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Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Teedawg: 8:46pm On Jul 22, 2017 |
Bossman:yes i am doing well thank you! getting ready for the session ahead. |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by lionlee216(m): 5:06am On Jul 24, 2017 |
So pls tell us the advantages and disadvantages of getting student loan to sponsor academics in usa(i am not referring to international students studying in the usa). So if you are to advise someone who is getting a student loan, what courses do you personally think they worth getting a student loan for Thanks |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 1:48pm On Jul 24, 2017 |
lionlee216: This is a very good question Student loan is an investment so I use the principle of - Value Proposition - which means being able to evaluate the Cost and Benefit of your intended project. Getting good education as immigrants is key to a successful life but American education is one of the most expensive. If you migrated to the US at a young age, this is an advantage - go to a good highly ranked college - your chances of getting a good job and paying off your loans in good time is a possibility. However if you migrated to the US at age 30 above - be careful how you rack up student loans. If you owe so much in student loans - the burden falls on you after college, remember you will also plan to get mortgage and car loans. Combining those 3 loans/interest would be a huge burden that may result living from paycheck to paycheck. As a matured College student - only borrow what you will need - don't add feeding and accommodation to the amount you will borrow as loan. Also if you can combine a job with College - this is awesome - you can borrow a small loan and self sponsor the rest. The less you borrow the better your life after. E.g..a loan of $30,000..you will pay close to a total of $43000 back at the end of 10 years with a monthly repayment of $370. Imagine what your total and monthly repayment would be if you owe $100k in loans. People make the mistake -lets assume FAFSA offers you $20k per session for a graduate course, your tuition is $12k per session. Some of you will collect $20k buy car, clothes, shoes and gadgets. Next session you do same thing..you have racked up $40k in loan for a tuition that cost only $24k. You have forgotten you will pay this back with interest. Student loans is sometimes a life long burden so only borrow what you will need. Recommended industry courses - IT, All Health industry, Finance (CFA), Professional Accounting (CPA) IT - Cloud Computing , Networking, Programming, DB Mgt, Data Analytics are the most lucrative and cheapest - just get your degree and certification(sometimes what you need is just certification and experience) - you make money faster. Amendment of the H1B visa will drain US of the Indian IT workers- they will need to replace these people. Let me stop here for now . Let me know if you need more information 11 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by lionlee216(m): 5:56pm On Jul 25, 2017 |
Goldenboy007: Hello, pls i send you a pm 1 Like |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Teedawg: 6:39pm On Aug 01, 2017 |
Goldenboy007:Yes oh i need more information please lol.. just one or two words for we coming on student visas!! |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 12:26pm On Aug 03, 2017 |
Teedawg: Hi, Different students with different experience. Except you ask me specific questions then I can give you information. There is a topic on Nairaland for students experience, that should help a lot. I have been so busy lately which accounts for the late contribution to the topic and replies to your emails. One thing I always advise is - Do what you need to do on time. US travel and immigration policies are changing fast , the opportunity you have today may disappear tomorrow. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 2:04pm On Sep 17, 2017 |
Hello All, It's been a while, busy period for me. I have some immigration updates which some of you may be well aware of. DACA - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival - This is an excerpt from a website JDSUPRA "On September 5, 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program, which was created by Executive Action in June 2012 will be terminated in six months. To date, DACA has served to provide protection from deportation and employment authorization for approximately 800,000 individuals brought to the United States as children who otherwise lack legal status in this country. Facing a potential legal challenge from several states over the program, the administration chose to phase out the program, permitting some recipients to seek renewals of employment authorization for a limited period of time." - End of quote If DACA is canceled, these may be some of the consequences as it would affect Nigerians. Some of us have been hearing this news but do not know the implication of this - in simple words, those Nigerians that migrated to the US without proper documentation, the children they migrated with would now be at risk of being tagged as illegal immigrants. Also those Nigerians (now adults) that weren't born in US but were brought into US at young ages may have their legal stay revoked even though they have lived in US since childhood. Implication for those intending to migrate with your young kids. If you have no plan of regularizing your