislice CT and MRI.

vacancies include
1) Radiologist/CMD
FMCR/FWACS or its equivalent.must be experienced and be a goal getter.
will lead the team and be responsible to the day to day running.
must be comfortble with reporting and also seek second opinion if need arises.

2) Cardiologist
FMCP/FWACP in cardiology.needed for part-time basis.will help with the echocardiograms/EKGs and also the medical certification tests.
3) Medical Dr
MBBS.must be proactive and should have a good disposition to work.post NYSC is desirable.interest in sonography will be an advantage.
4) Medical Manager
will oversee the administration.corporate experience is desirable.

5) 2 radiographers- registered radiographers with the RRBN.
Bsc radiograhy or diploma is acceptable.should have at least attended the CT course of the board.
confdenece and good clinical skill is desirable.
female also needed for mammography

6)Nurses-well trained registered RN/RM nurses.

Salary is very attractive and is above the federal government CONMESS/CONTISS scale
experienced staff are also welcome.

interested candidates should send CVs to
-ayomedspecs@gmail.com
-+2348099172674

thanks.

i have a friend who i wish to help with the visa renewal.she has an indefinitive leave to remain in italy.she is a business woman with registered business also in napoli italy.has been to britain several times.the last visa -a one year was not used.lapsed march 2011.she has since returned to nigeria since last year and has continued her business.the business in nigeria is not registered.business is registered in italy,has been to most EU countries.
she is 42.,unmarried ,has a son.used an invitation letter for her previous travels to UK.she does not have much in her bank account.has like 350k.she wants to renew the UK visa.
the non use should not be a disadavantage ,will it?
should the cousin send another invitation again?
the cousin is a british citizen.
is the amount in the account enough.we also plan to add the italain banks statement of account and credit card details.

we want to avoid the use of visa agents so we need advise.

Vicjustice:
Change of sur-name (on marital ground) is not a thing of necessity in western cultures, but in Nigeria, it is something extremely important, and Visa Officers know this.
I suggest you get that sorted, this is extremely important because, I can't see how a visa officer will find it credible in that an African woman does not bear her husband's surname.
I'm not in Nigeria, I'm not the right person to suggest any newspaper or something like that

present the original documents and also the marraige certificate.
also explain in the free space that you do not want an identity crises and as such you will use the maiden name for your visa applications till the passport expires.
you can do an affidavit with a notary public or a popular lawyer.
try guardian newspapers or tribune for your change of name.
in the change of name,include the british high commision and the UKBA as part of your correspondencies

[quote author=Vicjustice]
Immigration officers can ask any question from "how much money you have on you" to "why have you chosen to travel to the UK". They can even ask you why "why have you travelled this day" or whatever. I bear witness that some travellers are detained in the "Holding Room" while the Immigration Officers make numerous phone calls to their contacts or hotels just to verify their accommodation arrangement.
The fact that you were not asked does not mean that there are not more of other people who were asked, You better be prepared for any question next time[/quo

thats strange.......anyway i have complied.
it was only in JFK that i was asked how much i have for the trip.i answered 2000$ and he quickly said i should not bring it out.
these statements do not come up at heathrow.i will be going to london,manchester,liverpool and plymouth.am i expected to book hotels in all this places

guys,
i will be in the UK in august and due to the submissions here.i have booked a hotel for 2 days at the cost of 100 pounds.
i renewed my visa with a hotel booking that has since lapsed.
that was in June.
you guys say they ask where you will be staying.that has never happened in all my trips.
what usually happens is that they ask for your trip details and and stamp your passport.
they never ask for my accomodation details even when i went with my family.
the only query in my case is why i was refused in 2008.when i explain,they go in to a superior and then come back and give me my passport.
so you guys owe me 100 pounds............lol

