PBundles: Actually good tips, with the exception of the below mentioned, I sincerely beg to differ! I have lived in the US in my younger years ( until 15) and go there regularly as all my younger ones are citizens by birth ( youngest is 30 eldest is 40)and live there. My mother is an American citizen ( via naturalization), but its not the greatest country in the world BY FAR. Dont get me wrong it has its advantages but greatest, please.... then you haven’t travelled. America is a place where if you have money you are someone, if you dont you will wallow in squalor. You do know that a lot of its infrastructure is either second rate or old ( California electricity grid from the 50s and 60s still; NY and NJ bridges very and some in other states have actually collapsed). The cars you mention are all leased and borrowed. Most cant offered them. Its all about keeping up with the Jones. Crime, give me a break. I lived in Newark where drive by shootings were a daily occurrence.

Have you been to Dubai or some arab states or Asia ie Singapore. What about Bermuda with the highest GDP per head around US100k!. Have you been to Australia? Have you been to Europe, if not ask people who live in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, or Germany if they would trade places. The level of poverty in some urban cities is just like being in Nigeria. The US is just trying to get basic health insurance for their citizens something that most of these countries enjoy at a good price to say the least. Where the average American needs a second job, most Europeans dont have and want one. My daughter is in route to study medicine here and it will cost me no more than EUR 2000 MAX per year. The rest paid by government. Most deficits here max 3%. Have a look at the strength of the Euro even with the crisis. I work for an American company here and all my colleagues say the exact same thing when they come......we always thought the US was super UNTIL we travelled out. Less than 12% have a passport as many dont and cant travel. Have a look at the indexes produced each year that rate the level of life of the citizens, the US at times doesn’t even break the top 10.

So the tips are good and yes the US is a good place, but not great and I believe that this is the biggest and most important tip that they should understand. It will also remove the pressure back home when they know its not what its cut out to be instead of them thinking one is in heaven.

Factual and candid. It reminded me of a Nigerian Taxi driver doing two jobs. It is not easy.

Raptor X: I dont need to travel anywhere to know its all hype, all the ills you listed up there are not exclusive to Nigeria or Africa. You obviously have not visited America's inner cities were poverty, unemployment, and gun crimes are endemic and pervasive, i could give a flying fvck you live in a western country, while your mates you left
behind in Nigeria are now movers and shakers of Nigerian society, while you are still struggling to pay the mortgage on your two bedroom townhouse somewhere in Maryland.

It looks as if you are yapping but you are just being honest. Everyone is not the same. We have two groups of people affected.
1)Those who are made to go and hustle for dollars in Yankee by working as many hours of the day as possible to keep up with the bills and expectations of a highly consumerist society.
2) Those who are called to be leaders and managers in Nigeria. This category better stay in Nigeria apart from briefs stints in the West for training and education.

OP, I like your spirit and you are mostly right about the points you made. Although things might not be as easy as you make it seems but everything about life is determination. Survival in Nigeria needs determination as anywhere in the world.

akpan123: message for codebrew85, about been a nurse yes you can, look for a private nursing school , thats has 1 year lpn programme. example in dc , if you are resident they will pay 50% of your tuition. secondly if you succeed in getting your lpn, then try and get in to an lpn to rn programme. then look for a rn sponsorship job, means work permit will be sponsor by your job. especially if you are rn or in rn programme.

wow...thank you for your response. ¶ really do appreciate. God bless.

Anthony0094: I don't hv my glass, so I didn't read t . can someone narrate d t 4 me so dat I can comment and don't 4gt 2 use good English.tnx

in summary, the op says that Egypt is a north african country and not arab

if you are Lizard in Nigeria, dont expect to transform to crocodile in u.s. Succes is zeal. U.s is great, Naija is good. God bless Nigeria!

wonlasewonimi:

You sha want to give someone injection by force on the ishan.

lol

lemler: In thinking about the perennial question whether to come to the US or not, whether you can make it in the US or not, I feel the correct question to ask yourself is this: How much will I make in the US over X number of years for me to leave Nigeria. You see, people saying you can make it here are not telling you the whole truth. Lets look at some issues:

1. The average wage in the US for 2012 is $44,321.67 (about 8 million naira) This is what you can reasonably expect to earn after a Bachelor's degree. Without going into details, this is nothing if you have a family (for example, a standard daycare will easily cost you $9000 a year. If you cut corners, think of this- that person you are leaving your child with, is he/she a child molester?)

