As a visa officer, what do you wish applicants knew? by Kathryn Berck https://www.quora.com/As-a-visa-officer-what-do-you-wish-applicants-knew/answer/Kathryn-Berck-3?share=14b0004e&srid=bo8y

This might be useful to someone

Check emirates. Use promotion code NGSTU18. you might be lucky. Houston might be one of the states benefiting from the promo.

YoungTesla:
Somebody help me i’m flying to Texas and I’ve been surfing the internet persistently for the past few days in search of an affordable flight fare, all efforts have proved abortive oh, na like 700k or thereabout I dey see ,for Lagos(LOS) to Houston(IAH).

I no understand cos someone flew to the same location last April for 350k, is there a way I can tweak this to get a cheaper price? Thanks.

Is anybody in Iowa or going to Iowa on nairaland?

haywhizzy21:
When u felt u were at your best ,your visa wasnt guven, such is life.GRACE# congrat dear...

Thank you

LagosismyHome:


Congrats ...May God bless your new journey

thank you very much. Amen

This forum has helped me a lot, so I would like to give back. If anybody thinks I can be of help, he/she should not hesitate to ask.

If you say so

Ijebuboy525:

Their might be issue with some of the documents you submitted that leads to denial

Second intervew was on 21st of july Saturday. After telling myself for days that they won't give me this visa because nothing has really changed, I was a reckless unprepared mess.

I was directed to the man in window 3. He approved the 2 people in front of me.

Vo: (with a smile) good morning
Me: (with a smile) good morning sir.
Vo: how are you today?
Me: I'm fine thank you.
Vo: pass me your documents
(I did)
So what are you going to study? (typing)
Me: I'm going to study a masters in electrical engineering from Iowa State University with a specialization in Controls and systems.

Vo: are you married?
Me: no

Vo: have you ever travelled outside the country before
Me: (thinking aye mi temi bami) no

Vo: why this course? ( he started typing furiously)
Me: (my speech wasn't as confident as the first interview) I had my undergraduate degree in electrical and electronic engineering and I had my project on the development of ... Since then I have built up an interest in systems. Also after studies, I've been taking online courses that have better increased my knowledge on them. After my masters, I will like to work in a research and development department of productions companies like shell, Procter and gamble. Making ground breaking researches for the better optimization of their systems to increase productivity of the company.
Vo: still typing (he nodded)
He typed typed typed.
Vo: so who will be sponsoring you?
Me:my father and my maternal uncle
Vo: let me have their statements
Me: (handing them over) please note that I had a fixed deposit prior to this and now it has matured. Hence the discrepancies.
He nodded
He perused the statements
Started typing again. For minutes.

Vo: your visa is approved. .....handing me white paper.
Me: thank you very much
Vo: you're welcome. Have a nice day.
I won't lie guys. My speech wasnt as good as I posted. I was really affected by the mindset I brought to the interview. I don't know my saving grace maybe the but I thank the VO that believed in me

First interview was on the 20th.of june

I was Interviewed by the pretty light skinned black American lady at window 8, the cubicle. I was the second person on her queue. The first person was denied. To be very honest, he wasn't well prepared for the interview. I was of course confident and smiling.
I can't remember all detail but I'll try as much as possible to be as accurate as I can be.

Me: Good morning MA (with a smile)
Vo: (no reply) pass me your i20 and passport please.
(I passed it. )Thank you.

Vo: so why masters degree
Me: My long term goals is to work at a research and development department of companies like shell .....
Vo: (cuts me off) OK... That's ok, let's move on, we don't have all day.

Vo: Did you take any test
Me: yes, I did. Gre and toefl
Vo: let me see the gre. Just the score page
(I handed it over. She checked and typed something and returned it )

Vo: How many schools did you apply to?
Me: 6

Vo: why this particular school.
Me: Iowa State University is a research I university therefore it allows me the opportunity to participate in pioneering research. Also, I am particularly interested in the works of Dr Alexander Stoytchev whose Strategic Research Area in Data Decisions Network and Autonomy not only encompasses the application of major in Controls and Systems, it also takes into consideration my minor and the online courses I have been taking.

Vo: What's your educational background?
Me: I had my BSc in Electrical engineering from the university of Ibadan 2015

Vo: what have you been doing since then?
Me: I had my Nysc from 2016 to....
Vo: (cuts me short...) So anything apart from NYSC
Me: yes.... I've been taking some online courses to better prepare me for graduate school
Vo: name them
Me: Artificial intelligence, control of mobile robots, computer vision, machine learning, python

Vo: What are your core courses and how are they related to your field of interest .
Me: Controls and systems have to do with the control, analysis, design, synthesis and optimization of systems. I'll be taking core courses like linear systems, non linear systems, optimal controls, Introduction to robust control, systems analysis design which are all courses tailored to teach me how to build systems, how to control a system, how to make it more efficient and how to make it work on itself.

