Consulate location: Lagos
Course of Study: MPA
COA: $31,721
School: Bridgewater State University
No funding No GA
3 initial visitation rejections
Married

Someone from here, @Pellycute, gave me the contact of her friend that works at a hotel close to the Embassy, so I lodged there overnight. Couldn’t take chances with traffic as advised by my supportive husband. The contact was helpful and took me to the venue in the morning. (Twas less than 15mins walk, so we strolled down at 6:30am for my appointment).

Long queue! Was exhausted but just kept singing praises in my mind and saying “it is settled! What God cannot do does not exist! God take control o, I have put in Practise, and need to advance my career “ Pastor Jerry said this week is our week of congratulations and emergency celebration o!

Anyways, I got in and was overly calm, I thank God for answered prayers because my heart use to run on it’s own even during Practise sometimes, not that I don’t know what to say or have answers to the questions but even though I’m a “talker”, that “heart race” when it comes to interviews ehn, I don’t understand.

When I got into the hall, I really didn’t care about who would tend to me, I sha kept saying “God, I’m not going back home with this passport o, I don’t know how you will do it, but this is a major miracle you need to settle for me”. I was next in line, so I heard “NEXT!” and I jumped in to the free spot.

Vo: Good morning
Me: Good morning ma’am
VO: Pass me your documents and press your fingers there (pointing)
Me: I passed my I-20 and passport and did as she said with my fingers.
Vo: please take down your mask let me see your face.
Me: (did as told)
VO: Where in the US are you going?
Me: Massachusetts, I’m a masters student of Public Administration, already started classes virtually this fall, but we are done with exams and on break now, and I would be resuming in-person classes this coming spring.
Vo: Are you married?
Me: Yes
VO: where is your husband?
Me: He is in the US
VO: (paused from typing and looked at me) is he a citizen?
Me: No, he’s a PR
VO: an LPR? (I didn’t hear clearly to understand what that meant)
Me: He is a permanent resident
VO: He’s filed for you?
Me: Yes, he has but my career is important and I can’t for a second jeopardize the opportunities that comes with my petition approval.
Vo: where does he stay?
Me: Quincy, Massachusetts
Vo: when did you get married?
Me: December 2018 after he became a PR
Vo: when did he file for you?
Me: 2019 after we got married
Vo: when did he go to the US?
Me: Although, he’s been going and coming, he worked here but left finally last year to take on a job as xxxx at Bleep. Here are his employment letter, pay slip, savings and investment information..( trying to give the proofs to her but she kept on typing)
Vo: how much does he earn?
Me: he earns xxxx
VO: Do you have kids?
Me: No, (then I smiled and said...) but looking forward to meet them. (She smiled back)
VO: (Kept typing o...) where would you be staying? With your husband?
Me: no, would be staying on campus, going basically for my program.
VO: you graduated in 2006, what have you been doing?
Me: well, after I graduated, I went for my compulsory national youth service and got employed at Xxxx immediately after that, before I got employed again at Bleep as a Xxxx and also did some projects before where I’m at right now that I make handcrafted bags and foot-wears and also train. I also make animations for marketing purposes and train too, and I am a seasonal farmer as well. I do that on the side at the moment, even though I was fully into it before now.
VO: Why are you just going for your masters?
Me: B.A doesn’t cut it anymore, hence my reason to go for a professional and advanced program. I need it to take on advanced managerial roles. Without it, there would be career growth limitations.
Vo: (kept on typing then said “hold on a minute” and stepped out with my passport)
Me: (reminding God that this is the time o, do what only you can do. I tried to make myself comfortable by adjusting my documents and reading all the flyers pasted by the cubicle to while away the time that’s long enough already)
Vo: (came back after a while, sat, and still asked...) what do you do again?
Me: (I went through all my jobs with her again and emphasized ....) the handmade bag and footwear making and training is the major one I do.
Vo: (said something but I didn’t hear clearly)
Me: sorry I didn’t hear you
Vo: your visa has been approved
Me: (All she was saying as she passed the white paper and my I-20 to me ehn, I heard nothing! Na so I cover face in excitement, appreciation to God and thanks to her) laughing and said “thank you!”
Vo: thank you and have a nice day
Me: have a nice day too. THANK YOU!


Finally, I will attend classes without the time difference I have been battling with!

Omo! How I got out of there , I no know. Twas with mixed feelings: laughter and tears. I was doing “yanmayanma” on the road. Saw some police officers and asked if I should march for them! They said yes and called parade for me hahahahaha I did “left, right” small and we all laughed as I walked away. Still can’t explain it. Just know that this one sha has God written all over it. The queue was long, the interview was quite long but in all, it was worth it because God came through.
The way God planned the thing and gave me helpful and willing resource at the right time from here ehn! @asiwaju101, @amos4real, @Pipisco11, @fairheart and @Pellycute you all are awesome! Only God can reward you for the selfless act o!
To all still waiting, I wish you all the best and to those that have been refused, refusal is not denial, please try again.
I learnt some things reading other people’s transcripts here, so I thought to also give back. Thank you.