This is my story at the US Embassy Abuja Nigeria written with fictional characters and scenarios(faction)
He returned home that night worn out and forlorn. The look on his face was so monstrous that no one dared to ask him what went amiss. His voice sounded strange and so ferocious that fear gripped everyone around him. A few minutes later, there was a dramatic change in his countenance as his youngest child ran into his room to welcome him unaware of his bad mood. The soothing voice of the 2-year-old baby shouting “Daddy Daddy” relaunched him into the world of reality that he had left, when earlier he had acted so strangely, as though he was schizophrenic. He carried the baby and cuddled him with a beaming smile and made his way towards the front room. His wife, who had been wondering what could be wrong with her husband, was surprised to see him radiating with glamorous smiles. She could hardly believe he was the same man who had come into the house a few minutes earlier.
Mr. Chukwudi( henceforth Chuks) had had quite a disappointing day at the US embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. It has become customary for many to be denied US Visa even when there is no reasonable proof of ineligibility. This situation is worsened by the lack of an adequate explanation or reasons for disapproval, apart from that generic green paper that has become an emblem of disappointment handed out to interviewees by the consulate interviewer.
Chuks had been in the US for 4 years as a student, with a very good track record. He saw no apparent nor convincing reason for his visa not being renewed. Two years ago it had been renewed so easily at the Dropbox. This was before the former US president, Trump, had changed the immigration rules which currently require all applicants to appear in person for an interview. Before the interview day, Chuks had had thoughts of disappointment and felt a bit uneasy about it but, he had prayed fervently hoping for God’s intervention.
Very early on the day of the interview, Chuks took Uber to the embassy, having flown from Owerri to Abuja on Airpeace domestic airline the previous day. He had with him all the required supporting documents and even more. At the embassy, he went through all the usual checks at the entrance of the embassy and was allowed into the inner building where the interview was held. As he sat waiting for his turn to be called in, his mind ran through a couple of anticipated interview questions and how he would answer them. When he was called to be interviewed, he walked briskly to the counter, submitted the requested documents, and waited anxiously for questions while the consulate interviewer went through his documents. He convincingly answered all the questions posed, even those he perceived to be belittling and unintelligible. The interview lasted for about 4 minutes and ended when the consulate interviewer handed him that ominous green paper and returned his passport, having stamped WITHOUT PREJUDICE on the expired visa page of his passport. At this point, it dawned on him that his visa renewal was denied. He left disappointed as walked out of the building to catch a 1 pm flight back to Owerri.
His denial was indeed a great shock. His greatest worry was his inability to go back as planned to continue the studies and commitments he had left behind in the US, not counting the prepaid expenses to return home which now would be increased, nor the difficulties in getting another date for an interview. This had happened at a time when it was a hassle getting visa appointments. These delays were due to the seeming hoarding of dates, which was seen by many as an act of connivance by the Nigerian government with the US government to checkmate the massive immigration of Nigerian citizens to the US. Chuks saw himself as a victim of this national conspiracy against the citizenry. A news headline found around this period on legitnija blog had it that there were no dates available until 2024 and getting a date might cost as much as 600,000 naira! All this made Chuks even more worried and hopeless.
Now back to the front room of his house; “These people discriminate a lot!!” he said loudly soliloquizing. He was referring to the white unsympathetic lady who had interviewed him at the US embassy consular section. His loud voice attracted the attention of his wife. She hesitated to enter, taking a few minutes to gather courage. When his lovely wife, spurred on by the Holy Spirit, came out of the bedroom to know what had gone wrong with him, she engaged him in a discussion, having mustered the courage to speak out. She said, “Honey, you scared me at first when you came home. The monstrous look on your face as I entered the front room without you noticing me caused me to make a hasty retreat. That monstrous face was a good description of the devil we see in pictures.”, she remarked with a sigh of relief. She drew closer to her husband, holding his hands in a gesture of sympathy and comforting him with kind words.
I apologize, Honey, Chuks interjected with a soft voice, as he kissed his wife. “It was a terrible day for me at the embassy,” he said disappointingly, “but I won’t give up.” He continued, “I will have to try again.” Then, as it was already 10 pm. giving his wife a sweet goodnight kiss on the cheek, he stood up from the couch to go to bed.
