NewStats: 3,261,921 , 8,175,558 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 04:24 AM 185w3i

No, i paid with a dollar card over a month ago and till today, they havent been able to confirm my payment.
Everytime i call, stories. The money is stuck somewhere.
On monday, i paid again using first bank and it was confirmed the following day. Now waiting for pre approval request. You cant dodge that.

dgee1:
Good day boss, please how can one avoid having that pre-approval issue when paying the MRV fee? Does it help to pay with dollar card rather than going the First Bank route? Thank you.

I paid since Sunday using first bank and the payment is yet to be approved, I don't even know what to do

Hi All, please I selected lagos for my visa interview, If I want to change to Abuja...how do I do that? I have not picked a date yet. Do I pick a data in Lagos then cancel and pick a date in Abuja?

I second everything that DFocus has shared.

I was previously on a J1 a while ago so I will add that, during the interview, ensure that you are able to distinguish between your program sponsor and your place of primary of activity. Depending on why you are on the J1 (au pair, exchange student, student, residency, clinical fellow, or postdoc), the location of your program sponsor and place of primary may be the same or different locations. Some VOs may not know this difference. Additionally, if your program is a government-sponsored program, your SEVIS fee may be waived. If this applies to you, ensure that you are able to explain this to the VO. J1 applicants are not as many as F1 and some VOs may not be aware of some these differences. Be able to confidently speak to your program choice and how this program ties into your previous work and your future career.

Lastly, check to see if you are subject to the 2 year home residency rule. If you are, weave this into your interview as an additional home tie. This can improve your approval chances since your visa "demands" that you come back home for at least 2 years.

Good luck!!

Vicky21003:
Any J1 approved visa transcript here. There seems to be a scarcity of J1 visa applicants in Nigeria. My interview is coming soon and there’s little to no transcript online

Castro9371:
Please, for my ds160, I currently work as a senior carer in the UK having completed my masters in business istration..I am going for an MBA in the USA and I'm expecting the VO to ask me questions like, why another masters in business, I intend saying my masters in the UK was fully theoretical and the MBA is with a specialization in information technology which focuses on the technological side of the business, as my company is looking to expand to north eastern part of England and this degree will better prepare me to head the IT department.
Or, I should just fill in the DS160 that I work as a logistics manager, which was my job while in Nigeria.
Pls help me.

Which employer would you be referring to? You just said you work as a senior carer in the UK.

JohnZak:
I second everything that DFocus has shared.

I was previously on a J1 a while ago so I will add that, during the interview, ensure that you are able to distinguish between your program sponsor and your place of primary of activity. Depending on why you are on the J1 (au pair, exchange student, student, residency, clinical fellow, or postdoc), the location of your program sponsor and place of primary may be the same or different locations. Some VOs may not know this difference. Additionally, if your program is a government-sponsored program, your SEVIS fee may be waived. If this applies to you, ensure that you are able to explain this to the VO. J1 applicants are not as many as F1 and some VOs may not be aware of some these differences. Be able to confidently speak to your program choice and how this program ties into your previous work and your future career.

Lastly, check to see if you are subject to the 2 year home residency rule. If you are, weave this into your interview as an additional home tie. This can improve your approval chances since your visa "demands" that you come back home for at least 2 years.

Good luck!!

Thankyou for this 🙏🏾

Cyfar:
Please help!!

I didn’t mention in my DS-160 form that my older brother lives in the U.S. Can I fill out a new DS-160 with that information and bring both forms to my interview? I’m concerned that if they ask me about family in the U.S. and I say no, they might already have my brother's information in the system, which could make me look dishonest. But if I say yes, it would create inconsistencies since I didn’t include him in my DS-160.

For context, I’ll be going for my F-1 visa interview. My brother was also an F-1 student but is now on an H-1B visa working full-time.

Please fill the form and hold it with you. It is better to be truthful than jeopardize your chances because of a lie.

yinkhar:

It’s better not to mention your brother because he stayed back which shows you will do the same. F1 is non-immigrant visa which means you must return after study. Also that’s why you get asked, what’s your plan after getting the degree? They wanna know your intent of returning.
Nobody ties your brother with you unless you mention it. Americans don’t assume that because you bear same surname, you are brothers.

Do you think parent's information is not sufficient to tag siblings?

GboyegaD:


Do you think parent's information is not sufficient to tag siblings?

The VOs don’t time to start going through all applicants parents names to match siblings. Moreover you know how many applicants they receive daily? Also they are not same year of application so how do you think they would use that to match siblings?

Also, I advise based on experience so it’s not a matter of try your luck advise. It’s up to anyone to take it or leave it. No be military zone here!

