Judy Maina: How I Moved to the US on Visit Visa, Changed to Green Card in 7 Months

Judy Maina, a Kenyan nurse based in the US, recently shared her journey of transitioning from a US visit visa to obtaining a green card.

On her YouTube channel, Nurse Judy opens up about her experience moving to the United States and shares an in-depth collection of her expenses. Previously holding a position at a prestigious Kenyan hospital, she later felt like her salary was not satisfactory. Enticed by the prosperous lifestyle other Kenyan nurses appeared to enjoy after relocating abroad, she turned towards taking on additional shifts and securing a job offering home nursing services. With time, her net pay picked up from Sh 35,000 to Sh 45,000 before she ultimately opted to resign. In her video, Nurse Judy delves into the details of her move to America and how she managed to convert her 5-year visit visa into a 10-year green card

In her quest for knowledge on moving to the US, Nurse Judy embarked on a journey in February 2022 and sought the guidance of reliable agencies like Avant Healthcare. Her dreams of settling in a foreign land had always been on her mind. Avant generously sponsored her NCLEX exam and travel fees to New York. But when her spouse received a promotion requiring their family to move to Tanzania, unexpected challenges confronted her. This sudden change meant nurse Judy had to relocate to Masaki, Dar es Salaam. Without a job and with her work permit rejected, things only got harder. Under such pressure, her marriage began exhibiting strain.

Nurse Judy and her husband later made the joint decision to explore an open marriage. While in the States, she came across an advert promoting nursing job opportunities that offered direct green card sponsorship, specifically available to nurses with visit visas. Motivated to secure a spot, she leapt upon the chance and immediately received an enthusiastic response via email. The game plan seemed simple—obtain a visitor visa to travel to America and then change her status to obtain a green card with the aid of the healthcare company. However, the process of leaving her family behind in Kenya was far from easy. Nurse Judy found herself overwhelmed with anxiety, often shedding tears due to the emotional weight of her decision.

Having missed a flight, suffered financial loss, and being forced to rebook another ticket was just the beginning of Judy's journey. With persistence and grit, she eventually arrived in Colorado, where she spent two weeks before heading to Seattle. Her Seattle stay hit a roadblock when she encountered a disagreement with her friend who had hosted her. Determined to make ends meet, she donned the role of a caregiver at adult homes. Persistence paid off as she eventually secured a job at a hospital in California soon after receiving her work permit. With her green card in hand, Judy and her husband made the decision to start a new life in America. The entire process cost them approximately Sh. 1 million, but they were determined to make it work.