Dear all,

Trust you had a goodnight rest? I have an issue o. I am trying to apply for expedited date but what i am seeing as first available date is 29th august. My appointment with the doctor is 29th august,my edd is last week of September and i intend to travel 25th by Gods grace if visa is approved. What should i do? Are there cases where an earlier date different from what is showing as first available date were approved for applicants? Please i need responses. What should i do? Thanks

Hello house,
Just to thank you all for the wonderful information passing through this thread. I have benefitted a great deal.

And so in the spirit of giving back in the spirit of paying it forward , here goes:

Greetings from sunny Los Angeles again!
I arrived on AirFrance today August 19th.

I was unable to get PTA after all the promises from my various account officers. I also followed the lead on First Bank, and didn't get. So my ever loving DH (my own personal blessing!) bought me 5k from the BM at 396/$
The man was always baffled why i was chasing every banker around town for cheap PTA. Even when i told him i'm trying to save him at least N300k, he said theres no such thing, and that this journey must happen... And that we should just pray for life and health and the grace to always be ahead of this Nigerian economy.

I was fuming at the extra cost but thankful for the privilege of being able to afford it even at the cutthroat price.
Let's say a prayer for these great men in our lives. They give us strength and encouragement per second.

But i digress...! Back to the matter...

AF asked for fit to fly, which i provided. They didn't even glance at it, but added it to my docs.


NDLEA stopped me for questioning, asking me where i was going and for what. Childbirth of course in the US. Stop me if you can!

Currency control also stopped me for questioning. Where to and for what? I dey go America to born eeehhh! Abi dem send una?
How much are you carrying? I told them up to the last dollar.
Where do you work? I told them. They joked about my stomach being so big and that they believed i will come back with triplets! Na true.

And we were off!

Plane was okay. Service was a bit crappy, but hey! I didnt come to live on the plane did i? Paris transit okay, journey to LAX was also uneventful.

LAX:
For the first time i booked a wheelchair, just in case.
I was transported from plane door to immigration hall. But told to wait another 30mins for a wheelchair to take me to CBP.
So i told the lady that i could manage if i could be expedited on foot to the self service kiosk and to CBP.

They obliged. Finished at self service kiosk and then got expedited to front of the line for CBP

My transcript:
CBP: hello (skinny preppy and boyish looking guy of Asian descent with nerd glasses, with a stern face!. I'm like, "Dear Holy Spirit, i know say your mind dey here. Oya do your thing!)
Me: Hi
CBP: what are you here for?
Me: Childbirth
CBP: How long will you be staying?
Me: 9 weeks
CBP: Why so long?
Me: because of the childbirth.
CBP: huh? (Apparently didn't hear the first time i said it!!)
Me: Childbirth, childbirth, as in having my baby.
CBP: Oh! How much do you have on you?
Me: about $5k and bank cards to support me.
Proceeded to look through my passport and all the visas and stamps therein. Caught sight of the entry stamp from May where i was stamped in till November, rubbed his finger over it and then:

CBP: How long did you stay on your last visit?
Me: 2 weeks, that was in May this year.
CBP: Do you have family here?
Me: No, just friends, who i will be staying with.
CBP: keeps looking through the passport, drops it, picks it up again. I could sense him hesitating. Me i'm like "Dear Holy Spirit, e be like say the cellotape wey you take cover this guy mouth need reinforcement oh. Abeg nack am anoda layer.

CBP: shrugs his shoulder, picks up his stamp and stamps me in till February 2017 (my visa expires January 2017)
Time spent with him: about 3-4minutes.

Off to pick my bags. All came out in good condition.
Next was the one they call exit control (that would be Customs, in Nigeria)

CBP: you got food?
Me: yes. Dried fish, crayfish, stockfish, gala, leaves such as utazi, uziza & nchanwu, ukwa, akidi, cashews, peanuts. All been declared on the form.
CBP: scans through the form then says. Grreat! Thats okay, you're good to go.
Me: Thanks, and have a nice day! And i walked out.

My heavy dossier of "burden of proof" was chilling in my bag and wasn't needed.

Got home, took a long shower, ate, and jumped into bed to sleep it all off.

My apologies for the long post.

For those who are coming behind me, (Veleta? And others) May our Almighty God who has the keys to all the countries of this world send his angels to encamp around you as you pass. You will Never be turned back but be stamped in without hassles. Smooth sailing all the way in Jesus mighty name! Amen.

