In all the 24 countries I have been to, none did I use an agent. I have less idea how the use of agents works. Using agents is good and helpful but know this…
I am not a travel agent or run a travel tour outfit like I see many today run online just because they have travelled once or twice, then set one up and bill desperate japa applicants.
Sam (not real name) has been my mentee and also volunteers supporting the work we do at WHAIafrica. People like him, I go all the way to offer them many opportunities for free. But Sam made a caricature of our project discussion via one of his careless jokes. When I made him understand what he did, he insulted me on top join, so I smiled and left him.
He called several times to inquire about the US visa that he got an institute inviting him for a program in the US. I felt it was the right time to penalize him for his careless joke, so I ghosted his calls and intentionally referred him to travel agents. Weeks after, he was still calling me. One day, I reluctantly picked his call. He narrated the ordeal and outrageous amount the agents charged him.
I smiled and asked him to pay the 400k with assurance that even if he got the interview date brought forward, he won’t get the visa. Well, at last I decided to help him even though I’ve not forgiven him.
· I edited his invitation letter, put in missing vital parts and with the right terminologies
· Asked his sponsors to reprint it using the letter headed paper
· The available interview date was 2024 while the scheduled US program is April 2023, he was crying and didn’t book the date.
· I ordered him to book that 2024 available date and he did
· Then request for emergency visa and uploaded the authenticated vital docs
· In less than 24hours he was scheduled for visa interview to take place in 48hours at Abuja
· I got him prepared for the interview
I forgot to call Sam before the interview but by past 10am when I knew his interview would have been over, I sent him a text that read, ‘CONGRATULATIONS’. He bursted into laughter and asked, “How did you know?” He narrated how everyone before him was denied a visa.
“I had no doubt that you not getting the visa. I know what the Americans want and those were the contents in your documents and most importantly, they were all genuine”, I told him. So, next month, Sam will be joining me here in the US.
What about you, are you coming? Lol. Unfortunately, I can’t do this for everyone.
Stick to this page as I write other experiences concerning getting visas or visa denials from first world countries.
You will learn, avoid the necessary and prepare ahead.
Tag and share with others who might need this knowledge.
Recognize what God has called you to be, accept the gifts He has given you and start building on them!
Ada Africa Udegboka
+2348033842029
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