This thread is about Life in the US for Immigrants

I discovered there is a gap in the research community of families living in the US unlike other countries (UK and Germany) though there are numerous thread on visa applications and survival tips for students .

It is an avenue for people that have emigrated to United State (with or without their families) to share their experiences to help future applicants.

Kindly share your personal experiences and comments on:

* Your visa application experience /adjustment status experience


* Travelling experience (airlines and airport to use)

* What are the immigration rules to follow?

* Immigrants and Non-immigrant visas

* Can you open a bank account while still in Nigeria and what bank has the best customer service and plan)

* Which State/suburb did you settle in and why?

* Public Transportation Vs Driving in the US

* Driving in US? How long can you use your Naija driving license before you get a license?

* Where you live and why you like it or don't like it? Tips on choosing the right neighborhood.(Internet plans, electricity company to use, setting up a house)

*Renting Vs Mortgage (pitfalls to avoid when choosing mortgage)

* Using a credit card (things to avoid)

* Childcare for kids below 5 (cost and how do you go about choosing a minder)

* Business Tips you can do both over there and abroad

* How do you send money home (without much loss)


* Tips on raising kids in a western environment as an African

* What culture shock have you experienced?

* Tips on how to cloth and cope with the cold weather

* Nigerian restaurants and market in your location

* How much does your family survive on in a month?

* Developing Nigeria from Abroad (How to go about it)

* Nigeria Community in Newyork


* Fun things to do grin

* And any other ...



Cc justwise, DisGuy, lionlee16,Franknetter, drenimarcus

nice one, please guys that are already in the usa should come and share their experience

Spanishmilf:
This thread is about Life in the UK for Immigrants

Life in the UK or in the US?

Check your post again.

Lionlee216

Spanishmilf:
This thread is about Life in the US for Immigrants

I discovered there is a gap in the research community of families living in the US unlike other countries (UK and Germany) though there are numerous thread on visa applications and survival tips for students .

It is an avenue for people that have emigrated to United State (with or without their families) to share their experiences to help future applicants.

Kindly share your personal experiences and comments on:

* Your visa application experience /adjustment status experience


* Travelling experience (airlines and airport to use)

* What are the immigration rules to follow?

* Immigrants and Non-immigrant visas

* Can you open a bank account while still in Nigeria and what bank has the best customer service and plan)

* Which State/suburb did you settle in and why?

* Public Transportation Vs Driving in the US

* Driving in US? How long can you use your Naija driving license before you get a license?

* Where you live and why you like it or don't like it? Tips on choosing the right neighborhood.(Internet plans, electricity company to use, setting up a house)

*Renting Vs Mortgage (pitfalls to avoid when choosing mortgage)

* Using a credit card (things to avoid)

* Childcare for kids below 5 (cost and how do you go about choosing a minder)

* Business Tips you can do both over there and abroad

* How do you send money home (without much loss)


* Tips on raising kids in a western environment as an African

* What culture shock have you experienced?

* Tips on how to cloth and cope with the cold weather

* Nigerian restaurants and market in your location

* How much does your family survive on in a month?

* Developing Nigeria from Abroad (How to go about it)

* Nigeria Community in Newyork


* Fun things to do grin

* And any other ...



Cc justwise, DisGuy, lionlee16,Franknetter, drenimarcus

Nice thread. Been searching for something like this because the ones for Canada, Australia, UK and Germany are very much active

I am in Wichita, Kansas. I have been in the US for almost a month now. It's been hectic but I have been adjusting well to everything except for some of the fruits and the chicken lol. Some of those things taste very different here but you begin to get used to them with time.

Lectures have been mostly online, assignments and lab works are a lot. Grad studies are very time consuming.

Also it can get very cold here in the Midwest. As at last week it was -23celcius at some point

Fairheart Eniolakiite solihp walspring friedpotato muleriders cocao predstan emeritusseun futuresenator geewin69
please come and share one or two things here, let's get this thread going
How is the temperature at your location now?

I was here


Pls Share ur experience o, To make us learn How Ilu Oyinbo looks like


We waiting...

Interesting thread

Well, I have been in the US since 2019. I will be graduating in May. This winter season is not my favorite but I have been coping. My school is in Tennessee.

Here is my view

Stevenssen:
Fairheart Eniolakiite solihp walspring friedpotato muleriders cocao predstan emeritusseun futuresenator geewin69
please come and share one or two things here, let's get this thread going
How is the temperature at your location now?

Your visa application experience /adjustment status experience

NONE

* Travelling experience (airlines and airport to use)

I USED KLM, WAS SMOOTH AS A BABY’S BACK

* What are the immigration rules to follow?

