sinexworldwide
Registered Users (C)
Thanks for the info, and I wish those that are current best of luck in their Interviews, and for us still waiting, God Dey!
Dv 2007 winners From Nigeria
- Thread starter jrcies
- Start date
Thanks for the info, and I wish those that are current best of luck in their Interviews, and for us still waiting, God Dey!
Modest and Baba Aladura,
Thank you very much for answering my questions. I am so relieved, because I had been in deep thought about the risk, if any, of getting the visa and travelling to another country other than the US. However, with your advise, I can now be rest assured. Many thanks once again!
hi everyone really nice to join this wonderful forum.i made it a point to read all the threads from page one before i signed up.and i just wanna say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to our common cause.
i am also a winner though i have a high case number 23*** i sure do hope higher case numbers will be made current.i just got some info on this page that the current number for the month of may is:12,375.the whole thing is so slow but i hope it will get to us sometime before the FY is over.did i hear someone say Amen?
thanx again for all your contributions.its been helpful.
stann
i am also a winner though i have a high case number 23*** i sure do hope higher case numbers will be made current.i just got some info on this page that the current number for the month of may is:12,375.the whole thing is so slow but i hope it will get to us sometime before the FY is over.did i hear someone say Amen?
thanx again for all your contributions.its been helpful.
stann
FAL_DV2007
Registered Users (C)
Process Timeline
Dear All -
Thank you all for the useful information and insights in this forum
Please I would like information from those who have navigated through the process on the following issues:
1. When can one go to the clinic for medical tests?
2. Are the medical results a requirement for the interviews?
3. Is it possible to have the medical test in the US before coming to Nigeria for interviews?
4. How long does it usually take to get the medical test results?
5. What is the medical test process at the clinic?
6. How long does it take on average to get the visa after a succesful interview?
7. For those coming to Nigeria from the US for a CP, How early should I get to Nigeria?
I currently reside in the US and need the information above to make adequate plans to come home for my interview. Thanks for your help
DV2007AF17****
Minneapolis, United States
Dear All -
Thank you all for the useful information and insights in this forum
Please I would like information from those who have navigated through the process on the following issues:
1. When can one go to the clinic for medical tests?
2. Are the medical results a requirement for the interviews?
3. Is it possible to have the medical test in the US before coming to Nigeria for interviews?
4. How long does it usually take to get the medical test results?
5. What is the medical test process at the clinic?
6. How long does it take on average to get the visa after a succesful interview?
7. For those coming to Nigeria from the US for a CP, How early should I get to Nigeria?
I currently reside in the US and need the information above to make adequate plans to come home for my interview. Thanks for your help
DV2007AF17****
Minneapolis, United States
What To Know About The Country U Are Residing In
Country List | World Factbook Home
The World Factbook
United States
Introduction United States
Background: Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
Geography United States
Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 9,826,630 sq km
land: 9,161,923 sq km
water: 664,707 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area - comparative: about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; almost two and a half times the size of the European Union
Land boundaries: total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28 km
Coastline: 19,924 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)
Irrigated land: 223,850 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development
Environment - current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes
Geography - note: world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent
People United States
Population: 298,444,215 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.4% (male 31,095,847/female 29,715,872)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 100,022,845/female 100,413,484)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 15,542,288/female 21,653,879) (2006 est.)
Median age: total: 36.5 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 37.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.91% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: 14.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 8.26 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.85 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 80.82 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 950,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 14,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic groups: white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2% (2003 est.)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.)
Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)
Languages: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government United States
Country name: conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA
Government type: Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital: name: Washington, DC (capital)
geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W
time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
note: the United States is divided into six time zones
Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994)
Independence: 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system: federal court system based on English common law; each state has its own unique legal system, of which all but one (Louisiana's) is based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held on 4 November 2008)
election results: George W. BUSH reelected president; percent of popular vote - George W. BUSH 50.9%, John KERRY 48.1%, other 1.0%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; 2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held on November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held on November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 233, Republican Party 202
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party; Libertarian Party [William (Bill) Redpath]; Republican Party [Ken MEHLMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag description: 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Economy United States
Economy - overview: The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $43,500. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. The rise in GDP in 2004-06 was undergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity. Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in the Gulf Coast region in August 2005, but had a small impact on overall GDP growth for the year. Soaring oil prices in 2005 and 2006 threatened inflation and unemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through year-end 2006. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $750 billion in 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $12.98 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $13.22 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): $43,500 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 20.4%
services: 78.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 151.4 million (includes unemployed) (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: farming, forestry, and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.9%, managerial, professional, and technical 34.9%, sales and office 25%, other services 16.5%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2006)
Unemployment rate: 4.8% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 45 (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): 16.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.409 trillion
expenditures: $2.66 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Public debt: 64.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products
Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production: 3.979 trillion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 5.6%
nuclear: 20.7%
other: 2.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: 3.717 trillion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports: 22.9 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports: 34.21 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production: 7.61 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: 20.73 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports: 1.048 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: 13.15 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: 22.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production: 531.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 635.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 24.18 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 120.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 5.451 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance: $-862.3 billion (2006 est.)
