USA Embassy Lagos
Date: Tue, 15 June 2021
Time: 8:30 am
Status: Approved
I was somewhat nervous but put on a brave, Got a Caucasian Female VO
Me: (smiling) Good morning Ma
VO: Pass me your passport and I-20.
Me: Handed over my I-20 and passport
VO: How many universities did you apply and what are they
Me: Three. Old Dominion university, Penn State and Norfolk state university
VO : Accepted by ?
Me: I was accepted by ODU and Norfolk
VO: Why did you chose ODU ?
Me: I opted for ODU because it has an excellent Computer Science program with an accomplished faculty. They also offered me an assistantship.
VO: Who is funding for your education?
Me: I got an assistantship with xxx monthly stipends. I will also be supported by my father and obtained a bank loan as well
VO: How much loan you are going to get
Me: xxxxx Naira
She kept typing on her system for over a minute
VO : Have you been to the USA before
Me: No
VO: Have you visited any other country in the last two years
Me: No
VO: (HANDS ME THE WHITE PAPER and i20) I will be approving your visa. Take your i20 along with you. It will be needed at the Port of Entry in the USA.
Me: Thank you
Status: APPROVED
School: University of Houston (COMPUTER SCIENCE MASTERS)
Date: 20th July, 2021
Embassy: ABUJA (Counter 6)
Visa Interview Experience:
ME: Good Morning Sir.
VO: Good Morning, How are you?
ME: I’m good. How are you?
VO: Please hand over your passport and i20
ME: (I DID)
VO: I’m good. So have you been to USA before? (Was expecting this question for sure.)
ME: Yes sir, way back in 2015 for a holiday
VO: Did you go with your parents? Has the Visa expired? When did it expire, if yes?
ME: Yes sir. I went with my parents and the visa expired a while ago. I don't quite remember the specific date.
VO: So you will be pursuing Masters in US?
ME: Yes sir.
VO: Okay, who are your sponsors? What do they do?
ME: My parents are my sponsors and I obtained a loan from Mpower financing. (I indicated the amount)
VO: What is your dad’s income and how much are the savings?
ME: My dad’s income is 15 million a year. My mum makes 3 million per annum.
VO: When did you graduate?
ME: I finished in 2019
VO: Have you written GRE or any other exam? If yes, what’s your score?
ME: Yes sir I have, 320.
VO: Do you have your loan sanction letter, may I see it?
ME: Yeah (passed the document.)
VO: Are you waiting for any other admits/decisions?
ME: No sir, I applied to 6 and received admits from all the 6 universities.
VO: So Houston is your first preference right, what was your second preference?
ME: RIT was my second preference sir.
VO: Wow RIT? That’s a good one, why not that?
ME: RIT does have a better reputation, but I couldn’t receive any financial aid i.e. scholarship so had to look at all options and hence Houston was best fit.
VO: How much is RIT’s 1st year fee? (Was shocked that this was asked too.)
ME: Sir it’s roughly around 48K dollars for the 1st year.
(Types something for 20 seconds)
VO: Visa Approved, good (yeah that’s what I heard, couldn’t hear what he said at all)
ME: I’m sorry sir I couldn’t hear you.
VO: (Looks straight into my eyes) your visa is approved sir, good luck.
ME: Thank you so much, have a good day sir.
(Handed me the I-20 and took the passport)