BETHANY2024:
Hi bioemmy,

First of all, congratulation for your F1 visa success.

Though, I have not traveled to the US before and I hope to travel to the US for the Fall 2024 intake if I am granted a student visa, from my dad experience, I asked him if you need a transit visa, he said since you have a US visa (student or visitor) and passing through the UK, you don't need any transit visa if:

a) You are not checking out of the airport (Heathrow), you don't have any problem. He said you should ensure you have your next connecting flight from Heathrow airport to your US destination city if you are been asked by the UK immigration at the airport, tell them you are not embarking or checking out of the airport and that you are heading to the boarding gate to wait for boarding to your US destination city. He said you don't have any problems or issues even though your waiting time before boarding to the US inside the UK Heathrow airport is 6 hours. He said the UK authority respects US visa. He said don't ever attempt to try to check out of the airport.

As a matter of fact, he said if you land at the airport, after disembarking from the aircraft and at the check point, tell the UK immigration officers that you need direction to the boarding gate for so and so airport (the one you already have in your flight schedules and they will tell you the boarding gate to proceed to). He said you should ensure that the travel agent that is booking your flight should have your luggage picked up at your US final city destination and not from the UK airport to check in again your luggage.

He said you will need UK transit visa if you are going out of the UK airport and entry inside the UK even though for 5 minutes and coming back to the airport to onboard your next flight to the US, you will need UK transit visa. But he said in your case, you don't need UK transit visa since you are heading to US and with a valid US visa.

Also, he advised that your travel agent should ensure that your ticket is booked together all the way from Nigeria to the city/state in the US where your school is located. If your final destination or last stop city/state in the US is different from the city/state where your school is located, you may have issues with the US Custom and Boarder patrol officers that may subject you to intense questioning and scrutinizing. If you have two tickets, one is from Nigeria to UK and to say to New York where you will have US immigration clearance, but your school is in Chicago (Illinois), just ensure that your travel agent booked a local flight from New York to Chicago and you should have this second ticket handy to show the US Custom and Boarder Officer at the Airport, because they may ask you your final destination, which is Chicago and you have the ticket as well that says the aircraft will be leaving in 5 hours time and you will start boarding in 4 hours time. You are good to go.

We have a family friend to my Dad who traveled with his wife and daughter this December to the US and he and his wife and small daughter were granted student visas (F1 and two F2s) for he is a PhD student. He traveled from Abuja to Frankfurt (Germany) (without going out of the airport) with no German or Schengen transit visa) and then from Frankfurt to Houston (Texas) and from Houston to Gulfport, Mississippi, all journey was smooth and no issue.

He said you don't have any issue, you are good to go and he said if your travel agent is knowledgeable, your travel agent will know this that as long as you are not going out of the UK airport to fling around before coming back to board your next flight to the US, you don't need a UK transit visa. UK respect US Visa, whether student or visitor/business visa. But they don't respect other African countries visa to transit to other countries via the UK without a UK visa or transit visa.

Good luck for your trip.
Thank you all.

NewBoyKhashoggi:




Hey 🤠


Sorry this is coming late but i have answered this kind of question of recent . But for the benefit of others ....

1. The next thing you are supposed to do is to fill another DS 160 so that your new Travel Passport number would be indicated in the new DS 160.

2. After that, login into your CGI profile and click on update profile , input the new DS 160 number as well as your new Passport number and click save.

3. Log back into your CGI page after 48 hrs to print out another Visa Appointment letter . The appointment letter would have auto-update itself which will display your new passport number as well as your new DS 160 number .

PS: The above is what you are supposed to do naturally . But if there is no time then call the CGI help line .



Best Wishes 🙏

Ajalalomo:


I have same issue.

To update your profile with your new passport number, do you fill out a new DS160?

Please, how do you resolve this issue?

femi2004:
Hello house,
I need anyone who is currently in the United State and also attending Atlanta Technical College, I need to ask some questions. Please kindly signify if you meet up with the details i have given.

Thank you and God bless you,

Oluwafemi

Naijalarry:


Welcome back, but try not to log out of NewBoyKhashoggi and login to ArinzeAminuBOYS.

Because next time, you might not get back to your main account.

Rdfactor:


Meaning that if I, indeed, get offer from a new school (different from the school I was meant to attend this spring), I’ll need another visa since SEVIS ID is now different. I transferred my SEVIS to this particular school I was supposed to attend by Spring. If I could get them to transfer the SEVIS to a new school (in case the department isn’t able to retain my funding till Fall), would I still need another visa in this case? I’m clear about the first part where I’ll need another visa to a new school by Fall.

Likewise, since I’m not able to enroll, the school DSO need to do “early authorised withdrawal “ for me so I can be able to come back with ease.

crowniran:
Hi guys what can I do differently? I am going for my 5th attempt. My 3rd and 4th attempt, I had a finding that covers 31k out of 52k. However, I am going with another school with 79k+ out of 108k. These are MBA programs. I need your help, thank you.

