Send me an email

zeezahra:
howdy
cuties....please I need some info from u you...cos I'm also thinking Chicago...I don't know how to chat up with you...

Pls o I'm overwhelmed with baby care so might not be able to reply everyone...
For budget sheet send me an email.
For Qatar go to their website and click your location which is US and it will list the customer care no that you can call...I called and booked without LO's passport details...it's not needed..I paid with my GTB naija debit card which was done when I called..gave the CC agent my card details and I was debited and transit hotel reservation was also done on the spot..

For leaving 14 days...I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to bad mouth, discourage or gimme unnecessary advise.. what I needed was the airlines policy on the no of days an infant is fit to fly which is 14days old and also paediatrician's check up that my LOs is healthy that's all...

I have attached a sample of budget sheet..

Thanks to everyone for the congratulatory messages.

Qatar baggage allowance for economy is 23kg each (2 bags for yourself and 1 23kg bag for LO with free check in of stroller and carseat not included in the 23kg o)

customised87:

Congrats! May Hod bless the LO.
Please what number did u call Qatar airways on?
Did u actually add the baby to your ticket before getting her passport?
Did u pay the 150$ at the airport during departure?
Pls kindly cos I also bought my ticket from Wakanow.
Thanks

Pls o I'm overwhelmed with baby care so might not be able to reply everyone...
For budget sheet send me an email.
For Qatar go to their website and click your location which is US and it will list the customer care no that you can call...I called and booked without LO's passport details...it's not needed..I paid with my GTB naija debit card which was done when I called..gave the CC agent my card details and I was debited and transit hotel reservation was also done on the spot..

For leaving 14 days...I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to bad mouth, discourage or gimme unnecessary advise.. what I needed was the airlines policy on the no of days an infant is fit to fly which is 14days old and also paediatrician's check up that my LOs is healthy that's all...

Lanifat84:

@cutieb please did you eventually used HNWMC? If yes please what was ur total bill and I also need the budget sheet as well. Thanks
My email addy lanifat@yahoo.com

Hello..I didn't use HNWMC

Hello house!
I have shared visa and Poe experience so it's time to share my birthing experience.
I stayed in Michigan till a week to my EDD before I left for Chicago
I had my LO on Wednesday 19th of July in Chicago. A day after delivery my LO's birth certificate was ready but cldnt get it till after I was discharged (I fast tracked it).I was discharged on Friday evening..went to vital records to get the BC. Had an appointment with the paediatrician On Tuesday after I was discharged and LO was certified okay...I got a fit to fly for my LO from the paediatrician cos I was gonna travel to NY and domestic airlines need certification for infants less than 14days to fly. Went back to Michigan on weds.

Called Qatar airways Customer Care to get my LO ticket and was charged $150.(note that I got my ticket from wakanow but booked LO directly)
Hubby mailed notarized form thru FedEx (I was very disappointed in their service) after several calls to them I eventually got the package on Saturday after which I left for the airport to board plane to NY.

On Monday I went to NY passport office very early as walk in and I met a very long queue...eventually after 5hrs I made it in and my passport was processed for $165 I waited to collect it...left there around 9pm. On Tuesday I sent a mail for visa on on arrival to the immigration and got a reply after 5 hrs..
On Wednesday, Got to the airport checked in all my over weight luggage (3 big luggages 2 for me and 1 for baby) no extra charges the guy was too nice, checked in baby stroller and car seat and my supposed overweight hand luggage..lol...
Had 9 hrs layover at Doha was lodged in a hotel...slept for 3hrs before we were taken back to the airport..got to naija on Friday morn..got my luggage and went to the visa on arrival section...paid $200 and I was given change of $10 lol...
I left NY exactly 14 days(2weeks) after LO arrival.
We are doing great...just adapting to this no light country again..lol..
Thanks everyone who helped out in this journey.. o appreciate you all.. God bless

Are you sure you booked the right appointment? I made same mistake booking a notarised appointment under another category..my hubby went there and he couldn't get it done cos he was told the appointment was booked on a wrong category. I eventually googled and the link took me straight to the notarised appointment page of which I saw a closer date which was 2 days after the supposed scheduled interview .so ensure it's the right category.

customised87:
Hello all! The next available date to notorise consent form at the embassy is Aug 22 and I am supposed to travel back to Nig on Aug 28. What do I do pls cause I was just told that Dallas passport agency won't accept one notorised outside the embassy.
Kindly advise me pls!

freshdad:
haaa...please o!!! send me direct message o before the owner of the hospital come cut my head for publicizing their hospital .

