chikings

Here's the hotel I stay at. Think very nice best western. Very close to the airport N2,000 ($12) private car ride. It's between Toyin Street and Allen Avenue.

Excellent room service foods and drinks, security and friendly staff with several shopping complex, restaurant, banks, clubs in the area.

Suite29Hotel.Com - but it's currently hacked now.

My room was $64 / night (a/c, hot water, fridge, yada yada). Lagos is alarmingly expensive.

wow that sounds great . Perhaps I should google those streets and see whats else around that area.

thanks

Peace,

Chi

First thanks to all that gave me support and ideas on addressing the "Airport Closing". Now that we decided on staying in Lagos,where do I stay?? Ideally close to the airport, an area that we can walk around, sight see, and eat. Most improtantly if no airconditioning then at least fans . Even if electricity goes off..lol...

P.S. Last visit we did stay overnight in a very small "ummmm" hotel to catch our flight out the next morninig. However, I don't think I could last 7 days there.

Peace,

Chi

I did the bus trip and other than the bathroom stop I did fine ( ok I am spoiled I expect something I can sit on when I am answering natures call and have long lost the muscles to squat like that ) At least I didn't fall over while at the pit stop. Every time the bus stopped the local sellers flocked to me. ( Think of the albino penguin at feeding time ) I guess they thought my pockets were lined with US dollars.

right.. I was swamped when I was last in Nigeria getting my hair braided. Man the sista's swarmed me. I was flatter. Yeah i didn't have any problems with the bathroom in Nigeria , but in Ghana.. oh my..lol lol. so glad I carried supplies in my trusty fanny pack. lol lol

thanks for the encouragement.

peace,

chi

Personally I think you should still go, if push comes to shove you Guys can stay in Lagos and still have a blast or you can fly to Ghana. The only concern I would have is with your luggage if you traveled by road to Enugu.

"Iyawo Afesona" (in Yoruba language, this means future Wife) is from the same city I am from, Ibadan. Her house is not too far from mine but I left Nigeria in 1986 before she was born I understand what you mean by missing him.

I think we should all wear a VJ tshirt when we travel so we can spot each other

lol.. I game on the shirt deal... lol...

Yes I'm still going.. we will stay in Lagos..

I hope I fit in the crowd.

Oh your Yoruba, cool my fiance is Igbo. I have many Yourba friends here in the Detroit Area. In fact a local " Yoruba Prince" drove me down personaly to the Nigerain Embassy in Washington DC to retreive my Passport that the embassy had lost!!! I got it back the DAY of my flight!!

Thanks for the pep talk..

Gotta keep our heads up

Peace,

Chi

A Canadian visitor visa will just be as difficult as an American tourist visa in Nigeria.

Lagos to Enugu, Abuja to Enugu by road is NOT unpaved roads though. That being said, they are not like our interstate highways here but are okay. Vehicle break dows in Nigeria are from our fix it only when it breaks mentality.

I think the unpaved part will be closer to the final destination after you leave Enugu airport.

By the way, Enugu has one of the best roadways in Nigeria and it's in a state that is acclaimed for being the cleanest.

What about Dubai or Qatar, relatively easy visas and the Lady can put some time in for exquisite shopping but I still think you should go and rough it in Nigeria so you can better understand the conditions your King came from

Thanks ,, Im sorry if I gave the impression of not liking Nigeria.. It is beautiful . I've been there once and been to small, very small fishing towns in Ghana.. About the roads in Enugu..ummm not sure about that.lol lol, I just don't want to take any chances because of one incident that happen with a cab already. I have be realistic and in love... Yes, looking through papmpered American eyes my Kingsley

(Kings) home land may seem lacking, but I never felt that way.. His family is so strong and loving. I just stepped right in and felt at home. Things that I was used and they didn't have didn't phase me. I was so well taken care of I felt a little wired. Like I wanted to do more but they wouldn't let me lol.I know that his family scarificed a lot to provide for me that visit. So I feel guilty about complaining, but I have to follow my gut, I can't do that cab ride.I think we will just spend a week in Lagos. He says it louder and busier than Enugu and it is. lol.. but at least it is still his terriotry and I can relax, and we only have one air fare to worry about. Thanks for listening and I hope I didn't offend any of my Nigerian family and friends.

