TripleKMama:
TKM Jnr arrived today. 4wks early. To God be all glory! We're doing well. Details later.

Congratulation on the safe arrival of your bundle of Joy!!!

oniwoski:
Please i need help....Anyone to kindly give info on any cheap flight to Houston...many thanks

House pls!!!
Pls what range of the cost of travel Ticket is referred to as cheap in this Era of N400 /$? So that we don't "waka pass" when we see one. Pls help a sister becos the last one I bought was like a year ago

mamaron:
Regarding Donald and repealing the law that makes anyone born on US soil a US citizen. Just to clarify, that even it is repealed today, it will not affect people who were born before today who already hold US passports. It will only affect future babies. That's a future worry though as many have already said.

So no worries for current US passport holders who became citizens because they were born on US soil.

just to clarify; the passport is not what 'bestows' (the appropriate word fails me now) citizenship on a child. It is the birth in the country that does. so even a chilld born today with no passport is still a citizen even if the amendment is repealed tomorrow.

@Justwise,lobus,dere5,Austine2020, Omobendel24..thank you so much for your responses. God bless you all.

@lobus, it's the generic response of insufficient ties oh..

My Dallas POE testimony: God at work again!

Got to Dallas via Emirates few days ago. Did thumb printing & scanned passport at self service . Joined the POE queue to be interviewed and as it got to my turn a CBP officer standing to the side asked me if I had food. When I said yes, he pointed me towards the Agric Section instead. There I met a tall black Agric Officer. In a chatty, friendly tone he asked: ‘Where are you coming from?’

Me: Lagos, Nigeria
Agric Officer: Are you Yoruba? Ibo?
Me: Yoruba
Officer: Ba wo ni?
Me: Adupe

Takes passport & Looks at landing slip: ‘El Paso, going to meet family?’
Me: no, to have my baby
Officer: what food do you have?
I hand him a small list. He looks at it; ‘it’s ok’ and loads my bags onto the scanner.
His seated oyibo colleague looks up & casually asks me: ‘how long do you intend to stay?
Me: about 8 weeks

Friendly Officer reloads my scanned bags onto my trolley
Me: thank you
Officer: anything for you
Handing me my passport & pointing to exit, he says, ‘you can go.’
I start moving forward, then turn around, confused: 'But my passport has not been stamped!'
Seated colleague gets up, takes passport from me & goes over to POE queue on other side, gives it to one of the interviewing officers there who stamps it for him, then he hands it over to me.

That was it o, my e-brethren; just 1 or 2 questions from the Agric officers & I was sent on my way! Despite my worries about POE, the only ‘paper’ that was checked was my food list. He is indeed a prayer answering God!

TripleKMama:
TKM Jnr arrived today. 4wks early. To God be all glory! We're doing well. Details later.

Wow congratulations

IyawoToBe:
Hi Feddy, how aree you and LO? Wanted to ask about the tandem nursing. Are you doing it? If you are, how's it going?

Hey dear, we are good o.. my dear, I'm still doin the tandem nursing. It's not so easy but dats hw I can get my sanity. Wen my son screams, it's sometin else. Most times, it's wen he wants to sleep. Normally, if hubby is around, he rocks him to sleep but me, I can't carry a 15kg toddler and start rocking him to sleep, I breastfeed him and 5mins he's fast asleep! I'm at peace and can rest as well

My mum hs quarrelled me tire, it's easier said dan done jare. By the way, I have Enuf milk for both of dem so why worry

I've not been successful weaning him so let him self wean weneva he's ready

So, really, these Dallas people just decided to disturb me for no reason.

TripleKMama:
TKM Jnr arrived today. 4wks early. To God be all glory! We're doing well. Details later.

congratulations darling

XX01:
So, really, these Dallas people just decided to disturb me for no reason.

lol

Thermolady, congratulations! God who has started this good work will perfect it.

I'm waiting to celebrate your testimony with you

I am not sure if this has been discussed in detail but I thought to share this info for those who are considering opening an account with Bank of America.

1. There are 3 checking accounts

A. Core Checking account: minimum balance $1500 OR monthly deposit of at least $250 OR a monthly maintenance fee of $12

B. Interest Checking account: minimum balance $10,000 OR maintenance fee of $25

C. Safe Balance Banking: fixed monthly charge of $4.95 no minimum balance restrictions... only downside is that there is no cheque book for this account AND you can't overdraw (i.e take more than what you have in the account)

After considering all three accounts, especially in this era where dollar is hard to come by, I came to the conclusion that the most convenient for this waka is the safe balance banking as it doesn't require "tying" down money. I went to the bank and opened one.