Exports: $1.024 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities: agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2003)
Exports - partners: Canada 23.4%, Mexico 13.3%, Japan 6.1%, China 4.6%, UK 4.3% (2005)
Imports: $1.869 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities: agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2003)
Imports - partners: Canada 16.9%, China 15%, Mexico 10%, Japan 8.2%, Germany 5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $69.19 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external: $10.04 trillion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)
Currency (code): US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: British pounds per US dollar - 0.5418 (2006), 0.5500 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002); Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.3010 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002); Japanese yen per US dollar - 116.18 (2006) 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003), 125.39 (2002); euros per US dollar - .7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.8860 (2003), 1.0626 (2002); Chinese yuan per US dollar - 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004), 8.2770 (2003), 8.2770 (2002)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications United States
Telephones - main lines in use: 268 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 219.4 million (2005)
Telephone system: general assessment: a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country
international: country code - 1; 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)
Radios: 575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2,218 (2006)
Televisions: 219 million (1997)
Internet country code: .us
Internet hosts: 195.139 million (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7,000 (2002 est.)
Internet users: 205.327 million (2005)
Transportation United States
Airports: 14,858 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5,119
over 3,047 m: 189
2,438 to 3,047 m: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,426
914 to 1,523 m: 2,337
under 914 m: 946 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9,739
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 157
914 to 1,523 m: 1,728
under 914 m: 7,847 (2006)
Heliports: 149 (2006)
Pipelines: petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)
Railways: total: 226,605 km
standard gauge: 226,605 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Roadways: total: 6,430,366 km
paved: 4,165,110 km (including 75,009 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,265,256 km (2005)
Waterways: 41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce)
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2004)
Merchant marine: total: 465 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,590,325 GRT/13,273,133 DWT
by type: barge carrier 7, bulk carrier 67, cargo 91, chemical tanker 20, container 76, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 58, petroleum tanker 76, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 27, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 20
foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Canada 4, Denmark 24, Germany 2, Greece 1, Malaysia 4, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Singapore 2, Sweden 5, Taiwan 1)
registered in other countries: 700 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Australia 3, Bahamas 121, Belize 5, Bermuda 27, Cambodia 8, Canada 2, Cayman Islands 41, Comoros 2, Cyprus 7, Greece 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 21, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 3, Italy 15, North Korea 3, South Korea 7, Liberia 93, Luxembourg 3, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 143, Netherlands 13, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 13, Panama 94, Peru 1, Philippines 8, Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 3, Qatar 1, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 21, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 7, Spain 7, Sweden 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, UK 6, Vanuatu 1, Wallis and Futuna 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals: Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City
note: 13 ports north of New Orleans (South Louisiana Ports) on the Mississippi River handle 290,000,000 tons of cargo annually
Military United States
Military branches: Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard; note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age; 17 years of age with written parental consent (2006)
Manpower available for military service: males age 18-49: 67,742,879
females age 18-49: 67,070,144 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 18-49: 54,609,050
females age 18-49: 54,696,706 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually: males age 18-49: 2,143,873
females age 18-49: 2,036,201 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $518.1 billion (FY04 est.) (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4.06% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues United States
Disputes - international: the U.S. has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; managed maritime boundary disputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 62,643 refugees during FY04/05 including, 10,586 (Somalia), 8,549 (Laos), 6,666 (Russia), 6,479 (Cuba), 3,100 (Haiti), 2,136 (Iran) (2006)
Illicit drugs: world's largest consumer of cocaine, shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of ecstasy and of Mexican heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine; minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007
Country List | World Factbook Home
The World Factbook
United States
Introduction United States
Background: Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
Geography United States
Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 9,826,630 sq km
land: 9,161,923 sq km
water: 664,707 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area - comparative: about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; almost two and a half times the size of the European Union
Land boundaries: total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28 km
Coastline: 19,924 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)
Irrigated land: 223,850 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development
Environment - current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes
Geography - note: world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent
People United States
Population: 298,444,215 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.4% (male 31,095,847/female 29,715,872)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 100,022,845/female 100,413,484)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 15,542,288/female 21,653,879) (2006 est.)
