US Embassy discriminate against pregnant Nigerian women?

Piece written by Mrs. Juyinlo Toluwalase

The United States’ embassy in Nigeria seems to have perfected the art of denying well-meaning and legitimate non-immigrant Nigerian mothers visa for reasons best known to it. At the end of visa interview sessions, what one hears is, ‘’You are not qualified at this time’’! Women of child-bearing age are asked questions such as: Are you pregnant at this time? How many children do you have? Do you plan to have more children? And if the response to any of these questions is in the affirmative, then the next set of questions may be: Do you plan to have the baby in America? Can you afford to pay the medical bills? You are probably asked to show evidence and even after showing evidence you are told mostly that you do not qualify at this time or that you should reapply after having your baby.

Please note that there have been cases when female applicants did not even know they were pregnant during the interview and later discovered in the weeks to follow! Obviously, a married woman who is sexually active can become pregnant at anytime even with the use of contraceptives. Asking these kinds of questions during interviews is not a way to determine the purpose of the interview, which is to determine if the visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Finding out if an applicant is pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon, has nothing to do with the application but is an unnecessary invasion of privacy.

Moreover in Africa, questions like these are very sensitive as people like to keep such information private until the pregnancy becomes advanced. If one may ask, is the visa meant to be an agreement to celibacy in marriage? In my own case, I had used my American visa many times for holiday and even business before deciding to make use of the medical facilities available in the US to have my baby. I also decided to do this because I developed some complications during the pregnancy and decided to seek better health care. Why then would a consular officer overlook all the business transactions done and deny an applicant for the simple reason of having a baby in America?

Is it wrong for a mother to seek better medical treatment for herself anywhere in the world if she can afford it? Or, could it be that it is a crime under American laws? Let us examine the major issues in this matter because I really do not understand the thinking.

The B-1/B-2 visitors visa is for people travelling to the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). Generally, the B-2 visa is for travel that is recreational in nature, including tourism, visits to friends or relatives, medical treatment and activities of a fraternal, social or service nature often the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: the B-1/B-2 visa.

So, can we safely assume that if you are issued a visa in the B-1/B-2 category, you can use the visa for any of the purposes stated above during the duration of the visa (which is usually 2 years validity) without fear that you will be denied another visa during renewal for using it for any of the above stated purposes? Let us say, for instance, during the interview, you stated to the consular officer that you were travelling to America on holiday. If sometimes during the validity of your visa, you use same visa for business purposes or medical purposes, should you be penalised?

Using one’s visa for medical treatment can be in form of the following: Any form of surgery both medical, cosmetic surgeries , having a baby or any gynaecological related procedure, general medical check-up e.t.c

I have tried to find out several reasons why mothers are being denied visas to the US. Could it be because there is a law in place saying people cannot have their babies in America? In fact, I can say after much investigation that there is nothing like that. Everyone is allowed to go everywhere in the world for medical treatment so long as they can afford it. Nigerians still go to South Africa, the United Kingdom, and other European countries to have their babies so long as they can afford it and they do so because they believe they will get better medical care.

Could the issue be that the women that are having babies in America can cause overpopulation in the future? I still do not think that is the issue as the American government still runs the visa lottery every year in which thousands of people all over the world are granted immigrant status to live and work in America.

Denying mothers of American citizen children visa’s during renewal is indirectly denying the American citizen child entry to America because the child cannot travel unaccompanied at a minor age without either of his or her parent.

Mrs. Juyinlo Toluwalase

Sulaimon Jinad Street, Mowe, Ogun State.

Culled from Punch

20 Students of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa state shot dead

At least 20 students (Some newspapers say the number is as high as 40.) of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State, were shot dead last night by unknown gunmen. The men invaded the off-campus student hostel around 11 last night, rounded some students up, lined them up, asked a few questions and then separated the students into two groups. One group was allowed to go and the other group, with about 20 students, were all shot dead - execution style.