Hello fresh dad...pls I'm waiting for your response..kindly check your mail...thanks

Abuleoshi:

Please how did you go about the cheap Qatar ticket? How long ago did you book the ticket? My wife is travelling soon and am looking for a cheap Qatar ticket.
With your ticket, are you entitled to long layover hotel in Doha?

I booked 3 weeks before my departure date (1st of June) on wakanow..we didn't have a long layover it was just 2 hrs layover and by the time we got to Doha we spent just about 45mins before we were called to check in and board..

biolarh:


plss wot test were u asked to do at port health? plsss

It was just some measurements they did to ascertain the no of weeks gone...and also bp check...it all depends on the airline..not all airlines request for port health certificate...my advise is for you to leave this week cos most airlines don't carry passenger that ate 36weeks...virgin is 32weeks...so you need to do your research on available airlines to know the max weeks...don't forget that 35wks and 1 day is presumed 36weeks

Okay! I'm fully relaxed now..
Here's my traveling and POE experience
I left Nigeria on the 1St of June via Qatar..bought my return ticket #360k....take off time was meant to be 2:15pm but was delayed by an HR...I was asked to go to port health for a test which I did and paid #1500.
Flight was smooth to Doha..was suppose to have a 2HR stop over at Doha but we didn't spend up to 45min before we boarded for new york.I only showed port health certificate during check in at Doha...no cbp approached me...flight to JFK NY was very smooth and long..on arrival I did my self service afterwards queued ...the queue wasn't that long and there were just 2 cbp officers 1 American man and 1 chinko man..the American was just passing everyone without too many questions but the chinko spent more than 10mins with each person..so while I was praying not to go to the chinko ll and behold twas my turn to face the chinko guy...

Me: Good morning
Chinko: no response
Then I gave him my passport
Chinko: why are you here
Me: vacation and childbirth
Chinko: really! Have you contacted a Doctor
Me: yes in Houston and I handed him my correspondence
Chinko: oh you are still going to Houston..okay..how much are you gonna spend on hospital bill
Me: about #6500
Chinko: oh OK cos it's self pay right
Me: Yea..
Chinko: stamped me in for 6months and he asked me to proceed to get my luggage and then pronounced my name in a funny way..and said I thought he wouldn't be able to pronounce my name right..
We both laughed and that was it.
My egusi was seized cos twasnt blended...that was all..

Thanks to everyone here...I am live in New York..came in with Qatar #360k with 2hrs layover...will share my POE experience soon...need to catch some rest.

Thanks for the feedback..Pleas u didn't include the hosp charge or was the total bill 2200?

fatima04:
Hello house,

Thanks to everyone who contributes positively to this forum, it makes the whole missionary journey less stressful and arms one with current and up to date information. Now to the famous giving back.

Missionary journey ended March 31 officially, had an existing valid visa prior to pregnancy. After extensive research on POE and flight cost I settled for Ethiopian airlines and booked my ticket 3months before travel date. As much as Ethiopian airline has great on board experience, one will be frustrated with their level of disorganisation from Nigeria, but they do have great IFE, Bassinet for baby, 4 course meal (prepare for some tomato and pepperless food), short flight duration.

My Nigerian flight was cancelled due to bad weather after being called for boarding and had to miss my previously booked flight on united airline and its not refundable since am missing the originating outbound flight from New jersey (the thing pain me oo )

New Jersey POE was great,long queue but quite fast
CBP: Hello
Me; Hi
CBP: Why are you here
Me: Childbirth and vacation
CBP: What do you do back home
ME: Quantity surveyor (had to use cost engineer to explain)
CBP: Oh! I was once in the construction industry, but not anymore due to bad economy
Me: True, Nigerian economy too is getting affected
CBP: how long will you be here for?
Me: 12 weeks and he stamped me for 6months


My final destination was Odessa texas (8hrs drive from houston) and great town I must say. Had my first appointment with DR G and I was presented with a bill of 2200 (1500 for delivery and 700 for 1st office visit,scan and all test required)

Hospital used was ORMC, they have an agreement already drafted out for self/cash paying patient,