Daodudavid:
First Good morning all the scholars in the house, been a while I visited this forum.

I have a very important inquiry here for my sister who is currently trying to transition into the USA medical field, So, by any chance Do we have any Nigerian female Medical students or doctor in this forums who has done this successfully?
If so please what are your challenges?
How did you transits?
Any further education or licensing needed?
What could she possibly expect?


Your answers to my questions would be highly appreciated.

Osamagioghowewi:
Can i use my opay statement for visa application online

Naijalarry:


You've started again.

Discrediting MBA and advising someone to go for MSc.

So, he should leave his career and follow the one you want for him?

You've started again talking against funding.

crowniran, don't listen to NewBoyKhashoggi, he doesn't know anything about study abroad processes. He's only here misleading unsuspecting Nairalanders.

It'll be easier for you to get the US visa if you have a full funding without deficit.

You don't need to be a business executive before pursuing an MBA in the USA.

Naijalarry:


Only give vital information or you don't give at all.

femi2004:
Hello house,
I need anyone who is currently in the United State and also attending Atlanta Technical College, I need to ask some questions. Please kindly signify if you meet up with the details i have given.

Thank you and God bless you,

Oluwafemi

JohnZak:
Hi, I read your response to TWoods and then your question, and it is not incredibly clear what you want to do. My understanding is that you have a curren F1 visa for school A and you plan on deferring admission from Spring to Fall 2024 because of health reasons. However, you are considering School B because of presumably better funding options. My explanation below is based on this understanding.

Because you have deferred your admission in School A to Fall 2024, you will have been unenrolled for greater than 5 months which will mean that if School B offers you admission in Fall 2024, school A will be unable to transfer your SEVIS records (again because it has been more than 5 months since your last enrollment) to school B. School B will generate a new I20 and a new SEVIS ID. This SEVIS ID from School B will obviously be different from the SEVIS ID that is annotated on your current F1 visa which is for School A. If you come to the US to attend School B with the visa that is annotated with school A's SEVIS ID, you will likely have problems at POE because the immigration official will look up your SEVIS records on School B's I20 and when he scans your visa, the SEVIS records for school A will show up instead of School B. Because you have deferred your admission for School A, your SEVIS information for school A will show deferred or even Terminated if you have told your DSO in school A that you won't be resuming at School A anymore in Fall 2024.

Either way, this will cause problems at POE for you and they may not allow you in because of this SEVIS record mismatch in their SEVIS system. If you changed schools within 5 months or less of your last enrollment, you could easily transfer your SEVIS ID to the new school and you won't need to get a new visa because the DSO will just update your SEVIS records and you will maintain your current SEVIS ID. This is considered a transfer which happens all the time when students change schools for any reason - personal reasons, advisor got a new position at a new school and they moved with the advisor, better funding at another university, or they got admission to their first choice school after they had received their visa based on the i20 from their second choice school etc. In these cases, there is no prolonged break in enrollment. After my F1, I did a fellowship on a J1 for a few months at my second choice institution. I was later offered a fellowship in my first choice institution after three months at the second choice institution and the program official of my first choice institution just updated my DS2019 in the SEVIS system to reflect my first choice institution and I maintained the same SEVIS ID.

My explanation above is based on you changing schools from School A to School B. Obviously, if you deferred your admission in School A and return in Fall 2024 to attend the same School A, the above explanation will be moot because you won't require a new visa (you will require a new 120 though) provided that you filed the proper paperwork with your DSO (look up five-month rule for US students online). As I mentioned, they can't do a SEVIS transfer to School B where you retain your SEVIS ID and I20 because you would have been away and unenrolled for more than 5 months. I hope this makes sense.

I realize that this is a long-winded answer but if you want to be doubly sure, I suggest that you reach out to the DSO of school B when you are offered admission. The DSO will obviously know better than I do. Best of luck and I hope everything works out for you!

NewBoyKhashoggi:




Hey 🤠

I am happy that you have reasoned well by deferring your admission to Summer 2024.

Don't use your mom POF , use your employer POF, and let your sponsor cover the whole budget .

Provide the school with your employer's financial statement and let your I 20 indicates ..employer as source of fund .

Also , the Visa Interview Possible Questions and Answers Training is important for you .

*** If you have no option than to use your momsy's POF then let her carry the whole budget and let the school indicate that in your Form I 20.



