How to Immigrate to USA from Nigeria Without Job Offer

In the world of immigration opportunities to the United States, the F1 student visa and the family sponsorship routes often take center stage. Even, if you want to enter the United States to live and work there (via the H1B visa or other routes), you will still require a job offer and a sponsor.

But, what if I tell you there are other options to immigrate to the US from Nigeria without a job offer? Join me as I will discuss three options available to Nigerians looking to move to the USA without a job offer.

Nigerians who want to live and work legally in the United States need to already have a sponsor and hold a job offer to get a US visa. If you fail to secure these two requirements before you apply for a US work visa, your application will not be accepted.

Nevertheless, not all visas that permit an immigrant to live and work legally in the United States require a job offer. Let’s explore the most popular visa options that allow Nigerians to work legally without requiring a job offer below.

• KEY TAKEAWAYS: The EB-1, EB-2 NIW, or EB-5 visas do not require you to have received a job offer before your application. Nevertheless, it is not easy to get them.
• The EB-1 visa is very selective. To receive it, you need to prove that your abilities and experience are exceptional.
• The EB-2 NIW offers many benefits, but the main attraction is the job offer waiver. You don’t have to secure a job offer before applying for the visa. You just have to prove you have a worthwhile endeavor with a US company or your own business.
• With the EB-5 Visa, you will be creating job opportunities yourself so you do not need to have a job offer yourself. However, getting this visa requires a big financial investment.
• If you meet the criteria for the EB-1, EB-2 NIW, or EB-5 visa, you will be able to live and work wherever you like in the US permanently.

How Do I Immigrate to the USA from Nigeria Without a Job Offer?

The three US work visas that require neither a job offer nor a sponsor are:

• EB-1 Visa – This visa is designed for Nigerians who have extraordinary expertise in fields such as science, business, athletics, or education. To be eligible for the visa, you need to prove your exceptional abilities using awards, published material, or an extensive portfolio of business projects. If you can prove that you have the required skills to obtain this visa, you can enter the United States to live and work legally under lawful permanent residence (green card).
• EB-2 NIW Visa – This is a type of employment-based visa that allows Nigerians with exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business, or who hold advanced degrees in these fields, to bypass the standard labor certification process required for most employment-based visas.  To be eligible for the EB-2 NIW visa, you must have an advanced degree or outstanding ability in your profession. This visa has become an increasingly popular way for specialists from Nigeria to obtain permanent residency in the US.
• EB-5 Visa – also known as an investor visa, designed for Nigerians who want to invest in a new commercial project that will create at least ten job opportunities for US citizens. As of 2024, the required standard minimum investment amount is $1,050,000 (₦1,481,487,000), while the minimum investment amount for investment in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) is $800,000 (₦1,128,752,000). The advantage of this type of visa is it offers lawful permanent residence and a direct path to US citizenship – with no job offer requirement.

Who qualifies for an EB-1, EB-2 NIW, or EB-5 Visa in Nigeria?

In order to obtain any of the three work visas, you must meet certain criteria and requirements. In this section, I will split the visa requirements  and criteria you need to provide for each:

Eligibility Criteria for EB-1 visa for Nigerians

To be eligible for the EB-1 visa, you must meet the following criteria:

• Winning a national or international award.
• Membership in associations that require exceptional achievement from their members.
• Publication of articles about you in professional publications or major media.
• Other types of evidence to support your application may include notable achievements or contributions within your sector, such as inventions and patents, along with commanding a high salary or running a profitable enterprise

(Source: USCIS)

Application process

Here’s the application process if you are applying from Nigeria;

• Compiling Evidence: First, gather evidence that demonstrates your extraordinary ability. This includes awards, letters of recommendation, publications, and other relevant materials.
• Form I-140: Next, file an Immigrant Alien Worker Application (Form I-140). As an EB-1 applicant, you can file an application yourself, which means you do not need an employer to sponsor you.
• Visa fee: The cost of Form I-140 for EB-1 visa in Nigeria is $700 (₦987,658).

Eligibility Criteria for EB-2 NIW visa for Nigerians

To be eligible for the EB-2 NIW visa, you will need your official academic record showing substantial merit and other items that show that you can provide talents of national importance. Here is a list of required items:

• You must have a significant level of expertise in your field of work.
• You must then present further evidence as to why your work can be used on a national level.
• You must have a U.S. advanced degree or a foreign equivalent.
• You need to meet at least three of the legal requirements for EB-2:
  • Recognition for your significant contributions to your field
  • Membership in a professional association
  • A professional license to practice your occupation
  • Evidence you commanded a salary
  • An official academic record that presents your expertise and ability from your academic institution such as a:
    • Degree
    • Diploma
    • Certificate
    • College/university/institutions of learning award
  • Letters that show 10 years of full-time experience in your field.