Zpearlz1:
Dear all,

Trust you had a goodnight rest? I have an issue o. I am trying to apply for expedited date but what i am seeing as first available date is 29th august. My appointment with the doctor is 29th august,my edd is last week of September and i intend to travel 25th by Gods grace if visa is approved. What should i do? Are there cases where an earlier date different from what is showing as first available date were approved for applicants? Please i need responses. What should i do? Thanks

29th is in nine days time.
Why don't u take it? Seriously... I doubt there's expedited on expedited.
Also Do u realise it's not only u that want expedited?
U can always reschedule ur appointment. U r lucky u even got an expedited date just 9days. What if it was further away
Not to be a carrier of bad news what if u don't get the visa ( God forbid) the appointment plus all the plans will most definitely change.
Have an open mind about this.
Pray.
Pick that date before u even don't see it again. Mayb u can refresh in d night but I even doubt this method will work.. But u can try.
Good luck

Zpearlz1:
Dear all,

Trust you had a goodnight rest? I have an issue o. I am trying to apply for expedited date but what i am seeing as first available date is 29th august. My appointment with the doctor is 29th august,my edd is last week of September and i intend to travel 25th by Gods grace if visa is approved. What should i do? Are there cases where an earlier date different from what is showing as first available date were approved for applicants? Please i need responses. What should i do? Thanks

You should be happy you saw Aug 29. If you still have it pls snag it

Nnystc, congratulations dear and amen to ur prayers for us! We dey ur back. We shall share our own good news too

Nnystc:
Hello house,
Just to thank you all for the wonderful information passing through this thread. I have benefitted a great deal.

And so in the spirit of giving back in the spirit of paying it forward , here goes:

Greetings from sunny Los Angeles again!
I arrived on AirFrance today August 19th.

I was unable to get PTA after all the promises from my various account officers. I also followed the lead on First Bank, and didn't get. So my ever loving DH (my own personal blessing!) bought me 5k from the BM at 396/$
The man was always baffled why i was chasing every banker around town for cheap PTA. Even when i told him i'm trying to save him at least N300k, he said theres no such thing, and that this journey must happen... And that we should just pray for life and health and the grace to always be ahead of this Nigerian economy
I was fuming at the extra cost but thankful for the privilege of being able to afford it even at the cutthroat price.
Let's say a prayer for these great men in our lives. They give us strength and encouragement per second.

But i digress...! Back to the matter...

And we were off!

Plane was okay. Service was a bit crappy, but hey! I didnt come to live on the plane did i? Paris transit okay, journey to LAX was also uneventful.


So i told the lady that i could manage if i could be expedited on foot to the self service kiosk and to CBP.

They obliged. Finished at self service kiosk and then got expedited to front of the line for CBP

My transcript:
CBP: hello (skinny preppy and boyish looking guy of Asian descent with nerd glasses, with a stern face!. I'm like, "Dear Holy Spirit, i know say your mind dey here. Oya do your thing!)


CBP: keeps looking through the passport, drops it, picks it up again. I could sense him hesitating. Me i'm like "Dear Holy Spirit, e be like say the cellotape wey you take cover this guy mouth need reinforcement oh. Abeg nack am anoda layer.


For those who are coming behind me, (Veleta? And others) May our Almighty God who has the keys to all the countries of this world send his angels to encamp around you as you pass. You will Never be turned back but be stamped in without hassles. Smooth sailing all the way in Jesus mighty name! Amen.

even though u didn't mention my name... I say a big Amen.
#teamLA at least for now.

Honestly God bless our husband's o... amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen.

See as I dey laugh en... No b small celotape Holy Spirit use sama him mouth... Kikikikikikikikiki

My good news is loading too

feddy27:
Nnystc, congratulations dear and amen to ur prayers for us! We dey ur back. We shall share our own good news too

Amen Amen Amen

happytbaby:
Firstymum,

Since your price is microbiology, please be informed that I had As in all the microbiology courses I took in the University. Na money turn pikin to accounting.....microbiology is so interesting but I cannot carry interesting to enter plane go obodo oyinbo na him make me comot that line.

now I see why I been getting special love for you. But how did u transform like that?

aakaay:
Hello house, can anyone advise on the conditions for travelling with baby on arik back to nigeria. is the baby carried on lap or allowed to be carried in car seat on plane?