Median age: total: 36.5 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 37.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.91% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: 14.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 8.26 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.85 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 80.82 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 950,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 14,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic groups: white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2% (2003 est.)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.)
Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)
Languages: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government United States
Country name: conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA
Government type: Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital: name: Washington, DC (capital)
geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W
time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
note: the United States is divided into six time zones
Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994)
Independence: 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system: federal court system based on English common law; each state has its own unique legal system, of which all but one (Louisiana's) is based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held on 4 November 2008)
election results: George W. BUSH reelected president; percent of popular vote - George W. BUSH 50.9%, John KERRY 48.1%, other 1.0%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; 2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held on November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held on November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 233, Republican Party 202
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party; Libertarian Party [William (Bill) Redpath]; Republican Party [Ken MEHLMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag description: 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Economy United States
Economy - overview: The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $43,500. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. The rise in GDP in 2004-06 was undergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity. Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in the Gulf Coast region in August 2005, but had a small impact on overall GDP growth for the year. Soaring oil prices in 2005 and 2006 threatened inflation and unemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through year-end 2006. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $750 billion in 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $12.98 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $13.22 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): $43,500 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 20.4%
services: 78.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 151.4 million (includes unemployed) (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: farming, forestry, and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.9%, managerial, professional, and technical 34.9%, sales and office 25%, other services 16.5%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2006)
Unemployment rate: 4.8% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 45 (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): 16.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.409 trillion
expenditures: $2.66 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Public debt: 64.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products
Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production: 3.979 trillion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 5.6%
nuclear: 20.7%
other: 2.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: 3.717 trillion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports: 22.9 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports: 34.21 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production: 7.61 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: 20.73 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports: 1.048 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: 13.15 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: 22.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production: 531.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 635.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 24.18 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 120.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 5.451 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance: $-862.3 billion (2006 est.)
Exports: $1.024 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities: agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2003)
Exports - partners: Canada 23.4%, Mexico 13.3%, Japan 6.1%, China 4.6%, UK 4.3% (2005)
Imports: $1.869 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities: agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2003)
Imports - partners: Canada 16.9%, China 15%, Mexico 10%, Japan 8.2%, Germany 5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $69.19 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external: $10.04 trillion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)
Currency (code): US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: British pounds per US dollar - 0.5418 (2006), 0.5500 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002); Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.3010 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002); Japanese yen per US dollar - 116.18 (2006) 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003), 125.39 (2002); euros per US dollar - .7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.8860 (2003), 1.0626 (2002); Chinese yuan per US dollar - 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004), 8.2770 (2003), 8.2770 (2002)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications United States
Telephones - main lines in use: 268 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 219.4 million (2005)
Telephone system: general assessment: a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country
international: country code - 1; 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)
Radios: 575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2,218 (2006)
Televisions: 219 million (1997)
Internet country code: .us
Internet hosts: 195.139 million (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7,000 (2002 est.)
