This was my exact experience at Abuja although it was only my brother in the US. Meanwhile I'm married, i dont know how it is a big deal for two siblings to genuinely study in the US.

Milan25:
I was denied Visa on the 16th of September in Abuja because I said I have a brother and a mother in the United States. I was surprised because I told the Visa Officer I was married but he still denied me the Visa. Please how do I answer better next time as I will be going for my third interview this Month. I thought Marriage is enough proof of ties?

Please Chill, it's false.

Mslynxx:
Good morning all. Pls how true is the USA student visa temporary ban for Nigeria?

I hope u mean the lagos Consulate? Get to obalende last bustop, ask for directions, there are many 4k and 5k Hotels. Note it's just 100naira napep to Walter Carrington.

toluene1234:
Does anyone have an idea of a cheap hotel close to the US embassy. Between the range of 4k and 6k.

Thanks

@Tochillz please post your success transcript na the guy that applied to New Haven University

What a transcript! Praise God. This VO get drama sha,
With all the attitude? Thank God

handoffire:
Hmmmmmm. Where will I start from? God was really involved in my admission process and visa.
I was initially denied by the school I picked (University of Missouri, Columbia). I wrote to the graduate coordinator and asked why I was denied they said my overall Gp was low, so I told them that on the school site it was said that the Gp would be based on the last two years. They said they would review my application again, and behold I was accepted.
My profile
CGPA: 3.01/5
GRE: 303
IELTS: 7.5

The interview(Tuesday Lagos 7.45)

After My thumbprinting I turned to my left to wait for where to be directed to by the CGI because 5 windows were open. As I turned to wait for the CGI a female VO (Young lady, she was quite beautiful she should be in her mid twenties) directly opposite me just gestured with her hand that I should come forward, I was still arranging the other documents from my thumbprinting.

V.O: before I arrive pass me your I-20 ( I guess she saw the Ups envelope with me so she knew I was a student)
ME: okay am coming(while looking for it, she requested my passport since it was in my hand)
VO: Where are you going to (She started typing, I didn't hear her properly)
ME: I didn't get you ma (I moved my ear closer to the glass cos she was speaking Very fast)
VO: She repeated the question
ME: University of Missouri Columbia
VO: What are you going to study?
ME: Mechanical Engineering, sorry Master Mechanical Engineering (I handed her my I-20)(My program was actually Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering but only M.E was written on my I-20)
VO: what have you been doing
ME: I finished my Bsc August 2017, went for my service January to Dec 2018 (cuts in)
VO: How many schools did you apply to?
ME: 5 Schools
VO: Mention them
ME: California State University
VO: She muttered something
ME: ehn, come again ma, ( I put my ear closer to the window)
VO: which of the CSU
ME: oh the one at Fullerton, CSUF
VO: were you admitted?
ME: Yes, am with the admission letter should I bring it out?
VO:No, continue... (as I was mentioning them she was asking and typing)
ME: Southern Illinois University Carbondale(Admit), Missouri(Admit), University of Idaho (Reject), Mississippi State University (Reject)
VO: Did you write any Standardised Test?
ME: Yes (GRE, 303 and IELTS 7.5)
VO: why didn't they give you scholarship, Missouri is a Big school and the test scores are okay
ME: I contacted my supervisor for RA but he said he had no space at this time
VO: I know what an assistantships is, am asking about scholarship, why didn't they give you scholarship with these your test scores? (She was speaking affirmative and authoritatively)
ME: (I didn't reply I was just looking, I didn't know what to say again)
VO: where are your parents?
ME: Nigeria
VO: have you been to the US before
ME: no ma. , I have not had a reason to go
VO: they should have given you at least a scholarship (I was just looking)
VO: what will do after your studies
ME: I will come back to Nigeria and work with an Energy firm
VO: who is your sponsor
ME:My uncle
VO: What does he do?
ME: he is into clearing and forwarding
VO: do you have any financial document
ME: Yes ma (As I was bringing the one page treasury bill paper out, she said no no no)
VO: I need bank statements, about 5 to 6 pages
ME: it's a Nigerian treasury Bill ma of 70M
VO: I need bank statement (She was raising her voice now)
ME: My uncle deposited it last year November so that it would have generated an interest of (V.O cuts in angrily)
VO: shut up!, I said shut up! I need bank statement (She was now typing very fast)
I was just looking on my own speechless( My mind was like he done happen lemme be packing my documents)
VO: (she muttered something but I didn't listen I was just packing and arranging my document inside my file)
She gave me my passport and a white paper while she circled the second part of additional document required
ME: I don't understand ma( I was expecting a blue paper or yellow paper)
VO: Listen, I was talking and you were not listening, listen, listen ( She was speaking like a Boss and somehow angry)
ME: am sorry ma (I dropped my documents and drew closer to the window fixing my gaze on her)
VO: Take this white paper with you and drop it with your passport at the DHL drop off point. You are to include a bank statement or liquid funds that shows $36,783. Liquid funds pls.
ME: Okay ma(I continued putting my documents in my Ups envelope they were spread/scattered on the tile b4)
VO: Please leave this place, go and arrange your file outside, there is a table outside pls( Authoritative and harsh yet somehow polite)
ME:OKAY

Immediately I called my uncle and explained what happened, he told me come immediately, went to the bank and Got his two fixed deposits of 10M and 15M plus his bank statement balance of 1.4M my fee requirement was 13.5M.

I called time2win and asked him if fixed deposit was a liquid fund because the Bank Manager said the F.D was Open Market, I said yes that F.D was accepted but he wasn't too sure if it was a liquid fund. I used it like that anyways submitting the documents the same day.

