Hello house,
This is Megiano. For some reason I’m not able to make posts in the forum so I had to take up another ID inorder to share my embassy experience.
2 months ago, my interview was re-scheduled to the 4th of June. My husband, son and I got to Lagos on Saturday the 26th of May so we could do our medical exams (we could not fit it into our work schedules earlier than that, and since the “oyibo’s” had already warned in the notification letter that we should not give up our jobs, sell our houses etc, we decided not to trivialize our work commitments).
We got to Kamorass medics around quarter to ten, and started the process for the medicals. The nurses stationed at the front desk were reluctant to continue the process as they said my International Passport had “an observation” (where the Immigration had endorsed my name change) but after my husband persisted, they went to confirm from the medical director who gave us the go ahead to start the exams after which I’ll make a new passport in my marital name. After the x-rays and blood tests, we were asked to return on 26th June for the physical exams. They said we could present the receipts we were issued as proof that we had commenced our medics on the interview date.
We got to the US embassy around 6am on our appointment date, we met a small crowd there, and lots of touts. One claimed that passpics for immigrant visas required no earrings/neck laces, I had my doubts but I decided to take fresh ones just in case. At quarter to 7, those with immigrant appointments were asked to queue on a line so we could be checked/screened. We went through the first sets of checks, after which my appointment letter was collected, I was handed a yellow slip with nos DV15 and an invoice was issued for me to make payments at the cashier’s cage inside. At the entrance door, everyone was made to take off all jewelry before stepping through the detector door. After which we had a chance to seat down. I sat for a short while and heard my nos called to a cubicle window. Getting there my documents and those of my husband & son were collected, originals and photocopies. The man there reminded me that I’ll need a fresh passport with my marital name, an address in the US, my medic results, and documents from a sponsor. I promised that I’ll bring those ones later and he said I should make my payments at the cashier’s cage. I went and did as I was told, the cashier-some nasty black lady
took the $375, gave me 5 bucks change and a receipt, after which I went to take a seat.
At around 10.40, my nos was called to a cubicle inside. I got up and lo and behold it was time for my interview. At that point in time my husband was trying to get the security guards to regulate the AC’s as the place was pretty cold, coupled with the rain outside. I now signaled him to come get our baby while I faced the interviewer. I said hello she says hi politely and when he approached me the lady asks us both to put our right hands up. She now asks us if we promise to tell the truth in the course of the interview, we nod in the affirmative, she asked if the baby would tell the truth too-I say maybe and we all laughed
. She gives us some forms to sign, tells my husband to sign for our son then asks him to seat down while I remain and the interview starts.
Interviewer: What are your names?
Me: bla bla bla
Interviewer: When were you born?
Me: 4th November ……
Interviewer: Where?
Me: Lagos
Interviewer: Where was your mother born?
Me: Obudu
Interviewer: Did you go to University?
Me: Yes!!!!!!!
Interviewer: What did u study
Me: Business Mgt
Interviewer: When did you graduate?
Me: 2004 but wrote my degree exams 2003
Interviewer nods with understanding…
Interviewer: When did you write your Waec exams?
Me: December 98 and June 96
Interviewer: What subject did you score highest?
Me: Always English
Interviewer: English Literature or English Language?
Me: Both, always a 3
We both smiled conspiratorially at that point
Interviewer: When did you meet your husband?
Me: August 0*
Interviewer: When did you get married?
Me: February 0*
Interviewer: How did you meet?
Me: Quite a story, you want to hear it all?
She nods and then I start narrating…..
Interviewer: When was your baby born?
Me: 12thOct’06
Interviewer: What was your baby’s birth weight?
Me: 2.65kg
Interviewer: Have you got any wedding pictures?
Me: Yep!
I then hand her some, explaining which ones were the registry and which ones were traditional wedding.
Interviewer: Did u do a church wedding?
Me: No, I was expecting a baby but I’ll do subsequently.
Interviewer: How far gone were you during the wedding?
Me: mmmm, like 4 months cos that was April
Interviewer: April??
Me: The traditional marriage yes
(because those were the pics she was holding) but the registry was Feb 14th
Interviewer: valentines Day….
Interviewer: Who is this? (points at picture)
Me: My father-in-law
Interviewer: Who is this? (points at another picture)
Me: My mother-in-law
Interviewer: Any pics of your daughter?
Me: My ‘son’ yes
Interviewer: Sorry, I see a lot of people everyday..
Me: I understand…
Interviewer: Ok
She hands my original documents to me, then told me that since we’ll be going to the US as a family we need a sponsor-I told her we were working on it, she asks when I was told to return for my medic results, I gave her the date, she said she’ll give me a letter to return on any Friday after 13th July with a fresh International Passport, sponsors documents, medic results and an address in the States. I agree, she hands the letter to me, I thank her after which I signal my husband and then we now make our way out of the building. All these took around 10mins. I thank God I’m done with this phase, and can come back to Abj to rest
I hope this helps somebody out there, some day.
For the rest of you, who haven’t been interviewed, just be confident, the truth would always stand every test it’s put through. For those waiting for nos to go current, in a short while it’ll be over and done with and you’ll celebrate.
Bless you all….
