Sequel to the recent retrenchment of tech bros and gas (https://www.nairaland.com/7533677/google-parent-alphabet-cut-12000), and reading tales online from foreign nationals especially those in the developing world on how they need to find a job within two months or be made to leave the country. It got me wondering how exactly the US immigration process is considering how immigration friendly the US is seen globally. In simple terms, this is a summary of how it is to become a naturalised American if entered through the study route:

tensazangetsu20:


Very few jobs sponsor for H1B o. The thing is that it's even a lottery system so a company can sponsor you and you won't even get it. When you graduate as a student you have OPT which allows you to work but it's only valid for a short amount of time (three years if STEM and one year if not STEM). You have to try to get H1B during your opt period. If you can't, you have to leave the USA. If you also get H1B you need to maintain it for 6 years to get green card. If you lose your job while on H1B you have 60 days to find another else you have to leave the USA. For some nationalities like Indians and chinese, it's almost impossible to get green card due to backlog. There's indians who have been working for 10 years on H1B and can't get green card.

Additionally, from the US immigration website, slightly above 1000 Nigerians petitioned for H1B (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/data/h-1b-petitions-by-gender-country-of-birth-fy2019.pdf). Meanwhile, more than 11K Nigerian students are studying in the US – the highest from Africa (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/06/number-of-nigerians-studying-in-us-increased-by-93-in-10-years-erudera-com/). So, where the remaining 10K+ go after their studies? Dem no see work? If they got employed, how did they become citizens/permanent residents?

It is the dream or, I dare say the aim of many of those Nigerian students to stay longer and possibly naturalise in the US after their studies, even if they return to Nigeria later in life. So, since the road to eventual naturalisation is not as straightforward like Canada, I am genuinely curious how those who became permanent residents (green card holders) or citizens did it. The same also applies to the UK since it takes at least five years to become an ILR holder and another year to become a naturalised British. Also, the window to remain in the UK after a job loss is also 60 days for non-UK citizens. Just that, the UK does not have a tumbo-tumbo H1B system like the US.

For instance, look at the Twitter links and screenshots. Getting a job as an international student, especially outside tech is not guaranteed and one has to hold it for at least six years while navigating the tumbo-tumbo H1B system before becoming a green card holder. To buttress it, the Chat guy don go back to Trinidad & Tobago even after attaining a degree from Caltech and was an Olympiad winner after his secondary school studies. So, it is not by degree or prestigious university but by how the system is designed.

One might suggest a PhD, but not everyone has the time, mental strength to undergo the degree

TheNoble007:



The best bet is to be a PhD candidate in STEM, do good research work and show that you are a person of extraordinary ability which is not very difficult and viola, you apply for EB1A via express.... That's the surest way to approval now. Or the person do a postdoc after PhD and then get a faculty role in a less competitive college or University.... There is no cap for H1B for higher institutions at all...

https://twitter.com/bradchattergoon/status/1554906852852465665?s=20&t=y6XsFbta5Y9pvIQcFzGHGA
https://twitter.com/anthonyjdella/status/1615817810311278592

So fellow Nigerian students who have now naturalised in the US, how did you do it?

You wont get such info on a public forum!

No one will give you the link on a public forum., they will encourage you!

cc: Kelechi009, MackyNaija & TWoods.

@Ednut1, (you suppose sabi one or two persons)

CoronaVirusRelo:
You wont get such info on a public forum!

No one will give you the link of a public forum., they will encourage you!

Encourage abi discourage?

If it is Twitter, I can understand since it has a global audience, but Nairaland is targeted at Nigerians. I wager that an Indian has asked similar questions to foras populated by Indians.

Gerrard59:


Encourage abi discourage?

If it is Twitter, I can understand since it has a global audience, but Nairaland is targeted at Nigerians. I wager that an Indian has asked similar questions to foras populated by Indians.

Indians are secretive! Those lots are IT mafias!

Why I was trying to tell him he is on the wrong forum!

