NewStats: 3,259,432 , 8,170,082 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 11:37 PM 2l2x

Hello everyone, Input from current US students will be appreciated.

I am a US graduate student trying to renew my VISA through the Interview Waiver (IW) / Dropbox, I submitted my application in April and checked on the status update to see "Refused". This is surprising since I expected the process to be seamless.
Also, there was no further information on what to do next or if the refusal was based on 221g or if I should schedule an in-person appointment.
I also tracked my port with OIS and was told the port is not ready for pickup.

Please, those that have gone throuiught this IW / Dropbox should please shed light on this.
How did you get back your port? Did you pay for visa fees and go for the in-person interview

@AdisaMighty, Can you weigh in on the similar post above?
Did they call your US phone number or Nigerian number
Also I sent you an email and would like to talk to you

AdisaMighty:
Keep your phone close to you always, they might call. If you are a man of faith, pray about it. I got a call on the first day of my fasting and praying (9 days after refusal)

Efetobori
Thanks for your response. The DS160, as well as the appointment letter are still available. I thought they only accept appointments from the AVITS portal, hence my apprehension.
But thanks once again for providing clarity.

Efetobore1980:


Obidike.
Your are not In a dilemma if your mum's appointment letter is still intact and the ds-160 confirmation slip filled at the time of the application is still available .

You do not need anything to do with avits for now. Your mum can attend the interview with the appointment letter and the ds 160 confirmation print out.

She only needs to open profile on OIS in the case she wants to pick up her visa.

https://www.oisservices.com/services



** Call/chat the embassy if her appointment is still intact (which i believe it is).

** She should go to the interview along with 2 recent port photos (2x2) . 👍

Relax, I am 99.999% sure it’s a 221g, in my case they called me in without returning my port. They asked basic questions and approved.

if you are a person of faith, pray about it.

Again refused ≠ denied

googleTALK:
Hello everyone, Input from current US students will be appreciated.

I am a US graduate student trying to renew my VISA through the Interview Waiver (IW) / Dropbox, I submitted my application in April and checked on the status update to see "Refused". This is surprising since I expected the process to be seamless.
Also, there was no further information on what to do next or if the refusal was based on 221g or if I should schedule an in-person appointment.
I also tracked my port with OIS and was told the port is not ready for pickup.

Please, those that have gone throuiught this IW / Dropbox should please shed light on this.
How did you get back your port? Did you pay for visa fees and go for the in-person interview

They will call whatever number is on your DS-160. For some, they will return the port with the 221g letter but not always the case. Either way, it’s just an uncomfortable delay but will eventually get approved again (the approval rates are high)

Cityview12:
@AdisaMighty, Can you weigh in on the similar post above?
Did they call your US phone number or Nigerian number
Also I sent you an email and would like to talk to you

Hi everyone, I need your advise pls. I applied for a B2 Visa to have my baby in the USA. My pregnancy is high risk and I have my letter from my doctor in Nigeria and a Gynea in the USA. I was only able to get February 2026 date and my due date is in a couple of months in 2025. I applied for an emergency date and it was rejected, not sure why. I attached my proof of Funds and the letters from both doctors. Pls what did I do wrong ? How do I get a closer date?

googleTALK:
Hello everyone, Input from current US students will be appreciated.

I am a US graduate student trying to renew my VISA through the Interview Waiver (IW) / Dropbox, I submitted my application in April and checked on the status update to see "Refused". This is surprising since I expected the process to be seamless.
Also, there was no further information on what to do next or if the refusal was based on 221g or if I should schedule an in-person appointment.
I also tracked my port with OIS and was told the port is not ready for pickup.

Please, those that have gone throuiught this IW / Dropbox should please shed light on this.
How did you get back your port? Did you pay for visa fees and go for the in-person interview

I sincerely hope you're in Nigeria or intend to be very soon.

PSA
IW waiver is for those applying from inside Nigeria.
Sending your port across countries without you is illegal.

