Itiswellblessed:
Hi guys

Here is my story....moved to the states four years ago together with my 2 kids. Still do not have my papers and it's getting frustrating. Thinking of moving back to nigeria but I think I could do with some advice right now as I don't want to make a rash decision.

Reasons I might want to stay back

My kids are in school (elementary) which of course is free
I have a job that I do under the table
My kids and I have access to good health care even though we don't have all the coverage......

Reasons I want to move back to Nigeria
My families are back home
Accommodation won't be an issue for me as I'll have access to one should I return
I kind of want the naija life and the freedom it brings with it.... And some other more reasons

Here lies my dilemma.
Will I be selfish to move back and not think of my kids having access to better life here
How am I sure I could secure a good paying job with all the sad stories I read daily here?
The life here is kind of lonely as its almost everybody stay your lane...

Pls your suggestions will be highly appreciated and pls also, no insult. Be polite with your replies
Thank you.

Ur write up didn’t state your Gender,
However where does your spouse reside...?
From your WRITE-UP, it clearly shows you are an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT and I believe you know the punishment that follows such especially when you leave the US finally...??
It’s not something to imagine...
Think Before take your final step.

Itiswellblessed:


Thank you. I'm actually still open to both options. No my kids are not citizens and seeking Asylum is no longer available to me as if you want to seek Asylum, it has to be within your first year in the states. I'm past that already so I can't seek Asylum.
Just trying to weigh both options cos I don't want to move back now and regret it later.

Maa'm, I really do feel sorry for you and anyone else in your situation especially with the current situation of things in Nigeria. However, I want you to think seriously about what you're getting your kids into. They will end up being in limbo like the "dreamers". When they are done with high school and become of age, they will need proof of legal status to go on to college, at least to determine instate vs out state vs internattional tuition. Not sure how they can do this legally. In addition, they can't get a drivers license. It will be very difficult for them integrate into society. It's a long shot, but it's possible that dreamers might be granted a pathway to legal status but by the same vein, other possible loopholes might be blocked. My point is that it's a crapshoot situation for your kids. If they grow up here and can't make any headway in gaining legal status in the future, they will be stuck between two countries. Can't legally stay in the U.S. and almost impossible to go back to Nigeria because they have been away for too long. If you do not have any plans or pathway for getting you and your kids legal status, please seriously consider going back home. The biggest victims here are your kids!

I read your advise to the OP but I am a legal resident in Europe at the moment. I am much interested in the poultry business you mentioned. Reason is, I know this place isn't my home and someday I will retire back to Nigeria finally. Since I won't be having pension for life, I am planning viable business one can set up back home like the poultry you mentioned. With one million naira, how many poultry birds can one get? How lucrative is the business? A timely response will be appreciated. Thank you.

peacengine:
Bro man to man, I'm gonna say you should consider 2 things, freedom and accommodation. Back home you're a free man, over there you'll be hiding under the table. Bro, set your target, save about N1million and head home. Set up a poultry or pigry immediately you land, this shouldn't stop you from applying to multiple jobs. If you don't wanna head back home, consider going to safe cities where you can hide and hustle, I heard jobs plenty in Alaska.

partnerus:
I read your advise to the OP but I am a legal resident in Europe at the moment. I am much interested in the poultry business you mentioned. Reason is, I know this place isn't my home and someday I will retire back to Nigeria finally. Since I won't be having pension for life, I am planning viable business one can set up back home like the poultry you mentioned. With one million naira, how many poultry birds can one get? How lucrative is the business? A timely response will be appreciated. Thank you.

Good luck running your poultry business from afar. Those on ground are having a hard time with workers stealing eggs and birds. How do you hope to monitor your business from Europe?

Please I am pleading with you not to make the journey back to naija sincerely speaking people in Naija are vamoosing out in droves try and endure for the moment please once more remain where you dey or else

Mancala:


Maa'm, I really do feel sorry for you and anyone else in your situation especially with the current situation of things in Nigeria. However, I want you to think seriously about what you're getting your kids into. They will end up being in limbo like the "dreamers". When they are done with high school and become of age, they will need proof of legal status to go on to college, at least to determine instate vs out state vs internattional tuition. Not sure how they can do this legally. In addition, they can't get a drivers license. It will be very difficult for them integrate into society. It's a long shot, but it's possible that dreamers might be granted a pathway to legal status but by the same vein, other possible loopholes might be blocked. My point is that it's a crapshoot situation for your kids. If they grow up here and can't make any headway in gaining legal status in the future, they will be stuck between two countries. Can't legally stay in the U.S. and almost impossible to go back to Nigeria because they have been away for too long. If you do not have any plans or pathway for getting you and your kids legal status, please seriously consider going back home. The biggest victims here are your kids!

