Got another post for y'all. And like I said in my previous posts, you're gonna have to get used to my sense of humor and brash delivery. Now that we have that out of the way, lets begin
Now that you have been granted visa and you know deep down in your soul that you cannot afford close to $15k and above per semester (by the way, unless you get a TA/GA, limited scholarships or some type of grant, international students do not get any type of financial aid!), youre probably wondering "How I wan take do am?". Got a couple of ideas, some of which I tried out myself. First of all, the honest truth, which a lot of folks don't tell you is that it is EXTREMELY HARD for international students to find jobs. For example, it's practically almost impossible to find any under the table jobs at places like target, walmart or any retail chain (unless the manager is your father!) because they all do E-Verify. International students don't get SSN (unless you get a job in school, and before you start thinking smart, your SSN is only valid for school employment. It will be written on your SS card). Having said all that, you still have a few options, if you're smart enough and like the saying goes "naija boys no dey carry last". IF you're able to save up some money (3k-5k), you can buy a car when you get here and get your drivers license asap. With your car, you can find pizza delivery jobs that'll pay you under the table. Its not much, sometimes as low as $5/hr, but the more hours you work the more money you make. you can be doing this, while you try to figure out how to get your papers straight and then you can find a better job. The thing is even if youre a doctor in naija or a lawyer or anything, and you enter here with anythin other than an immigrant visa stamped on your passport, you won't get a job (for health professions, its a little different, but that will come in another post).
Its good to have a plan before leaving naija. I can't emphasize that enough.

Hey guys, I still can't read the emails. I did what someone suggested but it doesn't seem to be working.

[quote author=abbeymaniak post=29288585]
Pls which ways can some get papers oo[/quote

I was going to say something quip or sarcastic but then it occurred to me that it is very possible your question is an honest question and you're asking because you actually want to know. Well I'll tell you. For non-immigrant visa holders (F1, B1/B2 etc), there are a few ways you can get your papers asap, the most popular of which is to get married to a US citizen. If you know right from the start that you won't have money for school and you're coming here to hustle (this is not a bad thing, you'd be doing yourself a huge favor by being honest with yourself), you could be a permanent resident in as little as 1 year. I personally know a friend that landed at JFK in September 2011, and got his green card August 2012. I know this is just one case, but at least you get the gist. This isn't the only way to get your papers, but if you can't go to school, then this is your best bet.

fxsly:

bro having gone through your post. its quite enlightening. the highlighted above is my major interest as I planmovin to America. I have seen schools but am confused. I really need an advise as to how to go about it. I have m Bsc and work experiences in the health sector. thanks

Well I don't know what stage of moving to America you're in but if you're thinking of applying into nursing school from Nigeria, you can give it a shot. You have nothing to loose... except some money if it doesn't work out, but I would look at the requirements closely before committing money to it. If you're here already, you're in a much better place. You can take the pre-reqs for nursing and then go ahead to get an associates in nursing. The tricky think with Nursing here in recent times is that the landscape is rapidly changing. As a fresh grad of nursing with an associates, you're almost pretty much limited to nursing homes and maybe a few skilled nursing facilities. Big hospitals and places that pay the big bucks now require you to Bachelor's degree in nursing. Which would take a little while longer, but i know it is worth it.

Rubbers:
@reekadohbanks
Thanks so much for the detailed info. I'll check them out especially the second degree options. I'm also considering doing a pgd here then maybe apply for a direct masters if it works that way over there.

Thanks once more...U're far too kind

You might be lucky to find a school that will factor in your PGD into your undergrad degree even though I highly doubt that. This is because the PGD degree is only recognized in some european countries and the UK as a separate post graduate degree on its own. If you choose to go that way, I would do a lotta research to make sure it won't be a waste of time and money as far as your MS plans is concerned.

Hey guys, to the people trying to email me, I don't know why I can't see your emails. I guess nairaland has changed a few things about direct email and all that. You can post your questions here and I'll answer them as soon and as honestly as possible. I don't want you guys thinking I've been ignoring your messages. I just can't see them because it's saying we're not connected etc. I dunno what that means!