Internet users: 205.327 million (2005)
Transportation United States
Airports: 14,858 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5,119
over 3,047 m: 189
2,438 to 3,047 m: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,426
914 to 1,523 m: 2,337
under 914 m: 946 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9,739
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 157
914 to 1,523 m: 1,728
under 914 m: 7,847 (2006)
Heliports: 149 (2006)
Pipelines: petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)
Railways: total: 226,605 km
standard gauge: 226,605 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Roadways: total: 6,430,366 km
paved: 4,165,110 km (including 75,009 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,265,256 km (2005)
Waterways: 41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce)
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2004)
Merchant marine: total: 465 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,590,325 GRT/13,273,133 DWT
by type: barge carrier 7, bulk carrier 67, cargo 91, chemical tanker 20, container 76, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 58, petroleum tanker 76, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 27, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 20
foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Canada 4, Denmark 24, Germany 2, Greece 1, Malaysia 4, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Singapore 2, Sweden 5, Taiwan 1)
registered in other countries: 700 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Australia 3, Bahamas 121, Belize 5, Bermuda 27, Cambodia 8, Canada 2, Cayman Islands 41, Comoros 2, Cyprus 7, Greece 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 21, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 3, Italy 15, North Korea 3, South Korea 7, Liberia 93, Luxembourg 3, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 143, Netherlands 13, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 13, Panama 94, Peru 1, Philippines 8, Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 3, Qatar 1, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 21, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 7, Spain 7, Sweden 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, UK 6, Vanuatu 1, Wallis and Futuna 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals: Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City
note: 13 ports north of New Orleans (South Louisiana Ports) on the Mississippi River handle 290,000,000 tons of cargo annually
Military United States
Military branches: Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard; note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age; 17 years of age with written parental consent (2006)
Manpower available for military service: males age 18-49: 67,742,879
females age 18-49: 67,070,144 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 18-49: 54,609,050
females age 18-49: 54,696,706 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually: males age 18-49: 2,143,873
females age 18-49: 2,036,201 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $518.1 billion (FY04 est.) (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4.06% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues United States
Disputes - international: the U.S. has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; managed maritime boundary disputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 62,643 refugees during FY04/05 including, 10,586 (Somalia), 8,549 (Laos), 6,666 (Russia), 6,479 (Cuba), 3,100 (Haiti), 2,136 (Iran) (2006)
Illicit drugs: world's largest consumer of cocaine, shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of ecstasy and of Mexican heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine; minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007
sinexworldwide
Registered Users (C)
Hi,
how's the State? permit me to reliably inform you that you are in a right channel to clear all your questions. Why don't you just take a step by going back to begining of this trend till date, I promise you, you will get more than the answers you expected. All your questions have been answered right in this trend.
Best of Luck.
sinexworldwide
Registered Users (C)
Hi,
how's the State? permit me to reliably inform you that you are in a right channel to clear all your questions. Why don't you just take a step by going back to begining of this trend till date, I promise you, you will get more than the answers you expected. All your questions have been answered right in this trend.
Best of Luck.
Hi everyone,
I have been meaning to write a detailed account of my interview experience for days. I will attempt to describe my experience in the most concise way as possible. The interview process is really no different from what has been described extensively on this forum. The only difference I might say is that no two situations are the same. However, please adhere to the invaluable advice that has been dished out free of charge on this forum. I did adhere to them along and found GOD’s favour that’s why I am writing this account of my interview smiling
By the time I got to the embassy at 6:45am for my 7:00am appointment, it was as if I was late, the embassy was swarming with people. I stood in line until it got to my turn. I had to stand in that very long queue at the embassy gate twice because I failed to open my medical test results and the xray, so one overzealous/glorified security guard made me and many other DV/IV applicants do the queue yet a second time.
Well after all that, I entered the embassy and quickly paid $400 and was given a change of $25. After a while, my number was called shortly before 9:00am and I was asked to submit my papers – WAEC, degree, birth cert and police report. Little did I know that the journey has just begun.
I was the last person to be attended to at about 3:55pm, the embassy was completely deserted, it was as if I was a special case, but while I waited to be called for the interview proper, it gave me a chance to listen to so many cases. On that day, there were about 6 DV cases and many IV cases. Out of the few DV cases, about 3 were rejections/disqualifications – on the basis of insufficient minimum requirements (WAEC grades) or work experience. However, the most touching of all these disqualifications was one guy. He was disqualified because he gave a different town in Ogun State as his place of birth when asked by the consular officer as against Abeokuta which he filled out while entering for the lottery. The lesson here is, please go over what you filled tirelessly so as to acquaint yourself. That scene still haunts me till this day, you can’t imagine spending so much time and money only to be turn down. Nothing could be more traumatic . I I pray that none of us should ever have such an experience.
Did you guys know that, the pictures you uploaded while entering for the lottery is cross checked against every DV winner? Oh yeah, when there is a discrepancy/facial mismatch, that sows the first seeds of doubt on the mind of the consular officer. But in my case, I hadn’t really changed much facially speaking, so I passed test number one.
Anyway, I was asked only three questions:
Which university did you attend?
What did you study?
Please distinguish double entry accounting from single entry accounting
After answering question three, the consular officer told me that it was the best answer she had ever gotten for that question. Well she was friendly and patient. For a while, I forgot I was being interview, it was as if we had both known ourselves from somewhere. She told me, “welcome to America”, and immediately gave me a pick-up slip and asked me to return for my visa after one month.
