Alakoriomo:


When’s your interview?

Actually, God did it. However, having funding helps. Because she didn’t even ask me questions more than four or so. And when she saw my funding, she said “ohh, you’re a fully funded PhD student”. And I said yes. Then she asked what would u be doing when u come back, and I gave some very stupid answer which wasn’t even coherent..lol..I wasn’t really vocal (was tense and tired and anxious and I was fasting Ramadan too) while answering her, and she was the one that ask me to relax ☺️ lol

She already decided to give the visa after she saw excess funding on my i20. Funding helps , even if it’s little, it will save you from too much talks and unnecessary salaye

Greatkenny2:

Please what advice do you have for someone with admission but with neither funding nor scholarship... A sister in the US is the sponsor with good account statement..

Alakoriomo:


Walter Carrington in Lagos

sunspartech:
Someone help!!!

Lagos, Nigeria Embassy

I have made payment for the visa for the past two weeks and this is the response I have received so far...

I'm doing the right thing?
Anything to do to rectify this?
Please add me to visa whatsapp group
09036908770

sunspartech:


Help please!!!

sunspartech:


Help please!!!

Best256:
Good morning everyone. What's the current F1 visa fee in naira, please?

Thanks a lot.

ourunivibes:


Congrats man. I want to ask did you write GRE to land that fully funded

mcvities:
Please, for those that have paid their F-1 Visa at GT Bank recently, did you carry the total cash 333,000 to the bank or do they allow one to make the payment with an ATM card at their bank branches?

Ayosharon4321:
Hello house, please what are some business programs that could allow me get the 36months OPT?? And states with affordable tuition. Just saw a uni for 55k no funding. Please treat as urgent.



Thank you

mcvities:
Please, for those that have paid their F-1 Visa at GT Bank recently, did you carry the total cash 333,000 to the bank or do they allow one to make the payment with an ATM card at their bank branches?

mayford:


Yes, non-cash payment is accepted.

You'll be given a deposit slip and GTB Collections account to pay the money into, authorising the debit from your GTB account.

Depending on the branch, you may be allowed to transfer via in-branch POS terminal using your card.

mcvities:
I don't have a GT Bank account, I hope one can make the payment with another bank ATM card.

mcvities:


The US embassy is still using 1800 naira to $1 and they keeping changing the date by 1 day each time I check with this link shared here. It is still pegged at 333,000

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng/en/step-3#visa-fees

Honestly, I do not know why they are doing this since the naira has gained so far. They have refused to reflect the current naira value on the pricing of the visas.

Slimszy:


Find someone with a GTB bank app to pay. Quite easy

mcvities:
Please, can the payment be made via GT Bank app because the bank listed internet banking as the only online available to make the payment and for GT Bank account holders.

Kindly clarify how a GT Bank account holder can make this payment for a non GT Bank account holder via GT Bank app.

welf99:
Your profile is good for the MBA, do a self sponsor. Forget about those saying otherwise with high falutine gilberish. Be confident about yourself and achievement, it will work in your favor.

PrimeTEA:


Thanks so much and @MrSoftlife

1. I’m not planning on going with them immediately, they’ll need to come at a later date as my wife is working and currently running her MBA here in Nigeria.

2. Your suggestions were the original plan till 2 of my mentors who contributed immensely in this journey raised the issue of going together citing what they went through before their wives could join them.

I would appreciate if we can connect personally via DMs and if there’s a way I can run my story because it will hurt my wife to think she jeopardize my chance if it didnt work hence my post here

Ayosharon4321:
Hello house, please what are some business programs that could allow me get the 36months OPT?? And states with affordable tuition. Just saw a uni for 55k no funding. Please treat as urgent.



Thank you

Debbieeeeeee:

Yes you can pay on the GTBank app and it’s the most seamless and straightforward way to pay

mcvities:
I do not have a GT Bank account, can someone else with a GT Bank account pay on my behalf via the GT Bank app?

mcvities:
I do not have a GT Bank account, can someone else with a GT Bank account pay on my behalf via the GT Bank app?

