https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGEWWQ6XwW8

I have read so many articles on the coming to US issue and i just don't want to repeat what i have read before. This topic is for those that have the opportunity to LEGALLY migrate to the US but also have a good life in Nigeria. Whether you have made the decision to leave Nigeria or you are afraid to leave kindly consider this.

I met a guy recently in Chicago and he changed my life forever about migration to the US, I would summarize his life and add my comments.
He used to work in big telecommunication company in Nigeria (y'hello) after bagging a masters from UK. His wife a US citizen filed for him and he finally decided to resign and enter the US in 2010. We met in downtown Chicago and he is now a finance manager in a big US consulting firm earning 6-figure salary. He told me two principles he works with -

*Believe that there is a God who can do all things and answer prayers
*Runaway from people that say; you cannot make it in the US or those that would always have stories of woes to say about living in the US. Avoid negative people like plagues.
These are my own conclusion from what he said and his life style -

Point 1 -
A lizard in Nigeria cannot become a Crocodile in the US - A lizard would always be a lizard regardless its geographical location. If you cannot make it in the country where you have birth right advantages then it is gonna be more difficult to make it in a place where even your accent is a hurdle to cross.

Point 2 -
US would be to you whatever you want it to be - This guy has only spent 3 years in US and he earns 6 figures with all the luxuries of life, i have met people here that have spent over 25 years in US and have nothing to boast about. Choose what you want to be. US economy is far better than Nigerian economy and also in standard of living so i wonder on what basis people would say living in Nigeria is better than living in US.

Point 3 -
Be Professional - Take advantage of any professional experience you have had, although US prefers their own qualifications and experience above any foreign qualifications but there are some skills that are universal. Be ready to start small but your prior experience would distinguish you for rapid progress with time. All you need is that US experience and you would be a hot cake in their labor market. Have a career focus, do not jump into any job line via certificate courses because people say it's lucrative, that's the formula to living the average life for long years to come. I do not have a rule against doing blue collared jobs to survive but have a career focus.

Point 4 -
Get a US Education - Working hard wont give you success rather working smart. It would be in rare cases that a bricklayer would be richer than a medical doctor or engineer. You are lucky you would find yourself in a country where education is well funded! Get an MBA, PhD, M Sc or pursue your professional exams (US version). If you tow the line of menial laborer you would create an income boundary ceiling but educated your income potentials are limitless.

Point 5 -
Leave Black African Myths/Curses behind in Nigeria - I have heard too many stories of how it is unfortunate to be a black man in America, i used to believe these myths until Obama became president of America. I am an African immigrant in the US and many occasions i have dropped coins into the cups of beggars that are American natives, yes racism exist but whites are not sentimental when it comes to recognizing good talents that can make money for them.

Point 6 -
Do not forget your identity - A colleague of mine used to say "sabi yourself no be abuse". The problem most immigrants have is that they forget who they are and start acting the American part. The American welfare system is designed for the Americans that have no other place they call home, except you plan to die in the US and dash your dead body to their government then you need to remember that one day you may go back home. American life is the Debt system, they can make you earn like a pauper and live like a king. Most Americans are not sentimental about owning properties like we Africans are so they pile up debts to enjoy life and when they die the bank forecloses the house which is still on mortgage and "Repo" the car still on lease. Live within your income, avoid credit card debts, buy a car on need basis, yes get a house on mortgage but also buy a land back home, do not start acquiring liabilities and unnecessary loans - a saying goes _ if you jump up to a height you would come down back but if you grow up you would remain in that height.

Point 7 -
Avoid criminal activities, illegal activities - A saying goes -There is no short cut to the top of a palm tree, the easiest way to ruin your life in the US is to have a criminal record. US is not Nigeria where you can bribe the police and their record keeping system is impeccable. Don't move with the wrong crowd and don't roll with tribal sentiments which might lead to allowing people use you for illegal processes or activities. It is better for friends and family to declare you wanted than for the US government to declare you wanted.

I have more to say but it is getting too long.....to be continued .... Job finding tricks

I anxiously await the continuation.learnt a lot doe

Well said Goldebboy007 - There are opportunities here as long as you are here legally , and you can work hard. I am in Chicago as well BTW. I work downtown as an IT consultant (Application development) with a major Health care company. There are actually quite a few of us down there. The key things, as you mentioned - get a solid background/education, be professional, and work hard. You can become anything. With the right skills and work ethic, you can easily make 6 figure down here.