The next morning as early as 5 am, Chuks placed a call to an agent (an agent makes a living helping people in applying for visas and other travel needs). The agent expressed his sympathy for the denial as well as his optimism with a second visa application. He encouraged Chuks to try again. A new application was opened and Chuks had to pay the visa fee again and also change a few things in the visa application form. A month passed, still waiting to get a date for the interview to no avail. Chuks called the agent every two days to find out if an appointment date had been scheduled. The months of June and July ended with no appointment confirmed. At this point, Chuks became more worried as he had to go back to school in the US before the fourth week of August. A friend recommended another agent to Chuks whom he was told has a close affiliation with the embassy and who could help him to get a date more quickly. Chuks made contact with the new agent and after paying him, the agent secured an appointment within two weeks! It was a huge relief for Chuks, but the greatest concern remained, what would be the outcome of the second interview, after having heard about people who had been denied twice and even more?
Preparation for the second interview was marked with yet more prayers as it became even more clear that God’s intervention was needed. Chuks asked a few priest friends to pray for him as he made plans to fly from Owerri to Abuja for the second interview. Chuks flew into Abuja on August 26th, a day before the interview, and lodged in a hotel close to the embassy. Early the next morning the Uber driver took him to the embassy. The appointment was scheduled at 9 am, but he was there before 8. He was almost sleepless the previous night as he continued to weigh the consequences of a possible second denial. At the embassy, what Chuks describes as a miracle, happened when it came to his turn to be interviewed. When the security man signaled him and one fair lady into the inner section where the interview was held, the fair-skinned lady was in front of him, and fortunately for Chuks, she was called immediately by the American woman who is one of the consulate interviewers. This was the very same American woman that had disapproved of Chuks’ visa during his first interview and who has a record of disapproving of USA visas.!! Chuks had prayed never to meet with her again and now here she was, at this very moment. Booby, though, was a bit relieved on realizing he wouldn’t be interviewed by the same woman again as she was occupied with the lady ahead of him. So he waited anxiously until he was called by a consulate interviewer who happened to be a young man probably of Chuk’s age. Chuks was asked to submit some of the required documents and the first question he was asked was, “When was the last time you entered the US ?” Chuks responded, “Last December 2020 for the Spring Semester.” Chuks had not finished speaking when the interviewer interjected, “Oh, you are already in school ?” and Chuks replied a resounding yes. The response of the consulate interviewer signaled a new hope, as it indicated he understood Chuks’ situation as a student, and the need to approve his visa to return to school. There weren’t as many questions as in the first interview, but he was asked to submit more supporting documents. In the end, Chuks’s passport was received and a white paper signaling victory was handed over triumphantly to him, with oral information on when to pick up his visa. Chuks left the embassy in a jubilant mood, thanking God unceasingly. He walked towards the car, sharing, a few nairas with those outside the embassy who came to congratulate him, especially those that had helped him in little ways, such as arranging his documents before the interview.
It ended in giving thanks to God. Friends and family were all happy and Chuks owed his success to God’s intervention!!!
…….End of the story……..
Lessons Learned
Going to the US embassy in Nigeria is the most unpredictable venture anyone risks. It requires mental resilience and emotional readiness to accept the outcome. At first, Booby thought since he has renewed his visa in the past, therefore he deserved the visa this time but his hopes and plans were dashed at the first interview.
The consulate interviewers aren’t interested in who you are, they could be biased, but you have to accept whatever decisions they make. They have absolute authority on this.
The new immigration requirement introduced by Trump insisting on applicants appearing in person at the embassy has dire consequences. Prepare yourself well before the interview. If you are not in good standing abroad, don’t risk coming home.
I would advise potential student applicants for US visa renewal to check other countries, before risking doing this in Nigeria.
Success is always from God when you do what you should do. Don’t rely on the documents on your file or your integrity in society, because the US embassy might shatter those. So be prayerful in every endeavor. Don’t be frustrated.
When you are disappointed at first, don’t give up. Keep trying. Good luck to all potential US visa renewals or first-time applicants.
Written by Clem C. Aladi ( This story is a faction)