immigration documents, your innocent children will bear the brunt of your rash decisions. There are tougher times for migrants in the US if you do not have legal documents. Another new development for Student Visa holders who intends to convert to H1B visa - I will summarize my findings The plan for the average student applicants to the US is to be able to convert to H1B work status after their education, however there are new development in the pipeline which are being implemented. Apart from the recent more stringent to near impossible measures for granting H1B visa, conversion from H1B visa to Green Card is now being streamlined. Previously an application for Green Card from H1B visa does not need in-person interveiws but now it does. Also your chances of being successful in the interview may be affected by the following conditions - Quoted from JDSUPRA website - "Employers are advised to assure that their foreign national population maintains in parallel their nonimmigrant status for the duration of the case, and to retain employment verification records, including tax filings, paystubs and the like to provide evidence of continued maintenance of legal status that individuals can present at interviews. Maintenance of legal status is considered a prerequisite for the benefit of receiving a favorable decision in the adjustment-of-status process. At interviews, the USCIS is also likely to scrutinize immigration records preceding current employment, including student status, trainee or exchange visitor status." End of quote Implication of this ..if for once you have ever gone out of legal status especially F1 or related Visa in the US, you can kiss your conversion to Permanent Residency good bye. It doesn't matter if you later got a very good job which has now given you H-1B status. Student migrants need to be very careful what they do these days, you will now be scrutinized closely, if you ever hope of converting to Permanent Residency through H-1B from F1. Family based Migration - Marriage, Children, Siblings, etc. My advice - Immigration laws are fast changing, the more you delay or defer your applications the more it gets tougher. I am predicting similar changes to come the way of family based immigration too. Already some Republicans have started to sponsor the Bill that will prevent Naturalized Citizens from being able to sponsor parents or siblings. This change would come when they redefine the term "family" to just immediate family i.e. You, your spouse and your children ONLY, no more parents, brothers or sisters. Any plans you have for migrating legally, do it now. And if you are already US, make haste to legalize yourself now. I predict the migration by marriage would soon be very scrutinized too. Once they introduce the measure that if you have ever been out-of-status, your conversion by marriage would be nullified then that would be a big problem for many. Many would say the marriage migration is entrenched in the constitution- take note that constitution can be amended any time- and for now Republicans runs the Executive and Legislature. Thank you. Goldenboy 7 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 1:03pm On Oct 15, 2017 |
Ok - So I went to a car dealer in Chicago to get a new car - the sales guy asked me what I want to pay as minimum payment and for how many years. He didn't even bother to tell me the cost of the car. This is one of the mistakes immigrants make- even Americans make same mistake. You are a hustling immigrant and the next thing is going to pick a car from dealer. They don't tell you the cost of the car, you pick a car with a minimum payment - you end up paying twice the cost of the car in interest, bogus fees and principal. The first 3 cars I bought were cash down, I saved up for it and bought them cheap, now I can afford to buy a new car and pay up to 80% down payment. Some ignorant old timer immigrants will tell you to get car loans to boost your credit score - that's BS!!! I have a fantastic credit score and I do not have a car loan. When I got to the US, different old timers came with their advice - some said...get a lot of credit cards , some said get a lot of loans, you need a good credit score. The very first time I approached Bank of America for a credit card, they told me to deposit $500 for a secured card - I told them they can go to hell...I will use my debit card. After 2 years, they begged me to collect their Credit card free - they saw how much I had in bank balance - in fact they have offered me different loan facilities. I have never bought anything on minimum payment, I saved up for everything I owned. I bought my furniture one piece at a time - some immigrants will go to Value City or JC penny to pick store cards for furniture - they will now enter into minimum payment bondage. If you live the Nigerian financial life in US, you will grow rich within a short time. Our problem is trying to copy the lifestyle of the average Americans that do not share same values as us. I have 2 credit cards - Bank of American and Amazon Chase reward - this is the way I use them - I make sure I have the money before buying anything- so I buy on credit but pay everything off before the cards month end cut off. Bank of America increased my credit limit even without asking them to. I keep my card utilization to less than 10% - fantastic for your credit score. Minimum payments will kill your finances, you will end up living from paycheck to paycheck- what you have