2. Nobody tell you the whole story: the OP in this thread mentioned living in Minnesota. While I have nothing agaainst livin there, but I people should also have the information that it is one of the coldest places in the US., with easily 6 months of winter (below freezing temperatures)

3. Nursing: Ah! The nigerian favourite. Since I work with nurses, I am aware of the situation. As an RN, you can make between 40-60, 000 working 4 days a week on the average. Sounds wonderful? Well, the whole story is that your salary does not change much over the years, meaning after 20 yrs on the job, there will be no huge difference, and remember, younger people are coming behind, and they will earn almost as you. This is why most people work 2 jobs which takes you out of the home 6 days a week, i2 hrs per day. Now you are begining to see why you have to pay the daycare 9000 dollars.

Summary of my advice: there is no short term gain to coming to the US, except you come to study and then return to Nigeria for a job.

To truly evaluate people here, just ask them to tell you their net worth, meaning the difference between their assets(how much they have) and their liabilities (how much they owe). You will be suprised........

Haba Alhadji, Minnesota no be Alaska now.

tensor77:
Will you guys just shut it about America. As I said it is not the best country in the world but if you want to believe the brainwashing stuff that comes from the mouth of the politicians it is up to you.
All Western countries have excellent public schools and excellent health care delivery. Most don't have gun crime or a gun culture either.
What is it about the yanks that they need to keep repeating that they are the greatest.
Fine just enjoy it by yourself

Request to shut it considered but rejected, you are free to place my username on ignore.

The USA is the greatest country in the world but like I said others can use different measuring mechanism.

I am proud of the gun culture, very proud and that is actually one of the ratings that makes it the greatest country in the world.

All countries have crime, all. Even the vatican.

akwunomy: I read your post and it was really interesting...i have been in the USA for two years and assuming i got this information earlier..it should have fasten my assimilation. I have already done most of the things you mentioned here...i will like to get to talk to you off the radar maybe you will be able to position me better...i got 10 years green card this month....I am looking forward to talk to you. Kevin...I live in Lancaster California...email...akwunomy24@yahoo.com

please, what modalities were involved in getting your 10 years green card?

@Jakaiso Do these instructions also apply to someone that lives in Canada??

Thanks.

Chinedu Echeruo, whose businness was sold to Apple for $1 BILLION is a Nigerian with a success story. But you know what, he went to GRADUATE SCHOOL. And not just any graduate school: Harvard Business School. But do you have to make 1 billion dollars to be successful? In my opinion, no. But there are a few things to note:

Most Americans(including immigrants) are in the "rat race' or the 'debt treadmill'. You know you are in trouble if you cannot afford to slow down.

2 types of immigrants to the US:

1. Those who come in and they have a well informed strategic plan of how to get to the top of American society. These are the people with vision and they will not mind sacrificing to go back to school or finding ways to improve themselves.
2. Those who come to the US thinking you can 'hustle and you will make it big'. To tell the truth, almost all the people in this group end up still 'hustling' till they retire, and then have to depend on Medicare/social security after retirement. No, I do not despise them, it's what they chose and are comfortable with.

Lest anyone shout me down, let me give you my current personal stats: what I pay in income taxes is more than what approx 60% of americans earn, yet I drive an 8 yr old Toyota Corolla. I buy good clothes on sale (but high quality ones because they last long), I have never paid a kobo in credit card interest because I never buy what I cannot afford. What do I do? I can't say it here. How did I get here? I went to school. I got an advanced degree. I realised quickly when I got here that if you join those looking for money, and you don't aim high, you will never be able to stop working 2 jobs, you will not sit down to eat with your children (you are always working) yet what you make will go to paying off the store cards, the car note, the mortgage. I have debts, but only beacuse these are leverageg. If the bank asks for their money, I can affordd to pay them off with just some minor discomfort, but will not be bankrupt.

