Experts Advise Tech Enthusiasts to Prioritise Venture-Building Programmes for U.S. Visa
Dike Onwuamaeze
Nigerians without formal technical backgrounds could pursue tech career in the United States by joining a venture-building programme.
This advice was given by a Tech Expert and Innovator, Mr. Salami Abolore during the recent eMigr8 Open Day for tech enthusiasts.
Speaking during a recent eMigr8 Open Day for tech enthusiasts seeking pathways to emigrate to the United States, Abolore emphasised that such programs provide the necessary support, resources, and mentorship that would help individuals to develop their ideas and navigate the U.S. tech visa options.
He highlighted the success stories of several Nigerians who have successfully transitioned into the U.S. tech industry through venture-building programs and encouraged aspiring tech enthusiasts to leverage these opportunities to gain valuable experience and build global attractiveness.
Abolore revealed that he also kicked off his tech career by joining an accelerator program.
He said: “It is not impossible for tech enthusiasts to achieve this status on their own, but participating in reliable venture-building programs can significantly expedite the process of meeting the visa requirements.”
While enlightening the participants on the requirements for applying for the O-1 non-immigrant visa, Abolore pointed out that the U.S. tech industry valued innovation and impact.
He noted that the visa option is specifically designated for individuals who have achieved and sustained national or international acclaim for extraordinary ability in their field.
He, therefore, urged tech enthusiasts to dedicate themselves to becoming both visible and valuable, emphasising that such efforts are crucial for seizing the emigration opportunities available in the country.
He said: “It is crucial for tech enthusiasts to continuously build their portfolio and showcase their achievements. Networking with industry leaders and participating in high-profile projects can significantly enhance their visibility.”
“Venture-building platforms such as LABs by Bincom, for instance, are readily available to guide tech enthusiasts on their journey, providing the necessary support, resources, and mentorship to help individuals develop their ideas into viable products.”
Speaking in the same vein, eMigr8 Open Day Facilitator and Tech Entrepreneur, Mr. Bade Adesemowo, spoke on the timeframe for a tech beginner to become globally attractive and eligible to apply for visas such as the O-1 non-immigrant visa.
Adesemowo stated that enthusiasts can typically achieve such status between one and two years by enrolling in the LABs by Bincom program organised by Bincom Dev Center.
He said: “The programme provides a hands-on approach to help tech enthusiasts develop viable products that meet three key criteria: innovation, viability, and scalability. It consists of multiple stages—typically three or four—starting with ideation.
“Participants are matched with mentors who have startup experience and can guide them through the entire process — from ideation to building their business plans and product requirement documents.
“Eventually, they will move on to developing an actual product and marketing it to real-life users and customers. This becomes their stepping stone into an incubation program.”
According to the tech industry expert, LABs by Bincom stands out because of its focus on pre-incubation, helping tech enthusiasts with no tech background become startup founders.
Adesemowo revealed that the program would usually require about 20 hours commitment from participants every week and is also available to those with full-time jobs.
“By the end of the six months, participants might find themselves ready to raise pre-seed funding and build something that could potentially change the world,” he noted.
In a related eMigr8 Open Day webinar on the various visa options available to tech enthusiasts seeking to move to the United States, facilitators highlighted that unlike the O-1 non-immigrant visa, which is a temporary work visa, the EB-2 NIW provides a pathway for those seeking to acquire citizenship status in the country.
They explained that while the O-1 visa is specifically designated for individuals who have achieved and sustained national or international acclaim for extraordinary ability in their field, the EB-2 NIW is an employment-based visa for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities.
A travel advisor and Co-Founder MyYankeeTravels, Ms. Bunmi Dayo-Ayeni, stated during the webinar that tech industry professionals could significantly benefit from the EB-2 NIW visa option.
She said: “To attract the visa, tech professionals need to have between 5-10 years of work experience, depending on their academic status. They must also demonstrate that their proposed endeavour holds substantial merit and national importance, and that they are well-positioned to execute it effectively.
“Tech enthusiasts seeking this opportunity can present themselves as IT professionals, IT consultants, software engineers, cybersecurity experts, and so on.”
The facilitators encouraged tech talents seeking visa opportunities to the United States or other countries to conduct thorough research before embarking on any application process.
They further advised participants to seek advice and take advantage of reputable travel agencies or tech talent visa-focused platforms like eMigr8 to streamline the process of their emigration ambitions.
Bincom Dev Center’s flagship services, LABs by Bincom and eMigr8 Tech Visa , continue to serve as avenues for tech talents across Africa to develop innovative tech solutions and position themselves as globally attractive for employment and emigration opportunities, respectively.