Peace,

Chi

Canada is only slightly more friendly to African's than the US. They still expect you to show you will leave. Applying would mean a trip to Abuja or Lagos. How about a country he doesn't need a visa like Fiji or Singapore ?

Ohh yeah forgot about that.. I just want this to be over!! Ok I'll take a break from this madness for a while and let it work it's self out.... Thanks soo much..

Peace,

Chi

Welcome to Nigeria, land of inconvenience galore

If you've never driven Lagos to Enugu, this might be an excellent opportunity to see the countryside. It's not that dangerous of an area.

PS: When he comes to Lagos he doesn't need to travel in style as is when he's going back home. He only needs to travel in style when he's with his American Queen

Very kind of you to say.. yes , he says we will be ok. but would have to take a cab or bus because which both are a little uneasy about. But , Uggh! I just had such plans I mean I was about to mail my visa off in the morning... You have to have faith on this visa journey. I just want all this over with! Missing him so.. by the way what part of Nigeria is your Queen from .

Greetings Neighbors,

I live in Grosse Pointe, Michigan off the water see Canada everyday.. Anyway I was just informed by fiancee (Kingsley ..Ohh how I love that man ) that the local airport in Enugu, Nigeria is closed for the summer. I was planning to visit him this summer!! The nearset airport is 5-8 hours away (that's if traffic is good). But we would be traveling in unpaved, back roads through Nigeria, with cars and buses breaking down constantly..Once it took my fiancee 2 days to get home from the airport!. Not to mention the violence and threats against Americans in some regions. So I got to thinking if he could get a tourist visa to Windsor, Canada it would be awesome. It's less than 20 minutes away form me. But I don't know where to start,is it's fairly easy for Africans to get tourist visa to Canada, does he need someone who lives there petition for him,or can we just expalin and show proof of hotel reservation that we will be staying at. Just needed some advice thanks!

Peace,

Chi

Have you though about him getting lodging in Lagos or Abuja ? A little vacation for both of you. I have done the Enugu to Lagos bus trip, it was an experience for me. The preacher and the brake downs I thought the trip would never end, Joseph paid for air conditioned transport and I guess AC means opening a window.

lol AC ikr!!!! Yes I will ask him.. I wanted to spend time with family also but... we will have to do what we have to... I was even thinking meeting in Ghana.. I have some friends there and we both been there before.. thanks for the ideas and support..

Peace,

Chi

I really can't help, but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that the airport is closed during your holiday. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to not have seen each other since November.

I hope you get to see each other and I hope whatever route you take is a safe one!

Britt

Thanks so much... it helps..

peace,

Chi

If I were you, I'd pay for the ride back and forth. It's worth to be with him, right?

Yes worth it .. the other factor I was hinting at was driving through areas of Nigeria, for those who keep up with news and situations through out Nigeria and NO it's not just in the north.... Safety is always an issue. . For example it took my fiancee two days to get home once from lagos when the bus broke down. But at this point I have no choice I guess.

Peace,

Chi

Greetings,

Yes i hate that question too.. Ok so I'm a little annoyed, hate is strong.. I am a frim believer what is meant for me is meant for me and I should be thankful not envious.. but lately..... hmmm....

I have two friends who are getting married and it is bitter sweet, all the planning they get to do because the actually get to plan around a date. I've seen some ridiculously loooong time lines and some real short ones.. Who's to know when my time will come. So at times I'm not as chipper as a "Bride to Be" should be..

So when am I'm getting married, the ask??? When the freaking paper work is done and visa is in hand!