Ladyjayce:
Hi everyone, I need your advise pls. I applied for a B2 Visa to have my baby in the USA. My pregnancy is high risk and I have my letter from my doctor in Nigeria and a Gynea in the USA. I was only able to get February 2026 date and my due date is in a couple of months in 2025. I applied for an emergency date and it was rejected, not sure why. I attached my proof of Funds and the letters from both doctors. Pls what did I do wrong ? How do I get a closer date?

Giving birth in the US does not fall under Emergency visas, that’s probably the reason it was rejected. Although it is a high risk birth per you, you have to prove that a medical condition not treatable in Nigeria is associated with the birth. Generally, visas for birth reasons are hard to come by this days.

I'm in Nigeria, but that said, I know people that got their IW approved from the US. Have you seen anyone that got rejected solely because they were not in the country at the time of application?

Taal17:


I sincerely hope you're in Nigeria or intend to be very soon.

PSA
IW waiver is for those applying from inside Nigeria.
Sending your port across countries without you is illegal.

Ladyjayce:
Hi everyone, I need your advise pls. I applied for a B2 Visa to have my baby in the USA. My pregnancy is high risk and I have my letter from my doctor in Nigeria and a Gynea in the USA. I was only able to get February 2026 date and my due date is in a couple of months in 2025. I applied for an emergency date and it was rejected, not sure why. I attached my proof of Funds and the letters from both doctors. Pls what did I do wrong ? How do I get a closer date?

Hi Ladyjayce.

You are qualified under medical emergency that is why you have the emergency application option in your dashboard (on avits).

What you did wrong is your ds-160 (not well stated), the letter from the Nigerian doctor, and the letter from the
gynaecologist are all contradicting..

You can re-apply by correcting the errors and getting the right information. Go to that section (attached - red circle) on nairaland . Good LucK 👍

Please I am trying to pay for my visa fee with my card
I tried using grey usd virtual card.
It is not going
Which virtual card can I use to pay my visa fees

Jane8999:
Please I am trying to pay for my visa fee with my card
I tried using grey usd virtual card.
It is not going
Which virtual card can I use to pay my visa fees

Hello Jane.
Don't waste your money or cause yourself delay in payment verification which can delay you for months.
** Chose bank deposit and walk into Frist bank to pay. You can also transfer money to any of your family to make the payment physically for you if you are not available.
** Tomorrow is Monday just exercise to the bank and pay with rest of mind. 👍

googleTALK:
I'm in Nigeria, but that said, I know people that got their IW approved from the US. Have you seen anyone that got rejected solely because they were not in the country at the time of application?

bamystery:

I am in the same show nothing yet so far, I heard they are on a break. They refused all ever IW i have seen so far. I don't know why though.

googleTALK:
I'm in Nigeria, but that said, I know people that got their IW approved from the US. Have you seen anyone that got rejected solely because they were not in the country at the time of application?

It's good that you are in Nigeria.

To your question YES and they got told to schedule in person appointment.

That others got away with it doesn't mean it's not wrong. Your records of entry in and out of the USA are in your records and having F1 renewed in Ng will also show where it was issued.

There are consulates in Caribbean,Canada ,Mexico that you can schedule your visa appointment. Typically it's ready in 1-2days.

And as long as you are still studying and not leaving the US you don't need to renew your F1 even if it expires.

As an F1 student you can renew your F1 visa in any us consulate closeto America

googleTALK:
I'm in Nigeria, but that said, I know people that got their IW approved from the US. Have you seen anyone that got rejected solely because they were not in the country at the time of application?

Hello Google.

Since about 9 years back nobody can get away with physically present in the U.S while having his or her travel port with expired or almost expired U.S. visa renewed in his or her home country.