I was placed on A.P when I checked my status on Tuesday. This afternoon my status changed to ISSUED!

Na God do am oh.
Help me shout 7 hallaluyah to the Most High God!!!

Gbas Gbos gbas

Time2win:


Take your matured mind somewhere else.

wow! *dancing zanku for u* congratulations I can't wait for your transcript

handoffire:
Special Thanks to @Time2win helping me with a mock interview Sunday night. @Fairheart and @faybom you guys are amazing. I love you all. Cheers.

I'm 30

fairheart:
How old are you?

Congratulations

Tochillz:
Visa approved today for 7:45am
No GRE no TOEFEL
It’s God
Thanks to this family..I learnt a lot

I will be posting my transcript later
Please if you are going to University of New Haven
Say hi!

Nice School

fairheart:
I will tell a student to contact you. She is going to the same school!

I only said I served at the ministry of commerce as an account officer. I really appreciate your response

fairheart:
Sounds very good! This will save him when next he reapply. I was particularly interested in the section he cut off. He could have earn the interest of the VO from there too.

Thanks I appreciate, those points are noted. I guess I'm motivated to give it a better shot. I was already thinking funding is the only way

bracelum:


You see what I was saying? If you no share transcript now, you go make everyone believe say na VO fault.

BOLD 1: So, you did not take a leave last year during your application? That was not a good reason and I feel you set a sad impression from that point. You can say stuff like "I couldn't articluate my study plan properly to the VO and I was rejected". A follow-up question might be "So, tell me about your study plan". Then, you can climb the wheel and murder your interview there.

BOLD 2: You nailed your coffin at this point. You should have connected your jobs to this current degree. Something like " I did my NYSC and due to my passion in accounting, I taught high school students basic knowledge on bookkeeping, cashflows etc(don't lie o! Make sure it's true). Thereafter, I secured a job as an Account Manager in Bleep where I prepared annual financial records and performed several accounting functions like X, X and X".

Since your dad is financing the trip, I don't think the funding was a problem.

Also, ignore all those things they told you about applying at 7am bla bla bla. Prepare well for your visa interview and you will nail it even though you do it in the middle of the night.

59,200 is working na, not their fault

Devilcalibour:
the way they sip their coffee annoys me

Tuition $12,900
Living $10,000
Just $22,900 total.

fairheart:
You had a huge opportunity right there! Could you add up the rest of your response to the bolded part of your transcript below? Grand Valley may not offer you admission, but you could get a GA. Don't pay another visa fee yet. By the way, how much if the total cost of the program?

Visa Delayed May16th

Walter Carrington Lagos Consulate. 7am
School: Grand valley state university. (No funding)

Me: Good morning (with a smile)
VO: Pass me your Docs please! (While standing)
Me: passed I20 and passport
VO: You were denied last year? Why apply again??
Me: I got a study leave approval at work
VO: When did u complete undergraduate studies? ( Obviously looking at my ds160 on his system)
Me 2014
VO: afterwards?
Me: I observed my compulsory National youth Service at bla bla bla
VO: afterwards?
Me: I gained employment to work with *** Cinemas ltd in 2017 as an account officer.
VO: *Nods his bald head* so you're going for Msc Accounting?
Me: yes
VO: I can see you're paying some money?
Me: My dad will sponsor my program
VO: What does he do
Me: He is a senior Manager at Zenith bank and also invests in real estate (at this point I was expecting him to at least collect my dad's statement)
VO: Started romancing my passport front n back and eventually returns it with my I20 *you still do not qualify*
Me: Thanks.

He forgot to give me the yellow paper. I got outside even d security me laff say Baba dem no even give u any paper . Some said I shouldn't have booked 7am that the stuff is quota based bla bla bla. I need corrections if I was at fault and if it's due to no funding, ild take my time and refire!

Brown2Green:


You for drop your own transcript too na

Sure, I agree improvement is key.

bracelum:


Baba, all these things na excuses! Just take responsibilities for what happened and improve on your lapses.

Or are you trying to say the VO did not approve anyone that day? No dey talk this thing jare

If you share your transcript now, we may identify some of the lapses (I seriously encourage you to do that so you can avoid a repeat). If to say I no mention that guy error now, he for make everybody believe say the VO was harsh on him.

Haba, the VO clearly stated desperation as his reason for denial. I was also interviewed on May 16th by the Old white VO, these interviews are subjective, he was just acting angry on the said date, maybe I should let you know that all through my interview, he was standing and rushing everything, he only asked me profile based questions like when did I graduate and what I have been doing, which I answered well, the next thing was to return my I20 and passport, he even forgot to give me the yellow paper, to show you how ruthless he was.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but in this particular case I don't think the research issue earned him a deniaI. I have friends who flopped during their interview but were still approved cos of "full funding." Your advice should be noted buh it doesn't guarantee approval

bracelum:


Keep beating around the bush and dribbling yourself. A simple LinkedIn research would tell you that most graduates of this program find their way into the industry even with the "research-focus" of the program.

I'm not here to debate about professional or research programs. I just wanted to tell you that you screwed yourself up and you don't have to accept it because it doesn't change anything.

If your career goal is research, you have to make it very clear to the VO to avoid them second-guessing. You clearly did not do that and you can't blame the VO for denying you.

I think the white old man was in Window 1, that man is so mean, he frowns immediately he sees previously refused applicants nawa!

makaba10:
I was also denied on the 16, by an old white man in window. what window?
And be strategic in your application. I was denied even with tuition scholarship and TA covering about 75% with only a deficit of $8,500 because I have made 3 applications before. The man is claiming that I am desperate to leave.