BigIyanga:

Are you in US already?

Ayosharon4321:


Hi, no am not. I’m looking forward to fall2024.
Evaluated transcripts came out to a 2.49/4.

Padraic:


Before my interview, I saw how people were discussing proving home ties with marriage, father, mother, friends, and family. This is exactly what I am saying is beneath you when you're apply from this side. Showing intent to go back after studying is a sure prerequisite for any student visa, anywhere in the world. But going the extra mile to be explaining, discussing, and showing how the fact that you have family, wife, or kids in Nigeria is not necessary here. No single person I know, was asked that.

I don't know how to explain this but I hope you get my point.

And this is why going to a good school with soft funding is very important. When you have that, the VO will not waste his or her time to ask you irrelevant questions. Straight one or two basic question then move ahead. Why will a VO be wasting time here, asking you to explain home ties when you're going to Purdue or University of Chicago? He would rather ask you something like "tell me about your research", just to test you. once you give them STUFF, they'll know that you're not playing. Visa approved, sharp sharp.

I agree you must show intent to come back, but to be explaining up and down trying to prove home ties, is not necessary at all.

When you get to Belfast office, the place is so calm. No bad belle or bias, you can literally smell you visa approval. Honestly, those VO for naija dey very harsh, unnecessarily.

But it's okay sha, each to it's own.

It is well

Padraic:




Hello, I am currently in your position. This is what I did. This will be a long post, I apologize.

I finished my MA in the UK in 2021. Post graduation, I was working part time here and there, as per UK usual. I applied for fall 2024 to 8 universities, all fully funded programs. I go admitted into 3, 1 waitlist, and 4 rejections. I just did my visa interview last month, it was granted. My Visa is arriving soon.

Key things to note.

My masters and PhD is in exactly the same field. So I am not jumping from A to B.

I have never ever been to the US before, nor have I ever applied for their Visa.

My PhD is fully funded with over 10k excess left over.

My interview lasted like 2mins.

Please, please, please.... apply to the best school you can enter. The school is very very important and will affect your visa. School and funding is the most important thing from my experience. It is harder to deny a havard or princeton scholar than someone going to rashford state university or Onana school of business. I see people talking about home ties and all that, THAT IS A NIGERIA PROBLEM AND YOU ARE IN THE UK. THAT PROBLEM IS BENEATH YOU!!!

VO in Nigeria are people with prejudice and strong belief that we all want to run away and never return. They are very tight. It is not like that abroad. If you can, go to Belfast for the interview, things are very chill there. The VO are soft friendly people.

Apply to a top school, the best you can get into and have full funding. When asked about post graduation plans... I said "to go back to Nigeria and use my skills in education, research and development". Just show intent to go back home, all that home ties nonsense is BENEATH you.

Now, for your application, make sure you write GRE, you dont need toefl. I wrote GRE twice. Try to score above 300. I scored 312. Just try your best, please. Try to study well in school and graduate with a good grade. Transcript matters alot. I made merit.

Try to score a first class score in your thesis, it really really helps. Make sure atleast two of your references are from your UK university. Try to not use Nigerian professors. They don't rate our things. Its unfair but that's the way of the world.

I applied to Emory, UMCP, Ohio state university, Indiana university, Purdue, Bowling green state university, UPenn, and Penn state. Look for schools in top 150 or so. Dont go too far down. You need a top school so they can shower you with so much funding and you will be confident for interview.


Try to publish your Masters thesis before you apply, it really helps. Also I wanted to apply to 12 schools, but I stopped after my second admission offer came in.

BE CONFIDENT WHEN YOU GET THERE FOR INTERVIEW. TALK LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

GO FORTH AND CONQUER!!!!!!



No over think am, it is not rocket science.

liliberth:
Hello please, I am finding it hard to get universities for fall 2025, I am interested in public health at masters level and I do not want to apply through SOPHAS.

Will be glad if anyone can suggest universities that are easy to apply to. Thanks