He Migrated To America In 2001 With A Student Visa, Now A US Citizen – Nigerian Man Celebrates New Status

A Nigerian man named Benedict Nwachukwu has recounted his journey as he becomes a US citizen.
Benedict migrated to America in 2001 on a student visa, he went on to share the challenges he encountered before he finally suceeded and was granted a visa.

Read his post below as shared on LinkedIn:

Today I took and passed my naturalization test to become a U.S. citizen.

It’s been a long journey. I came to America in 2001 on a student visa. I stayed on that visa status for 12 years through the end of medical school. If you know anyone on a student visa you know that it requires yearly renewals, constant proof of education and is quite a burden for a teenager/young adult. After my schooling I was fortunate that Hospital for Special Surgery bet on me by giving me an H1B visa which is a visa not commonly given to surgical trainees and that required the hospital at the time to prove to the government that there was no better qualified American.

A few years after my H1B I decided to bet on myself and apply for a green card through the EB1 program which gives green cards to scientists of exceptional ability. As part of that process I had to solicit 10 references from leaders in my field who could vouch that I was an “exceptional scientist”. The process was humbling, I got some “no”s but I found 10 people willing to objectively look at my CV and write to the US Government to state their case on my behalf.

Now 6 years later from my green card I ve been approved to become a U.S. citizen. I’ve essentially been an immigrant all my life, I left Nigeria at age 6 to find better opportunities along with my mom. Ultimately I CHOSE America as the place where I want to settle, build a career and eventually raise a family.

I believe in the American dream. I am the American Dream. I hope that my fellow Americans never take for granted all of the rights and opportunities that you are given and that others work so hard to attain.

Source:Benedict Nwachukwu|LinkedIn

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com