I see lots of employed people giving up their entire livelihood for an American visa and eventually the American green card. Peter, a friend I used to hang out with in a local bar back then in mile 2 resigned from being a junior analyst in a FOREX company, sold his car, his fathers house and
borrowed N800,000 from his fiancee to travel to the USA. My friend raised nearly N5,000,000. A whooping N5million. Finally he flew into the USA in June, 2011 to hussle. The hopes of family,friends and fiancee were as high as kilimanjaro. He owed us including me because I offered prayers too. I frowned at his lavishing N5m on an uncertain trip while secretly nursing the idea of traveling too if he makes it real big. After all, the tales back home sounds like dollars are picked from trees like agbalumo (Chery fruit).

Truthfully, I started dreaming like Osofia and his fiance started planning on having a child that will be
born clinching to an American green card. He usually calls every week but we mostly do mails. In one of our correspondences he complained of not being able to secure a descent office job in spite of his finance degree, only menial jobs. I advised him to brush up with school while he does the menial jobs for now. He started work as a dish washer in a 3 star hotel then a scavenger for a collecting house then a fair job as a massager. Now he massages old people.

He has been saving but not enough for tuition, gas, electricity, tax etc. The only thing Peter has sent to his fiance is an old Nokia phone that can't be unlocked. All the engineers in Nigeria have tried to unlock this gadget but left the thing feeling really bad. His parents are bitter and the girlfriend partially blames me for not advising him appropriately. Is it my fault? after all I prayed, we all prayed. Peter hasn't saved up enough to offset his debts back home. Other children are demanding their share of their fathers' house and his fiance wants her N800,000. She is expecting a baby and needs the money for child support. I wonder when Peter came to Nigeria and got his fiance pregnant in the midst of his challenges.

My friends Visa expired in 2013 and now he is stuck.

No doubts, America is a highly sophisticated and developed nation that promises several opportunities through her free enterprise system but the grass is not always greener at the other side. Its fine to look oversees if you are unemployed and doing nothing to create economic value as long as you don't mortgage your future. If its possible to raise N2,000,000 for a trip to the USA why wouldnt you think of some form of investments back home. Yes its difficult because the operating environment is stifflingbut its very possible. This is not to say there are not successful people who have travelled but count your cost and have your plans before you leap.

select500:
It seems your friend travelled with a visiting visa, which has now expired. If he actually has a Green Card, then he will definately have more opportunities open to him.

Mist100:


Nooooo.. he doesnt have a green card yet. He was given a 2years Visa in 2011.

Afam4eva:
With a green card, the possibilities are endless if you possess what is required of you. You don't just wake up up one money and decide to travel to the US without having any concrete plan. He may have to take another university course because i doubt his Nigerian finance degree will be of any use over there. Btw, if he could raise up to 5 million, why not use it to start something instead of plunging it into something that is uncertain.

bossladyMo:
He is an illegal immigrant...what was he expecting?

Mist100:


Bros he was not before 2013. He had valid documents.