The kids would not even qualify for daca. We don’t know the ages of the kids ,one of them or both of them may have been born here. The op needs to provide more information.

Beautyaddy:


Please stop giving out false information about ICE being called to deport her and her family.

As long as she and her kids remain out of anything of crime that will lead to any kind of being arrested then she will not be bothered by ICE.

Anyone who calls ICE on her will just be wasting their time. The ICE in the US works in a different way than what is portrayed or assumed.

With that, I will not encourage her to remain without legal status in the US even if getting deported by ICE is far fetched.

However, your suggestion to her to use the US-Canadian border crossing route will also have be considered and done very carefully. And if she is forced to go that route when other options are fruitless I'll advise that she and her kids make such journey across the border during the early summer months.

False. ICE has arrested 37, 000 non criminals, a 145% increase from 2016. Trump has given ICE far greater power under his administration than Obama did. ICE has stopped prioritizing catching and deporting violent criminals over non criminals. It's now fair game for anyone. This is common knowledge. Furthermore, with the South Americans attempting to cross into the U.S, Trump has given border officers/soldiers permission to use lethal force if they have too to prevent them from entering. I suggest you do some research and stop passing out false information yourself. This administration is not one to play with when it comes to being illegal. I agree she should enter Canada during the summer, but will she have time ?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b4lhryAXQU

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-says-troops-will-use-lethal-force-border-if-they-n939321

eniolorunfe:


This brings another twist to your story....

I know of some women with children in the US that have been able to file for asylum even in this Trump era. Most started the process not long after arriving though. I'm not sure if it's still possible since you have overstayed your Visa. You can look into this option. It would also require funds and most likely a lawyer.

Another option is for your husband (if he is still in the picture) to process the Canada Express entry as the primary applicant. He can start the process even if he is in Naija and when it clicks you and the children will arrange how to join him.

These are just suggestions based on the information you have provided so far. All the best!

It’s not , adjusting status is very difficult when the person is out of status.

Funny how the people telling u not to return are mostly peeps who haven't left the shores of Nigeria. It's safe to say they don't know what you are experiencing over there, to them you are in Paradise In my opinion, I think you should consider returning home or living in W.African country. Sit back and reflect on your children's future. I personally can't put myself through your experience for any reason, consider your kids. I'm not sure how they'll get to be American citizens but if it's not foreseeable, it's not worth it.

maternal:


False. ICE has arrested 37, 000 non criminals, a 145% increase from 2016. Trump has given ICE far greater power under his administration than Obama did. ICE has stopped prioritizing catching and deporting violent criminals over non criminals. It's now fair game for anyone. This is common knowledge. Furthermore, with the South Americans attempting to cross into the U.S, Trump has given border officers/soldiers permission to use lethal force if they have too to prevent them from entering. I suggest you do some research and stop passing out false information yourself. This administration is not one to play with when it comes to being illegal. I agree she should enter Canada during the summer, but will she have time ?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b4lhryAXQU

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-says-troops-will-use-lethal-force-border-if-they-n939321

You are correct.
Here is another case where ICE were called to detain an illegal immigrant:

https://abc13.com/army-base-orders-pizza-and-then-calls-ice-on-delivery-worker/3573405/

Itiswellblessed:


Thank you. I'm actually still open to both options. No my kids are not citizens and seeking Asylum is no longer available to me as if you want to seek Asylum, it has to be within your first year in the states. I'm past that already so I can't seek Asylum.
Just trying to weigh both options cos I don't want to move back now and regret it later.

If your kids are not citizens , then it would not be good for them either because they don’t have legal stay. Because you are out of status , your only option at this point is marriage , I would not recommend marrying just for green card though because it can end up back firing and causing more trouble than it’s worth. Other options are not available since you are out of status except for family sponshorship which takes long and you stated that your family is back home anyways.

Babyvet:


If your kids are not citizens , then it would not be good for them either because they don’t have legal stay. Because you are out of status , your only option at this point is marriage , I would not recommend marrying just for green card though. Other options are not available since you are out of status except for family sponshorship which takes long .

The moment He leaves the US, he will never be allowed into the US again.
Because he has already been tagged/blacklisted.
They have clearly stated it there, that you overstayed your visit.
Another OPTION is just to get married to a GREENCARD holder, which you ought to have done since.