I honestly didn't think I was going to need to open an account here because I came prepared with a US dollar card from a Nigerian bank and a UK bank card but certain factors necessitated it.

1. I needed to buy dollars from a resident here. Having a US acct makes it more convenient as they can transfer money to you easily. (The other option is for the person to mail a cheque to you... I did that once but it was someone I could trust)... it's easier to get money gifts too if you have a US account

2. I wanted to buy something from one or two stores and tried using my UK bank card but the sites only had US as billing country. I couldn't use any other card on the sites

All you need to open the account is
1. 2forms of ID- I used my international passport and an ATM card
2. A US address (I also gave them my Nigerian Address)

Your account will be ready immediately and you will get a temporary atm card that you can use also immediately. The main card will come in the mail in about 5working days.

Shikena

I hope this helps someone. Sorry for the long post.


Oh and you can open a savings account for your baby with no charges whatsoever!

[quote author=TripleKMama
Congrats TKM. Thank God for safe delivery and healthy babies.

TripleKMama:
TKM Jnr arrived today. 4wks early. To God be all glory! We're doing well. Details later.

Mama TKM. Congrats is in order.

After u ditched me?

MsJanez01:
Please any Feb/ Mar 2017 El Paso Mama in the house that wouldn't mind sharing an apartment to reduce cost... Kindly notify. Looking at staying at eida Chase Suites, Intown Suites, His grace lodge. Gracias

Missionary journey ended. DW & LO returned back to 9ja last week. Thanks to @desoul who helped with the Visa on Arrival processing for my LO. @Chloe7, thanks also for your assistance.

Fyorgyn:

Shikena

I hope this helps someone. Sorry for the long post.


Oh and you can open a savings account for your baby with no charges whatsoever!

A way to avoid maintenance fee is to request for paperless e banking.
You don't pay for any maintenance fee but
You don't receive paper statements and you can't carryout transactions inside the bank...strictly internet and ATM

[quote author=elabogado post=50947988]Yes I have, came in on the 9th through JFK. Will soon write in the spirit of giving back later today. Got favoured all the way to exit

Sorry this is coming later then promised, In the spirit of giving back, came in through JFK on the 9th of November when Clinton was giving her speech.
Part 1 (Travelex)

Got to the airport around 12pm with the mind-set of writing my name/ picking a number go back home or hopefully get within 2 hrs max, go back home and come back with my things for my flight at Night.
Travelex rate for that day 8/11 was 385. Plans changed and was at the airport till the time of my flight, almost got around 4:30pm when the security, a woman pitied my big belle, took me to the front and was explaining to the travelex staff in glasses a lady, na so one woman craze say lailai they will not sell for me before her, see me se wahala o, others begged on my behalf but she stood her ground, the security woman told her I was here before her but when she asked for my nos on the queue, her nos came before mine. The security woman told her I don’t know what I’m saying that am nos 110, after enough pleading by all around and her still insisting on me been served after her, we all left her. (She didn’t get at the end of the day, missed her flight had to paid for flight cancellation, she fought 2 other people to the point of calling one a witch, hustle for dollar was real ).
I was finally able to get 5k around past 7; my things were brought to the airport for me.

N.B: To avoid waiting for so long at travelex, let someone go to the airport early to write your name down, quote the number and name when you get there, you will be attended but make sure it’s at least 4-5 hours before your flight.

Part 2.
BA flight from Lagos to London was fully loaded (fit to fly was asked for at the check in counter), flight wasn’t smooth at all, bad/terrible landing (side eye to British Airways), slept all the way to London. The flight from London to JFK was also fully booked, no extra seat to sleep or stretch your legs but flight was a lot better.

Got to JFK , airport was crowded, scanned passport at self-service, got a printout marked X becos I declared food, joined the POE queue to be interviewed. While on the queue, A CBP official came out of his cubicle to where we were, pointed to an elderly couple and me to follow him. Meanwhile I had only my hand bag and jacket with me, wore a top/jacket which wasn’t buttoned, my pregnancy was very very visible, was the only pregnant woman on my flight. For my mind I was na u dem send abi, you don see belle one con harrass me small abi, okay no problem ooo, na mouth we go take talk am, God dey my side. Had on me $9,850, Notification of intent to the embassy letter and their response, Doctor’s appointment letter, Hospital Bill for self-pay, Business Certificate /stmt of accounts, etc.