I know this thread is old, but I find it interesting that inspirational threads like this which showcase nigerians doing well abroad never get traction on nairaland, but a thread talking about nigerians washing plates abroad will have thousands of comments lol

how did this not make fp?

nairaland....... wake up nahhhh

Goldenby007: This is absolutely true. I plan writing up my experience in the U.S sometime soon to encourage other folks migrating to the States. I will try to summarize my 4 years experience in the States in just few paragraphs. (Please disregard any typo, it is 12.42am)

My wife and I migrated to the U.S in 2010 immediately after completing my National Youth Service year. All I had was $400 and a B.Sc Sociology certificate. 3 months after arriving in the U.S; I got a job at a retail store, working as a back room team member. A month after getting a job at that retail store, I picked up another job at restaurant few miles from each other. I worked almost 80hr/week standing on my feet, my experience at both jobs was horrible but I had to do it to save up some money to rent an apartment. On 16, Nov. 2010 we got a 4 bedroom house instead of an apartment (a miracle I plan to share another day). On 23rd of December 2010 I quit one of my jobs at the retail store and waited for some months to have my one year residency complete before going to school.

Fast forward to August 2011.

Started another undergrad studies- Computer Information Systems (Undergrad again? Do you know what you are doing? IT is saturated, all IT jobs have been outsourced, why not apply for a masters in Social work or nursing? why waste your time) These and many other discouraging remarks were made to me, I disregarded them, isolated myself from their gathering and pursue my dream.

I graduated in May 2014 and today, I am an Information Security Analyst working with the World's Largest Independent Claims Management Company with over 700 offices in 70 countries.

Things I have learnt over the years:
1. Let no one tell you what you can or can't do
2. Sometimes, one needs to take few steps backwards to move forward in life
3. People are always there to discourage you
4. Challenges of life will test your faith

There are lots more to be said, but I have to go to bed now, need to be up God willing in the next 6hrs.

@JB2174, how were u able to take care of ur tuition fees? Was it a community college or a university?

awesome. Nice one op

TCPonly:
@JB2174, how were u able to take care of ur tuition fees? Was it a community college or a university?

Hi TCPonly,

I went to a university and took some loan to pay my tuition.

MadCow1:
A lot of things never quite worked for me abroad and amongst them is the culture and lifestyle (and I am not talking about morality)..

Nice perspective. Care to share your story?

JB2174:


Hi TCPonly,

I went a university and took some loans to pay my tuition.

Thanks for your input.

Nice write up JB

And interesting perspective from MadCow (can't help feeling like I am insulting you writing your username lol)

I think it's important to know who you are and what you want out of life, and also where you have opportunities. I know people who prefer life in Nigeria and have good opportunities there and that works, and those who prefer life abroad and feel they have more opportunities there and that works as well.

@JB, how old were u when you took the second degree?

Babakenny:
@JB, how old were u when you took the second degree?

Hi Babakenny,

I was a few month above 30 when I stated. Am 33 now.

@ttmacoy:

Good comment and you nailed it right in the head. It is important to know who you are and what you want out of life, if not, one will end up following the path of others expectations.

I think it really depends on what you want out of life.

I lived in the US for 9years (5 yrs in college and worked for 4yrs) and moved back to Nigeria in 2004.

It was clear to me early on in my career (I graduated with a marketing communications degree) that I wasn't going to get far in the US corporate world. I worked for a fortune 500 company, made good enough money and really enjoyed my job, but as a black woman who wasn't an American citizen, the odds were stacked against me in that field.

I came back to Nigeria cos I was homesick (i'm the last born and my all my siblings and parents were in Nigeria) and didn't want to get stuck in my career.

10yrs later, I have no cause to regret my decision. I'm far ahead of where I imagined i'd be at this point in my career and I have the best of both worlds in my opinion. I visit my friends and extended family in the US at will and I get to be here with my family and friends too.

No place like home is my conclusion.

JB2174:


Hi Babakenny,

I was a few month above 30 when I stated. Am 33 now.

@ttmacoy:

Good comment and you nailed it right in the head. It is important to know who you are and what you want out of life, if not, one will end up following the path of others expectations.

Yes that's the secret! One should pursue his/her dreams no matter what people say. I have always followed my heart and never allow anyone to break me with their own taughts or negative influence, that ,one is too old to attain the height of success, or what not.
Good move. I can figure out that you're one of the lucky lottery winners when you immigrated to US. That's correct right?

Wow! What a beautiful thread. Just what I need I this phase of my life.

Sometimes I can't help but wonder if one would get there but with your stories, Lord willing I know I will. With threads like this one would get the boost and confidence to forge ahead.

Thanks @ Op and others who contributed.

Babakenny:


Yes that's the secret! One should pursue his/her dreams no matter what people say. I have always followed my heart and never allow anyone to break me with their own taughts or negative influence, that ,one is too old to attain the height of success, or what not.
Good move. I can figure out that you're one of the lucky lottery winners when you immigrated to US. That's correct right?

