Xclusivemaama:




Here is my full US trip transcript: PART 1

When i decided to use my visa for birthing purposes, my sister inlaw referred me to this thread on nairaland..So i came in here as a novice...i read through the different pages and made my jottings..started scouting for hospitals and got an affordable one in Marietta, Georgia in. September..

Called the hospital, paid my hospital bills and they emailed my receipt to me...Called their gynae clinic and scheduled an appointment with them..went to my hospital in Nigeria in my 31weeks and ran all the necessary test and ultrasound..
Booked my flight with airfrance for the 21st of October..saw on their website that i can get fit to fly from my doctor and was shocked wen i got to the airport that day and im told to go to their port health office for a medical clearance...after ranting and speaking in tongues, i sha went and paid 2k to get the cert..the fit to fly from my doc wasn't even asked for after wasting money..mtsheew!!

My flight to france was rescheduled from 11:05pm to 1:10pm and we finally left naija by 2:15pm..I was the only pregnant woman on board..There was no preferential treatment wotsoever..even when they announced our boarding, they started wit pple travelling wit kids then sky priority passengers..omo na so i get up go join the queue as i was already tired and angry with the whole delay..we sha left, the feeding was horrible..i kept on eating just bread �, drinking plenty water and using the toilet like mad woman. ( I made sure i chosed one of the aisle seat)

PART TWO coming shortly

We landed atlanta and i headed straight to the POE queue...The line was too much but i had to manage and wait for my turn...Connected to the airport wifi and contacted my hubby and host.

(Meanwhile i was praying i meet either the black cbp woman or the black man that looked cheerful and all nice but alas i went to the mean looking white dude cos someone was directing us)

Me: Hi
CBP: Hello, Passport please (barely looking at me)
Me: (in my mind i was like ah i don long matter be dat)
CBP: What are you here for?
Me: Vacation and probably have my baby (dunno if he even hrd the baby part)
CBP: When was the last time you came to the US?
Me: Never been here before, this is actually my first time
CBP: (Now looked up at me) Can i.have your itenarary? Wot do you do
Me: Sure, brought out my ticket and gave to him.. while an answering the second question( im an electrical/electronic engineer works with bla bla bla
CBP: So you are staying till January? (after looking at my ticket)
Me: Yeah i would
CBP: Are you staying with family or friend?
Me: Family
CBP: Were in atlanta?
Me: Marietta
CBP: Okay place you four fingers on ghe scanning machine, then took my pictures and stamps my passport..
Me: I was in shock..wanted to ask him if he even hrd i came to give birth cos he didnt even ask to see my money, or ask for all the plenty correspondence i had inside my bag..I sha received sense and closed my mouth.
CBP: Welcome to America but im sorry since you declared foodstuff i will av to take you for the next process so they can inspect your bag..
He puts my declaration form and passport inside a green file and called someone to take me...

I got to another female office who told me to go get my bags and directed someone to take me to the baggage inspection room...
I got there and met a nice white man..he told me to open my box cos it was padlocked..
He saw my dried leaves and said he was impressed how i neatly packed it wit clear labelling..asked if i av egusi, ogbono etc i told him yes..he looked at my passport and tried pronouncing my name in a funny way..i laughed and help him and told him the english meaning...
He asked if i av a nickname,i told him and and he laughed.. Gave me my passport and asked me to go..
Omo the thing was still like a movie..i took my two bags..got a trolley and rolled it out myself and met up wit my host..
The whole poe experience took like 15mins...Something that gave me sleepless night...wen we landed atlanta,my heart was beating fast.. but it all ended in praise...

I have learnt my lesson, whatever will be will be..Sometimes we panick for nothing..
This was my first time in the US and didnt use my visa for the original intention..

Nairaland really helped me thats why i said i must give back..someone tensed might relax from this..

Currently awaiting my doctors appointment next week and baby's arrival..
**Sorry for the typos..still jetlagged

nefertitiram:


It is now over 10k.

Una well done.

Na wa o, to think that I just returned, seems na we be last batch 2 enjoy the package. Make person begin look elsewhere biko. We have tried Hehehehe

Good evening mamas, I am about applying for dropbox, and I think i should ask here if theres any legal way to avoid bin invited for interview. Can one send all receipts/zero balance letters when sending passport? since i read here that they only want to be sure that we paid our bills.

I applied and got my B1/B2 in January 2016 with my hubby, went for childbirth, paid bills and came back home jejely without overstaying or any illegal drama. The time to travel if invited is really an issue for me, this is why i want to explore options if available.

Bcpump:
Mary land here. But due first week of Feb

@Bcpump. Ok. Am due 1st week in March. Will be using Dr Moore and Holycross. What of you?

Ramj:
A door closes for anothe to open up.
MIHS
Cook
........ its up to you and I to fish them out and always pay our bills.

