omoobaadeNGR:
I know the retired CO who said what you referred to. But it's not to say that no documents won't be checked. The problem with many people is that they follow the rules to the letter without taking exceptions where neccessary (even in situations where the originators of the rule would gladly take exceptions).

uzmu:
Please I'm still waiting for response as regards my sevis fee payment .visa interview is nextweek.

omoobaadeNGR:
Nothing special about the school name... It's in Michigan and very strong in Mechanical Engineering...I originally wanted to apply to University of Michigan

omoobaadeNGR:
Here is my Interview transcript with the Consular Officer (CO) on 31/12/2018

CO: Good morning
Me: Good morning

CO: Your passport please
Me: Hands over the passport

CO: Why are you traveling?
Me: Going for my PhD at bla bla university

CO: Let me have your I-20
Me: Here it is (handing over the form)

CO: (Checks form and types) Sorry what major is this for?
Me: Mech*********

CO: Checks form I-20 again and says ok. How did you hear about this school?
Me: I first came across the school on the day I took my GRE test. I was trying to send my score to a particular school that is very popular in the state, but the schools name won't come up only this school coming up

CO: (CUTS IN) So you applied to this school because you couldn't find the school you wanted to apply to on GRE?
Me: (continued) No, I then went on to do more research on the school and discovered that they have a very solid program in my intended field of study. And this convinced me to apply in the long run

CO: Most students going for PhD study get some form of funding but you don't have
Me: The university is not funding me now because I am starting during the Spring semester when there is usually shortage of funding. But I have spoken with many faculty members who have promised to fund me starting from the Fall term.

CO: I can't see that here (looking at the I-20)
Me: (In my mind, this one dey craze, I-20 be promisory note?)

CO: How many school did you apply to?
Me: 3.

CO: Which schools and how many admitted you?
Me: Named them, A declined me, B put me on waitlist

CO: Why don't you wait for decision from B?
Me: I want to rap up my program as fast as possible and willing to pay before I get funding ...

CO: Who is your sponsor?
Me: My aunts

CO: Your aunt what does she do?
Me Aunts, they are two. I told her what they do and was trying to bring out account statements and Fixed deposit certificate

CO: Ok two of them, (she gave one kind of smile) keep your documents, sir
Me: Yes

VO: What would you say is your occupation now?
Me: (Trying to explain) I just started a firm and I have the registration certificate here.

CO: Don't worry. Please sir keep your documents.
Me: Packed all my documents together and maintained my calm.

VO: What do you do in your firm?
Me: XXXXXXX, XXXXXX, XXXXX

CO: So what is your occupation now?
Me: (I filled in Research as primary occupation on my DS160) Well, I was a researcher, But NOW I would say I'm a xxxxxxx (what I majorly do in my firm now)

CO: How much do you earn monthly?
Me: (This is where I think I messed up it a bit, I went to undersell myself. I was earning well over N1m as a researcher in Europe before deciding to come home and fully start my firm after securing an admission. My plan is to get it running and it can keep running while I am away in the US. Revenue should start flowing in only between January and March 2019) I was working as a reseacher in XXXXX University (Europe) before and I was earning...

CO: (Cuts in) Sir, how much IS your monthly income NOW? I am not checking your documents
Me: I said about N300,000 (this is where messed up here, I should have said about N1 m. I discovered she was[b] trying to guide[/b] me by saying I am not checking your documents, but it was too late) which I have placed myself on for about 4 months since I came back home.

CO: Are you married?
Me: No

CO: Do you have any kids?
Me: No

CO: Did you write any Test?
Me: Yes, I wrote GRE (3**), TOEFL (1**)
CO: Types for some moments. Sorry. Sir, I won't be issuing you a visa now, you aren't eligible for a non-immigrant visa at this time. (Hands over blue paper)
Me: (Very unexpected) I asked why is this so? This is weird.

VO: Sorry I can't go into details right now. Please go through the paper.
Me: This is strange. (Walks away) .

Notes
Rejection was based on Section 214(b), which is all about not showing strong tie to the home country. This is totally not true in my case because the CO was not allowing me to prove that I have a strong tie to Nigeria, possibly because she doesn't believe I have assets in Nigeria worth coming back for. I have over 1 acre of land in one location outside Lagos, about 2 Plots in a prime location in Lagos and some other valuable assets and investments that I can't jeopardize. I guess she thought I was going to get married in the US, she na white girl I never see for Europe?

sheke01:


Why hide the name of the school you intend to attend? Am astonished. Why hide vital information people could learn from and apply to same school and freely give out personal information like your salary in Europe, your current salary and all your assets that won't help anyone here.

In my opinion, this isn't how we do here but I guess it's non of my business

TheZed:
The reason most of us including you are here is to learn one or two things-Not quite long you were seeking for information.

From people’s transcript some of us have learnt about schools that gives scholarships, schools that don’t give, schools to avoid and so on. Maybe you’re hiding the name so as to make funding less competitive for you (it’s just an assumption, I may be wrong). I just want you to know that what is meant for you will always be for you, nobody can take it away.

TheZed:
The reason most of us including you are here is to learn one or two things-Not quite long you were seeking for information.

From people’s transcript some of us have learnt about schools that gives scholarships, schools that don’t give, schools to avoid and so on. Maybe you’re hiding the name so as to make funding less competitive for you (it’s just an assumption, I may be wrong). I just want you to know that what is meant for you will always be for you, nobody can take it away.

slamcole:
Happy new year guys. I pray this new year ushers in plenty of white papers for admitted spring students and prospective fall applicants.

