Effect001:
Had my. B1b2 family Visa interview last week Wednesday 22nd June at Abuja America Embassy . We where denied by the lady in window 11 ,it was very painful and sad experience especially for my two kids that cried after we were denied.
The CO mood was so down that she didn't give anyone visa before me while the other guy was just dashing out visa to people. Below is our transcript

CO: Good morning

Me: Good morning

CO: Why are you going to US?

Me: Going on vacation as a family

CO: Where are you going in US? :

Me: New Jersey

CO: Why New Jersey:

Me: Because my kids will like to explore the amusement parks and seaside towns and also myself and my wife will like to explore the resort there as a bonding moment

CO: What do you do?

Me: I am a business owner. I am the founder and Managing Director of Elisteph Ventures. The company is a distribution company for major electronics in Nigeria like LG,Sony Samsung etc


VO: Madam where do you work?

My wife :Alayo Catering service

CO:What do u do? :

My wife: Caterer

CO:Do u have family in the Us?
Me: No

CO: Do u have friends in the Us?
Me: No

I will welcome suggestions on tips of a better chance next time.

Guys pray for good consular officer to interview when ever you are going for your interview. It doesn't matter if your documents are all intact and purpose is genuine. From my experience the Visa officer personality and mood at that point matters in you getting visa

The problem was not the CO but rather you.

You planned to visit a state with no real tourism credentials as a tourist. Which was the reason for those critical questions, "do you have friends or family in the US?"

The only reason you will be visiting a state such as New Jersey with a large population of Nigerians but with no tourism credentials is because you have either/both friends and families in New Jersey.

The CO therefore caught you on a lie!

While preparing for another application please remember the CO made a record of all your responses.

I agree with you on this @TWoods. She should immediately look for admission in Canada and inform them of her current US program and her desire to transfer credits. They will review and make a decision. She should forget the US for now and try to settle down in Canada...when she qualifies for Canadian citizenship after 3 years, she can revisit.

Good day, everyone

TWoods:


She should find a Canadian school that will allow her to transfer those credits so she doesn't have to start from scratch in Canada.

Dampops:
I agree with you on this @TWoods. She should immediately look for admission in Canada and inform them of her current US program and her desire to transfer credits. They will review and make a decision. She should forget the US for now and try to settle down in Canada...when she qualifies for Canadian citizenship after 3 years, she can revisit.

Good day, everyone

Greetings boss. Pls can I ask you of something?

Hello @Effect001. We spoke before your interview and i expressed some reservations (even though it was too late as you had paid and already had an impending interview date). I noticed your (family) lack of travel history and i said it could be an issue with the VO...especially since your travel motive was tourism. Then again, i raised reservation on the fact that it was a family application....in this era of 'JAPA/MIGRATION', it is a red flag; especially since the family has never gone on a similar tourism trip to other locations e.g. UK, Dubai, Kenya...

My advice when we spoke (after the refusal) was for you to build your travel history before next application; or if possible, apply alone...leave the kids out for now. Let them serve as your 'home ties'...

I agree that luck, mood of VO, favour etc...could play a role to influence one's success at the US interview but i'll rather try to prepare very well, dot all Is, cross all Ts...try to address any seeming burden of proof...afterwards, i rely on GRACE and LUCK...or the luck of a favourable VO etc...

Greetings to the kids...let them know that a visa application is win some/lose some. It will be a better story next time.
God bless...

Effect001:
Had my. B1b2 family Visa interview last week Wednesday 22nd June at Abuja America Embassy . We where denied by the lady in window 11 ,it was very painful and sad experience especially for my two kids that cried after we were denied.
The CO mood was so down that she didn't give anyone visa before me while the other guy was just dashing out visa to people. Below is our transcript

CO: Good morning

Me: Good morning

CO: Why are you going to US?

Me: Going on vacation as a family

CO: Where are you going in US? :

Me: New Jersey

CO: Why New Jersey:

Me: Because my kids will like to explore the amusement parks and seaside towns and also myself and my wife will like to explore the resort there as a bonding moment

CO: What do you do?