Thanks Babakenny.

Yes! am one of the lucky lottery winners. Would you believe I didn't even play that lottery? someone I never knew did, and am forever grateful to God for him (Let me tell you how it happened)

A year after NYSC, I got a call one Sunday morning from someone in Ondo State, he said I won a US lottery. I was like " scam- a won ole" I dropped the call immediately. He called severally but I didn't pick up his call, he called again around 9 pm with another number so I picked the call, I was like you again. Then I asked what do you want from me? He said he just wanted me to listen to him.

From our discussion, I got to know he picked up my information from a photo album made during service year in Jos. I was still skeptical about the whole thing, so he decided to bring the document sent to him from Kentucky.

We met at Police College Ikeja and he showed me all the documents. Before meeting, I did some research, and got to know how important the case number is to every winner- that was the first thing I memorized when I saw the document.

Now we are getting serious but I was still a doubting Thomas. But then we need to conclude on the document, so he said I was going to marry someone. I was like ha ha- no way, 've got a fiancee and this lottery won't come between us, so he asked me to pay N250k and we departed.

I sent an email to KCC including all the required information, I was stunned beyond words to know winning the lottery was real. I gave the guy N150K, collected my package, filled the documents and mailed back to Kentucky. After a month, I sent an email to KCC that I would like to get married, they replied asking me to go ahead.

Got married to the one I loved, filled her documents and mailed to Kentucky.

We had a bad experience during our first interview (I was sick and could barely speak, was also nervous and did't present all documents I had on me), we were asked to come for another interview and God was just Awesome. We got the visa and we left for the U.S a month after.

Hope you find this encouraging.


SORRY AM NOT A GOOD WRITER

@JB, that's really awesome! God indeed really favoured you. But in any case, it has been destined to happened in that way. I knew someone similar to your case. He's also there as well. Well congrats in a belated way. Your words are very encouraging and inspiring.
I hope we'll meet soon.

Take care!

Babakenny:
@JB, that's really awesome! God indeed really favoured you. But in any case, it has been destined to happened in that way. I knew someone similar to your case. He's also there as well. Well congrats in a belated way. Your words are very encouraging and inspiring.
I hope we'll meet soon.

Take care!

Thanks Babakenny

Am forever grateful to God.

Hope to meet you soon

JB2174:


Thanks Babakenny.

Yes! am one of the lucky lottery winners. Would you believe I didn't even play that lottery? someone I never knew did, and am forever grateful to God for him (Let me tell you how it happened)

[b]A year after NYSC, I got a call one Sunday morning from someone in Ondo State, he said I won a US lottery. I was like " scam- a won ole" I dropped the call immediately. He called severally but I didn't pick up his call, he called again around 9 pm with another number so I picked the call, I was like you again. Then I asked what do you want from me? He said he just wanted me to listen to him.

From our discussion, I got to know he picked up my information from a photo album made during service year in Jos. I was still skeptical about the whole thing, so he decided to bring the document sent to him from Kentucky.

We met at Police College Ikeja and he showed me all the documents. Before meeting, I did some research, and got to know how important the case number is to every winner- that was the first thing I memorized when I saw the document.

Now we are getting serious but I was still a doubting Thomas. But then we need to conclude on the document, so he said I was going to marry someone. I was like ha ha- no way, 've got a fiancee and this lottery won't come between us, so he asked me to pay N250k and we departed.

I sent an email to KCC including all the required information, I was stunned beyond words to know winning the lottery was real. I gave the guy N150K, collected my package, filled the documents and mailed back to Kentucky. After a month, I sent an email to KCC that I would like to get married, they replied asking me to go ahead.

Got married to the one I loved, filled her documents and mailed to Kentucky.

We had a bad experience during our first interview (I was sick and could barely speak, was also nervous and did't present all documents I had on me), we were asked to come for another interview and God was just Awesome. We got the visa and we left for the U.S a month after.
[/b]
Hope you find this encouraging.


SORRY AM NOT A GOOD WRITER

Call me a cynic but i'm struggling to believe your story. How did that person get your real DOB, address, full name, visa approved passport photograph size and contact detail?

^^^ I will love to know too.

justwise:


Call me a cynic but i'm struggling to believe your story. How did that person get your real DOB, address, full name, visa approved passport photograph size and contact detail?

@Justwise,

It can happen. Remember the person that played for him have access to the information he gave while doing his call. So its very very possible. The picture is a small thing in as much as it is adjusted to the pixel requested. All these things na luck ooo. So I believe it. Besides, why would he lie about such thing? He's in US already and a LPR and I did not see him lying abt such. And between, I raised the question as he never mentioned it until I asked. So, I guess that has shed more light to this right?