Vo: who is your sponsor
Me: my father and my maternal uncle
Vo let me have the stamements
(I handed them over. )
But these statements are old.
(She typed on her systems for a while. )
Have you ever traveled before
Me: no
Vo: brings out a white paper and gave Me instructions to submit current statements.
At that point, I was happy I looked back and someone said Congrats and I replied. Only for the woman to say: why are you happy? I have not given you the visa don't get happy yet.

What are your sponsors names
I state my father's name
Then while stating my uncles name, I glanced at his statement to check his official middle name.
Vo:so you don't know your Uncle's name. Blah blah.
Me: no ma. I was actually checking his middle name (smiling)
Anyway I got my white administrative processing paper and I got home only to wake up at 12 noon to a refusal mail

sunshineluv5:
wow i remember you the girl that was issued a white paper but later denied that same day congrats!! sweedy indeed your God is not dead.

Thank you very much. God was indeed with me

Ekebs:
Lagos or Abuja?

Lagos

Visa approved today. Was denied on 20th June. Transcripts of both interviews soon.

Good afternoon house

Can someone who has been refused a UK tier 4 visa based on credibility reapply?

Guys. I finally got a mail today to get my passport. My status is still refused.

When is the next available date in Lagos?

Guys.

Thank you. I will

Walspring:


No need to worry at all, follow their instruction

Sorry about that. What window?

Chiomlucy1:
Visa denied yesterday 20th June
I was interviewed by the black American woman.
Vo:I can see you are already working,where do you work and As what
Me:Telecommunications and as A relationship manager
Vo:I don't see how the course you are going for is in line with what you are doing[Speech Communications and Rhetoric]
Me:i was actually admitted into professional communication studies but that is the code the school uses for the course
Vo:what was your highest level of education
Me:B.sc Mass communication
Vo:Who is your sponsor's
Me:my mum
Vo:what does she do
Me:into vegetable oil production and distribution
Vo:Married
Me:No
Vo:kids
Me:No
Vo:Engaged
Me:No
Sorry you are not qualified for visa bla bla

After crying I called the school and explained what I went through to them, they sent me a letter addressing the embassy that what I applied for and got admitted into is Professional communication studies and not speech communication and rhetoric as stated on the i20.They also explained that the CIP code that has been approved by indiana higher learning commission is what I have on my i20 but for Sevis purposes the major comes up as Speech and Communications Rhetoric.

I'm really heart broken

I applied February and they've not gotten back to me

SOLACE1206:









I think admission deadline is over...

Automation and computer engineering

SOLACE1206:








Which course ??

I applied to th6e university of Siena since February and i have not heard from them since. The internationalplace lady does not reply mails. What can i do pls

Abuja peeps, i hear there is no 6 months ban on refusal

People refused visa, have you been able to reapply?

Nothing to lose. Ill do that. Thanks

LagosismyHome:


Maybe you follow her instruction and mail what she asked

I still don't understand how a statement from April end led to these issues. I thought statementsare supposed to be valid3 for 6 months.

Guys, learn from my mistakes.

Please update me on any change. Thanks

jandedfelloh:
Please Gurus, I was interviewed today by 6.30. they took my statement of account and gave me white paper and placed me on administrative Processing. This afternoon, After I saw Rkay's post.I logged in and saw Refused. I don't even know what next to do.

Thank you very much.

cseejhay:


In situations such as this...it’s best to obey that Godly voice in your head. Do not be negative. Mistakes happen, though the likelihood of such costly mistake by a consulate is low, still they can also make mistakes; the VO, the computers, etc. So, just assume there is a malfunction with their system and follow the instructions on your white paper. Ignore any negative energy right now and provide the requested documents ASAP as it doesn’t hurt in any way to do that. I’m with you in prayers. God bless your good heart wishes!

It waqs never in admin processing. Thanks for th6e responses though.

Ubah1:


Yes. But you have already received another mail about refusal and your passport is with you. Once your application change from administrative processing to refusal, you need to start a fresh application and pay another visa fee. Unless otherwise, but this is normally the process

Mine asked for additional info

jandedfelloh:

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING

I'm just quite confused. The lady gave me a white paper and asked for additional info. One hour later I checked my status and its refused.

Ubah1:


That's a refusal. You need to reapply. If its administrative processing, it will be written as that.

But the refusal said i was supposed to follow the instructions on the paper.

Ubah1:


That's a refusal. You need to reapply. If its administrative processing, it will be written as that.

Was your paper maeked admin process or additional information needed?

jandedfelloh:


I just checked mine too. Refused. I was interviewd today. They took my statement of account gave me a white paper. all my documents are genuine. I'm heartbroken