Me: I am a business owner. I am the founder and Managing Director of Elisteph Ventures. The company is a distribution company for major electronics in Nigeria like LG,Sony Samsung etc


VO: Madam where do you work?

My wife :Alayo Catering service

CO:What do u do? :

My wife: Caterer

CO:Do u have family in the Us?
Me: No

CO: Do u have friends in the Us?
Me: No

I will welcome suggestions on tips of a better chance next time.

Guys pray for good consular officer to interview when ever you are going for your interview. It doesn't matter if your documents are all intact and purpose is genuine. From my experience the Visa officer personality and mood at that point matters in you getting visa

Effect001:
Had my. B1b2 family Visa interview last week Wednesday 22nd June at Abuja America Embassy . We where denied by the lady in window 11 ,it was very painful and sad experience especially for my two kids that cried after we were denied.
The CO mood was so down that she didn't give anyone visa before me while the other guy was just dashing out visa to people. Below is our transcript

CO: Good morning

Me: Good morning

CO: Why are you going to US?

Me: Going on vacation as a family

CO: Where are you going in US? :

Me: New Jersey

CO: Why New Jersey:

Me: Because my kids will like to explore the amusement parks and seaside towns and also myself and my wife will like to explore the resort there as a bonding moment

CO: What do you do?

Me: I am a business owner. I am the founder and Managing Director of Elisteph Ventures. The company is a distribution company for major electronics in Nigeria like LG,Sony Samsung etc


VO: Madam where do you work?

My wife :Alayo Catering service

CO:What do u do? :

My wife: Caterer

CO:Do u have family in the Us?
Me: No

CO: Do u have friends in the Us?
Me: No

I will welcome suggestions on tips of a better chance next time.

Guys pray for good consular officer to interview when ever you are going for your interview. It doesn't matter if your documents are all intact and purpose is genuine. From my experience the Visa officer personality and mood at that point matters in you getting visa

Anyone who has ever lived in NJ would deny you just on this alone. Amusement parks and seaside towns? If you wanted to see those then you would be looking at Florida or California. No one goes to NJ just to see 6 flags amusement park.

I think you should also go easy on the VO. He doesn't know your purpose is genuine. He is having to make a snap judgement... both of you are small business owners, which means it is easy for you to liquidate your business and stay back in the US with your entire family if you wanted to. There is some tourism in NJ, but not enough to justify spending millions of naira for a foreigner. The claim that you don't have family in the US is also suspect... why else would you pick NJ if you know absolutely zero people here?

Hello House: Advise needed !!
My 1st Visit to US was in 2014 (after 4 denials), i visited and spent 4 weeks,
My second visit after renewing my Visa was in 2017, i spent 7 weeks during my visit. Unfortunately my Visa expired in 2018 and i have not made any attempt since then, spoiling my chance of doing a drop box.
Right now i really want to travel but then the fear of the consulate is the beginning of wisdom .
My Questions:

1) What are my chances of getting my Visa renewed
2) How can i get appointment for the interview.
3) What are my chances when i go with my family (Wife and Children) as my 2 visit so far, i went alone

Looking forward to hearing from the house. Thanks in anticipation

of course...this is an open forum...

Jollyman19:







Greetings boss. Pls can I ask you of something?

Dampops:
of course...this is an open forum...

OK

Good day,

Ur tenacious spirit after 4 denials is what intrigues me.

Ur first visit in 2014 looks good

Ur second visit in 2017 which is almost 2 months isn't that bad but u cud be expecting questions to be thrown Ur way as regards this. (What were u doing for seven weeks). A good plausible reason could be that it was during the summer or during the Dec/Jan holiday season.

Where u half-bleeped was not renewing Ur visa soon enough after expiry in 2018 as the drop box program was still in effect at that. (Dropbox program was suspended in May 2019)

Be that as it may, u haven't broken any laws.