Vicjustice: Other countries do not require a transit visa of you, but conservative UK demands that you obtain a transit visa. Well, you can get that at the departure desk in London airports: you need to give yourself enough time to get the transit visa otherwise, you might miss your flight.
Two months ago (in May), i was returning from Nigeria with companions and we were on transit in London Heathrow, but one of us didn't know that he is required to obtain a Transit Visa, it took a sluggish process to get him sorted with the (free of charge) visa, and the process almost made him miss his flight. Remember that Ireland and the UK plus the Isle Of Man etc are regarded as Common Travel Area (CTA), so if this could happen to a person holding the Irish Stamp4 Eufam Residence permit how much more would it happen to a person holding a US visa

my personal experience:i was to run into the same problem whilst going to the us in november last yearmy uk visa lapsed on november 11th.mu us visa was issued on 18th november.there was no time for applying for a uk visa as i had to leave nigeria on the 25th of november.i therefor gave up on using BA and Virgin based on that.
whilst going to the uk june last year,there were 2 nuns in the plane from lagos.i noticed one had an issue with immigrations at schipol because she dis not have a british visa but an irish one.she was eventually allowed because she was a nun.in the UK,she barely came down from the plane as she was made to stand in one corner for hours before the connecting flight came.could not lend a helping handunfortunately

Vicjustice:
The undisclosed issues are very vital for a "candid advice" to be given

Does that mean he is not a Nigerian? Well, i don't seem to get the point of these paragraphs

Don't you think this will put him in a similar mess like before?
It is not an ideal thing for him to be a fugitive in the UK where his finger-scans are recorded perhaps on a false identity, he wouldn't like to be in a Hide & Seek game with the authorities.


This is not something that i can not guarantee, but yet, with my limited knowledge of the UK and Europe in General, i am of the opinion that they could not have deported him (on their expense) without a ban: and even if the false identification happened before the 10 years ban era, he can still get the ban which would take effect from the day he applies for a UK visa or the day he comes to the attention of the Immigration authority

Impossible, at least, not until he is cleared of all these troubles

Because he was not married to the child's British mother, and he is not the sole provider for her upkeep and maintenance, he has not been a habitual resident with the girl, he had violated immigration rules, he does not have evidence of being the girl's father, he impregnated the girl and gave birth to the child under false identity and he posses a great threat to immigration; he has no rights to the girl, and would stand no ground: only the girl's mother can help him in this situation, but it would take an exhaustive up-hill struggle to do the paper works

If she has no job, it means that she and her daughter are liabilities to the government, therefore, her rights to file a case for her child's father is taken away especially when she is not legally married to the man. She too has no ground.
Even if he happens to be in the UK, the authority has every right to remove him from the country leaving the daughter behind especially if there is not cooperation from the woman who is a UK citizen

thanks vicjustice.
Remember,i told you he travelled on a fake british passport.
so when he was caught,he had no papers to show.
so he said he was a nigerian.
also could not afford to pay immigration lawyers so he was removed without much effort.
the baby-my niece bears my surname and she is prod of it.
the mother has had 3 different children for different men some negroes.
she probably has little education and no skills so getting a job is an uphill task.
he used to live with the woman and the extended family.
the reason why he stopped working was that he probably was detected in one of the places he was working so had to stop.

Teminio: Hello house!
I will like to find out from those who may know. What are the chances of getting Us visa by a first time applicant who is six-month pregnant; but want to go for a two-week professional conference?

What is the least duration for American visa issuance?

Thanks for anticipated response.

It depends on the visa officer. A friend of mine got a 6 day visa in the 1990s when we were in the university.he sould not raise the ticket funds so the visa lapsed.he said he was going for a conference for 6 days only and built a good case.
There was another friend who got a 10 day visa and quickly disappeared from the USA on the 9th day.they queried him at the port of entry.
Another colleague who planned to deliver in the USA and got a 2 year visa got the shock of her life when the US border officer gave her a 2-3 week stay on the I-94.she had to run back to naija to have her baby.
I wish you all the very best.
It is well.

I am billed to travel to the UK on the 11th of august.I have always wanted to travel to core europe through schengen for some time.I am a regular traveller by the standard of the german embassy.I have been to the UK and USA 3 times in the last 2 years.
Can I go to the embassy at 6:30am like it was stated on the website.

If I am succesful at the interview,can I pick my visa before the 11th august,which is my date of departure.
I can get enough money in my account as my salary is well above the country average and the monthly salary can be adequate for travel as I have done in the other embassies.
I am married with 3 kids and close to 40.

Need candid advice please.