Even when you try to infiltrate their forum, your name must be Anthab Bashar, and must be able to speak Indian English.


The links are out there, no one will tell him on a public forum!

CoronaVirusRelo:



Indians are secretive! Those lots are IT mafias!

Why I was trying to tell him he is on the wrong forum!

Even when you try to infiltrate their forum, your name must be Anthab Bashar, and must be able to speak Indian English.


The links are out there, no one will tell him on a public forum!

I am not seeking the opinions of Indians but Nigerians. How is it hard to understand? I made an analogy to Indians as I bet similar questions have been asked. I even know that the Chinese discuss the same issues on their fora, but why should I be interested in their methods when I am neither Chinese nor Indian? On paper, any sub-Saharan African is better positioned in the road to eventual naturalisation than those Asians, so our ways are not the same.

Gerrard59:


I am not seeking the opinions of Indians but Nigerians. How is it hard to understand? I made an analogy to Indians as I bet similar questions have been asked. I even know that the Chinese discuss the same issues on their fora, but why should I be interested in their methods when I am neither Chinese nor Indian? On paper, any sub-Saharan African is better positioned in the road to eventual naturalisation than those Asians, so our ways are not the same.

You wont get the feedback you desire on a public forum. Imagine I knew, do you think I will just start typing it out. You need to do more of private research. What's working wont be typed out on this forum, except its the popular demand!

The EB2-NIW is a pathway that I feel Nigerians are sleeping on. I’ve mentioned this in one of the US travel parts before. Indians and the Chinese have been using it for a very long time. Hence the heavy backlog.
It’s the same path that myself and some of my friends used. The link below will provide more context.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-second-preference-eb-2

Gerrard59:


I am not seeking the opinions of Indians but Nigerians. How is it hard to understand? I made an analogy to Indians as I bet similar questions have been asked. I even know that the Chinese discuss the same issues on their fora, but why should I be interested in their methods when I am neither Chinese nor Indian? On paper, any sub-Saharan African is better positioned in the road to eventual naturalisation than those Asians, so our ways are not the same.

Gerrard59:
cc: Kelechi009, MackyNaija & TWoods.

@Ednut1, (you suppose sabi one or two persons)

So far I have only seen one person who has been successful with Naturalisation and It was by marriage or by joining the US Army.

1. By Marriage
2. By joining the Armed Forces.

Every single time you ask this question, the answer you'd get is similar to the one below, I don't know why straight path to immigration should be a secret.

You wont get such info on a public forum! No one will give you the link of a public forum., they will encourage you!

Go YouTube

I would really love to know. It seems aside getting married there's really no sure way of getting a US green card and citizenship eventually. Going to school in the US doesn't guarantee that you will stay back and make it to become a citizen.

tensazangetsu20:
I would really love to know. It seems aside getting married there's really no sure way of getting a US green card and citizenship eventually. Going to school in the US doesn't guarantee that you will stay back and make it to become a citizen.

It's quite easy through nursing... As a foreign nurse, once you're employed in the states, you'll be given permanent residency(green card) once you get there..
And to be honest, nursing and other medical courses are the best bet...
I see you emphasize most on physical science and engineering courses, but these has limitations on their own side...

atom080:

It's quite easy through nursing... As a foreign nurse, once you're employed in the states, you'll be given permanent residency(green card) once you get there..
And to be honest, nursing and other medical courses are the best bet...
I see you emphasize most on physical science and engineering courses, but these has limitations on their own side...

Gbam so even IT isn't a sure bet to getting a US green card as evidenced from these layoffs.

atom080:

It's quite easy through nursing... As a foreign nurse, once you're employed in the states, you'll be given permanent residency(green card) once you get there..
And to be honest, nursing and other medical courses are the best bet...
I see you emphasize most on physical science and engineering courses, but these has limitations on their own side...

Sorry sir, but let me just confirm something. Do you mean once I arrive the US and become a registered Nurse, I would get a permanent residency(green card) ?