Ur chances of Ur visa being renewed depends on if u have a clean slate while in the US and maybe u travel history to some other places during Ur 4 year hiatus. U should be ready to explain that period to the VO.

U can get an interview the same way everyone does and keep trying till u get a nearer date. Hope they clean up their calendar soon

Hmmn, going with Ur family should be ideal but going by what Dammypops said, in this time of migration, it might be suspect unless they have travelled with u on other trips to good countries. If not, u will have to explain why they are travelling now with u. A good reason could be that u want them to come and experience something/somewhere awesome u did/visited in Ur earlier trips and why that's worth while.


Goodluck

Dansakimotors:
Hello House: Advise needed !!
My 1st Visit to US was in 2014 (after 4 denials), i visited and spent 4 weeks,
My second visit after renewing my Visa was in 2017, i spent 7 weeks during my visit. Unfortunately my Visa expired in 2018 and i have not made any attempt since then, spoiling my chance of doing a drop box.
Right now i really want to travel but then the fear of the consulate is the beginning of wisdom .
My Questions:

1) What are my chances of getting my Visa renewed
2) How can i get appointment for the interview.
3) What are my chances when i go with my family (Wife and Children) as my 2 visit so far, i went alone

Looking forward to hearing from the house. Thanks in anticipation

There's the American Dream ERC in East Rutherford, NJ.

TWoods:


Anyone who has ever lived in NJ would deny you just on this alone. Amusement parks and seaside towns? If you wanted to see those then you would be looking at Florida or California. No one goes to NJ just to see 6 flags amusement park.

I think you should also go easy on the VO. He doesn't know your purpose is genuine. He is having to make a snap judgement... both of you are small business owners, which means it is easy for you to liquidate your business and stay back in the US with your entire family if you wanted to. There is some tourism in NJ, but not enough to justify spending millions of naira for a foreigner. The claim that you don't have family in the US is also suspect... why else would you pick NJ if you know absolutely zero people here?

Dansakimotors:
Hello House: Advise needed !!
My 1st Visit to US was in 2014 (after 4 denials), i visited and spent 4 weeks,
My second visit after renewing my Visa was in 2017, i spent 7 weeks during my visit. Unfortunately my Visa expired in 2018 and i have not made any attempt since then, spoiling my chance of doing a drop box.
Right now i really want to travel but then the fear of the consulate is the beginning of wisdom .
My Questions:

1) What are my chances of getting my Visa renewed
2) How can i get appointment for the interview.
3) What are my chances when i go with my family (Wife and Children) as my 2 visit so far, i went alone

Looking forward to hearing from the house. Thanks in anticipation

Prepare to explain how you had so much time to stay for 7 weeks.

Pumpyjay:
There's the American Dream ERC in East Rutherford, NJ.

Let me put it this way if you were a foreigner, who had never been to the US before and knew no one here... and you wanted to take your kids to an amusement park... why would you pick an obscure park in a shopping mall rather than Disney?

Please I need interview date for my daughter. Please anyone that knew how I can secure interview for my daughter.

influential01:
Please I need interview date for my daughter. Please anyone that knew how I can secure interview for my daughter.

You select interview dates when you fill your application form.

I know that opinions will differ on this and people's experiences are different too...but i'll always advise against applying for a US visa as a family on 'virgin passports'. Since he had travelled twice without any issues, he can apply for his family...a good reason, as you posited, will be that 'he'll like his kids to experience the American dream (interesting places) that he did'. If you've travelled together as a family elsewhere on vacation, it shouldn't be an issue to explain your 'tourism motive' to the VO especially if your finances justify it.

Let me share my experience, and that of a friend.... I had been travelling to the UK every year since 2004 (wifey as well) on vacation...never applied for a US visa or travelled there...it didn't even interest me (my siblings are in the UK and i had no one to go and see in the US). I started taking my kids to the UK from 2005...later to Dubai, France, other schengen countries...still didn't go to the US...