My younger brother jumped the gun in the year 2000.he was helped by an uncle who was staying in the usa then with a fake british passport with which he travelled to the uk.he worked for a while but later had issues which he has not disclosed.
Had a daughter with a british girl who first demanded money before marraige and then refused to maarry him saying africans have duped her and her sister for stay issues.
He was subsequently deported in 2007.he had no money so could not travel on his own volition.he said he was a nigerian.
He wants to go back.
When I visited britain,his friends said I should get him a schengen and that he will find his way nack to britain.
Does he have the 10 year ban being that he travelled to britain prior to the biometric era.
??
Cam he get a 6 month visit visa on his present status.
Can he apply to britain to see his daughter?
I visited the daughter and mother recently but still she has no job and lives with her parents.
My brother used to live there too.typical british house.no luxuries.
She lives on welfare!
Tried moving to a shelter in east london but didn't work.
My brother is now 35.
I need candid advice on this issue.
Thanks.

teejay_GO01:
@ Ayobj....when you were denied in 2008( using invitation letter) and now re applied (booking hotel) which I want to do. Did u have to show the Eco any evidence why u will no longer be staying with the person that invited you? Justwise told me that it isn't an issue to book an hotel after sayin in my last app that I'll stay with my uncle. But my question now is: would the Eco take my word for it when I say my uncle won't be around, or do I need to show any evidence like an email conversation? Sorry for bothering u guys, just that I don't wanna take any risk in my next app

i must add that you must have enough capacity financially to convince the ECO that you will come back to nigerai and have a great time in britain without recouse to work or public funds

teejay_GO01:
@ Ayobj....when you were denied in 2008( using invitation letter) and now re applied (booking hotel) which I want to do. Did u have to show the Eco any evidence why u will no longer be staying with the person that invited you? Justwise told me that it isn't an issue to book an hotel after sayin in my last app that I'll stay with my uncle. But my question now is: would the Eco take my word for it when I say my uncle won't be around, or do I need to show any evidence like an email conversation? Sorry for bothering u guys, just that I don't wanna take any risk in my next app

I APPLIED 3 YEARS LATER.
The person that gave me the iv letter was my colleague.we were clsaamates in primary school.
i did a hotel booking in hilton hotel london and used it.
no other explanations.
when it was the space for family and friends in the uk,i put his name and pjhone number.
i however said i will not be going there to visit him.
he lives quite far from london anyway.
hope i have answered you.

Vicjustice:
I am just wondering why you have 67 plus 50 thousand Naira in your accounts despite your 183k monthly salary.
Anyway, it is logical to expect that a Nigerian who works and receives 183k per month will return home for his job after travelling abroad. Apparently, you were able to get the visas, not on your financial ground, but on your Work-Obligation and Home-Tie consideration: Not everyone is this fortunate

the problem is that we both applied stating our salaries and no other funding.
the account has not had up to 800k this calendar year.
my wife gets lump sumps from my account every month from 400 to 500k per month.she earns only 100k.she got such money lodgement the month we applied also.

when i applied in 2008, a junior colleague had applied earlier with 20,000 naira balance in her account and was successful.
i have seen all sorts of scenarios.

FOUND TOO MANY SPELLING MISTAKES ON MY LAST POST .
i have followed the posts on this blog and i find it exciting.i however want to share my own experience and maybe it will help other applicants.i must say that my personal experience does not conform to most of the posts hereby posited.
i just picked up my 2 year multiple entry tourist visa to the uk.i applied with my wife and we were both succesful.
contrary to most of the advices here,my account had 593,000 naira as balance.my wife had 67,000 as balance.
we got the visas after 3 weeks.
i only started travelling abroad last year but i have gone to the usa and the uk since june last year and now.
on my first application last year ,i had only 300,000 naira balance in the my salary account.

i was denied in 2008 december.i was earning 183,000 that year.
had 67,000 in one account and 50,000 in my savings account.
the ECO said it can only buy a return ticket and my IV letter was of unproven circumstance.
i lost faith and was angry until someone encouraged me to apply last year and was successful.
later,in august 2011,i took my 3 children and wife and was also succesful.
so there may not be a straight jacketed response as we think.

i have stopped doing invitation letters since the status of your invitee may not be known.
many even dont want to release their intimate personal details.the typical nigeria is stereotyped.
i do hotel bookings all the way.

once again,i am so impressed with this blog.