done is spending money you haven't earned - Some will think they have permanent jobs - no income is guaranteed in US - companies here won't owe you salary - if there is a sign of financial difficulties- they won't blink an eye before they sack all of you. Go ask people in Sears, GE Capital, PepsiCo, Verizon, Sprint, etc. For the student hustlers- Networking is your strongest skill for now - the truth is that it's getting more difficult to transfer to the H1B status after your F1 - so do not wait till you finish 2 years of graduate degree or 3+ years of undergrad before you start planning the life after school. The rule that is coming, maybe here - if you ever go out of visa status even for 1 day , your chances of being considered for Green Card through H1B might be practically zero. DACA - for those of you that are planning to bring your children to US without proper immigration - be warned !! If this program is canceled your kids would remain illegal immigrants even if they spend their entire lifetime in US. - except they go though proper immigration channels. I am not an immigration specialist but I dedicate my time to study and do research. All these info are on the internet if you will take time to do yoiur research. Thank you Goldenboy 13 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by vickertony(m): 1:32pm On Oct 15, 2017 |
What do you advise future msc accounting student? what area of accounting is better for msc in terms of job after school , incase one wants to stay back.. What state in the USA is good for student immigrants, weather wise, culture, people etc Add Any other advice, Thank you, Danke! cc Goldenboy007 |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by TalkCity: 5:09pm On Oct 15, 2017 |
Op, God bless you for this trend you put up here. I'm learning alot from you. |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Donaltus: 6:46pm On Oct 15, 2017 |
Goldenboy007 God will bless you the more,your number one point is really on fire......wen I was processing my USA visa two of my friend promise me heaven and earth claiming they will pay for ticket and also give me the BTA and other goodies,fast forward to when I got the visa they all abandon me they cant even shelter me for a week.I need to contact another person for accommodation and I actually paid for my rent from Nigeria Goldenboy007: 1 Like |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by timesup234: 4:29am On Oct 16, 2017 |
Donaltus:Most nigerians in america live fake life. That was how my cousins old friend was boasting he lives in a 1600 monthly two bedroom. My cousin got his visa and didnt tell him. He already requested for his address long time ago and saved it. Behold when he went to ATL he was shocked to see the 600usd monthly house he was sharing with a friend. The house was no different from a mushin house. Your expectation was too high, every dollars spent was worked for, nobody is going to give you accommodation or even a mere $50 1 Like |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Horticulturist: 5:00am On Oct 16, 2017 |
Goldenboy007: Thanks Golden boy as this piece is quite insightful! If I do an msc in a STEM Course , do I have chances of securing an HB1 Visa considering the 3year OPT grace period. Thanks 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by MOM1(m): 1:29pm On Oct 16, 2017 |
Goldenboy007: Not all of south side Chicago is bad.. Please speak for where you know. I have always lived on the south side and can never imagine myself living upnorth. Most of the shootings in Chicago are gang related and most times innocent victims are just in arms way. |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by charzyh2: 3:44pm On Oct 16, 2017 |
MOM1:Nigerians with arguments. He never said all south side of Chicago. Let me explain what he means with this example: When they say Lagos is too rough, does it mean everywhere in Lagos is included in that statement? shey u get. Op is just trying to pass a message. Moreover, you too can contribute your quota instead of picking out argumentative points. 4 Likes |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by MOM1(m): 3:55pm On Oct 16, 2017 |
charzyh2: It is not about picking an argument. "In Chicago for example - You don't want to stay in South Side of Chicago - that's where all the crimes are." I only want to correct that mindset. Chicago has Southside, Northside, Westside, Southwest, northwest, southeast etc.. All the points mentioned by the OP are spot on. |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 4:10pm On Oct 16, 2017 |
MOM1: Tell me your neighborhood in Chicago South Side and I would give you the statistics. It can't be all the South Side but nevertheless it's not a place you want to raise a family. 2 Likes |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 4:13pm On Oct 16, 2017 |
charzyh2: Thank you. 1 Like |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by MOM1(m): 4:21pm On Oct 16, 2017 |
Goldenboy007: C'mon I am not here to argue.. I have lived out here close to double digit years now! The statistics are right but you can't generalize.. What will you say about hyde park, south loop, Bronzeville etc.. There are good and bad neighborhood in all part of the city. One just have to be careful |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 7:11pm On Oct 16, 2017 |
I am going to reply all questions in my off work hours ..sorry for the delay. 2 Likes |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 3:35am On Oct 17, 2017 |