You are paying for lap child so ur laps remains the seat of the baby. Except u r lucky to find a free seat. If u pay for a seat then the Ehen the discussion about car seat on the plane can suffice

Amen my sister.
Good news will follow you IJN!

firsttymum:
even though u didn't mention my name... I say a big Amen.
#teamLA at least for now.

Honestly God bless our husband's o... amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen.

See as I dey laugh en... No b small celotape Holy Spirit use sama him mouth... Kikikikikikikikiki

My good news is loading too

Amen sister!

feddy27:
Nnystc, congratulations dear and amen to ur prayers for us! We dey ur back. We shall share our own good news too

ijeomaobi1:
All this microbiologist in da house!! firstymum na so u go dey love science geeks guys for school

@ kayotop,

Tanko doesn't pick calls but I was shocked he picked mine . Sent me his address and list of docs via sms. I still dey in shock mode. Madam Stella doesn't pick calls or responds again o

Will send it on Monday sha. Hope his 3 days still works.

tanko replies text msgs very fast sef.
No b small science geek...
But there's was always an attraction they somehow always asked me out.

KayLayChi:


Hmmm, what about me. I studied microbiology, please love me too.

kikikikikikiki....

I luv u darling

NaijaMama:


I thought Emergency Travel certificate was no longer accepted. How did you pull it off?

It wasn't cancelled as of July 31st, 2016 because we just submitted it and we were allowed to go through immigration and customs.
Where did you get the news saying it was cancelled? My neighbours also used ETC two days (2nd of August) after we arrived and they didn't have any issues. So i don't know where you got that info from.

firsttymum:
tanko replies text msgs very fast sef.
No b small science geek...
But there's was always an attraction they somehow always asked me out.

Well tanko doesn't need to pick

I actually didn't speak to him at all. Just gathered my document and put the money order in and sent it.

3 days later I got it back

@Nnystc,thank you so much for your prayers.God will surely do it for all of us in Jesus Name, Amen.

@Feddy, your testimony is next online. Best wishes on pta hunt dear.

Hello all mama's in the house, I have been a silient reader in the house and have gained a lot. Its now time to give back. Pls pardon will be a long post. Got my visa last year November and was planning vacation with hubby who already has but we couldn't make trip. Took in in December and was so happy after 4 yrs of trying at least I to follow born American Baby lol. Started making plans and someone told me about nairaland. I read all through the parts and threads .really you guys are awesome. I started doctor waka ooo finally settled for Dr dama ziworitin and methodist sugarland. God favour for pta from stanbic 4000 dollars for me and hubby they say we didn't apply on time.but I thank God. Fast toward to the journey , Emirates requested for fit to fly flight was okay but too long. Am presently 36 weeks but my fit to fly was 34 weeks. Won't try it again lol.travelled with hubby thinking since he has been going Houston poe would be a breeze' was in for a shocker. We arrived houston on 18th he queue was much could hardly stand ,when it got to our turn my transcript. Cbp why are you here. Hubby. My wife is here to give birth cbp did she declare that when apply ing for the visa. She has to go for secondary inspection how much do you have on you hubby answered
Na so them carry me ooo. To a room filled with so many people. Then I remembered all yje brave moms in naitaland and G of have me strength. After 4 hours of waiting , I didn't check my phone didn't want to panic I was called. The officer began to shout that I didn't declare I was com ing to give birth told him I wasn't pregnant. Asked how much o had told him he went through my documents and began to warn me . he said am warning you like ten times was jus t smiling , what I do when am tensed. That I should use tax payers money or I won't be allowed into the us again.told him I won't. Told me I must get zero bal,letter of non indebtedness, if not I was just calm after ranting for like 10 mins how Nigerians don't pay he stamped me on for 6 months. The key was I was fortunate to have gathered more than enough funds and my budget sheet was ARd 17000.he asked if I notified the embassy of intention to give birth and I gave him my letter of intent thanks to naira land. By the time I came put hubby was scared to the teeth lol. Thank God for his grace. Had my first appointment with Dr dama, it was okay answered ally questions. Right now chilling and reading naira land. Thanks sorry for the long post

favoredgal:


Well tanko doesn't need to pick

I actually don't speak to him at all. Just gathered my document and put the money order in and sent it.