My first US visa application was in 2013, as i had to attend a training at New York Institute of Finance but applied for a B1/B2 visa...told the VO i was attending the 5 day course but will also like to visit interesting places in NY like the 'Ground Zero' and the Empire Building, White House in DC etc...i decided against a family application (didn't even include my wife). My application was successful and i travelled alone...i had mad fun and wondered why it didn't occur to me all this while to experience this country...

Upon return, i told my wife to apply, and she did alone in 2014 (no kids included). She had built a good travel history during our vacation trips together. Her visa was granted and we travelled together that summer...had a different arrangement for the kids earlier that Easter. After our US trip, i was now well convinced that i could justify any US visa application for my 3 kids. Afterall all, we their parents had previously travelled and returned under 3 weeks. I applied for them in 2015, and it was successful...i just told the VO that i'll like my kids to experience the wonderful places in America...i had more information about America then due to my two previous trips...i had also reconnected with old schoolmates leaving in other states apart from NY...Afterwards, we've been renewing via DROPBOX...

My friend had a different experience. His first US visa application was also in 2013, he had been to UK and Germany once prior to that. He was attending same training like me and his application was successful. The following year, he did a family application (against my advice) and they were refused (his was granted via DROPBOX). I told him to go and build the kids' travel history via vacation to other places....he hearkened (lol). He did UK, Dubai and Kenya for them and travelled to those places....the next time he applied for US visa in 2017, they were successful.

I know there are stories of people who travelled on virgin passports and were successful...but i'm sure such are few and far between. It's best to have a travel history before applying for a US visa as a family. My opinion....please pardon my typos...

DrStrangelove:
Good day,

Ur tenacious spirit after 4 denials is what intrigues me.

Ur first visit in 2014 looks good

Ur second visit in 2017 which is almost 2 months isn't that bad but u cud be expecting questions to be thrown Ur way as regards this. (What were u doing for seven weeks). A good plausible reason could be that it was during the summer or during the Dec/Jan holiday season.

Where u half-bleeped was not renewing Ur visa soon enough after expiry in 2018 as the drop box program was still in effect at that. (Dropbox program was suspended in May 2019)

Be that as it may, u haven't broken any laws.

Ur chances of Ur visa being renewed depends on if u have a clean slate while in the US and maybe u travel history to some other places during Ur 4 year hiatus. U should be ready to explain that period to the VO.

U can get an interview the same way everyone does and keep trying till u get a nearer date. Hope they clean up their calendar soon

Hmmn, going with Ur family should be ideal but going by what Dammypops said, in this time of migration, it might be suspect unless they have travelled with u on other trips to good countries. If not, u will have to explain why they are travelling now with u. A good reason could be that u want them to come and experience something/somewhere awesome u did/visited in Ur earlier trips and why that's worth while.


Goodluck

So my US visit visa interview was today tuesday 5/07/2022 for 10.00am

VO: Good day Sir
Me: Good day too
VO: What are you going to the US for
Me: To attend the 71st Annual Meeting of American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
VO: A conference, where?
Me: Seattle, Washington
VO: How long will stay
Me: 5 days from 29th Oct to 4 November 2022
VO: How is paying for your trip
Me: The organizer in the US as I am one of their travel grant awardee.
VO: Where do you work?
Me: I work with xxxxx and I am XXXXXX post since 2013
VO: So you are XXXXXX
Me: Yes
VO: Are you married
Me: Yes
VO: Is your wife here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: Children?
Me: One, a son
VO: Is son here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: I have approved you visa, pick it up between 5 to 7 days at this location. VO handed me the white paper

Praise the Lord

Note as many were refused, others were approved. A naval officer in uniform was refused with his wife and kid
A business man was refused with his wife and 3 kids
Others approved included a old lady, a mother with 3 children, a husband and wife. Only 3 booths were used for the interviews. My message is just be confident and be familiar with DS 160 form. Be prepared to answer any questions convincingly. Noted they hardly check documents except where necessary. Good luck to the applicants in the house.