So why am I writing this: you definitely can make it in the US, but you need top notch information. I wonder why people are not asking how they can come to America and be successful on wall street? As pharmacists, doctors, or in bulding a business that will transform the world?

Can I come back to Nigeria? Yes I wish I can, I would love to, but it is too late. Could I have made it in Nigeria? Yes. Without any doubt. If I knew what I know now, before I left Naija, I would be more successful there.

Happy New year to all. Will contribute more as I see fit.

Somorin#1:


Unfortunately the OP is 99% right.

USA is the greatest country in the world. GREATEST INDEED IN THEIR CURRENT PROBLEMS EVERY SINGLE WEEK. However I guess it depends on how your measure that fact. Quality of life, jobs, heathcare, industry, freedom, etc?

Jobs: [s]There are jobs here. I personally do not know any unemployed Nigerian.[/s] MILLIONS OF AMERICA ARE SEARCHING FOR JOBS AND POVERTY IN AMERICA IS A BELL. WE KNOW WHATS UP BRO!

Credit: [s]My Wife came here in September and she has an unsecured $5k C1 card on her own so that she can build her credit.[/s] YOU'RE TELLING US THIS, WE'RE NOT THERE, SO IT CAN BE FALSE

Visa: [s]If you overstay your visa you will get a ban. It's not my job to educate on the length of the ban USCIS.Gov has all the info.[/s] NO IT IS OUR BUSINESS

Citizenship: [s]My Wife is on track to become a citizen in side of 3 years of her entering the US.[/s] BIGGEST LIE OF THE YEAR 2014

Education: Many public schools. POINTLESS AND HAS NO MEANING

Healthcare: [s]What we had worked for us. We are trying new things.[/s] ONLY FOOL CAN FALL INTO YOUR KNOWINGLY FALSE CLAIM

Crime: [s]I have never been a victim of a crime. I don't live in crime infested hood nor engage in activities that promotes crime.[/s]
EVEN A DAY YEAR OLD BABY IS A VICTIM OF RACISM IN AMERICA. ASK OBAMA FOR REFERENCE

Racism: [s]I've never been the recipient of a direct racist encounter in my 30 years here. But then again I don't go around looking for trouble.[/s]
AMERICA IS THE LAND OF RACISM

Your opinions on the US are faulted. I salute your national pride of which I have same for Nigeria and the US but I'm reasonable.

Your claim is even worst than the OP, and does not deserve to prove wrong.
In other news, stop misleading innocent people that America is full of money printing machine.
UK is better than your America
Whether your wife has become a US citizen or about to become it within 3 years or 6 month, you're the one telling us, and it's non of the innocent people's business and will never be a reason to convince everybody that America is full of money tree machine, honey and milk.
If all your claims and the Op's are 100% right, then i expect both of you to include ''Contact me if you need cash for your air fair and i will pay your tuition fee too.


The US citizenship process can take less than a year or several years. Part of the variation depends on where you are with your application right now. If you are not a legal permanent resident of the United States, this is your first step. If you wish to become a US citizen and neither of your parents are US citizens, you’ll first need to immigrate to the United States and become a legal permanent resident. Once that is completed, a process that alone can take a few years, you’ll need to remain in the United States and establish permanent residency for five years,


We are not smelos

http://www.us-immigration.com/us-immigration-news/us-citizenship/how-long-does-the-us-citizenship-process-take/

I STAND ON MY CONCLUSION:

UNITED KINGDOM IS BETTER THAN UNITED STATES: In Education, Transportation, Crime Rate, Quality of Life and more...

UK/EUROPEAN PASSPORT HOLDER: Can live in more than 28 European countries as many years as you want and also claim some entitlement

AMERICAN PASSPORT HOLDER: Cannot live in any European country longer than 3-6 month. If you stay longer than 3-6 month you will become illegal immigrant/Asylum seeker or arrested and deported back to your Honey and Gold land as you claim.