I'm one of those who joined this thread half-way to prepare for my interview and I'm must say this thread was of great help to me as I was able to develop a concise transcript for my interview.

Got my visa in the early days of December last year and my departure is just few days from now.

So my advice to prospective applicants is
1. Do your homework in identifying credible and above average schools to apply to.
2. Sit for neccesary tests even if not required by school. This present your case as a serious student to the VO
3. It doesn't matter the number of schools you applied to, because even submitting your application to plenty schools amounts to a waste of money when such funds could've been used for other expenses.
4. If funding is your priority, then be rest assured that you'll be supported by the school you're applying to prior to submitting your application.
5.Work on your SOP and get very strong recommendations from people who have a sound knowledge about you.
6.Pray very very very hard.

P. S: If anyone still has upcoming interview, I'll be available to set up a mock with such person. This is my only way of giving back to this thread. I'll also be reposting my transcript as well.

Have a wonderful celebration.

jerrypeacelinks:
Good evening all.

I applied for expedient appointment yesterday after my turn back on the 27/12/2018 and the next available date was tomorrow 2/1/2019. So far I am yet to get a response from the embassy to this regard.

Please how do I know when it's approved or not? Will they send a mail to my email or appointment dashboard? My last denial was December 2017 and school resumes 8/1/2019 but permitted me to come in before classes begin on the 14/1/2019 hence my application for expedient.

jerrypeacelinks:
Good evening all.

I applied for expedient appointment yesterday after my turn back on the 27/12/2018 and the next available date was tomorrow 2/1/2019. So far I am yet to get a response from the embassy to this regard.

Please how do I know when it's approved or not? Will they send a mail to my email or appointment dashboard? My last denial was December 2017 and school resumes 8/1/2019 but permitted me to come in before classes begin on the 14/1/2019 hence my application for expedient.

omoobaadeNGR:
The information I have given about the school is too much for any serious intending scholar to decipher the school. If I was searching for U of Michigan and the school in question came up and it's very strong in Mech.

slamcole:
Happy new year guys. I pray this new year ushers in plenty of white papers for admitted spring students and prospective fall applicants.

I'm one of those who joined this thread half-way to prepare for my interview and I'm must say this thread was of great help to me as I was able to develop a concise transcript for my interview.

Got my visa in the early days of December last year and my departure is just few days from now.

So my advice to prospective applicants is
1. Do your homework in identifying credible and above average schools to apply to.
2. Sit for neccesary tests even if not required by school. This present your case as a serious student to the
Have a wonderful celebration.

Wizzyosi11:
[b][/b] PLEASE GURUS IN THE HOUSE, I NEED CLARIFICATIONS

IF YOUR SPONSOR IS YOUR AUNT (AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WITH BANK STATEMENTS IN USD), DOES THIS REDUCE UR CHANCES OF VISA APPROVAL (OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL), LIKE VO THINKING YOU INTEND IMMIGRATING

In Summary, how do VO's react when they notice you have 2nd degree relatives in the US

Solonzo17:
am still open to this help edakun

Ubah1:


Yeah I get you but it's best to present documents only when asked. Atimes its not bad to follow rules as far as you get what you want, oversmartness can destroy things most times. As for your case, let me ask you... how will the V.O verify the document you were about to present since they don't have much time left with them. The only means for them to verify all funding related issues is via your i20/Bank Statement. Any other document can be faked. So i guess that's why she said no need for the document you were about to present. Please let the school include such info on your i20 as remark. There is a space for that on your i20.

Bunmip:
Can gurus on this platform help with some answers to this question?
Thank you

Obviously,you can use your aunt's bank statement as long as it is genuine.However,your tie to your aunty or any second degree relatives in the US depends on family history..
The VO may ask questions like how your aunty get into the US,what does she do....like if your aunty went to study and didn't return that's a red flag.
You need to sit down to ask your aunty questions in this realm that can be envisaged during interview.

whandeykoal:
Please is it true that the American embassy is on an indefinite strike?

Oegbeyem1:

Bro, my resumption date is 7th, my interview is 14th. I have late arrival letter for 28th. I plan to tell the VO about this immediately they ask for my i20. What do you think?

Vasilias:
Hi, please what is a Father-in-law's relationship in filling DS-160, is it Parent or Others......

omoobaadeNGR:

You couldn't have seen 2/1/2019 as the next available date yesterday. You application for emergency appointment would be reviewed within 2 business days, so you have to wait until Thursday Friday before you get a decision. After that they will notify you to book a date on your own if you're approved.

homirefacuny:


YYou will get a mail as to the decision!!!

jerrypeacelinks:


Thank you Sir for your response. However, when I was bout writing my reason for booking an expedient, the next available date that popped up was 1/2/2019. This is exactly how they wrote it and mind u, they usually put month first before date.

That's what I saw. Never knew an argument would come up, would have done a screenshot yesterday.

jerrypeacelinks:


Thank you Sir for your response. However, when I was bout writing my reason for booking an expedient, the next available date that popped up was 1/2/2019. This is exactly how they wrote it and mind u, they usually put month first before date.

That's what I saw. Never knew an argument would come up, would have done a screenshot yesterday.

omoobaadeNGR:

Ok I understand your point. The next available spot would have been 2nd January (since 1st is public holiday) if you got approved for emergency appointment instantly when you requested. However, approval would now likely come anytime between Wednesday and Thursday. You will then be able to choose a date after the day your approval comes as your interview date.

Ubah1:


It might come 2nd Jan if he has already done it