She wasted too much time!!!
Once u arrive America u immediately start saving at least 10k dollars and pay someone to marry you...but some go there to be attending Naija Owambe due to a lack of focus!!
It is a big error!

EVILFOREST:

The moment He leaves the US, he will never be allowed into the US again.
Because he has already been tagged/blacklisted.
They have clearly stated it there, that you overstayed your visit.
Another OPTION is just to get married to a GREENCARD holder, which you ought to have done since.

PEPSI:
She wasted too much time!!!
Once u arrive America u immediately start saving at least 10k dollars and pay someone to marry you...but some go there to be attending Naija Owambe due to a lack of focus!!
It is a big error!

My thoughts exactly!

eniolorunfe:


My thoughts exactly!

I was telling myself the same thing ...
But then again, you need connection or information to know what to do.
In other words, you need to mingle with the right people.

TheCongo2:


I was telling myself the same thing ...
But then again, you need connection or information to know what to do.
In other words, you need to mingle with the right people.

No. It's the ignorance and arrogance most Nigerians have when coming abroad; specifically to the U.S. They also buy the bullsh!t "American dream" which is just that, a dream. When they realize abroad is not a banana republic and laws are followed and enforced here, they end up being out of status and asking for help on nairaland. I'm curious to hear her story on how and why she let herself and children go out of status.

EVILFOREST:

The moment He leaves the US, he will never be allowed into the US again.
Because he has already been tagged/blacklisted.
They have clearly stated it there, that you overstayed your visit.
Another OPTION is just to get married to a GREENCARD holder, which you ought to have done since.

Well it’s a she, and getting married is not that easy in this country, especially she since she has two kids already. I would be wary of it , it’s not as easy as sounds especially under this administration.

Beautyaddy:


Huh, I wouldn't encourage her even when other options are not forth coming to go through that desperate route and especially with kids.

Such an option might lead to what we call "from frying pan to fire".

This is the time she needs to consult an immigration lawyer who might know of some other loop-holes she can use to legalize her stay in the US but are not common or known to the general public but are hidden and known by some immigration lawyers.

Either way, I still think the US-Canada border crossing route might end up being a cheaper route for her to go if all the options given to her by the US immigration lawyers seems either too expensive or not forth coming.

Well she has to be careful presenting herself to the US immigration, if her case is denied then she could face deportation. A lot of Nigerians at the border were actually denied.

Babyvet:


Well she has to be careful presenting herself to the US immigration, if her case is denied then she could face deportation. A lot of Nigerians at the border were actually denied .

Denied to enter Canada ?

Mizwisdom:
Funny how the people telling u not to return are mostly peeps who haven't left the shores of Nigeria. It's safe to say they don't know what you are experiencing over there, to them you are in Paradise In my opinion, I think you should consider returning home or living in W.African country. Sit back and reflect on your children's future. I personally can't put myself through your experience for any reason, consider your kids. I'm not sure how they'll get to be American citizens but if it's not foreseeable, it's not worth it.

My sister thank you, I totally agree with . Until they live here , they will not understand . Not having paper in this country with two small kids just sounds like disaster waiting to happen. Life can be tough for American citizens , not to talk of somebody without paper. Most who live outside of America have fairytales dreams about this country. They have no idea about the how system works. The us government has not done an immigration reform in decades. The op has already made a mistake and I would caution her to tread carefully with her next steps.

TheCongo2:


Denied to enter Canada ?

Asylum

Babyvet:


Asylum

Cool

stagger:

Good luck running your poultry business from afar. Those on ground are having a hard time with workers stealing eggs and birds. How do you hope to monitor your business from Europe?

I have a trusted sibling I was planning to entrust the business too. All the same thanks. I will have to start channeling my Spare time on research about how poultry business works.

Mizwisdom:
Funny how the people telling u not to return are mostly peeps who haven't left the shores of Nigeria. It's safe to say they don't know what you are experiencing over there, to them you are in Paradise In my opinion, I think you should consider returning home or living in W.African country. Sit back and reflect on your children's future. I personally can't put myself through your experience for any reason, consider your kids. I'm not sure how they'll get to be American citizens but if it's not foreseeable, it's not worth it.

Honestly. Majority of them are living in Lagos slums. I just pity the op. I prefer living in Abuja than being in her kind of America. I know many people will come for this comment but even while in Nigeria, i make on average $1k monthly aside my well paying Job and a car I kept in uber than brings N120k/month (30k/week).

Nigeria will remain my abode. With the money in my account, I can go to any country because i can fund it but then, I prefer Naija. Not going to anywhere I will be spending money while my days are counted like those with prison sentence.