Even before (lets say 70s to early 90s) The U.S. embassies and consulates can access and check a port's travel history, including entry and exit stamps, through various scientific methods right there in your presence and now (in the 2000s) while physical stamps may not be as prevalent in all countries due to digitization, electronic records and information sharing agreements has now fully allow consular officers to access this with no stress (just by slotting in your port #).

** Many visa holders think that because CBP no longer stamp ports on exit they can then ship their prts home for renewal or other shady use. No ! They keep electronic records of arrivals and departures via manifest information if you arrive and/or leave via air or sea. Therefore, they know you left and when and how, even though they stamp your port only on arrival.

You (yourself) can the entry & exit information recorded by the U.S government at the special I94 - Official Website right in your apartment.

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home

It should give you access both to your current arrival/departure record (I-94) if you are in the country, as well as a record for your past travel.

Note: In the past, people do counterfeit entry & exit stamps but computer (digitalisation) and advanced technology has knock if off. They will catch you ! 👍

Its good that you are in Nigeria. IW is not automatic....the consulate can request in-person interview if they feel its the right thing to do based on individual cases. Its your IW that is refused, not F1 visa renewal. So be prepared, and you have nothing to worry about.

For God sake when it comes to United States or any country, follow the laid down rules and stop cutting corners, it doesn't end well. This is for everyone not directed at you.

bamystery:

Hi Mary, Any update yet? I am also in the same shoe.

NotsonewMary:
Hi all,

Has anyone who submitted an IW application in recent time, particularly at the Lagos embassy been approved?

I’m asking because it seems the wait time in Lagos has been elongated. My mum’s application still says “application received” and it’s been almost 3 weeks now since it was submitted.

Does anyone have an inkling on what might be going on?
Has the process changed?
Are they considering scrapping IW Dropbox or something?

Any update about how this went? Did they call, and did you attend the in person?

Dixoxoxo:
Hi guys, after waiting since April 3rd my status changed to refused this afternoon. Can anyone give me any advise on how to go about this? I am guessing that I would have to go for a physical interview. If anyone can tell me the timeline it took for them to go for an interview after seeing this refused status. Did they return your port or hold on to it? Did it take a week or two weeks? Did they call or email? Any info will be appreciated. Also submitted in Lagos.

*

bamystery:

I am in the same show nothing yet so far, I heard they are on a break. They refused all ever IW i have seen so far. I don't know why though.

Hey Guys ..

I just paid my moms B1/B2 visa fee today and cant even see an available appointment for Lagos. if i decided to choose Abuja, do i need to redo/cancel the whole application. please i need your advice.

Hi guys ! Your advice is need oo . I want to attend a week summit and not as an avenue to japa but to genuinely attend . However , mid of last month, I was denied at my first ever US interview .. Then I reapplied and went for another interview this morning , only to be denied again after just 2 questions.

Now my question is , is it advisable to try again or just process my refund for the conference ? Conference is june 9th to 13th .

Thanks yall and I'd appreciate your candid and honest advice.

Chelseaboy101:
Hi guys ! Your advice is need oo . I want to attend a week summit and not as an avenue to japa but to genuinely attend . However , mid of last month, I was denied at my first ever US interview .. Then I reapplied and went for another interview this morning , only to be denied again after just 2 questions.

Now my question is , is it advisable to try again or just process my refund for the conference ? Conference is june 9th to 13th .

Thanks yall and I'd appreciate your candid and honest advice.

Hello Chelsea.
When you need to go for a life threatening surgery in the U.S. no matter how many times your visa is denied you will keep applying. Likewise if your intention is absolutely genuine and it is useful to your career personally or from office why not ? You should keep applying providing that you can afford the MRV.

However , i believe there are mixed up or inconsistencies in your visa application (starting from ds-160, academic profile, work experience, ties to Nigeria and POF for your trip). You may have well gotten a mark in all these but failed to communicate yourself very well in the presence of the visa officer.