What is the process and where was this written?

atom080:

It's quite easy through nursing... As a foreign nurse, once you're employed in the states, you'll be given permanent residency(green card) once you get there..
And to be honest, nursing and other medical courses are the best bet...
I see you emphasize most on physical science and engineering courses, but these has limitations on their own side...

This is not true. The path to permanent residency is relatively the same across the board. Your employer would first have to keep you on an H1B/or some sort of job visa, get a permanent labor certification for you from DOL and then apply for adjustment of status through the EB1, EB2 or EB3 routes, whichever is applicable to you.

Kelechi009:


So far I have only seen one person who has been successful with Naturalisation and It was by marriage or by joining the US Army.

1. By Marriage
2. By joining the Armed Forces.

Every single time you ask this question, the answer you'd get is similar to the one below, I don't know why straight path to immigration should be a secret.

How can you join Armed Forces if you are first of all not a green card holder or a citizen..

I may be wrong though

Gerrard59:


Additionally, from the US immigration website, slightly above 1000 Nigerians petitioned for H1B (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/data/h-1b-petitions-by-gender-country-of-birth-fy2019.pdf). Meanwhile, more than 11K Nigerian students are studying in the US – the highest from Africa (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/06/number-of-nigerians-studying-in-us-increased-by-93-in-10-years-erudera-com/). So, where the remaining 10K+ go after their studies? Dem no see work? If they got employed, how did they become citizens/permanent residents?

One might suggest a PhD, but not everyone has the time, mental strength to undergo the degree

https://twitter.com/bradchattergoon/status/1554906852852465665?s=20&t=y6XsFbta5Y9pvIQcFzGHGA
https://twitter.com/anthonyjdella/status/1615817810311278592

So fellow Nigerian students who have now naturalised in the US, how did you do it?

Ask any questions you may have.

internationalman:


How can you join Armed Forces if you are first of all not a green card holder or a citizen..

I may be wrong though

There was a program that allowed foreigners to join as long as they had certain skillsets e.g. specific second languages. You were guaranteed a green card if you were picked... The program has long since closed.

TWoods:


There was a program that allowed foreigners to join as long as they had certain skillsets e.g. specific second languages. You were guaranteed a green card if you were picked... The program has long since closed.

Yeah I read it was closed when one Arab guy opened fire on a USA army base trying to kill people.

TWoods:


There was a program that allowed foreigners to join as long as they had certain skillsets e.g. specific second languages. You were guaranteed a green card if you were picked... The program has long since closed.

Wow I'm just hearing it for the first time..

As an immigrant visa applicant who's awaiting interview, are my chances of joining the US army high or slim when I land there.

Is it very cumbersome to get in as in the case of Nigeria army.

Lastly would you advice I join citing the benefits and the disadvantages?

internationalman:


Wow I'm just hearing it for the first time..

As an immigrant visa applicant who's awaiting interview, are my chances of joking the US army high or slim when I land there.

Is it very cumbersome to get in as in the case of Nigeria army.

Lastly would you advice I join citing the benefits and the disadvantages?

Depends on age. You can enlist up until 35 and you must be commissioned by the age of 31. It's not difficult to enlist (almost every city has a recruitment office you simply walk into), it's harder to get into a military school if you want to be a commissioned officer. But not impossible.

There are a lot of benefits to joining the army. You can retire fully after 20 years of service and you are entitled to a pension and healthcare the rest of your life. The GI bill allows you to go to college for free. Many home mortgage lenders reserve special offers for active military or veterans... you are basically a god here.

Gerrard59:
cc: Kelechi009, MackyNaija & TWoods.

