boluwagin:
Goodevening Everyone,

Please can someone walk me through the process of applying for ETC? I will really appreciate🙏🏽

boluwagin:
Goodevening Everyone,

Please can someone walk me through the process of applying for ETC? I will really appreciate🙏🏽

tosinkols:
Hello guys, I’ve learnt a lot on this thread, thanks to everyone for being so kind. I now have specific questions and will be appreciative if I get clear answers.

I have a B1/B2 visa effective last year and valid for 5 years. The plan at the time of applying was to visit the US in December 2023 on vacation, but I ended up not going. Plans have now changed and I intend to use the visa for birthing purposes early 2025. I will most likely be staying with family at Houston Texas or Lubbock Texas.

Here are my questions:

1. Do I need to visit the US first on vacation before going back for birthing purpose. Does this increase my chances at the POE or is it okay to wait till I’m ready to go in 2025?
2. For those who have had their babies this year or recently in Texas, could you kindly assist with
(a) good hospital options/doctors and their contact details;
(b) breakdown of cost and expectations; and
(c)any other thing I should be aware of.

I know 2025 is still some months away but DH and I need to plan ahead. Thank you.

tosinkols:
Hello guys, I’ve learnt a lot on this thread, thanks to everyone for being so kind. I now have specific questions and will be appreciative if I get clear answers.

I have a B1/B2 visa effective last year and valid for 5 years. The plan at the time of applying was to visit the US in December 2023 on vacation, but I ended up not going. Plans have now changed and I intend to use the visa for birthing purposes early 2025. I will most likely be staying with family at Houston Texas or Lubbock Texas.

Here are my questions:

1. Do I need to visit the US first on vacation before going back for birthing purpose. Does this increase my chances at the POE or is it okay to wait till I’m ready to go in 2025?
2. For those who have had their babies this year or recently in Texas, could you kindly assist with
(a) good hospital options/doctors and their contact details;
(b) breakdown of cost and expectations; and
(c)any other thing I should be aware of.

I know 2025 is still some months away but DH and I need to plan ahead. Thank you.

onile1975:
Pls House I need answer to this question,what documents can we use to request for emergency appointment for birthing purpose?

Debbieeeeeee:


It is advisable to use your visa for its intended purpose, before considering using it for childbirth. Although a five-year visa may seem like a long time, it will come to an end sooner than you think. To avoid complications during the visa renewal process, it is recommended that you use it for its purpose, even if it's just for a short period, and then return for childbirth. This will help to ensure that you have a smooth and hassle-free experience when renewing your visa.

Maggies88:



As you have been advised above, I think the key thing here is to ensure that your visa is used for its original B1/B2 purposes within the visa cycle of 5 years. Not necessarily before the child birth but also after . I.E try to visit the US also casually If possible more times than for just child birth alone . You are allowed to have a change in plan for birthing purposes for as long as you are open about it at the POE and prove beyond reasonable doubt that you can handle your bills by physical cash on hand and receipts of pre- payments.

A. You can use HCA west for hospital . .( Google about them )
B. If you can contact them , ask for a Doctor LA. (Again they switch hospitals a lot so don’t know if he still uses this hospital as an option. )
C. This hospital along with the doctor can afford you an average of 8k to probably 15k depending on the type of delivery you have . For the child you can use Texas pediatrics also in same west Houston for average of $600-$800 for per child .

As a small note : Be prepared to pay every bill out of pocket and don’t miss even as little as a 20 dollar invoice so make sure to have a mailing address that is well within your control in case bills come in the mail even after you are gone back to Nigeria .

This should put you on a good standing when the time for renewal eventually comes , via drop box or even Interview if things change .

Good luck.

onile1975:
Pls House I need answer to this question,what documents can we use to request for emergency appointment for birthing purpose?

Maggies88:


So someone’s sister I know just got granted a visa via interview strictly for birthing purpose , but then this was approved as she applied for a medical visa .
Documents required were the typical doctors/hospital invoice proof of affordability and what she does to show income and ties to Nigeria . If it’s a medical visa you are applying for as an emergency this would be the documentation’s you must have for basics, and then I advise you to have a serious medical report stating why this is an emergency and why birthing in the United States would benefit you at this time . If this isn’t the type of visa you are applying for I suggest you don’t go for this interview via emergency just to talk solely about child birth. Their default setting is to deny you if they sense this is the sole reason for your travel . They know that you can but then they have a mandate to stop it at the point of interview if not fully convinced and to be honest at their bare discretion.

onile1975:
@ Maggie's 88 Thanks for your response, I do not fully understand ur reply,what happened is that my EDD is October this year, I can see that there is no ppointment date in this year on U.S Portal, How do I get an appointment date before October?