Best Wishes 🙏

chigozieduru:


Hi Lawrence,

It's possible to renew your F-1 visa while on OPT. I did mine some months ago but you'll have to travel out of the US in order for the visa stamping. In my case, I went to Mexico for my visa renewal. Interestingly, I've always renewed mine in Central/South America as they only give 2 years visa to Nigerians. Here are couple of things:
1. If you're visiting a contiguous territory and/or adjacent island to the US, your visa should still be valid before entering the country as you'll need it for entry into the country i.e. Mexico.
2. You'll need to budget for flight and accommodation as the F-1 visa in Mexico is usually out within ~3-4 business days. It can take longer.
3. You'll have to pay visa fees as well.
4. Make sure your I-20 shows your approved OPT and the travel signature from your DSO is valid.
5. In my case, I was only asked two questions and I was approved. What I was doing in the US and explained my current role of my OPT. Your DS-160 needs to be filled out to reflect this.
6. If your trip outside the US is not crucial then you might want to consider just staying back for now.
7. Do your own research online. There are lots of plethora of resources available.
I hope I was able to answer your question.

JohnZak:
Hi, I read your response to TWoods and then your question, and it is not incredibly clear what you want to do. My understanding is that you have a curren F1 visa for school A and you plan on deferring admission from Spring to Fall 2024 because of health reasons. However, you are considering School B because of presumably better funding options. My explanation below is based on this understanding.

Because you have deferred your admission in School A to Fall 2024, you will have been unenrolled for greater than 5 months which will mean that if School B offers you admission in Fall 2024, school A will be unable to transfer your SEVIS records (again because it has been more than 5 months since your last enrollment) to school B. School B will generate a new I20 and a new SEVIS ID. This SEVIS ID from School B will obviously be different from the SEVIS ID that is annotated on your current F1 visa which is for School A. If you come to the US to attend School B with the visa that is annotated with school A's SEVIS ID, you will likely have problems at POE because the immigration official will look up your SEVIS records on School B's I20 and when he scans your visa, the SEVIS records for school A will show up instead of School B. Because you have deferred your admission for School A, your SEVIS information for school A will show deferred or even Terminated if you have told your DSO in school A that you won't be resuming at School A anymore in Fall 2024.

Either way, this will cause problems at POE for you and they may not allow you in because of this SEVIS record mismatch in their SEVIS system. If you changed schools within 5 months or less of your last enrollment, you could easily transfer your SEVIS ID to the new school and you won't need to get a new visa because the DSO will just update your SEVIS records and you will maintain your current SEVIS ID. This is considered a transfer which happens all the time when students change schools for any reason - personal reasons, advisor got a new position at a new school and they moved with the advisor, better funding at another university, or they got admission to their first choice school after they had received their visa based on the i20 from their second choice school etc. In these cases, there is no prolonged break in enrollment. After my F1, I did a fellowship on a J1 for a few months at my second choice institution. I was later offered a fellowship in my first choice institution after three months at the second choice institution and the program official of my first choice institution just updated my DS2019 in the SEVIS system to reflect my first choice institution and I maintained the same SEVIS ID.

My explanation above is based on you changing schools from School A to School B. Obviously, if you deferred your admission in School A and return in Fall 2024 to attend the same School A, the above explanation will be moot because you won't require a new visa (you will require a new 120 though) provided that you filed the proper paperwork with your DSO (look up five-month rule for US students online). As I mentioned, they can't do a SEVIS transfer to School B where you retain your SEVIS ID and I20 because you would have been away and unenrolled for more than 5 months. I hope this makes sense.

I realize that this is a long-winded answer but if you want to be doubly sure, I suggest that you reach out to the DSO of school B when you are offered admission. The DSO will obviously know better than I do. Best of luck and I hope everything works out for you!

Honiejenny:



Hello,

You mentioned that I would need a mock interview to prepare. Any idea where I can get that from?

Thank you 🙏

NewBoyKhashoggi:




Hey 🤠


Mock training or practice or examination is the past questions and answers amongst visa applicants and consular officers (VO) that is now put together inside a book or piece of paper for the use of future visa applicants like you .

**** The idea is to train the future applicants like you the kind of questions to be expecting from the Consular officers ( the embassy official that will interview you before giving you visa) and how to answer them .

***** But the best form of Mock training is to do it physically with an experienced person who will act exactly like a Consular officer (optional for those who lives in a far country ) by observing your body languages , consistency in your answers , your confidence , etc.

****** The person that will take you on the Mock training must study your DS 160 and he or she must train you ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES . For example , 2 students are going for MSc , and PhD in Microbiology and History respectively and they both study same mock training booklet , they will both fail some aspects of their visa interview.


1. Find an experienced person to gather questions based on your circumstances and take you on the training .

2. Or find resources on questions related to you and ask a friend or family member who have the time to take you on mock training .

3. Ask on Nairaland the mock training available groups and join . But tell them your program of study and circumstances so that they will tailor your training towards your DS 160 details .


PS ;. Mock training is very very important . Many well deserved and qualified applicant who have everything required for visa have had their visa applications rejected as a result of lack of communication . Some can communicate but they are shy immediately they see crowd . Some displayed over confidence when they are in front of the CO.




Best Wishes 🙏