Friday, November 10, 2006

Its a interesting World!!

I had decided to put a very interesting perspective on life thus far – but I just couldn’t let this be. As I pondered on how to seek the answer to my question without it being an allegory, I finally decided that I needed help.

You might find this funny – I know I do!

I am a Nigerian as far as I’m concerned – I might not be a typical Nigerian who spent a lot of her grown up years in Nigeria but I have tried to make up for my inadequacies – I travel back to Nigeria annually – when I’m there I’ve tried to learn the local dialects so that I am not taken advantage of – tried to learn some Yoruba – It always comes in very useful – I’m not saying am an expert but I can get by - I can understand and speak Igbo – I’ve also started learning the pidgin English – I try to hang out more in the village – no point in staying in the cities [cause its all a learning experience] – Apart from the lack of electricity, bad road, running water, mosquito bites, police thieves, some wazup men – I believe I have slowly assimilated myself back to the system.

I also have a Nigerian passport. My father made sure he got us all one. Our Nigerian passports must have expired the first time I remember in the early or mid 90’s. My dad always had our Nigerian passports – So he never got round to renewing them – So in 2001 he decided to travel to Nigeria on a leave to stay for a year or more – and he remembered he had to renew our passport – We all had to go to the Nigerian embassy in London – I have never seen a place so disorganised in my entire life. We had got all the forms signed, every requirement met – but they refused to renew our passport – They made up one story or the other – I nearly lost my rag that day. So Finally my dad asked to see the guy in charge of the embassy – They had my dad waiting for hrs – my dad was cool and collected – I was looking for someone to run my mouth to – so finally he met the man – whom realised he knew my dad – they struck off a conversation – and within hrs all our passports were renewed.

My executive self have been asked to be chief-bridesmaid at my dear friend and cousin’s wedding – My passport expired august of this year – I really don’t want to have to go through everything that we went through just to get one passport – so I thought I should go get a visa – A friend adanna had applied for a Nigerian visa - even though she spent her entire secondary school terms in Nigeria – her visa application was denied – You can blatantly tell she’s Nigeria, she talks Nigerian, has a Nigerian name, but they declined her visa to go to Nigeria.

So what I’m I getting at – It looks like a Nigerian like me will have to apply for visa to go to Nigeria. They’ve asked I should bring invitation letter from Nigeria to show I will not go to Nigeria disappear, and not want to return – to show I have sufficient funds to stay in Nigeria and will not be a burden to Nigeria -

What if I choose to renew my passport – I need to get thumb print – do they still do that – and get someone in official government to watch me sign. My dad had always dealt with that side of things – but its time I try and deal with this myself. So this is where you guys come in. Please my blog friend – I need your advice – ibi like say – I no go return to Nigeria again o. My trip is planned for mid January – any chance any of this immigration issues be resolved before then?

96 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would get my passport renewed if I were you. My passport has expired and I will be going to the NY Nigerian Consulate next week. I always recommend using the two passports to travel, and that way I never need a visa. In the space for the thumbrint on the new passport form, it says signature or thumbprint. So you should be fine. Go to the website to find out more info, and to dowload the forms.

The Life of a Stranger called me said...

@anon - I actually went on their website - but it only brings up the Washington DC branch for passport enquiries - of which I called and there was no answer. Thanks for the advice.

Anonymous said...

Go to the NYC website. The DC website is pretty much crap in my opinion, though the NY website is not that much better.

www.nigeriahouse.com

This seemed to have more information.

Miguel said...

lol...my good ness this is funny...our dear country has sparked they want to see prove you'll be returning to your country of rigin before they give you visa? lol...

As per renewing your passport, you can also try the consular office in Atlanta.
website: http://www.nigeria-consulate-atl.org
phone:(770)394-6261
Good luck.

NaijaBloke said...

TLOASCM ..Pele I feel ur pain jere ..thatz the same thing that happened to one of my friend with his visa o ...they denied his ass ..

Calling them is a waste of time o left to me ...just carry urself go to the DC office or the Atlanta office and renew ur passport,but make sure u have like $100 to bribe someone unless u want them to waste ur time ..

I am just thanking God I got mine renewed in Naija last DEC when I went to Naija ..I only paid N3000 for it .. Omo I did not even have any naira on me that day ... I borrowed money from a friend sharp sharp cos compared to the wahala u will face here and the cost of $45 and cost of mailing it.
U can download the renewal form here http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/immigration.shtml

This is the website for the Atlanta consulate http://www.nigeria-consulate-atl.org/ and u can print the renewal form for Atlanta here http://www.nigeria-consulate-atl.org/passport_renew.pdf
U can see they have different forms if u mail it to Atlanta they say it will take 10 business days ...u can read the details here http://www.nigeria-consulate-atl.org/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=54&op=page&SubMenu=

I hope the info helps u out

Eagle's Nest!!! said...