Maggies88:



Simply put you will need to be ready for an emergency appointment and I am hoping you are applying for a medical visa too for this purpose is what I meant . I understood your Initial message as what would you require to attend the emergency appointment . Eg documentation etc . I didn’t realize your issue at the moment is finding that appointment to be able to meet up with your EDD in October . My strongest advice is to approach an agent . They do these arrangements for a significant fee , you really don’t have time to be waiting for dates to open up.

onile1975:
Thanks again,if I seek emergency appointment in other to meet up with the EDD date October ,is it going to have negative implication on my application during the interview?

Maggies88:



It should not if you are clear to them about the purpose of travel and you apply for a medical visa , and have documentation E.g financing to back a very healthy invoice from doctors and hospitals etc . Assume a (15k-20k usd bill in an affordable state like Texas, Florida) as my candid advice . I know you can find Lower in these states too but these guys hate low bills. If you happen to use an expensive state for the interview be prepared to also show you can afford bills from that state without medic Aid.

Also present a stable job showing a viable stream of income, a stable home, all to show strong ties to Nigeria , and most importantly documentation (medical report ) from your hospital here in Nigeria to justify why this is an emergency for you . Be confident also and speak clearly .

If you approach it this way, I would say you are 95 percent closer to the visa. The rest will be left for the interviewer to decide . I also hope you have no issues with them prior to now , I am assuming all this above as though you are on a clean slate with the embassy and the Us government.

Let me also add that I speak confidently about this because one of my kids was born in 2021 Via an emergency appointment in a time where appointments were no where to be found .

Best of luck .

onile1975:
Thank you very much and God bless you
. Pls kindly send me the list of documents you use in 2021 for an emergency appointment?
2) I sell cook foods,, but my husband is going to sponsor all the expensis what is my chances of getting the visa?
3) kindly send me the email address of the hospital you use in Florida?

KikiAde89:
Hi everyone , please I just got to Atlanta , I’m in urgent need of a doctor because my EDD is close . I will appreciate recommendations. Thanks

KikiAde89:
Hi everyone , please I just got to Atlanta , I’m in urgent need of a doctor because my EDD is close . I will appreciate recommendations. Thanks

babyfaiz:

Please, share you POE experience in ATL. Was your visa gotten for medical or visit? My wife is pregnant now and would be using a hospital in Houston. I’m unsure if she should fly to Houston POE or go through some other state. Our visa was gotten for vacation and no question of child birth came up. Also, she conceived few weeks after our interview. I don’t know if they’re strict about birth tourism now, especially if you didn’t inform them during your interview? Anyone here that has traveled for child birth and didn’t inform the consular during interview? Is Houston a good POE for a situation like this? I’m thinking JFK or LAX, then connecting to Houston. Though, I’ll prefer a straight journey to Houston because of stress and also luggage (domestic airlines charge separately for luggage).

Debbieeeeeee:

ATL or jfk is okay.
ATL was seamless for me. Iah I don’t trust them don’t risk it.

babyfaiz:

Thanks Debbie! What do you think about change of intent letter? I’m of the opinion that, it doesn’t matter since you’ll always get a generic response. More so, we used our last visit visa for child birth as well. During the Trump era, the vo couldn’t refuse our visa directly. She only asked for the baby’s birthday and realized my wife wasn’t pregnant during the interview. However, we declared our intention at the port of entry (JFK) about my wife giving birth. Not much questions were asked then except for how much we had on us. We declared $20k cash and there was no problem. It was then, I knew that couples/ families are not allowed more than 10k. I used to think it’s per individual. The terms state, I or We. So, it’s 10k for couples or families. If you have more than that you’ll have to declare and fill a form. We declared and filled a form. It actually helped during renewal interview. Our transcripts with the cbp was there on the screen for the consular. The only reason they refused our visa then was because of itemized bill. We later got it and went for another interview this year and they didn’t bother except checking where we stayed, since we said we didn’t know anyone in the US. Once that was verified, the VO approved. Now, should I use same style as the last or write the change of intent letter this time? Note- she wasn’t pregnant at the time of the interview and no questions about intent of giving birth came up.