Rubbers:
Hello house, compliments. Please what can a third in my bachelors degree get me in the U.S I really want to further, in a health related area....the low grade was jst due to some circumstances beyond my control. I alrdy got a sponsor n all that. Thanks in anticipation

To be honest, it doesn't really matter what class of degree you have here. I graduated from naija with a third too and after I got my papers, I was able to get a job at Chicago Lighthouse. Now as far as furthering with a third, that would be hard because your cgpa will not be up to the minimum requirements for a masters degree here. You do have a few options though. Even though you didn't provide a lot of information, I can offer some advice:
Say your first degree was in a science related course in naija and you did IT (industrial training.. the reason I mention this is because they people in naija never get less than A/B in IT. its about 15 credits if I remember correctly and when they factor that into your evaluation it will boost up CGPA), you can evaluate your transcipts using WES or some of these other reputable agencies. the way they do their evaluation is a little strange, but you might end up with like a 2.6 - 2.8 out of 4 after conversion. If this is the case, I'll advise you do TOEFL and GRE (and do well in them) to shore up your academic profile, then you'd have to do an enormous amount of research to find like 3 okay schools that will admit you for masters (it will most likely not be in your science related field but you might be able to find something close that you can sell at the embassy.). But say you dont have IT to boost up your CGPA, you might be better off applying to schools have the second bachelor's degree option. There are quite a few of them that a very good schools and are a bit relaxed with their admission criteria. They'll give you admissions and you'd be able to complete your Bachelors with a much better result.
When i first got here, It was really hard to figure out what to do because furthering with GP less than 3.3 - 3.5 USA GP is really hard to eb honest, but with a little know-how and some luck, its not impossible. I'm a living proof.

To the guy asking me not to be an a.s.s, you're just going to have to get used to my sense of humor. Its crude thats all. And i still maintain that Reekadohbanks of MAVIN is one ugly MF. Anyways back to the agenda..
Here's a fair warning for those that have just been granted F1 visas and are hoping to come to the US and survive on a job on campus. Be prepared for a rude shock. First of all, on-campus jobs only pay minimum wage ($8.25 if you're very lucky) and you can only work a maximum of 20 hrs per week (which isn't guaranteed you'd get that many hours anyways). So after your FITW (federal income tax withheld) your take home will be about $160 - $220 every month. That doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the heap of bills you'd have to pay. Your phone bill alone is almost 1/3 of that. Add the cost of transportation (Yes, even public transportation is pricey) and food, and you're done. Remember that you'd have to pay rent. And if you're unlucky enough to find yourself in cities like Boston, NYC, DC, or Chicago, be ready to shell out 750-1200 dollars a month on rent for a 12x12 room that isn't half as big as your mother's pantry in Iyana Ipaja. Best advice: Be honest with yourself right from the beginning and have a game plan. If your parents are civil servants in naija and had to put all their savings together to buy your flight ticket, and your plan is to come and "hustle" your way through school, don't even waste your time. There's no "hustling" your way through their over-priced schools here. Its outrageously expensive, even if you get financial aid (before you start asking what that is, F1 visa holders are not eligible). F1 students cant legally get any jobs and eve if you get any under the table jobs, be ready to slave for some smelly pakistani who was wise enough to come here and open a pizza place.
So now you're probably asking yourself... so what can a man do?. Fear not my children, I've got the answer for you. There's no shame in sneaking into the US under the guise of a student visa. We all know that the mushroom schools in some nasty backwater town in Mississippi or Oklahoma(who effing goes to Mississippi!!!!!) that gave you I-20 isn't much better than UNN or UI, but at least it gets you in (I entered with I-20 from VIU!!!.. sweet lord!, I'd have to do a whole new post on that podunk wastebasket they call a university!). When you get here, don't be slow, your 2 years visa is going to expire even before you can spell VISA. The sooner you're able to become a permanent resident, the better for you (and I mean that with all my strenght!... ANother post on that will come soon). Life will be easier for you. Then you can figure out which school to go to that will work out for you. Most naija people here just do nursing. you'll get an associate in about 3 years and you'll get a job in a nursing home that'll pay you $15-25 an hr. Not bad right?. All I'm trying to say is that, you're way better off if you have a plan before leaving naija... if you're planning to "jama jama" or "rugged" your way through school with odd jobs, you're going to be more surprised than when you discovered your 100MB data is finished because you opened one website!... you get the gist.

And before you children start asking if I am the Reekado banks of MAVIN, I am not!. He's one ugly MF, but the name is kinda catchy. thats all