vickertony: |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 3:39am On Oct 17, 2017 |
Horticulturist: Tech and science jobs have good salaries, the oncoming immigration rules on H1B is what we are not sure of. However nothing stops you from schooling in US. Where there is a will there is a way. |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 3:45am On Oct 17, 2017 |
timesup234: The problem is people have boasted how their life is so transformed but they cannot back it up with action or results. US is just like any other country, you will work for anything you want. People do want to live the larger-than-life reputation. Fancy pictures on facebook can be deceptive. You need to come see how people work their bottoms 0ff to earn minimum wage. However hard work pays. 3 Likes |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 3:51am On Oct 17, 2017 |
MOM1: Hey MOM1. i understand where you are coming from and you are right. I once lived in Hyde Park...which is not even in the core south neighborhood. Its along Michigan avenue towards downtown. Its relatively peaceful there, although my plate number was stolen the 2nd day I bought a car. Apart from that it was relatively peaceful. I only used South side in reference to difference to cost of Apartments; why it may be slightly cheaper than other places. |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by vickertony(m): 11:45pm On Oct 19, 2017 |
[quote author=Goldenboy007 post=61492941][/quote] Thanks |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by Goldenboy007(m): 10:46am On Dec 02, 2017 |
How I bought $24,000.00 Dodge Charger with Cash. I have read many stories on people living in diaspora, the good, the bad and the ugly. Different strokes for different folks. I write based on my own experience and for those that have spoken to me, they know I am a simple down-to-earth guy. So I have been on car shopping for 2 months - I love cars and US has given me opportunity to live my dreams. Within 4 years I have used 4 cars, I get tired of a car easily. When I initially got into US, to save cost I wanted to drive a car low on maintenance so I stuck with the Toyotas and the Hondas - this time around I wanted something different so I did my research and concluded on a 2015 to 2017 Dodge Charger. Good technology, fair cost of ownership. Now the story goes - I started the car shopping - every weekend was spent driving around from Dealers to dealers. I used 3 websites - Cars, Truecar and Craigslist. It was a terrible experience - It seems when a black guy with accent enters a premium car outlet, they assume you are either a drug dealer, you are uneducated and you have a terrible credit score. I now see why they call the dealership - "stealership". Now most mistakes immigrants make is to go into dubious contracts with car dealership. I have written in the past that we forget our heritage when we go into foreign land. We try to copy the American lifestyle while we are Nigerians. The American lifestyle works for the Americans, it does not work for us - we have different customs and values. This has accounted for many immigrant failure in diaspora. African culture is rich in moral values - A river that forgets it's source will quickly dry up. You are a new immigrant - even some experienced immigrant make same mistake - you walk into a Dealership - the dubious sales man crunches some numbers and pronto - he gives you a monthly payment plan - you quickly sign the papers - you have just signed away your financial freedom in the US. There are times slavery is not by Chains and Cuffs, sometimes it's economic slavery and psychological slavery. You come into US gbam !!!! You see all the beautiful shining stuffs you never had back home - those devilish sales men tell you they are virtually free if you sign on a paper - you begin signing - credit cards, Mortgage, student loan, car loans, store cards, needless insurance, needless subscriptions - after some years you discover you are just living paycheck to paycheck. You have booked different loans against all your future income for the next 30 years in US. All you do now is working to pay back debts - a slave to your creditors. No wonder the good book says - "A borrower mortgages his freedom", well I will talk about this another day. Back to my car story ....ok this post is becoming too long ..i will continue later. 11 Likes
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Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by babaconfirm: 10:00am On Dec 04, 2017 |
@Goldenboy007 I've just PMed you now. Please i need an advice from you based on this subject. Kindly reply me through babaconfim25@yahoo.com |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by AngelicBeing: 11:23am On Dec 04, 2017 |
Goldenboy007:Well said and spot on, the borrower is a slave to the lender, this saying from the Bible has enabled me to keep my feet on track all this years l have lived in the West, I have seen millions of immigrants in the chains of endless debt and they keep paying until they finally die of debt |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by lionlee216(m): 1:54am On Dec 11, 2017 |
still following 1 Like |
Re: Abandoning Nigeria's Good Life For The Us,its A Blessing If.... by error4040: 7:23am On Dec 11, 2017 |
just joining the Ride! where my people at ? manoftheyear pidgin2 lionlee216 I see you bro |
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