US passport - 165dollars
Passport photograph - 7.74 dollars (2 copies at walmart)
ETC - 385 dollars (P.S- I presented this to travel at the US airport and wasn't asked any question afterwards)
Birth certificate- 23 dollars
babys one way ticket -76 dollars (after spending hours on phone with different samuels in Ethiopia, who told me their system doesnt accept Nigeria cards be it Naira or dollar denominated)

lesson learnt;
1. PRAY!PRAY!!PRAY!!! pregnancy isnt easy and the stress of birthing in another country faraway from home increases the stress and uncertainty.
2. start your processing early to gather all info and document
3. book your ticket,accommodation (if necessary) early to reduce stress of finances and you focus on the journey itself
4. book your local flight when you are in the plane leaving for USA or have someone do it for you (southwest comes highly recommended)
5. Having any family member for assistance will be highly helpful if traveling alone
6. Dont debate PKU test, it is compulsory in the state of texas (na fear of dollar)
7. RESEARCH, READ, RESEARCH, READ in that order over and over again.
8. Always ask questions to be sure of the deal you are getting
9. Start your babys passport application early, to avoid unecessary delay and if you dont have SSN ensure to sign a declaration form with your application.

Oh great! I never book flight o..the prices Na die..ll keep you posted sha..

EEden:
I am a late July mum using doctores parati, I intend using intown SUITES as well but would be traveling with my mum. Biko let me know about ur flight booking o, cos d prices I dey see na die. Also, let's connect abeg so boredom dosnt finish someone

biolarh:
pls house,after a long chart betwEen my husband and d doctor...dis is the confirmation sent to him.do u think I still need to ask some questions abt the payment frm him. or shld I just take dis to d embssy.guru pls ans me

That's the doctor's sec. ensure you print out all correspondence from the intro part your hubby sent to the quotation. staple everything together cos thats what you will show at the embassy if asked.

flow2davis:
Dear All,

Is it advisable to apply for B2 (Birthing Visa) with my Husband?
We are both in Nigeria.
My Passport is Virgin but my Hubbys' who is funding isn't.

Thanks My Ppl.

Apply B2 for yourself and B1/B2 for your husband...in the appointment booking use B1/B2...hubby and I had virgin passports...no travel experience for hubby at all and me was Ghana in 2008.
best of luck...you can put my username in the search button..i shared my interbiew experience some pages back

flow2davis:
Dear pls i also needthe quote. most especially, the likely questions because i am interview due soon at Abuja Embassy.

I shared my experience some pages back...pm me so i can send you the sample of my budget sheet

I can help u by sending you my budget sheet which was what I used for my interview at the embassy.
I intend using Houston Northwest Hosp. Dr. Xydas.

biolarh:
pls house my interview is in a weeks time and I need reply frm the gurus in the house,in the correspondence sent to my husband the total bill is 2200doll for cs(office visit,all lab work done,ultra sound,delivery and postpartum visit).pls if asked by the VO how much is my bugdet.will I just add my accommodation fee with the doctor fee,feeding fee and all other expensive

Pay for B1/B2 the option of B2 is for your form filling only.

Mandex11:
good morning papas and mamas please i need y'all urgent attention.

I'm at gtbank now trying to pay for my visa fee and I wrote child birth as purpose (b2) and they are confuse here that I should go and confirm that theirs no B2 in thier list.

so please should I pay for b1b2 and specify when filling the form OR is there a way I can pay for only B2.

please I need your reply as I'm I the bank cox I don't have who to call and confirm this. thank you and God bless yall

@nef @ladyG @firsttimemum @TKM and @EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE

Hello Everyone,

Any Mid-July moms in the house using Doctores parati? I planned on using HNWH and Dr. Xydas but i might have to port to El paso to use es para ti due to accommodation wahala. my host isn't available for the period of my stay so no choice and other place i have family na newyork, michigan and Philly. and the bills na die. or is there any other cheap hosp option for recommendation? I heard MIHS is pretty cheap..how true? anyone with stories from MIHS
if any mom is in my shoes biko lets hook up o so we can book and accommodation and also shop together. I feel am gonna be bored and lonely when i get there. i intend traveling early June. haven't booked my ticket yet though.. i heard Insuite is cheap $170 per week....
Biko help a sister out o

Long post alert...please relax and enjoy!