@Ednut1, (you suppose sabi one or two persons)

my hostel mate for school never had a girlfriend or womanise during his 5 years engineering course. We even dey suspect he was gay. He went to USA for masters, a year after graduating baba don marry black American. Another one was a colleague in 9ja , got scholarship and left, he was messaging me about express entry ( but draws were on hold then), he later told me he is getting married soon. . That country no get joy when it comes to green card. Another one na woman, she dey nairaland so make i no talk wetin happen.Its sad sha

internationalman:


How can you join Armed Forces if you are first of all not a green card holder or a citizen..

I may be wrong though

Yes that's correct. So the only option leaves marriage then.

ednut1:
my hostel mate for school never had a girlfriend or womanise during his 5 years engineering course. We even dey suspect he was gay. He went to USA for masters, a year after graduating baba don marry black American. Another one was a colleague in 9ja , got scholarship and left, he was messaging me about express entry ( but draws were on hold then), he later told me he is getting married soon. . That country no get joy when it comes to green card. Another one na woman, she dey nairaland so make i no talk wetin happen.Its sad sha

Err maybe talk in parables?

And people will get a student visa and write a new dispensation lol until you get a green card you aren't that different from someone in Nigeria. The opportunities are there but you can't explore it without a green card.

TWoods:


Depends on age. You can enlist up until 35 and you must be commissioned by the age of 31. It's not difficult to enlist (almost every city has a recruitment office you simply walk into), it's harder to get into a military school if you want to be a commissioned officer. But not impossible.

There are a lot of benefits to joining the army. You can retire fully after 20 years of service and you are entitled to a pension and healthcare the rest of your life. The GI bill allows you to go to college for free. Many home mortgage lenders reserve special offers for active military or veterans... you are basically a god here.

Ok. I'm over 35 though, so me joining is ruled out..

I will chase other career paths..

Having stayed long and well experienced and versed about life in the US, which other career path would you advice I follow besides tech. The one I can start from scratch without prior experience here in Nigeria and wouldn't take above a year to be done..

A very lucrative one too..

Thanks for your response though.

TWoods:


Depends on age. You can enlist up until 35 and you must be commissioned by the age of 31. It's not difficult to enlist (almost every city has a recruitment office you simply walk into), it's harder to get into a military school if you want to be a commissioned officer. But not impossible.

There are a lot of benefits to joining the army. You can retire fully after 20 years of service and you are entitled to a pension and healthcare the rest of your life. The GI bill allows you to go to college for free. Many home mortgage lenders reserve special offers for active military or veterans... you are basically a god here.

An American now ??

meritdee:
The EB2-NIW is a pathway that I feel Nigerians are sleeping on. I’ve mentioned this in one of the US travel parts before. Indians and the Chinese have been using it for a very long time. Hence the heavy backlog.
It’s the same path that myself and some of my friends used. The link below will provide more context.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-second-preference-eb-2

From a Nigerian POV, marriage, join the army and EB2-NIW. Fair deal.

Although, the EB2-NIW seems to favour PhD holders. What if one has an MSc and MBA?

Six years to do PhD (even with an MSc) get as e be.

tensazangetsu20:
And people will get a student visa and write a new dispensation lol until you get a green card you aren't that different from someone in Nigeria. The opportunities are there but you can't explore it without a green card.

C'mon! Come off it! Emilokan would make Nigeria great again.

Gerrard59:


From a Nigerian POV, marriage, join the army and EB2-NIW. Fair deal.

Although, the EB2-NIW seems to favour PhD holders. What if one has an MSc and MBA?

Six years to do PhD (even with an MSc) get as e be.

cc: TWoods

This is front page material oh, mods should do the needful

Many people are stuck out there, some even get tossed back to 9ja

What's the way forward?

Peterrio:
This is front page material oh, mods should do the needful

Many people are stuck out there, some even get tossed back to 9ja

What's the way forward?

Seun, JustWise, Mukina2.

SOS oo! Before people use new dispensation finish without knowing the laws. As it is, Nigerian grads who were employed by Big tech firms and got retrenched have to get a new employer on H1B within sixty days, or they return to face Emilokan, _{who is going to make Nigeria great again anyway}.