Well folks, I think I have been able to give you a run down of my experience, I hope it helps someone as I benefited from many postings on this forum. May your DV interview turn out to be successful. Amen!
I have been meaning to write a detailed account of my interview experience for days. I will attempt to describe my experience in the most concise way as possible. The interview process is really no different from what has been described extensively on this forum. The only difference I might say is that no two situations are the same. However, please adhere to the invaluable advice that has been dished out free of charge on this forum. I did adhere to them along and found GOD’s favour that’s why I am writing this account of my interview smiling
By the time I got to the embassy at 6:45am for my 7:00am appointment, it was as if I was late, the embassy was swarming with people. I stood in line until it got to my turn. I had to stand in that very long queue at the embassy gate twice because I failed to open my medical test results and the xray, so one overzealous/glorified security guard made me and many other DV/IV applicants do the queue yet a second time.
Well after all that, I entered the embassy and quickly paid $400 and was given a change of $25. After a while, my number was called shortly before 9:00am and I was asked to submit my papers – WAEC, degree, birth cert and police report. Little did I know that the journey has just begun.
I was the last person to be attended to at about 3:55pm, the embassy was completely deserted, it was as if I was a special case, but while I waited to be called for the interview proper, it gave me a chance to listen to so many cases. On that day, there were about 6 DV cases and many IV cases. Out of the few DV cases, about 3 were rejections/disqualifications – on the basis of insufficient minimum requirements (WAEC grades) or work experience. However, the most touching of all these disqualifications was one guy. He was disqualified because he gave a different town in Ogun State as his place of birth when asked by the consular officer as against Abeokuta which he filled out while entering for the lottery. The lesson here is, please go over what you filled tirelessly so as to acquaint yourself. That scene still haunts me till this day, you can’t imagine spending so much time and money only to be turn down. Nothing could be more traumatic . I I pray that none of us should ever have such an experience.
Did you guys know that, the pictures you uploaded while entering for the lottery is cross checked against every DV winner? Oh yeah, when there is a discrepancy/facial mismatch, that sows the first seeds of doubt on the mind of the consular officer. But in my case, I hadn’t really changed much facially speaking, so I passed test number one.
Anyway, I was asked only three questions:
Which university did you attend?
What did you study?
Please distinguish double entry accounting from single entry accounting
After answering question three, the consular officer told me that it was the best answer she had ever gotten for that question. Well she was friendly and patient. For a while, I forgot I was being interview, it was as if we had both known ourselves from somewhere. She told me, “welcome to America”, and immediately gave me a pick-up slip and asked me to return for my visa after one month.
Well folks, I think I have been able to give you a run down of my experience, I hope it helps someone as I benefited from many postings on this forum. May your DV interview turn out to be successful. Amen!
Last edited by a moderator:
congratz
this is marvelous, look you need to see how happy i am, fortunately, i had a full house in my home when i opened this and i read it to the hearing of every one, they were all happy and jumped for joy, you are blessed, congratz once more
this is marvelous, look you need to see how happy i am, fortunately, i had a full house in my home when i opened this and i read it to the hearing of every one, they were all happy and jumped for joy, you are blessed, congratz once more
Baba Aladura
Registered Users (C)
We thank God
Hi Migo,
We thank God for this wonderful news of answered prayer and dreams come true
.[there are 12 million illegal aliens in the U.S. trying to get this thing].
I wish you more of God's blessings as you move to this land that some people have called "God's own country".
This is a bona fide "washable" event; please call us when you declare surplus
Hi Migo,
We thank God for this wonderful news of answered prayer and dreams come true
.[there are 12 million illegal aliens in the U.S. trying to get this thing].I wish you more of God's blessings as you move to this land that some people have called "God's own country".
This is a bona fide "washable" event; please call us when you declare surplus
sinexworldwide
Registered Users (C)
Migo,
CONGRATS!!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!
doubledroy
Registered Users (C)
Congrats Migo, I'm overyjoy by your testimomy it gives me and many others hope.
I pray for more of this type of testimony.
I pray for more of this type of testimony.
sinexworldwide
Registered Users (C)
Mother's Maiden Name
Hello Everybody,
I just discover the true meaning of "Mother's Maiden Name", what I feel in the forms I sent was my mum's Name not her surname before she got married, I hope this does not affect anything? Or Do I need to mail KCC about the correction?
Very Urgent! ! ! ! ! ! !