POINT: UK passport more useful than US passport

lemler: Chinedu Echeruo, whose businness was sold to Apple for $1 BILLION is a Nigerian with a success story. But you know what, he went to GRADUATE SCHOOL. And not just any graduate school: Harvard Business School. But do you have to make 1 billion dollars to be successful? In my opinion, no. But there are a few things to note:

Most Americans(including immigrants) are in the "rat race' or the 'debt treadmill'. You know you are in trouble if you cannot afford to slow down.

2 types of immigrants to the US:

1. Those who come in and they have a well informed strategic plan of how to get to the top of American society. These are the people with vision and they will not mind sacrificing to go back to school or finding ways to improve themselves.
2. Those who come to the US thinking you can 'hustle and you will make it big'. To tell the truth, almost all the people in this group end up still 'hustling' till they retire, and then have to depend on Medicare/social security after retirement. No, I do not despise them, it's what they chose and are comfortable with.

Lest anyone shout me down, let me give you my current personal stats: what I pay in income taxes is more than what approx 60% of americans earn, yet I drive an 8 yr old Toyota Corolla. I buy good clothes on sale (but high quality ones because they last long), I have never paid a kobo in credit card interest because I never buy what I cannot afford. What do I do? I can't say it here. How did I get here? I went to school. I got an advanced degree. I realised quickly when I got here that if you join those looking for money, and you don't aim high, you will never be able to stop working 2 jobs, you will not sit down to eat with your children (you are always working) yet what you make will go to paying off the store cards, the car note, the mortgage. I have debts, but only beacuse these are leverageg. If the bank asks for their money, I can affordd to pay them off with just some minor discomfort, but will not be bankrupt.

So why am I writing this: you definitely can make it in the US, but you need top notch information. I wonder why people are not asking how they can come to America and be successful on wall street? As pharmacists, doctors, or in bulding a business that will transform the world?

Can I come back to Nigeria? Yes I wish I can, I would love to, but it is too late. Could I have made it in Nigeria? Yes. Without any doubt. If I knew what I know now, before I left Naija, I would be more successful there.

Happy New year to all. Will contribute more as I see fit.

I'm loving this

dotcom_na_me_na_me:

Your claim is even worst than the OP, and does not deserve to prove wrong.
In other news, stop misleading innocent people that America is full of money printing machine.
UK is better than your America
Whether your wife has become a US citizen or about to become it within 3 years or 6 month, you're the one telling us, and it's non of the innocent people's business and will never be a reason to convince everybody that America is full of money tree machine, honey and milk.
If all your claims and the Op's are 100% right, then i expect both of you to include ''Contact me if you need cash for your air fair and i will pay your tuition fee too.


The US citizenship process can take less than a year or several years. Part of the variation depends on where you are with your application right now. If you are not a legal permanent resident of the United States, this is your first step. If you wish to become a US citizen and neither of your parents are US citizens, you’ll first need to immigrate to the United States and become a legal permanent resident. Once that is completed, a process that alone can take a few years, you’ll need to remain in the United States and establish permanent residency for five years,


We are not smelos

http://www.us-immigration.com/us-immigration-news/us-citizenship/how-long-does-the-us-citizenship-process-take/

I STAND ON MY CONCLUSION:

UNITED KINGDOM IS BETTER THAN UNITED STATES: In Education, Transportation, Crime Rate, Quality of Life and more...

.

lemler:
So why am I writing this: you definitely can make it in the US, but you need top notch information. I wonder why people are not asking how they can come to America and be successful on wall street? As pharmacists, doctors, or in bulding a business that will transform the world?
Can I come back to Nigeria? Yes I wish I can, I would love to, but it is too late. Could I have made it in Nigeria? Yes. Without any doubt. If I knew what I know now, before I left Naija, I would be more successful there.
Happy New year to all. Will contribute more as I see fit.

God bless you for your refreshing honesty and insight. Yes the OP is for some reason telling Nigerians that they should join him on the ratrace and debt treadmill. That's fine if the person has nothing reasonable doing in Nigeria or is visionless, BUT it is very bad advice for one who is called to do great things in Nigeria. It is not all about instant gratification and shallow American consumerism.