You applied alone...according to this transcript...Congrats...Have a safe trip to Seattle...

You can then plan a family application after your trip

ekpotek:
So my US visit visa interview was today tuesday 5/07/2022 for 10.00am

VO: Good day Sir
Me: Good day too
VO: What are you going to the US for
Me: To attend the 71st Annual Meeting of American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
VO: A conference, where?
Me: Seattle, Washington
VO: How long will stay
Me: 5 days from 29th Oct to 4 November 2022
VO: How is paying for your trip
Me: The organizer in the US as I am one of their travel grant awardee.
VO: Where do you work?
Me: I work with xxxxx and I am XXXXXX post since 2013
VO: So you are XXXXXX
Me: Yes
VO: Are you married
Me: Yes
VO: Is your wife here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: Children?
Me: One, a son
VO: Is son here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: I have approved you visa, pick it up between 5 to 7 days at this location. VO handed me the white paper

Praise the Lord

Note as many were refused, others were approved. A naval officer in uniform was refused with his wife and kid
A business man was refused with his wife and 3 kids
Others approved included a old lady, a mother with 3 children, a husband and wife. Only 3 booths were used for the interviews. My message is just be confident and be familiar with DS 160 form. Be prepared to answer any questions convincingly. Noted they hardly check documents except where necessary. Good luck to the applicants in the house.

TWoods:


You select interview dates when you fill your application form.

Please I want to know if the interview form is on the same site on ds-160 or just like formal website?

congrat

ekpotek:
So my US visit visa interview was today tuesday 5/07/2022 for 10.00am

VO: Good day Sir
Me: Good day too
VO: What are you going to the US for
Me: To attend the 71st Annual Meeting of American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
VO: A conference, where?
Me: Seattle, Washington
VO: How long will stay
Me: 5 days from 29th Oct to 4 November 2022
VO: How is paying for your trip
Me: The organizer in the US as I am one of their travel grant awardee.
VO: Where do you work?
Me: I work with xxxxx and I am XXXXXX post since 2013
VO: So you are XXXXXX
Me: Yes
VO: Are you married
Me: Yes
VO: Is your wife here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: Children?
Me: One, a son
VO: Is son here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: I have approved you visa, pick it up between 5 to 7 days at this location. VO handed me the white paper

Praise the Lord

Note as many were refused, others were approved. A naval officer in uniform was refused with his wife and kid
A business man was refused with his wife and 3 kids
Others approved included a old lady, a mother with 3 children, a husband and wife. Only 3 booths were used for the interviews. My message is just be confident and be familiar with DS 160 form. Be prepared to answer any questions convincingly. Noted they hardly check documents except where necessary. Good luck to the applicants in the house.

influential01:

Please I want to know if the interview form is on the same site on ds-160 or just like formal website?

Go to this website to open an account and book interview. https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Nigeria

This is different from DS-160 form website

pufframmy:
congrat

Thanks bro. My interview appointment was booked in 2021 and I did not want cancel it to do IW. Embassy was asking for passport photo, which was not part of the requirement. I noticed people taking passport photo. I refused as I had with me passport photos just in case. The photo was not even right size. Sha they accepted it as I told them in was not part of requirements to bring along and that they should have specified it. They kuku scan the photo and approved me for finger print.

lol devil is a liar

ekpotek:


Thanks bro. My interview appointment was booked in 2021 and I did not want cancel it to do IW. Embassy was asking for passport photo, which was not part of the requirement. I noticed people taking passport photo. I refused as I had with me passport photos just in case. The photo was not even right size. Sha they accepted it as I told them in was not part of requirements to bring along and that they should have specified it. They kuku scan the photo and approved me for finger print.

Any ETSU applicant that’s has been approved and need accommodations! Let me know …

How long does DHL keep your passport for? My U.S visa was approved after 4 months in AP. I think my issue was with the number of countries i have been to and the Residence Permits i have had and abandoned. They had me fill out a form with all my travel history, all passports held and my source of income for the travels. No be small thing. This would have been my 1st ever visa reusal but na God big pass.