Post your transcripts to the public for general corrections or comb all the conference transcripts in this thread. Don't Give Up, give it the last shot . 👍

Thank you ! I live and study in Kigali .. I'm a student entrepreneur . Studying and also running an business , ed in both Nigeria and Rwanda.

Let's see if I the first interview transcript very well.

Why are you going to the US ?
Answer: I'm going to attend xxxx summit in xxxx city and state .

WHat do you do here ?

I'm a student, studying so so at so so University .. And I'm also a founder of a business doing Bleep and Bleep..

have you traveled outside of rwanda before ?

Yes, I've been to the UAE, , Netherland and belgium ( I had schengen visa last December, .. but also went to Belgium and netherland with it)

How long have you been living here ?
I've been in Rwanda for a year ( mind you, I panicked and forgot it was more than a year )

Who is sponsoring the trip ?
I am sponsoring myself .

SECOND INTERVIEW

Why are you going to the US?
I'm going to attend Bleep summit in Bleep city .

How long have you been here..?
I've been here since july 2023 .. ( this time, I actually stated the time)

WHat do you do here ?

I'm a student at Bleep university and also the CEO of Bleep company

How long would you stay in the US ?

I'll stay for the duration of the conference which is 1 week.

Then I was asked to thump print my 4 fingers..

After that came the white paper.

And oh, for my second application, I changed the sponsor from self to my company. As the conference align with my work.

Efetobore1980:


Hello Chelsea.
When you need to go for a life threatening surgery in the U.S. no matter how many times your visa is denied you will keep applying. Likewise if your intention is absolutely genuine and it is useful to your career personally or from office why not ? You should keep applying providing that you can afford the MRV.

However , i believe there are mixed up or inconsistencies in your visa application (starting from ds-160, academic profile, work experience, ties to Nigeria and POF for your trip). You may have well gotten a mark in all these but failed to communicate yourself very well in the presence of the visa officer.

Post your transcripts to the public for general corrections or comb all the conference transcripts in this thread. Don't Give Up, give it the last shot . 👍

Chelseaboy101:
Thank you ! I live and study in Kigali .. I'm a student entrepreneur . Studying and also running an business , ed in both Nigeria and Rwanda.

Let's see if I the first interview transcript very well.

Why are you going to the US ?
Answer: I'm going to attend xxxx summit in xxxx city and state .

WHat do you do here ?

I'm a student, studying so so at so so University .. And I'm also a founder of a business doing Bleep and Bleep..

have you traveled outside of rwanda before ?

Yes, I've been to the UAE, , Netherland and belgium ( I had schengen visa last December, .. but also went to Belgium and netherland with it)

How long have you been living here ?
I've been in Rwanda for a year ( mind you, I panicked and forgot it was more than a year )

Who is sponsoring the trip ?
I am sponsoring myself .

SECOND INTERVIEW

Why are you going to the US?
I'm going to attend Bleep summit in Bleep city .

How long have you been here..?
I've been here since july 2023 .. ( this time, I actually stated the time)

WHat do you do here ?

I'm a student at Bleep university and also the CEO of Bleep company

How long would you stay in the US ?

I'll stay for the duration of the conference which is 1 week.

Then I was asked to thump print my 4 fingers..

After that came the white paper.

And oh, for my second application, I changed the sponsor from self to my company. As the conference align with my work.

**
FIRST ATTEMPT:
You are an undergraduate student studying in Rwanda with arrival and business entity that is not up to 5 years. No feasible business expansion or demand for services. (So both your studentship and business are not good ties).

** Your Schengen visas are not able to bail you out of your insufficient ties despite the fact that you have a kind of (not really) good travel history. ** Your travel history instead of helping you is now seen as a ploy to receive point.


**
SECOND ATTEMPT:
You went to the embassy with same unqualified application and added inconsistency in your statement. This time around you have been annotated as " an impending immigrant ( someone who wants to abscond to America).

Note: Your ties to Rwanda are not sufficient (i don't even think you are married with kids there ). Your business as seen by the consular is still new and does not warrant any international refresher programs (except you can proof otherwise).