In fact the guy is just annoyingly going on about working 70 hour shifts in some blue collar job whilst some people are making it big in Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Some people can dream big and actualise their dreams whilst others cannot see beyond their next paycheck.

lemler: My own example, livin in NY, in 2005:

Salary: $53,000
Less tax: Approx. 17000 (you pay more when you are single-and you pay to the fed. Govt, Newy York state and NY city)
Less Rent: 12000/yr ( sharing a 2 bedroom apartment), but was lucky I did not have to pay electricity and gas
Less Car note (loan) 3600/yr - for a 3 yr old used car -can be more or less depending on your credit score
Less parking: 1200/yr ( my side morror was stolen when I parked on the strret)
Car Insurance: 900/yr
Cell phone: 720/yr
Internet and TV: 960/yr- (you get deals, but they expire, but you can call them thay you will stop your service, and they will tell u to pay same amount)

Now, I had very sparse furniture ( I would never pick up things from the street , which some people do), but if I bought on credit, I would have to pay it back.

Now magine if I had a child. Or two. Or 3......

Do u know that everything you listed above and claiming you are paying money on are just big luxury to 95% of people living in nigeria. Point is if you are offered a service and you are enjoying the service, pls stop complaining cos u must pay for a service offered and enjoyed. If an average nigerian could get just 50% of the above listed, there won't be any reason to be hustling to want to go and die in "cold" oyinbo man's land.

From the information gathered here, I have tried to put together some figures; First I would begin with the maximum possible amount you can earn by working a $10 job as a new immigrant in USA ok . My calculation is base on 8hrs of work, 8hrs of sleep, 8hr of other things like preparing for work, commute, eating, rest, bathing, leisure etc per 24hr day

$10 x 40hours per week = $400.

so, when State and federal tax is deducted , You are left with say $280 take home for one week.
Multiply that by 4weeks in a month $280 x 4 = $1120 per month.

Therefore you monthly take home is ****$1120***

Now expenditure per month

Rent, may be able to share a room with somebody = $350

Food $10 per day for 30days @ $3 dollar per meal = $250**

Transport to work and back $60 per week (if you have a card for mass transit/train) $60 x 4week = $240

gas bill = $20

electric bill = $30

phone = $50

Compulsory health insurance premium = $120

Toiletries that bath soap, cream, deodorant, shampoo = $40

Other personal little little expenses like soft drink, coffee, bottle water =$50

Credit card repayment =$50

Now TOTAL EXPENSES = $1200.

My question now for OP is, how do you balance this budget. Income $1120 / Expenses $1200

Lets us not even consider the following;
Remember this is assuming you don't have a car, (auto insurance $120, petrol $200),
you are not paying tithe of giving offering $50 a month
You don't smoke or drink
No girlfriend
No cable Tv
No buying of cloths or shoes
No school fees
No water bill (your landlord pays)
No sending a Kobo home
you don't barb your hair( bought clipper)
No recreational actives
God bless you if you have kid/s and daycare to pay

deebsman1:

Do u know that everything you listed above and claiming you are paying money on are just big luxury to 95% of people living in nigeria. Point is if you are offered a service and you are enjoying the service, pls stop complaining cos u must pay for a service offered and enjoyed. If an average nigerian could get just 50% of the above listed, there won't be any reason to be hustling to want to go and die in "cold" oyinbo man's land.

You are missing the point. Its like those things he mentioned come with the package of living in America. Its not really part of discretionary spending or luxuries. They are the essential outgoings of any working American.

Any wannabe immigrant needs to pay careful attention to the list to envisage whether he would be able to control his monthly expenditure so as not to be sucked into a life of debt and denial.

deebsman1:

Do u know that everything you listed above and claiming you are paying money on are just big luxury to 95% of people living in nigeria. Point is if you are offered a service and you are enjoying the service, pls stop complaining cos u must pay for a service offered and enjoyed. If an average nigerian could get just 50% of the above listed, there won't be any reason to be hustling to want to go and die in "cold" oyinbo man's land.