After attending to the couple, Americans, he beckoned on me to come over and GOD TOOK OVER,

CBP: Passport please
ME: handed it over
CBP: four right fingers please
ME: Compiled
CBP: right thumb
ME: Complied
CBP: Left fingers please
Me: Complied
CBP: Left Thumb
Me: Complied
The next thing I saw was stamping of passport and Enjoy your stay.
NO QUESTION ASKED/NO DOCUMENTS CHECKED.
Left and came back that he didn’t collect self-service printed copy from me, told me to get my thing that Agric will get it from me.

Went to claim my luggage, a guy helped me to load it on my cart, went to Agric, was asked if I had anything with chicken, I said yes, knorr chicken maggi, he asked me to put my box on the scanner, told him I can’t, he looked at me (saw I was pregnant) and said ohh sorry I got it, came out to help me put my box on the scanner. Only the knorr chicken was taken out.
Na so I waka commot from airport o, checked my passport, was stamped B2 till May 17.

Last year Nov, I was interrogated for almost 30 minutes at the same JFK when I came visiting, how much I paid for visa was even asked by a guy who was I was directed to on my way out after been stamped in. That experience left a sour taste in my mouth and I came prepared for any eventuality, a million and one thing went thru my mind in London when I heard Trump won, but God said don’t worry, have got your back, He is a prayer answering God.

I wish those coming successful/stress free POE

kindly ignore any typo.

Mzchibbs: CAN I PM YOU AM DUE AROUND SAME TIME AS YOU

Update
TKM Jnr doing great. She's taking d lead among her class even tho She's d youngest. I'm also d youngest on dis floor .I tot oyibo dey born super early. On d list I saw while walking d hallway, 38 in 2 places. 40. 41. 43. Ayam d last born!

Anyways, post natal cramps dey hammer me plus pain at op site but in d end, its all worth it. I'll do a breakdown of how I ported to st Mary's et Dr. Fares. Highlights below

TripleKMama:
TKM Jnr arrived today. 4wks early. To God be all glory! We're doing well. Details later.

Wow, congrats. So the dates and others worked? Waiting for d details

semilore12:
@Justwise,lobus,dere5,Austine2020, Omobendel24..thank you so much for your responses. God bless you all.

@lobus, it's the generic response of insufficient ties oh..

Sorry for d denial, bt I think saying 'I don't know' pisses most VO off. He was given a paper at d denial, which had d reason (though generic), ofcourse I don't think they expect him to know d exact reason since he cldnt have read d VO's mind. Bt a beta ans cld have been 'he ws denied ... yrs ago based on section... which shows that he ddnt have ties home. However, he has been working for these num of years with a business(or include anytin he feels is a tie and emphasize y he needs to return to Nigeria)'. (I replaced I with He).

Going forward, I think d lady can re-apply alone, thinking tru all d tins that cld b a tie for her. She can include these as a statement in d comment part of d form too. Bt if asked y she was denied, shldnt say 'I don't know'. Plan ahead and carry all evidences along. Her husband can try to apply after she has gotten her visa. Good luck to her

[quote author=TripleKMama. I'll do a breakdown of how I ported to st Mary's et Dr. Fares. Highlights below
[/quote]

Congrats @tripleKmama, am also in NJ, may likely use Dr Fares if I can't get any cheaper/nearer hospital. Pls I need info concerning the coupon woman, make I order my own. Thanks. Email is graciouspej@gmail.com

TKM, see groove ooooo, u better do and come back jor cos u are over enjoying hope it won't make bills catapult hahaha ha dis oyinbo people are trickish. Pls fast throway ur bills here in case of porting things oooo

lobus:
Missionary journey ended. DW & LO returned back to 9ja last week. Thanks to @desoul who helped with the Visa on Arrival processing for my LO. @Chloe7, thanks also for your assistance.

happy to know that they landed safely...Congratulations once again

TripleKMama:
Update
TKM Jnr doing great.

Congrats Ma'am, she's a blessing.

Congratulations Mama!!!! God bless your LO!

TripleKMama:
TKM Jnr arrived today. 4wks early. To God be all glory! We're doing well. Details later.

Congratulations! God Bless your LO! post=51017783]Congratulations Mama!!!! God bless your LO!
[/quote]

feddy27:
Thermolady, congratulations! God who has started this good work will perfect it.

I'm waiting to celebrate your testimony with you

Amen! I will be back here to testify ijn