Babakenny:


@Justwise,

It can happen. Remember the person that played for him have access to the information he gave while doing his call. So its very very possible. The picture is a small thing in as much as it is adjusted to the pixel requested. All these things na luck ooo. So I believe it. Besides, why would he lie about such thing? He's in US already and a LPR and I did not see him lying abt such. And between, I raised the question as he never mentioned it until I asked. So, I guess that has shed more light to this right?

Where did he mention that in his post? He said he got a call from a complete stranger who got his info from a photo album made during service year in Jos. Apart from group/single pictures..what other info can you get from somebody's photo album?

@Justwise,

Let's not stress over what is not really worth arguing about. Let's just leave it and be happy for our brother.
God bless us all!

Babakenny:
@Justwise,

Let's not stress over what is not really worth arguing about. Let's just leave it and be happy for our brother.
God bless us all!

You may say that but I see it differently, stories like this that sound too good to be true lead people into making wrong decisions.

How many times have you received phone calls or emails telling you that you have won lottery even when you did not play any?

Reading this story will give people false impression that such thing can actually happen.

justwise:


You may say that but I see it differently, stories like this that sound too good to be true lead people into making wrong decisions.

Have many times have you received photo calls or emails telling you that you have won lottery even when you did not play any?

Reading this story will give people false impression that such thing can actually happen.

Got no choice than to contribute on this one. Sir, most school photo albums are detailed with your info including phone numbers etc etc! Even if the infos are not totally correct your still got the chance to correct your info with just a lil note attached to it with your forms to KCC! hope you remember me tho?(2014 dv winners thread).... I know couple of individual from that thread that won tru this same process n right now we are all live in the US! My cousin too won tru an agent who got her info from school portal @ d university of ado ekiti (2012). The guy might be saying d truth tho!

jigga40:
Got no choice than to contribute on this one. Sir, most school photo albums are detailed with your info including phone numbers etc etc! Even if the infos are not totally correct your still got the chance to correct your info with just a lil note attached to it with your forms to KCC! hope you remember me tho?(2014 dv winners thread).... I know couple of individual from that thread that won tru this same process n right now we are all live in the US! My cousin too won tru an agent who got her info from school portal @ d university of ado ekiti (2012). The guy might be saying d truth tho!

Photo album with your full name, DOB, address, phone number, qualification and marital status?

Then after winning you email KCC to change those details? You really want me to believe that?

Yes some people win through an agent but we all know that some are fraudulent, you basically assumed the name used by the agent and forge documents as you go.
While there are genuine cases where an agent plays for you with your details and you win.

justwise:


Photo album with your full name, DOB, address, phone number, qualification and marital status?

Then after winning you email KCC to change those details? You really want me to believe that?

Yes some people win through an agent but we all know that some are fraudulent, you basically assumed the name used by the agent and forge documents as you go.
While there are genuine cases where an agent plays for you with your details and you win.

full name can b corrected no stress with dat, DOB also can be corrected without ish, phone number has nothing to do with d initial entry, qualification can easily be rectified too,address does not matter with your initial forms cus dey know dis changes periodically, Agents play as single so as to rip money out of lucky winners telling them to merge or pay some amount of money to get there confirmation code blah blah blah! This is the point you can make adjustments as much as you want if you notice any discrepancy in ur initial if you truly know its not something fraudulent you are engaged with.The only info dat cannot be correct is the photo on the initial entry!

note pls, i am not saying they are no fraudulent ones out there but all am saying here is that there are still genuine ones who passed tru this process including MY COUSIN! I won dv too and right now i am in Chicago.....I was privileged to meet some individuals dat went tru dis process we are debating on!!!! I'd doubt if i were you tho but that is just d plain truth.

from 2002-2013 over 250,000 Nigerians were approve US long stay visa which 3rd highest after UK and another country (sorry i cant remember the 2nd country) among which less 5000 will be making 6 figure a year and 20000 will be making a decent salary to consider middle class which is like 500k in New york. therefore actually about 10% made it. because Only 1% of the nation’s Fortune 500 CEOs are black and also minority-held posts in 2000 represented only one or two minority directors per firm (African American, Hispanic, Latin, Asian American, Asian, and Indian) and the chance of a Nigerian is even smaller due to ascent and culture differences. furthermore 70% stuck doing minimal jobs working 80 hours a week. and making minimum wages and they cant leave their jobs and go back to school because he might have family with him or back home so after 10 years without any saving he will just decide to stay in the US for the kids. furthermore with average salary of USD 30000 they will live a decent live but not the live they expect to have in US