Thanks
Hello Everybody,
I just discover the true meaning of "Mother's Maiden Name", what I feel in the forms I sent was my mum's Name not her surname before she got married, I hope this does not affect anything? Or Do I need to mail KCC about the correction?
Very Urgent! ! ! ! ! ! !
Thanks
Congratulation Migo
Wow Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your experience was so touching. I was almost in tears especially for the guy that was rejected based on place of birth. This plp sometimes annoy me, don't they give room for little mistakes!!!! maybe the guy panicked or something.............. I felt so terrible
Anyways to you, I say congratulations and thank you for posting this coz i really learnt alot from this. As soon as i get home today, i'll have to go through my stuff again to be sure about what i filled out.
Finally, I pray that from June, since May's cut's out already, we'll have a good jump
Wow Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your experience was so touching. I was almost in tears especially for the guy that was rejected based on place of birth. This plp sometimes annoy me, don't they give room for little mistakes!!!! maybe the guy panicked or something..............
I felt so terribleAnyways to you, I say congratulations and thank you for posting this coz i really learnt alot from this. As soon as i get home today, i'll have to go through my stuff again to be sure about what i filled out.
Finally, I pray that from June, since May's cut's out already, we'll have a good jump
Migo,
Many congrats on your successful interview. We wish all the best as you begin your 'walk' into the USA. Goodluck.
Doubledroy, how far with your medicals! what are your plans since you haven't recieved your 2nd letter.
An e-mail to the embassy might help or a visit.
Many congrats on your successful interview. We wish all the best as you begin your 'walk' into the USA. Goodluck.
Doubledroy, how far with your medicals! what are your plans since you haven't recieved your 2nd letter.
An e-mail to the embassy might help or a visit.
doubledroy
Registered Users (C)
Congratulations! MIGO & THONIA
Congrats Migo & Thonia,
I really rejoice with you guys. I am deeply touched by the story of that guy from Abeokuta.
Probably i should share this with you guys. Before our interview, my wife and i went to see an immigration consultant just not to leave any stone unturned.
The man simulated some expected questions for us as if we were in the embassy. The first question he asked me in particular was "where are you from?" and i said abeokuta whereas i was born in ibadan but my parents are from abeokuta. You know this tribal belief that you are from your parents states of origin.
The man candidly told me that if i say that at the embassy, then that will be the end of the interview. He further explained that the place of your birth is where you should reckon with and that is the way Americans think. He said i should tell them that i was born in ibadan but my parents are from abeokuta.
That prepared me well enough and you can believe that was the first question they asked. I now know that if i had said otherwise, then i wont be where am today.
So you guys, this a real lesson for us. the question can come in several way e.g where are you from? what is your state of birth? etc.
Above all, trust God and pray that our heads will not refuse good things. Yoruba people will say "Olorun ma jeki Ori tako eniyan". "Modest" please help me interpret this for my fellow country men and women.
We are fine here in atlanta. It is good to let you know that God is still doing wonders.
I love you all and please know that GOD IS WITH YOU ALL in spite of the slow cutt off no.
Please Where are Jerci, Adebayo, Temi and Obinna?
Regrd
WLD
Congrats Migo & Thonia,
I really rejoice with you guys. I am deeply touched by the story of that guy from Abeokuta.
Probably i should share this with you guys. Before our interview, my wife and i went to see an immigration consultant just not to leave any stone unturned.
The man simulated some expected questions for us as if we were in the embassy. The first question he asked me in particular was "where are you from?" and i said abeokuta whereas i was born in ibadan but my parents are from abeokuta. You know this tribal belief that you are from your parents states of origin.
The man candidly told me that if i say that at the embassy, then that will be the end of the interview. He further explained that the place of your birth is where you should reckon with and that is the way Americans think. He said i should tell them that i was born in ibadan but my parents are from abeokuta.
That prepared me well enough and you can believe that was the first question they asked. I now know that if i had said otherwise, then i wont be where am today.
So you guys, this a real lesson for us. the question can come in several way e.g where are you from? what is your state of birth? etc.
Above all, trust God and pray that our heads will not refuse good things. Yoruba people will say "Olorun ma jeki Ori tako eniyan". "Modest" please help me interpret this for my fellow country men and women.
We are fine here in atlanta. It is good to let you know that God is still doing wonders.
I love you all and please know that GOD IS WITH YOU ALL in spite of the slow cutt off no.
Please Where are Jerci, Adebayo, Temi and Obinna?
Regrd
WLD