READ IT UP ON USCIS WEBSITE. DONT BREAK THE LAWS.

* Immigrants and Non-immigrant visas

DEPENDS ON YOU.

* Can you open a bank account while still in Nigeria and what bank has the best customer service and plan)


* Which State/suburb did you settle in and why?

I AM IN MN


* Public Transportation Vs Driving in the US


GETTING YOUR OWN CAR IS CHEAPER THAN BUS.

* Driving in US? How long can you use your Naija driving license before you get a license?

NAIJA LICENSE I THINK IS FOR A YEAR. YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE A TEST THO.

* Where you live and why you like it or don't like it? Tips on choosing the right neighborhood.(Internet plans, electricity company to use, setting up a house)

DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE MOVING INTO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD. EACH STATE IS DIFF

*Renting Vs Mortgage (pitfalls to avoid when choosing mortgage)

MORTGAGE, BECAUSE YOU GET EQUITY. TALK TO YOUR BANK/FINANCIAL ADVISOR.

* Using a credit card (things to avoid

PAY BACK ASAP WHEN YOU USE YOUR CC

* Childcare for kids below 5 (cost and how do you go about choosing a minder)

NO KIDS HERE.
* Business Tips you can do both over there and abroad

RESEARCH.

* How do you send money home (without much loss)

SENDWAVE, WORLD REMMIT

* Tips on raising kids in a western environment as an African

* What culture shock have you experienced?

LOTS OF IGNORANT MFs WHO KNOW NOTHING.


* Tips on how to cloth and cope with the cold weather

WEAR JACKET AND DRINK WARM STUFF

* Nigerian restaurants and market in your location

USE GOOGLE SEARCH USING YOUR ZIPCODE

* How much does your family survive on in a month?

0$

* Developing Nigeria from Abroad (How to go about it)


SENDING MONEY BACK HOME HELPS WITH THE ECONOMY.
* Nigeria Community in Newyork


* Fun things to do grin

DEPENDS ON YOUR HOBBIES.

Stevenssen:
Fairheart Eniolakiite solihp walspring friedpotato muleriders cocao predstan emeritusseun futuresenator geewin69
please come and share one or two things here, let's get this thread going
How is the temperature at your location now?

Getting better compared to before when the snow was extreme. Apologies for coming late.

Came to the US in August 2019. Will be graduating in August 2021. The experience has been mixed feelings

Drenimarcus:
Your visa application experience /adjustment status experience

NONE



LOTS OF IGNORANT MFs WHO KNOW NOTHING.


.

What's the meaning of MFs sir

lionlee216:


What's the meaning of MFs sir

share your experience for us sir.

Eniolakiite:
Interesting thread
Well, I have been in the US since 2019. I will be graduating in May. This winter season is not my favorite but I have been coping. My school is in Tennessee.
Here is my view

Makes two of us in Tennessee. I realize there are a lot of Nigerians in TN, but as we no get association/community (maybe I haven't found out), we no know ourselves.

Stevenssen:
Fairheart Eniolakiite solihp walspring friedpotato muleriders cocao predstan emeritusseun futuresenator geewin69
please come and share one or two things here, let's get this thread going
How is the temperature at your location now?

Temperature can be wide and diverse even within a state. Our weather is fair here in my city. No extremes at all, and it doesn't really snow around here. Yesterday we had highs of 26c around 4pm. Isn't that wonderful?.

* Your visa application experience /adjustment status experience

Visa application was smooth. shared that in the general student visa thread (fairheart's thread). No adjustment experience

* Travelling experience (airlines and airport to use)

I used Ethiopian airline, cheap and reliable. If I am to travel again, I will use them again. There is a trick in booking flights to the US from Nigeria. If your city is a smaller city, flight costs might be expensive. Try book your flight to a nearby bigger city, and use ground transportation to connect. You'd save yourself a couple of $$.

* Can you open a bank account while still in Nigeria and what bank has the best customer service and plan)

Banking depends on your state and location. But I see a lot of grad students using BoA and Suntrust.

* Public Transportation Vs Driving in the US

Getting a car is not a luxury. It is a necessity. If not, your mobility will be limited. You might find yourself walking a lot, or your timing not compatible with the bus schedule. It is arguably quite cheaper to drive than depending on public transport.

* Driving in US? How long can you use your Naija driving license before you get a license?

Just study and take the test. It isn't that hard. It is a better experience than carrying your international license everywhere. And you will need your license for identity.

* Using a credit card (things to avoid)

Well I do not use a credit card. We survived for many years in 9ja without debt card credit card. I have promised myself never to use it. If I can afford it, I buy it. If I cannot, I waka.