Hmmmmm Naija mums and dads lets pay our bills

After fishing it out, what next? Bring it to Nairaland so that it can turn to a disaster again?

As usual, Nigerians just have a way of scaring these US hosps. I just taya.

Omodadi2:
Good evening mamas, I am about applying for dropbox, and I think i should ask here if theres any legal way to avoid bin invited for interview. Can one send all receipts/zero balance letters when sending passport? since i read here that they only want to be sure that we paid our bills.

I applied and got my B1/B2 in January 2016 with my hubby, went for childbirth, paid bills and came back home jejely without overstaying or any illegal drama. The time to travel if invited is really an issue for me, this is why i want to explore options if available.

Apply for interview. Not Dropbox. Take these docs with you for the interview.

justwise:


You are looking for insult where there is non, stop your nose picking and creating unnecessary drama here

i actually share the same view with abuleoshi.....if u feel someone wants to be spoon fed Cos the info are readily available here, you can just kindly ignore and reply what u deem fit instead of the “recent noise” some people make here.

Now... it’s the story of putting $5k in a book. Please this is to everyone...if u feel a question is “lazy”’, kindly ignore it...cos to me and probably some other people here, the reply u give at the end is stupid

francmoda:
i actually share the same view with abuleoshi.....if u feel someone wants to be spoon fed Cos the info are readily available here, you can just kindly ignore and reply what u deem fit instead of the “recent noise” some people make here.

Now... it’s the story of putting $5k in a book. Please this is to everyone...if u feel a question is “lazy”’, kindly ignore it...cos to me and probably some other people here, the reply u give at the end is stupid

.. and you are very polite right? Many of you lecturing the rest of us about politeness need their own advice.


This is the post:

Supernaturalone:
Why do you have to be so confused? If you've followed this thread, you'll realise that the advice from even the visa officers on similar scenarios is for your wife to get another visa, for the purpose childbirth, to avoid unnecessary issues at the POE. She should ensure that she does it through an interview, so that she has an opportunity to disclose that intent to them snd provide all relevant information and go with all the necessary paperwork. Oncr this is done, you can purchase your tickets as intended, for the varying durations for you and the family. I wonder, though, how she plans to cope with 2 kids plus one on the way for that duration of time.

What is rude about this post?

hi guys pls lets face more important matters, google o, nairaland o, its all research. dont get too cocky cos u have the answer to someones problem instead be happy that you are a problem solver, that being said pls who knows another cheap program now that stroger is a no go area.

Pls,hlp me tell dem oooo,cos i don’t blive a sane person that wants to spend huge amount on this journey won’t make any research bfor coming on NL.
Even if u spoon feed the person til she gets her ticket u won’t b dere at the POE when the CBP is asking her questions.
I know how much av spend on call card since i started doin my own research and it doesn’t stil mean if u ask me for hlp i won’t do.
Some pple av benefited from reading alone and most of dose pple won’t even come bck to share but let us understand that we are not the same.
Some Jst ask dose question to make clarifications not dat dey r actually lazy.
My own view thou
NB :if I PM or mail for u some info and u decided not to reply am not angry,u only gave me more strength to do my research.
May God hlp us all.

Omodadi2:
Good evening mamas, I am about applying for dropbox, and I think i should ask here if theres any legal way to avoid bin invited for interview. Can one send all receipts/zero balance letters when sending passport? since i read here that they only want to be sure that we paid our bills.

I applied and got my B1/B2 in January 2016 with my hubby, went for childbirth, paid bills and came back home jejely without overstaying or any illegal drama. The time to travel if invited is really an issue for me, this is why i want to explore options if available.

i applied for Dropbox, got the Visa a week after with no interview. however i am going with all my documents for any POE interview. wish u all the best.

regards

They collect only four documents when you do drop box.
- Passport with expired visa
- DS- 160 form
- Letter of interview waiver
- GTB teller

I think you should make up your mind on what you want to do, either apply for an interview or do the dropbox and if they are not satisfied they will call you in for an interview, this you have no power over. As long as all bills were paid for i think you are good.
quote author=Omodadi2 post=61738164]Good evening mamas, I am about applying for dropbox, and I think i should ask here if theres any legal way to avoid bin invited for interview. Can one send all receipts/zero balance letters when sending passport? since i read here that they only want to be sure that we paid our bills.

I applied and got my B1/B2 in January 2016 with my hubby, went for childbirth, paid bills and came back home jejely without overstaying or any illegal drama. The time to travel if invited is really an issue for me, this is why i want to explore options if available.

[/quote]

baslone:


The funny thing is I have gone through the process before, too bad I am quite forgetful on details hence my question.

That said. . . .