** If you have any arguments against these you can proceed but you need to change lot of things. If you agree totally with my outline you can wait till next year for retry. 👍

Let's say I agree with your outline but if I still want to give it one more shot to make the conference.. what should I do ?

If it's not feasible, then I'll let it go until next year .

Efetobore1980:


**
FIRST ATTEMPT:
You are an undergraduate student studying in Rwanda with arrival and business entity that is not up to 5 years. No feasible business expansion or demand for services. (So both your studentship and business are not good ties).

** Your Schengen visas are not able to bail you out of your insufficient ties despite the fact that you have a kind of (not really) good travel history. ** Your travel history instead of helping you is now seen as a ploy to receive point.


**
SECOND ATTEMPT:
You went to the embassy with same unqualified application and added inconsistency in your statement. This time around you have been annotated as " an impending immigrant ( someone who wants to abscond to America).

Note: Your ties to Rwanda are not sufficient (i don't even think you are married with kids there ). Your business as seen by the consular is still new and does not warrant any international refresher programs (except you can proof otherwise).

** If you have any arguments against these you can proceed but you need to change lot of things. If you agree totally with my outline you can wait till next year for retry. 👍

from a friend who recently change his interview date from lagos to abuja he said it is possible just go to abuja on your interview date they will tell you to wait that they will send your ds160 page to them in abuja since you choose lagos in your ds160 before the interview, the waiting process is like 20min

ZicOlusegun:
I filled my Ds160 for late January submitted online on Lagos consulate but I later realized that I could get an earlier appointment date in Abuja which I did. Now I have an appointment in Abuja for September and my file was earlier submitted in Lagos, How will transfer my DS160 to Abuja ?
Please I need help..

I hail you boss Efe. However @Xplicit007 should first get to check if the appointment has been rescheduled. Greater percentage of those who receive such emails(irrespective of where you applied to be interviewed) end up with a RESCHEDULING. If he is ready for the new interview date then he/she needs to start preparing and putting things in place, if you cannot meet up then reschedule to a date that is okay by you. All the best xplicit007
I know some clients who have missed their appointment due to the embassy allocating a new date to them
Should your initial appointment date be intact then disregard it. Once again I hail you boss@Efetobore1980

Efetobore1980:


Hi.

The U.S embassy in Abu Dhabi & The U.S Consulate General in Dubai only release appointments for non immigrant visa interviews Every Friday Morning between 7: 30 a.m. and 11:30 a m. Although they at time release dates outside of these and when they do they send out notification email.

Therefore, ignore the email notification (it's not targeted at you, it's general) and proceed with your normal appointment. Other applicants who need that date will pick it.

Note. Ensure you read the email very well in case your current appointment might have tallied with an holiday or other event . If this is not the case just ignore it. 👍

wedey4u:
I hail you boss Efe. However @Xplicit007 should first get to check if the appointment has been rescheduled. Greater percentage of those who receive such emails(irrespective of where you applied to be interviewed) end up with a RESCHEDULING. If he is ready for the new interview date then he/she needs to start preparing and putting things in place, if you cannot meet up then reschedule to a date that is okay by you. All the best xplicit007
I know some clients who have missed their appointment due to the embassy allocating a new date to them
Should your initial appointment date be intact then disregard it. Once again I hail you boss@Efetobore1980

Wedey
Thank you for the awareness and update. Its my pleasure 👍

No just yet. I am still waiting...

Cityview12:
Any update about how this went? Did they call, and did you attend the in person?

Good day house, please am at first bank now trying to make payment for my US visa but I was told to provide Momentum Reference number, please can anyone help on how to go about this please

Cityview12:
Hi Mary, Any update yet? I am also in the same shoe.

Nothing yet. Honestly, at this point, I don’t even know what to think of this delay.
Hopefully, whatever is causing the delay gets resolved pretty soon!