Kenyan businesswoman and nurse based in the United States, Nafula Sharleen, has shared unconventional guidance for Kenyans who are not professionals but wish to travel to the US.
Her advice, shared on social media, combines visa strategies, networking, and relationship-building as a pathway to long-term US residency.
Nafula urged Kenyans to start with a visitors visa, attending conferences or securing invitations, emphasizing careful planning and honesty during the application process.
“Changamkia visitors visa, cheza na invitation ama conferences. Ukifuata hii story nakushow then utanichomea CV embassy. If you know, you know!” she wrote.
Beyond visa applications, she highlighted the importance of social connections. Nafula suggested engaging with potential partners abroad through online dating platforms, particularly with people of African descent.
She warned against falling for superficial relationships with foreigners and encouraged seeking meaningful connections with compatible individuals who could support eventual adjustment to permanent residency.
Patience, Nafula stressed, is critical. She noted that a five-year visitors visa provides ample time for personal networking and relationship-building.
“Visitors visa ikijipa kam majuu. But usikam mpaka upate mtu, acha haraka. Patience is key! Visa ni poa 5yrs so tulia,” she said.
For those who find a suitable partner, Nafula advised formalizing the relationship legally.
She recommended marriage as a legitimate route to adjustment of status and green card applications, warning against entering fake unions that could lead to deportation.
“Marriage ni real na si fake na hutamuacha. Mechi na watoi ni evidence iko real,” she wrote.
Nafula’s post, delivered with humor and a mix of Swahili and English, has sparked debate online, with some praising her practical approach and others questioning the ethics of leveraging personal relationships for immigration purposes.
Her guidance, although unorthodox, underscores the complexity and creativity often required by Kenyans aspiring to move to the United States without professional qualifications.
Nafula concluded with a playful reminder to stay informed and cautious: “Ustake Jua! Rich kids wa Runda hakuna translator huku. If you don’t get it, forget it.”