3 days later I got it back

. Pls how do I reach him want to get myself prepared before baby comes lol

ijeomaobi1:
All this microbiologist in da house!! firstymum na so u go dey love science geeks guys for school

@ kayotop,

Tanko doesn't pick calls but I was shocked he picked mine . Sent me his address and list of docs via sms. I still dey in shock mode. Madam Stella doesn't pick calls or responds again o

Will send it on Monday sha. Hope his 3 days still works.

@Ijeomaobi1,
pls i need Tanko's number, will pm you shortly.

Hello everyone,
sorry i have been out of the radar...Trying to sort things here and there.
waited for my hubby to arrive before starting baby's documents. Picked my baby's birth certificate on 12th August; booked appointed with Houston Passport Agency on 16th August, couldnt pick it same day so i paid extra $20 for overnight priority delivery.
Received passport on 18th August, next step is nigeria visa ...

Anyone with Tanko's Number pls assist oooooo How much is the Nigerian visa and other charges?

Still chilling in Houston, enjoying the weather these few days....and counting down to my trip back home

Thanks Veleta. All the best in your planning too

Amen!

veleta:
@Nnystc,thank you so much for your prayers.God will surely do it for all of us in Jesus Name, Amen.

@Feddy, your testimony is next online. Best wishes on pta hunt dear.

I've replied all PM. Make una check o.

@Nnystc,

Chai, we planned dis waka but circumstances pour sand. Congratulations,May Ur waka be fruitful. Mother,baby, healthy

Thanks girl!
As you come port leave me nah... how I for do?

I miss you, and I don't even know you!!! Smh. ....

ijeomaobi1:
I've replied all PM. Make una check o.

@Nnystc,

Chai, we planned dis waka but circumstances pour sand. Congratulations,May Ur waka be fruitful. Mother,baby, healthy

Nnystc:


For those who are coming behind me, (Veleta? And others) May our Almighty God who has the keys to all the countries of this world send his angels to encamp around you as you pass. You will Never be turned back but be stamped in without hassles. Smooth sailing all the way in Jesus mighty name! Amen.

Amen!!! I'm coming behind you o. #TeamLA #October. Wish you the best also. The problem now is getting accommodation in a safe area.

In other news, was able to get info for those interested in giving birth around Silicon Valley (after many weeks of searching and calling looking for affordable in an expensive area).

Got through to El Camino hospital. For uninsured patients you have to pre register with the hospital.
Normal Delivery: $6000
CS: $8500

If you don't pre register you're on your own...lol. bill for normal delivery is btw $44k to $70k+ and CS is $120k+

Doctor fee is $2000

The other hospitals I found are out of it abeg.. too expensive.

Hi all. Got to the US through JFK (New York) yesterday. In summary, I used the self assessment machine and it printed a slip without an "x" across it. I think those who had the "x" were sent for secondary, at least they were separated. Spent 2 minutes or less with the immigration officer, gisting half the time. He only asked what I'm here for, to which I responded "vacation and to have my baby" He looked surprised so I stepped back so he could see my bump and said "yes I'm pregnant";
If I have relatives here, "no", but I told him who i'll stay with and where;
How long I plan to stay, "10 weeks, I have a return ticket". Didn't ask bout money or correspondence etc. Was stamped in. Customs just looked at my passport and took the slip, as I didn't hv any food. Took the very convenient AirTrain out of the main airport to get to the shuttle pick up area.

I wish you all a smooth experience as I had. Cheers.

Congratulations ifyadajesus and trishxx!

May the rest of your journey be smooth and successful. Wishing you a very safe delivery

Pls who has flown air peace recently? Are they preggy friendly? Just read on dia website dat dia policy for preggies is 28wks and i'm past the limit

Didn't know all this while! I don't want wat happened btw I and aero last year to happen again o!

Consider Dana. I think they're more relaxed and the flights are on time. See this screenshot.

feddy27:
Pls who has flown air peace recently? Are they preggy friendly? Just read on dia website dat dia policy for preggies is 28wks and i'm past the limit

Didn't know all this while! I don't want wat happened btw I and aero last year to happen again o!

[quote author=ijeomaobi1 post=48663440]I've replied all PM. Make una check o.

Thanks, got your response. Well appreciated.

Plenty good news flowing in, am loving it.
Safe trip and POE to those yet to travel and those travelling soon.