10 things a kenyan must know before coming to the US
January 13, 2008
Written by kenyanobserver, in IMMIGRATION
1. Research the US immigration rules very carefully before you make your move. DO NOT rely on advice from a friend entirely. Things have changed significantly since 9-11-2001. Hate to say it, but have a plan B in place just in case things do not work out after you get here for whatever reason.
2. It is not easy – get that straight from Day One and do not expect any handouts. If you work hard here however, you can achieve a lot.
3. Define your mission and stick to it. It’s best to do it when your mind is not clouded with prejudices and experiences you come across here.
4. Whether you are a preacher, student, medical doctor, nurse, or the next J-Lo, it helps to find and hang out with like-minded people or professionals already in the field. This should be your primary circle as much as possible. People from Kenya should be in your secondary circle unless they are in the same field you are trying to get into. That does not mean you need to shun Kenyans entirely. It is very essential to keep in touch with countrymen and women, but it is more important to expand your horizons in your new environment.
5. If you are not a US citizen, do NOT say you are a US citizen on an application form if you are offered a job. It might come back to haunt you later.
6. Be involved in your community. Join a church. You will be amazed at the quality of contacts you can make this way. God forbid, in case of trouble, there will be “family” to stand up for you.
7. Your credit can be like your “rich uncle” here or it can be your worst nightmare multiplied a hundred times. Please educate yourself on the power of credit and how this single thing can make or break you here in America.
Take time to understand how powerful this tool is and how you can use it to your advantage.Do not indulge yourself in American consumerism. There is so much here and it is very easy to be overwhelmed. You don’t need every single thing you see on your Yahoo email ads or TV. This is how most Americans, including Kenyan-Americans, get into debt and it’s downhill quickly after that.
At this point, loaded with debt and credit completely maxed out, it only takes one strike – major illness, job loss or layoff and the damage to your financial life is total because you have no credit left and no savings in the bank for emergencies.
8. Eat healthy, keep active and seek out sources of healthy food. It’s a lot easier to find junk food especially if you are busy with school or work. A lot of Kenyans are getting diseases like diabetes and heart disease at very young ages it’s almost scary.
9. Re-define your goals and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that you are still on track to reaching your goals. Don’t be too stiff.
10. Buy life and health insurance and KEEP it. While we hope for the best, things hapen. We die, we get sick.Do not depend on life insurance from work or the bank because those come and go. You need to get good life insurance and keep it for the long-term.
This is especially important if you have a spouse and kids.Health insurance is another matter altogether. This is a major issue for all Americans. It’s reached a point now where you either have to have a lot of money to pay for your own insurance or you have to get a job with insurance just to be covered. Just try to have one at all times as much as you can.
The financial impact of your death or illness, knock on wood, can be a double-whammy because, one, you are gone or no longer able to provide for you family and, two, you have left a massive medical or funeral bill for them to deal with. Need more proof?
Read this very sad story of a Ghanian woman who was returned to Ghana even though she had a type of cancer that is best treated in the UK
10. Do not forget people back home. It’s easy to do.
Corrections, suggestions welcome.
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