Same doctor Dr Emmanuel Soyoola- bill now $3,150(Labs, Ultrasound, Prenatal office visits, Vaginal delivery)

Made payment of $3,600 to Eastside Medical Center(waiting for final bill-possibly by tomorrow),

Epidural $950(Totalis $1,950 but discounted if prepaid),

Pediatrician $600 for 2 days hospital stay.

For Visa transcript, See below the post I shared Jan 10th 2015 on the locked thread!

hi hi,
Please is it possible you can give me an email or phone number(of the Hosp & Doctor) to liaise with so i get a bill specific to my case?

Ramj:


Not soo good news coming out of our beloved. Rather once beloved CCHHS.

But this i know, one door closes another will opwn .

All shall be well.

Oh dear lucky u guys that enjoyed it....I started reading this thread before I got married.Now pregnant I say make I also consider the hospital now see d result.
On to d next one. I read on this thread that mark zukerberge hospital in san francisco offer similar bill (4000 inclusive of doc, hospital pediatric, epidural etc) but accommodation might be difficult.

Oya mama and papa lets start our research and dont fail to share info

Thanks

Tripletmom:
Pls,hlp me tell dem oooo,cos i don’t blive a sane person that wants to spend huge amount on this journey won’t make any research bfor coming on NL.
Even if u spoon feed the person til she gets her ticket u won’t b dere at the POE when the CBP is asking her questions.
I know how much av spend on call card since i started doin my own research and it doesn’t stil mean if u ask me for hlp i won’t do.
Some pple av benefited from reading alone and most of dose pple won’t even come bck to share but let us understand that we are not the same.
Some Jst ask dose question to make clarifications not dat dey r actually lazy.
My own view thou
NB :if I PM or mail for u some info and u decided not to reply am not angry,u only gave me more strength to do my research.
May God hlp us all.

Nice thought.

justwise:
[/b]

.. and you are very polite right? Many of you lecturing the rest of us about politeness need their own advice.


This is the post:

What is rude about this post?

speechless...Hw was ur day?

pls justwise and inhouse pple make una helep me o




quote author=isaleko post=61711656]I am assuming this post is about me hence let me explain well. I requested for my itemized bill and saw quite a few things eggs NICU, knee cap socks ( I was billed twice) and others. my docs adoing manager even highlighted them and said she wld compare with my docs notes. so while all this was going I left for naira. I kept calling and ND calling even emailed. it was either the person at the hospital wasn't on seat or she was at another location. I hoped they would send letters but they didn't. so since we had the money sitting there in the US I called the hospital and said look into have 7k this are the issues with my bill. they said no they want give a discount I sold pay up and when next I am in the US I sold write a letter bring it in and they can look into it which is fair. so I paid the 7k. the 1500 balance I wld pay this Wednesday as I have transfered it to my boat just waiting for it to reflect. my worry is I dropped my app last Friday, if they call me for an interview with they ask questions like you did I just pay up and all. like every normal person was just worried that's all. but I didn't intend to run or not pay. I think I still have some emails from Feb or March asking the Dr's assistant about my bill. so that's my story.





[/quote]

beautyuche:



Oh dear lucky u guys that enjoyed it....I started reading this thread before I got married.Now pregnant I say make I also consider the hospital now see d result.
On to d next one. I read on this thread that mark zukerberge hospital in san francisco offer similar bill (4000 inclusive of doc, hospital pediatric, epidural etc) but accommodation might be difficult.

Oya mama and papa lets start our research and dont fail to share info

Thanks

It’s the accommodation and cost of living in the SF Bay Area that will make you run

Der House,
Kindly advice, I am a new visa applicant.I made a mistake on my appointment schedule page.I mistakenly clicked on previously issued a B1/B2 visa which automatically took me to drop box and I confirmed drop box.Now, I tried to reuse my receipt voucher and it says invalid.I can’t do a Dropbox because I have never been issued a visa before. What do you advice I do so that I can get an appointment date for my visa interview.
Thanks

POC it's not only Nigerians that travel to the US to give birth, I met a lady from Philippines who also travelled all the way for dual citizenship for her son and there are many others. Besides just because they increased there bill does not mean Nigerians have done something bad.

nefertitiram:


After fishing it out, what next? Bring it to Nairaland so that it can turn to a disaster again?

As usual, Nigerians just have a way of scaring these US hosps. I just taya.

dupe007:
POC it's not only Nigerians that travel to the US to give birth, I met a lady from Philippines who also travelled all the way for dual citizenship for her son and there are many others. Besides just because they increased there bill does not mean Nigerians have done something bad.

You cannot understand. Trust me

I can authoritatively tell you the price was reviewed to discourage Nigerians.
There is hardly space in the L and D ward. You cannot get an appt, agents flooded there with their clients. The workers could barely breathe. It became a disaster. If you know my moniker you will know you are in no position to correct me regarding this issue.