Renewing your passport should not be a task. Do not to leave anything to chance.

Anthony Arojojoye said...

We don't want all those expatriates that refused to come home again. Sebi una disown us, why una wan come back? If u wan come stay for here, then we'll give u visa to be here permanently. But to dey waka kurukere up and down is no more allowed in our great nation:D

I wonder why a Nigerian, which you claim you are, cannot just learn to use the simple methods of solving issues.
Try get some Benjamin Franklins (or the remix in the country where you reside) in a neat envelope and go ask of whoever is in charge of the place (Manager or Consule General or something) and say you want a few minutes with him.
Drop the parcel, explain your problem and you'll smile home in 20 mins. Shikena!
Abi since u don dey learn all d dialects, u no learn dat one join?! And you call yourself a Nigerian!
Dat's why I trust a Warri man - Warri man no dey carry last. Even if dem spend 50yrs in another man's land, dem brain dey sharp pass cutlass.

P.S Seriously, it works everywhere (YES, even where you are!) and it has been confirmed.

DiAmOnD hawk said...

they're denying the wrong ppl...you just need to spark for them. That is so bizarre...to get denied a visa to your own country...foolish people. GO HOME WITH AN EXPIRED PASSPORT. they cannot refuse you entry. I've done it before

Anonymous said...

@Diamond: haba, expired pali. You sef,na u biko.

@LOASCM: i feel you,raise hell and tell them no one can DENY YOU ENTERANCE INTO YOUR FATHER LAND!!!

Gramps said...

As anonymous said, it's better to renew your passport and carry the two when you travel - one to enter Naija, the other to leave. I would suggest you take out the time and visit any of the offices to get it renewed. Subsequently, do not allow the thing to expire before renewing - get it done at least 2 months before or when ever you visit Naija. It's always easy to get it done in Naija.

Another option is to get a visa, come down to Naija and then get a brand new passport. You don't neccesarily need an IV from Naija. Try and book an online reservation for Sheraton - Abuja/Lagos or L'Meridien (just make sure you can cancel the reservation and there are no charges on your card). The printed reservation and your bank statement is enough. You can always claim you're going on vacation to Lagos, Obudu Cattle ranch or the new TINAPA (but that one is not yet complete oh....)

SapphireAster said...

I would just renew my passport if I were you...matter of fact I renewed my passport 3 weeks ago for my Dec trip! I sent it to the embassy in New York...They dont require finger prints like the others.Trust me I had to find a way out of doing that stupid finger printing i front of a government official.
I was actually impressed I got my passport back exactly 6 days after I had sent it...All they did was stamp one of the front pages and say the passport has been renewed till 2011! It's a breeze. Did you get your ticket yet?

Anonymous said...

A friend had to go to Nigeria, realised his Nigerian passport had expired, took the Canadian passport to Nigerian embassy, they didnt give him Visa, and he was speaking GOOD yoruba, they said he had to provide some documents. I was just stunned and felt how worse could it be?
I'd advise you to renew your passport as early as you can.

Biodun said...

My sister just got her passport renewed via the new york office. We just mailed all the necessary paper work in (which u can get from their website) and they gave her a new passport with no problems. It took about 8 weeks though.

The Life of a Stranger called me said...

@ all -

Thank you so much - I never knew there were this much resources available.

So cause of you all - I will be renewing my passport.

Using your resources I found out that the ATL office does a walk in service - I will be walking in next week - if they dont deal - I will send the nija embassey in DC their forms which Ive already filled out. If their shakara is too much - I will then send the NEW York office forms to them also.

Surley They cant turn me down twice.

Thank you everyone

NaijaBloke said...

Hmmm.. I second diamond jere ..u can just go with an expired passport and they cant stop u from entrying jere .. and u can then renew in Naija ..

LondonBuki said...

My passport expired in 2001!!!
I haven't needed it 'cos I've not been to Lagos since 1998.
I have to go to my friend's wedding in January and I am planning on going to the Nigerian High Commision next week to get my renew my Nig passport... I am NOT getting a Visa to go to Lagos, it is a waste of money.

Good Luck Babe :-)

Anonymous said...

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The Life of a Stranger called me said...

@temmy - that cant happen - what happenend - when how - mogbe - who can we speak to - pls dont stop writing -pls

Anonymous said...

Thanks a bunch sweets. I am going to be using this link jare. The other one is giving me problems. I appreciate this:u don't know how much.

Unknown said...

Babes go and get the passport renewed. It will be stressful and will cost you loss of vital man hours but in the long run is best!! Can u imagine getting a visa to go to ur own country? Why now? Harass them jo - or better still get daddy to do it for you. (smile)

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