In 2014 I had an interview with hubby and my first son, then i was 3 months pregnant with my second son...I always had the mind set that you mustn't declare you are pregnant so when the VO asked i said no but that if I become pregnant i would definitely love to give birth in the US.
We were refused and the VO asked us to reapply after 90 days which we didn't.
fast-forward to last year hubby and I decided to reapply with both kids before we could i fell terribly sick and discovered i was pregnant with my 3rd child...i almost got discouraged because of my mind set that dem no dey give preggy pple except the pregnancy isnt showing yet...after the 1st trimester i discovered one could actually declare child birth at the Embassy! i did my research and got a couple of contacts of childbirth agents..but the processing fee was quite high so i decided to try on my own...through my research on google last month i discovered this thread and tradada! i read from chapter 1 till date...i realised information is truly power..things that could have been an oversight...i never knew of budget sheets, correspondence, etc...then i applied with my hubby without the kids just to be on the safe side...infact I was fully loaded with information and prepared hubby as well.

my interview was yesterday 29th March 7:30 am and here goes my experience:
VO: Good Morning can i have your passports please
DH: handed the passports to her
VO: why do u wanna go to the US
DH: for vacation and me Childbirth
VO: what do you do (facing my DH)
DH: I am an accountant and i work at.....as the....
VO: what about you (me)
Me: I am a Lawyer and i work at the ........as the.....
VO: Where in US are u going
DH and I: Texas
VO: where would you be staying in Texas
Me: Houston with a friend
VO: Have you contacted any doctor?
me: yes
VO: Do u have the correspondence
me: yes and handed it over to her
VO: how did u get to know about the doctor
me: through my friend and also i did my research
VO: do you have enough funds for this trip
DH: yes
VO: whats your budget for this trip
DH and I: between $12k and $15k
VO: how do you intend paying for this trip
DH: I have saved up enough and we intend paying cash
VO: kept typing o for about 3mins and asked do u have a statement here
DH: yes and handed the bank statement to her
VO: went through the statement page by page and said okay
VO: whats your breakdown of your delivery cost (facing me)
Me: hospital is $2,000, Doctor $2,000 Paediatrician....i then stopped and asked if she would like to see my budget sheet which i had with me and she said oh yes that will be good...so i handed my budget sheet to her which had about a total of $12,400...she went through it and kept it aside with the other document we had previously given her
VO: kept on typing o and then asked if it was my first pregnancy..
Me: no, we've got 2 boys at home (at this point i thought she was gonna ask why we didn't apply with them but she didn't and kept on typing) in my mind i knew there was no further question and i just started praying for favour....lol
VO: Am gonna return your documents to you now.(she handed over the documents without the passport then i just knew we were gonna be give cos if not she for don join our passports put)lol...she typed oooooo...
VO: you can both pick up your passports in 3 working days and handed me the white paper...while she was handing over she said to me ensure you go with your doctor's correspondence cos it would be needed at the POE so u don't have issues there...i
Me: okay thank you very much
VO: have a safe delivery
Me: i was overwhelmed with joy o....America here i come o
I dash the security guys money when i got outside o...DH and I were just too excited and favoured...I bless God and I appreciate you all my NL people who have shared experiences for newbies to learn...
I already promised myself to share my testimony here after my interview....God bless you all!

I am Houston bound and July mum..would be leaving in June cos of the restriction...
Thank you all....

hello dear,
i had my interview yesterday and am 6months gone....i actually applied for B2 visa..will share my experience soon..watch out for it...am using Houston Northwest hospitaland hosp bill is $2000 and Doctor's fee is also $2000

TashaStPatrik:


Woo am serious here jor.. Are u not aware that POWER is out of season for now?? Mbok reading the whole thread from part 1 is like preparing for IELTS. Those that have passed this stage, help a lil sister out na.. Name of hospital and Doctor's name if possible. Anywhere around Houston... i read Houston is quite affordable).. The question is the requirements to get a visa coz am like 4 months gone at the moment and already have a swollen stomach ( obvious that i am pregnant).. PLs naaaa am sure one person can just answer these questions..

Thank you for your response. I appreciate

customised87:


Hello,as per your first question, I am not sure who pays for the flight back but you are definitely not to pay for it on the spot. I guess they just use the return leg of ur ticket if its a return ticket and if its a one way ticket,then it may be the US govt paying for it.
2. You can use your visa for vacation after child birth.

Hello, I have been a silent follower and also a newbie here..pls my quetion is this..those that are usually turned back at POE who pays for the flight back to Nigeriajust curious to know...will share my own experience when i cross the first bridge(visa interview)I am hoping and praying it goes well for me and hubby...I didn't apply for my 2 kids...will apply later..
another question is can one use B2 visa to travel for vacation afterwards (i.e after successful delivery in US)?