Blessing Nwachukwu’s Journey: Overcoming Visa Fraud to Become a Tech Leader in the US

Blessing Nwachukwu embarked on a challenging journey from Nigeria to Russia at the young age of 21, which ultimately paved the way for her success in the United States. In 2009, she left her home country with only $65 and a plane ticket to the People’s Friendship University of Russia, envisioning a brighter future.

Her arrival in Moscow was anything but smooth. In an interview with Vanguard, Blessing shared, “It was a very rough journey.” To make ends meet, she sold food items sent by her mother and taught herself hairdressing. Additionally, Blessing took a cleaning job at an American church, and after saving enough for her tuition, she invested in a laptop and internet access, asking her school for the possibility to pay in installments.

With her new setup, she discovered a lucrative demand for English teachers in Russia, who could earn between $30 to $100 per hour. This led her to a significant career opportunity when she became a governess for a wealthy Russian’s child, which opened doors to teaching for other affluent families. Between 2010 and 2012, Blessing’s earnings soared to $3,000 to $4,000 per month. However, despite her financial success, she faced numerous challenges, including racism, harsh living conditions, and limited citizenship options.

These obstacles prompted Blessing to seek opportunities in Canada and the US, but fate dealt her a harsh blow when she was a victim of theft and visa fraud, losing $30,000 in the process.

Returning to Nigeria, she launched the Blessy Jackson Show on YouTube while applying to film schools abroad. During this transitional period, her supportive friend from Russia encouraged her to return to Moscow to pursue a PhD. In April 2014, her mother offered her a chance to chase her dreams, saying she would fund whatever path Blessing chose.

Despite her initial goal of moving to Canada, Blessing felt an inexplicable pull toward the United States. After being denied a US visa on two occasions, she applied again, this time for a degree in film production. Upon receiving her visa, she relocated to Georgia in January 2015, decided to abandon her PhD, and began to pursue tech-related fields, inspired by the lucrative earnings of her ex-husband in the tech industry.

Today, Blessing Nwachukwu stands as a testament to resilience and determination, having transformed her struggles into a success story in the tech realm, now a proud American citizen.

(Credit: Vanguard)