Students in the hostel have started leaving for fear of another attack. 

The school has been shut indefinitely and the Adamawa state government have imposed a 24hour curfew. Up until this very moment, no group has claimed responsibility for the massacre. 

Sokoto Police arrest Christian attempting to board Hajj flight

A 29-year old, Plateau state-born teacher, Lohnan Joseph, was intercepted while trying to board a Saudi Arabia bound flight at Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto on Sunday.

Joseph, a Christian and a former teacher at Global Kids Academy, Sokoto, was said to have joined the screening line of Zamfara State intending pilgrims, who were about to board the flight in the early hours of Sunday.

When asked why he tried to board the flight, he said - “I am a Nigerian. I don’t believe in discrimination, whether you are a christian or Muslim”. LMAO!

Speaking to newsmen, Alhaji Mukhtari Lugga, the Zamfara Commissioner for Environment and one of the state’s Hajj officials, who was among the people who spotted and consequently intercepted the suspect, said that “Joseph just came from nowhere and joined their line during the screening.”

“He was easily identified as an alien among them because he was not wearing the uniform. This was what drew our attention to him and we quickly notified the police who came and picked him up for interrogation.”
Lugga said that 40 pieces of 10,000 France Franc, eight pieces of 5,000 France Franc, one piece of 1,000 France Franc and N610 in different denominations were found in his possession as well as his personal belongings and credentials concealed in a black bag.

Asked why he, as a Christian, joined the line of pilgrims boarding a hajj flight, Joseph said: “I am a Nigerian, so I don’t believe in discrimination, whether you are a christian or Muslim”.
He also said that he wanted to be like Herbert Macaulay, whom he read, had travelled to London amidst difficulties.

Joseph also said that his mission was not to travel but only to visit the airport and come back.
While parading the suspect, Sokoto state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Shu’aibu Gambo, said the suspect was intercepted at around 9 a.m, as he attempted to join the screening line of Zamfara pilgrims.
Gambo said that Joseph had said at his interrogation that he wanted to go to London and had mentioned names of some people as his accomplices.
The police commissioner said his men would go after the people to establish their true mission.

Source: NAN

Whistle blowing

Definition of whistle-blowing "The disclosure by a person, usually an employee in a government agency or private enterprise, to the public or to those in authority, of mismanagement, corruption, illegality, or some other wrongdoing."

There is no actual law in Nigeria that protects a whistleblower, therefore discouraging them and giving discomfort to disclose their identity. 

Dino Melaye

Dino Melaye

Government employee, in the House of representatives as a member.

This man created awareness about something very fishy that took place between other members of the house. Madam Etteh who offered to refurbish a house for the government for N238million was renovated by Dimeji Bankole for N400million and the same house was eventually sold to him.

The claim Dino made was that the house was not actually sold to Dimeji it was just given to him. 

And after the whole case blew over, because theres no law protecting whistleblowers in Nigeria, Dino Melaye and his cohorts were suspended.

The question is; Why was Dimeji Bankole awarded a contract at an extra cost of N162million?

Happy 52nd Independence Anniversary Nigeria!!!

May God to continue to bless our country!! 

Food for thought

Is jealousy proof of love or lack of self confidence?

Man mistakenly shoots and kills masked son

A US man mistakenly shot dead his 15-year-old son while investigating what appeared to be an attempted burglary at his sister's house next door. Jeffrey Giuliano opened fire on a masked teenager outside his sister's house when the person came at him with a knife.

According to police, the father was called by his sister, who lives next door, at around 1am on Friday when she heard someone outside her home and believed they were attempting to break in. The popular fifth-grade teacher confronted the person wearing a ski mask, black clothing and holding what appeared to be a knife. As the person lunged at him with the knife, Guilliano fired his gun.

Police later told him after removing the mask that he had killed his adopted son Tyler (pictured above). No charges have yet been filed in the case.