Since February? Choi

megastu:
How long does DHL keep your passport for? My U.S visa was approved after 4 months in AP. I think my issue was with the number of countries i have been to and the Residence Permits i have had and abandoned. They had me fill out a form with all my travel history, all passports held and my source of income for the travels. No be small thing. This would have been my 1st ever visa reusal but na God big pass.

I remember you were asked to come for physical interview after submitting via IW in late February. Didn't know you were put on AP after the interview. Thank God it ended well...

megastu:
How long does DHL keep your passport for? My U.S visa was approved after 4 months in AP. I think my issue was with the number of countries i have been to and the Residence Permits i have had and abandoned. They had me fill out a form with all my travel history, all passports held and my source of income for the travels. No be small thing. This would have been my 1st ever visa reusal but na God big pass.

ekpotek:
So my US visit visa interview was today tuesday 5/07/2022 for 10.00am

VO: Good day Sir
Me: Good day too
VO: What are you going to the US for
Me: To attend the 71st Annual Meeting of American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
VO: A conference, where?
Me: Seattle, Washington
VO: How long will stay
Me: 5 days from 29th Oct to 4 November 2022
VO: How is paying for your trip
Me: The organizer in the US as I am one of their travel grant awardee.
VO: Where do you work?
Me: I work with xxxxx and I am XXXXXX post since 2013
VO: So you are XXXXXX
Me: Yes
VO: Are you married
Me: Yes
VO: Is your wife here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: Children?
Me: One, a son
VO: Is son here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: I have approved you visa, pick it up between 5 to 7 days at this location. VO handed me the white paper

Praise the Lord

Note as many were refused, others were approved. A naval officer in uniform was refused with his wife and kid
A business man was refused with his wife and 3 kids
Others approved included a old lady, a mother with 3 children, a husband and wife. Only 3 booths were used for the interviews. My message is just be confident and be familiar with DS 160 form. Be prepared to answer any questions convincingly. Noted they hardly check documents except where necessary. Good luck to the applicants in the house.

Please did you use emergency appointment route?

ekpotek:
So my US visit visa interview was today tuesday 5/07/2022 for 10.00am

VO: Good day Sir
Me: Good day too
VO: What are you going to the US for
Me: To attend the 71st Annual Meeting of American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
VO: A conference, where?
Me: Seattle, Washington
VO: How long will stay
Me: 5 days from 29th Oct to 4 November 2022
VO: How is paying for your trip
Me: The organizer in the US as I am one of their travel grant awardee.
VO: Where do you work?
Me: I work with xxxxx and I am XXXXXX post since 2013
VO: So you are XXXXXX
Me: Yes
VO: Are you married
Me: Yes
VO: Is your wife here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: Children?
Me: One, a son
VO: Is son here in Nigeria
Me: Yes
VO: I have approved you visa, pick it up between 5 to 7 days at this location. VO handed me the white paper

Praise the Lord

Note as many were refused, others were approved. A naval officer in uniform was refused with his wife and kid
A business man was refused with his wife and 3 kids
Others approved included a old lady, a mother with 3 children, a husband and wife. Only 3 booths were used for the interviews. My message is just be confident and be familiar with DS 160 form. Be prepared to answer any questions convincingly. Noted they hardly check documents except where necessary. Good luck to the applicants in the house.

Congratulations

@DrStrangelove and @TWoods Thank you so much for your input

crusader6:



Please did you use emergency appointment route?

No. Interview was booked in 2021. Almost one year ago.

Yeah. On CEAC site it's been refused since February and remained so then moved to AP and then issued.
I think they are really doing a lot of screening now as many Nigerians are not coming back.

Dampops:
I remember you were asked to come for physical interview after submitting via IW in late February. Didn't know you were put on AP after the interview. Thank God it ended well...