You can never survive without those things he listed as long as you have a job. Don't compare it with Nigeria, they are totally different environment.

sonnie10:
My question now for OP is, how do you balance this budget. Income $1120 / Expenses $1200
Lets us not even consider the following;
Remember this is assuming you don't have a car, (auto insurance $120, petrol $200),
you are not paying tithe of giving offering $50 a month
You don't smoke or drink
No girlfriend
No cable Tv
No buying of cloths or shoes
No school fees
No water bill (your landlord pays)
No sending a Kobo home
you don't barb your hair( bought clipper)
No recreational actives

Funny but true. The question is for how long can the man put up with this existential lifestyle whilst his mates are living big in Nigeria and elsewhere.

tensor77:

Funny but true. The question is for how long can the man put up with this existential lifestyle whilst his mates are living big in Nigeria and elsewhere.

Una No Go Kee Me Will Laugh. OP Meant No Harm. He's Passed A Good Info To People Who Are Interested In America. Peace!!!

castrokins:

Una No Go Kee Me Will Laugh. OP Meant No Harm. He's Passed A Good Info To People Who Are Interested In America. Peace!!!

I agree with you. But he's not supposed to guarantee success in America. Him be God? Or are fingers equal? If all what he wrote are true, then no one will ever live in anywhere in the world than in America, and no one will ever relocate from America.

He only said the good sides.. When the innocent get there is when some of them will start cursing him.

His good info should clearly state ''likely, might, and not guarantee.

what advise do you have for someone that coming to US with six months Visa?

Even the RN (Nursing) he is talking about, first with all your degree from Nigeria, you must take these courses; Biology l , Biology ll, Anatomy/Phy l, Anatomy/Phy ll . This is two good years. Then the RN program proper is another two years. Total of four years leaving with $10 per hour job. By the way, have you considered the fact that you are at work 8hrs during the day, and you are expected to be in the clinic 8hrs during the day for your clinical rotation. omnipresence

otosa: what advise do you have for someone that coming to US with six months Visa?

Hold your ear very well because your best friend will never tell you this; do not stay more than the time they gave you. Just come and go back until you are given more time

sonnie10: Even the RN (Nursing) he is talking about, first with all your degree from Nigeria, you must take these courses; Biology l , Biology ll, Anatomy/Phy l, Anatomy/Phy ll . This is two good years. Then the RN program proper is another two years. Total of four years leaving with $10 per hour job. By the way, have you considered the fact that you are at work 8hrs during the day, and you are expected to be in the clinic 8hrs during the day for your clinical rotation. omnipresence

not everybody, if u have a nursing degree from naija, all u need is to get it evaluated and take the Nclex exam

dudubody: not everybody, if u have a nursing degree from naija, all u need is to get it evaluated and take the Nclex exam

How many Nigerians in the US were nurses in Nigeria? Have you seen most of the job nursing adverts? The first clause is "Most be a graduate of a US regionally approved program". I mean almost all the nursing jobs.

bookmarked

akpan123: TENSOR 77. Have a question for you. How can we make nigeria better.

Good question. I honestly don't understand why some people just hate on Nigerians that are trying to find a better life in diaspora. Nigeria has so much prospects, the weather is great against depression, we have the population to build the nation a hundred fold into a mega super world power. Our problem is its seemingly impossible for the average civilian Nigerian to make the country better if the government policies and enforcement arms of governance are not doing much in support of the change. Every Nigerian who has left the country and returned would agree that Nigeria is in a pretty sorry state and really needs the sort of transformation that only government can provide. If any one is in doubt, try reporting a man who u see dropping a satchet of water in public to a nearby police officer and tell me what is likely to be the response of the officer. How do u then apprehend the suspect yourself when the ones to purnish him don't want to. You'lld even be lucky if you aren't charged with breaking the law for taking laws into your hands I really hope people like Tensor77 work in government enforcement to change the nation for better, otherwise he should accept the truth about what has become of our dear country and why its necessary for people (who have no authority of influencing change) to seek better pastures elsewhere.