* How do you send money home (without much loss)

I use worldremit most times. Just ensure you have a trusted person in Nigeria that will help you get the best rate possible back to your Naira account.

* What culture shock have you experienced?

While struggling to learn how to ride a bike one night, a young policewoman patrolling the neighbourhood in her SUV stopped by, and for about 40minutes, started teaching me how to ride. Good Lord! She held the bike and guided me till I got moving. Even showed me where I can get great bicycles for cheap prices. Never in Nigeria..

* Nigerian restaurants and market in your location

Quite a few around here. You can just google search "Nigerian stores/restaurants in XXXX". Bleep being your city or zip. At least I have not missed any Nigerian food. Still taking swallow and egusi steady.

It's being a great experience overall. You don't have to be rich to experience the good things of life - constant electricity, constant internet, constant water, food at cheap prices, security, mobility, good school for your kids, wonderful neighbourhood. A lot of churches and mosques in case you are wondering. Good parks and exposure to people from all around the world. One can definitely be money rich in Nigeria. But "rich" is not solely defined by money. It is defined by your quality of life, and your intellectual level.

God bless Western Nigeria, Eastern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria!

FutureSenator:


While struggling to learn how to ride a bike one night, a young policewoman patrolling the neighbourhood in her SUV stopped by, and for about 40minutes, started teaching me how to ride. Good Lord! She held the bike and guided me till I got moving. Even showed me where I can get great bicycles for cheap prices. Never in Nigeria..

Nice experience.
Truly never in Nigeria

Stevenssen:
Fairheart Eniolakiite solihp walspring friedpotato muleriders cocao predstan emeritusseun futuresenator geewin69
please come and share one or two things here, let's get this thread going
How is the temperature at your location now?

To be honest, the weather keeps going on different spectrum of cold. It is never warm, just cold colder coldest. I don tire

FutureSenator:


Makes two of us in Tennessee. I realize there are a lot of Nigerians in TN, but as we no get association/community (maybe I haven't found out), we no know ourselves.

I know a good number of Nigerians in Nashville, before the pandemic they hosted some Nigerian events

Cocao:


To be honest, the weather keeps going on different spectrum of cold. It is never warm, just cold colder coldest. I don tire

Summer go soon show

kpolli:


I know a good number of Nigerians in Nashville, before the pandemic they hosted some Nigerian events

Please link me up o. I need to attend correct owambe in Tennessee

Guys, please I need answer to this questions, is am very sorry for derailing...
My husband, myself and our toddler(6months) is going to a uni in USA based on full scholarship and stipend for him.
Before we move I want to know if it's a good decision to go together at once.
Can I have the opportunity of working even if it's menial jobs and can he have the chance to work or study with research will take most of his time?
Guys, please advise me
Cc; FutureSenator
Kpolli

africaflozy:
Guys, please I need answer to this questions, is am very sorry for derailing...
My husband, myself and our toddler(6months) is going to a uni in USA based on full scholarship and stipend for him.
Before we move I want to know if it's a good decision to go together at once.
Can I have the opportunity of working even if it's menial jobs and can he have the chance to work or study with research will take most of his time?
Guys, please advise me
Cc; FutureSenator
Kpolli

Thanks for the mention and Congrats to your family.

No you won't be allowed to work with your visa category. Your husband will be able to work during the holiday as Internship. Your husband shouldn't think of working while he is doing research because it's time consuming and he will be paid decently for his research work (Most if not all Unis do this).

My advice is go together, it will be much harder for you to get the visa after he has left.

africaflozy:
Guys, please I need answer to this questions, is am very sorry for derailing...
My husband, myself and our toddler(6months) is going to a uni in USA based on full scholarship and stipend for him.
Before we move I want to know if it's a good decision to go together at once.
Can I have the opportunity of working even if it's menial jobs and can he have the chance to work or study with research will take most of his time?
Guys, please advise me
Cc; FutureSenator
Kpolli

Congratulations to you and your family on the scholarship and stipend. I wish you guys more success in the US. Though you can decide to go together or go separately (if you have something delaying you), my opinion is for you to apply for visa together.

As Kpolli mentioned, you can not work on your visa (F2). Your husband is on F1 and I assume, he already works/research during the semester. He can also get paid internship/assistantships during summer.

Since you are currently taking care of a baby, it might not be very convenient for you to put out applications. Once you are strong enough, you can look out for scholarship/assistantship opportunities too in the same school your husband is (or nearby schools). If you get one, you will be able to convert your F2 to funded F1 and make some money to support the family, while also getting another degree.

Best of luck with any decision you take.

BRING BACK THIS THREAD