Peace,

Chi

Greetings,

I'm a little upset now. I Was just about to send off for my visa to Niegeria to visit my love, and he informed me the local airport is closed. This is the second time this year the Enugu airport has been closed since Jan. I sent an email to the airline carrier that I use to fly into from Lagos. They can't give me any estimated time when they may open back but highly unlikely it will be soon. UUGGH! I'm a teacher and my vacation starts in late June. I wanted to spend half my break with him but this poses a problem. There is the possiblilty of a cab ride but that would be 5-8 hours on unpaved road through Nigeria. Many buses and cars break down along the way and you have to just wait...... for help. Not to mention the cost of a cab making 4 trips!!! (him there to meet me, us to Enugu, us back to the airport and him back home). I miss him soooooo much we haven't seen each other since November! But what to do! I feel like Charlie Brown who thought he really was going to kick that football and that Damn Lucy just snatched it away!!!

Peace,

Chi

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to cancel the I-130 process and if you can will they refund your fees or will they keep them. Thanks.

sorry no refunds.... I hope all is well..Good luck

I wish you the best.. It is a very courages, unique and personal journey.. IT stand as a testimony of your faith in God and commitment to each other.. God bless.

Peace,

Chi

How devastating is the possibility that the wrong birth date was used on both of these forms for my intended? Is there an opportunity to correct or will this cause a red flag?

Was it a typo like you wrote 1879 instead of 1979 because thats easy to understand. Or was it like one paper says May 1977 and the other says May 1974, so now they have to wonder which one was correct. Either way.. You have to wait for a RFE.. There is now waytoe email or send a correction because you don't know who exactly has your file or etc. They will probably catch it and ask for explantion and proof of her correct birthdate.

I wouldn't worry that much.. RFE's just mean a small delay sometimes.

Think positive..

peace,

Chi

ok I am assuming that sometime in the near future after my NOA1(march/2012) they will ask for the Affivdat of support, which includes a letter from my job, bank statemtents and the last 3 -4 years of taxes. Correct? so my question #1..is this usually 60 days, 90 days or etc..after your NOA1. the main reason I am asking is I am a teacher and there are times during the summer June-Aug. when there is no office staff due to summer vacation. (I teach at a charter school only two buildings not a huge district). So question #2 should I have them write my letter now so just in case I don't have to wait on the secretary to be found to draft my letter. Question#3 is there and expiration date on the bank documents and letter from my job, like only good up to 2 months after signed date or something. I plan to be in Nigeria at least 3 weeks this summer with my fiancee. If the notice comes to send these documents and I'm not there, I would like to have the package with me and can send off from Nigeria. So I was figuring get everything signed and copied and take with me to Nigeria to be mailed out or leave complete package with my Mom and have her mail it out.

Is this too much thinking and planning ?? :blink:

lol

Peace,

Chi

Fell off my chair a few minutes ago when I saw the email notification. Am scheduled for a June 11 interview. Boy, now am in a tizzy, can't distinguish head from toe!

Congrats !!!!

Congrats!!!!!

Congrats!!!!! Way to go!!

Congrats!!! Smoothing sailing from here on Out I pray!

Africa has Internet. I know. I have been there twice.

First of all do you realize how big Africa is and NO! not all parts of AFrica have the internet. Yes most major countires have the ability but not always the access is avalible to all. Not to mention electircty poping on and off every other hour. My fiancee has no wi-fi available anywhere with in a days travel in Enugu. He has to purchase bundles for his laptop which is costly. He leaves out early to travel to 3 computer places/to wait for some one to show up for us to Skype but I promise you or Skyping is interupted at least 3-5 times a sesion due to lights out, generator cut off or the owners deciding to close because he is the only paying costumer so why bother staying open.

So yeah , like the other post consider yourselves lucky.

Peace,

Chi

thanks for the advice. . congrats!!!

thanks for that suggestion photos on post cards.

nice touch!

Greetings all,

Just wondering if it might make a differece on the impact of "evidence". My fiancee is Nigereian. We have tried to mail things in past. How ever there was always some issue for weeks hold up. Soo since we been apart for a while I wanted to write More "traditional love letters". I mean we chat everyday. In fact we have over 28,000 texts. But I thought it would be nice and perhaps they(interviewers) might want to see more content. So should we keep trying with the snail mail to send this letters. Or just email some the letters to each other on nice stationary so when it's printed out. It looks more like letters than short texts.. Just wondering what they might preferr at his interview..Thanks for your opinion.

Peace,

Chi