In addition to the above, you can also include letters of recommendation, publications, evidence of impact, and other documentation that demonstrates your expertise and contributions to your field.

Application process

Here’s the application process if you are applying from Nigeria;

• For the EB-2 NIW visa, you need to file Form I-140. The NIW allows you to file this petition by yourself — You don’t need a job offer or need to acquire a permanent labor (PERM) certification. Form I-140 is filed with the United States and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• Next, you will need to pay $700 (₦987,658) to file Form I-140.
• Once I-140 is approved, you will need to apply via consular processing. For employment-based green cards, the consular visa processing fee is $345 (₦486,774).
• Note that you will likely wait at least 4 and 6 months to get the visa approved. For an up-to-date look at processing time estimates, check out the USCIS processing times tool.

(Source: USCIS)

Eligibility Criteria for EB-5 visa for Nigerians

To be eligible for EB-5 visa as a Nigerian investor, you must meet the following criteria:

• Investment amount. The investment for the EB5 Visa for Nigerian investors can be any of these two.
  • The minimum investment is $800,000 (₦1,128,752,000) for a Targeted Employment Area (region with high unemployment rates and rural areas).
  • The investment is $1,050,000  (₦1,481,487,000) for a non-Targeted Employment Area.
• Source of funds. You can use any of the following to invest.
  • Loans from a financial institution or an individual
  • Salaries/wages
  • Gifts from an individual
  • Inheritance
  • Business profits
• Job creation. The EB5 Visa for Nigerian investors requires the creation of 10 full-time American employees.

The financial criteria for the EB-5 Visa for Nigerian investors are the following.

• Net worth of $1,050,000 (₦1,481,487,000) for an individual or married couple; or
• Minimum of $200,000 (₦282,188,000) in individual income in each of the 2 previous years; or
• Minimum of $300,000 (₦423,282,000) in joint income in each of the 2 previous years; and
• A comparable level of future income and assets.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows 10,000 EB-5 visas a year.

Application process

Here’s the application step if you are applying from Nigeria;

• The first step in the EB-5 visa process is finding an EB-5 project to invest in.
• Once an EB-5 project is chosen, you will need to make a one-time minimum investment of USD 1,050,000 (₦1,481,487,000) into the project. This investment must create 10 or more American jobs in a Targeted Employment Area.
• After investing the above amount, file for I-526 Petition. This form is typically prepared and filed on your behalf by the immigration attorney. This document shows that you are in the process of investing or have already invested the amount required in a suitable EB-5 project.
• If your I-526 petition is approved, you will be granted 2-year conditional permanent residency in the US. During this period, you cannot leave the US for more than one year.
• If you are a resident in the US you must file an I-485 Adjustment of Status to move from the current visa to the conditional green card.
• Finally, file Form I-829 to become an unconditional lawful permanent resident of the US after the 2-year conditional permanent residency period. You must file this form at least 90 days before the anniversary of the day when conditional permanent residency was granted.
• The processing time to get the EB-5 visa is 18-24 months.

(Source: USCIS)

Can I immigrate to the USA without a job?

Yes, it is possible to immigrate to the United States without a job offer. Three types of visas allow this, and they are known as EB-1, EB-2NIW, and EB-5. The options through which you can move to the USA are outlined above.

Can I work in the U.S. without sponsorship as a Nigerian Citizen?

Yes, you can! But, there are a few limited situations where you may be eligible for a work visa without a sponsoring employer in the USA. For instance, if you possess extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, you may be eligible for an EB-1 visa or EB-2 NIW Visa. In addition, if you have a lot of investment capital, you may be eligible for the EB-5 visa. This visa allows you to invest in a project in the USA – with no job offer requirement or sponsorship by an employer.

How hard is it to get an EB-1, EB-2 NIW, and EB-5 visas from Nigeria?

The EB1 and EB-2 NIW visas are certainly hard to get in Nigeria because of their stringent requirements. This is because the visa is specifically for individuals with extraordinary ability or extraordinary achievement in their field. Secondly, these visas can be difficult to get because there is a limit on the number of visas issued per year. There are around 40,000 visas issued each year for EB-1 and EB-2 NIW visas. As for the EB-5 visa, the processing time for Nigerian investors is between 29.5 to 61 months and requires a big financial investment to be eligible to apply for the visa.

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