Hello guys. Has anyone come across this problem on the appointment website. I am trying to apply for a date for someone but it keeps telling me that the DS-160 confirmation number is Invalid even if I am entering the right one. But it would accept the old DS-160 number which I cannot use for a previously refused visa. I also know someone who is experiencing the same issue entering his DS-160 confirmation number on the website. It just kept saying "Invalid DS-160 number” please anyone with ideas share or if you have experienced this before. Thank you.

Please can someone share a mock interview Whatsapp or telegram group? I'm will like to participate.

dgee1:
Good day boss, please how can one avoid having that pre-approval issue when paying the MRV fee? Does it help to pay with dollar card rather than going the First Bank route? Thank you.

When you pay with a dollar card (A US issued debit or credit card), approval is 24hrs (weekend excluded). I don’t know if Lagos is doing okay now, but Abuja used to approve the “pending request” stuff in 24h to 48hrs

vanessa9973:
No, i paid with a dollar card over a month ago and till today, they havent been able to confirm my payment.
Everytime i call, stories. The money is stuck somewhere.
On monday, i paid again using first bank and it was confirmed the following day. Now waiting for pre approval request. You cant dodge that.

Dgee1, did you pay in Lagos? Lagos used to do this

Gretmang:


When you pay with a dollar card (A US issued debit or credit card), approval is 24hrs (weekend excluded). I don’t know if Lagos is doing okay now, but Abuja used to approve the “pending request” stuff in 24h to 48hrs

For my moms application, I paid with a US issued credit card and I could search for date immediately.

Wen registration for visa application on AVITS ,
It keeps saying ds160 confirmation invalid

Pls how can I proceed, it keeps saying ds160 confirmation number invalid

Wen filling visa application form on AVITS ,
It keeps saying ds160 confirmation invalid

OK, thank you!

Blackfinegirl:


Pay with a dollar card

Hmmmm...na wa o. Thank you.

vanessa9973:
No, i paid with a dollar card over a month ago and till today, they havent been able to confirm my payment.
Everytime i call, stories. The money is stuck somewhere.
On monday, i paid again using first bank and it was confirmed the following day. Now waiting for pre approval request. You cant dodge that.

I haven't paid. Just want to get the right info to avoid the issues people are complaining about. I am thinking of getting someone with that kind of US-issued card help me pay. Our names would be different, but that shouldn't be a problem, right? Thank you.

Gretmang:

Dgee1, did you pay in Lagos? Lagos used to do this

Chemist4life:
Wen filling visa application form on AVITS ,
It keeps saying ds160 confirmation invalid

Pls ooo,help me ooò,anyy suggestions

Chemist4life:
Wen filling visa application form on AVITS ,
It keeps saying ds160 confirmation invalid

Is that ivl or 1vl? Maybe thats where the issue is

Blackfinegirl:


Is that ivl or 1vl? Maybe thats where the issue is

Is IVL , I even copy it directly but still saying the same thing

Good day everyone;

Please how possible to get a fully funded scholarship into a university that offers architecture in the USA, and how easy can it be to use HND qualification to push for Masters of Architecture MA? CGPA (3.01/4).
Will appreciate any positive contributions.

Hello everyone,
Please does anyone know if its possible to fast track pre-approval request? Like sending an email or something. I've tried filling the form posted earlier but nothing and i've been on this stage for a while

Blackfinegirl:


For my moms application, I paid with a US issued credit card and I could search for date immediately.

Right.

dgee1:
I haven't paid. Just want to get the right info to avoid the issues people are complaining about. I am thinking of getting someone with that kind of US-issued card help me pay. Our names would be different, but that shouldn't be a problem, right? Thank you.

It’s not a problem. Your name will be different since you’re not the owner of the card.

Chemist4life:
Wen filling visa application form on AVITS ,
It keeps saying ds160 confirmation invalid

Do anyone know the problem associated with this on the appointment website? I am also experiencing the same thing.

osadestiny:


Do anyone know the problem associated with this on the appointment website? I am also experiencing the same thing.

Pls any solution to this, all should we another ds-160

yinkhar:


Congratulations

Gretmang:


It’s not a problem. Your name will be different since you’re not the owner of the card.

Greetings,
I just paid for my appointment using a bank transfer but my payment hasn't been confirmed yet.
Does it take time sometimes or is it because it's weekend already?

Has any experienced this before?

easydrizzle:
I paid since Sunday using first bank and the payment is yet to be approved, I don't even know what to do

Hello, has your payment been confirmed yet
Are you able to book appointment now?