We need to have an honest conversation. Every time I go on X (Twitter) or LinkedIn, I see the same debate. Someone posts about moving to the US, and the comments section becomes highly contentious. One side screams “Japa!” (escaping), and the other side talks about “Brain Drain.”
But if you are a serious founder or a senior tech talent, you know that this isn’t about running away from Nigeria or Kenya. It’s about the Addressable Market.
If you want to raise a Series A from Andreessen Horowitz, or if you’re going to sell your SaaS product to Fortune 500 companies, you can’t do it easily from a shared workspace in Yaba. You need to be “in the room”.
I decided to focus on what really matters and create a clear guide. And I want to be clear: this isn’t just my opinion.
This breakdown is research-based and heavily inspired by the insights of Adewale Yusuf (CEO of AltSchool Africa), who has been vocal about treating global mobility as a deliberate business strategy, not just an escape plan.
If you are serious about taking your talent or your startup to the US, here is how the game is actually played.
Your First Move
Before you even pack a bag, your company needs to move first.
You might have heard the term “Delaware Flip.” This isn’t a gymnastics move. It’s a legal restructuring where you create a new US company (usually a Delaware C-Corp) and make it the “parent” of your Nigerian company.
Why do this? Because US investors are lazy. They don’t want to learn Nigerian corporate law. They want to invest in a structure they understand. By doing the “Flip,” you tell them: “Hey, give me your dollars in a US bank account, governed by US laws.”
In August 2025, Delaware updated its corporate laws (specifically Section 220), narrowing shareholders’ rights to inspect your internal books.
- What this means for you: It actually protects founders more. It stops minor investors from harassing you for every single email or document just because they own 1% of your stock. It makes Delaware an even safer haven for African founders than it was two years ago.
The Visa Menu: A Comprehensive Overview Beyond Just the O-1 Visa
We talked about the O-1 Visa in a recent post, and yes, it is fantastic. But it’s not the only card in the deck. Depending on your stage, you might have better options.
The “Big Move”: L-1 Visa (Intracompany Transfer)
If you have already built a real company in Africa with employees and revenue, you don’t need to prove you are a “genius.” You need to prove you are the Boss.
You set up your US office (after the Delaware Flip). Then, your Nigerian company transfers you to the US office as an Executive.
You need to have worked for your African company for at least one year before you move. So, don’t quit your job to start a US company from scratch; use your existing company to send you there.
The “Secret Weapon”: EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver)
This is the one everyone is whispering about right now. Usually, to get a Green Card, you need a US employer to “sponsor” you. The EB-2 NIW allows you to say: “I am so valuable to the United States (in AI, Cybersecurity, Fintech) that you should waive the job offer requirement.”
You can self-petition. You don’t need a boss. If you are building tech that helps the US economy (creating jobs, securing data), you have a strong case.
The “Safety Net”: International Entrepreneur Parole (IEP)
If you don’t fit the O-1 or L-1, the Biden administration revived the IEP. It allows founders to stay in the US for up to 5 years if:
- You own at least 10% of a startup.
- You received significant investment (approx. $311k+) from qualified US investors. It’s technically “parole,” not a “visa,” but it lets you build.
The Reality Check (The Taxes Will Hurt)
I have to be honest with you, the grass isn’t always greener; it’s just more expensive to cut. Changing your tax residency to the US is a big financial decision.
- The IRS is Global: unlike FIRS, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) taxes its residents on their worldwide income. If you move to San Francisco but your company in Lagos makes a profit, Uncle Sam wants a cut.
- The “Exit Tax”: If you become a long-term US resident and then try to leave, they might tax your assets as if you sold them.
My Advice: Do not move a single muscle until you have spoken to a cross-border tax specialist. I know founders who moved to the US, sold their startups for millions, and lost 40% of it because they didn’t structure their personal tax residency correctly.
Summary: It’s an Expansion, Not an Escape
If there is one thing I want you to take away, it’s this mindset shift.
When Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi took Paystack to Silicon Valley, they weren’t abandoning Nigeria. They were building a bridge. They tapped into US capital and networks, and they brought that value back home.
Moving to the US as a tech talent is an investment strategy. It’s about placing yourself in the capital of capital.
So, ignore the “Japa” comments. If your dream is big enough to need a US zip code, go get it. Just make sure you have the right paperwork when you land.
