My Personal Curriculum, Q2

Q2 Theme: Practice, Expression, and Life Outside the Desk

After a structured and academically focused Q1, Q2 is about a different kind of growth. This quarter centers on consistency, creativity, and real-life application.

Instead of focusing on new knowledge, I am focusing on maintaining and strengthening what I already know, while also creating space to step outside of my routine.

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Makeup Practice

This quarter, I am treating makeup as a skill that requires regular use to stay sharp. While I already have a strong foundation, I recognize that consistency is what keeps the skill intuitive and fluid.

My approach is simple. I will practice when I have time, especially on weekends, without pressure or perfection. Some sessions will be about recreating looks I already love, while others will be about experimenting and trying something new.

Success this quarter looks like staying consistent, feeling more confident in my execution, and reconnecting with makeup as a creative outlet.

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German Language Learning

In Q1, my learning was more structured. In Q2, I am shifting into immersion and real world engagement with the language.

I will continue learning German through a mix of listening, watching, and speaking. This includes watching YouTube vlogs with auto translated subtitles, listening to German language podcasts, and watching a German language movie.

I will also work with a language partner every two weeks. This is not a tutor, but a native or fluent speaker that I can speak with casually for an hour. The goal is to build comfort, improve listening, and speak more naturally.

Success this quarter is not perfection. It is about fluidity, confidence, and being able to engage with the language in a more natural way.

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Extracurricular: Volunteering

This is the most intentional part of my Q2 curriculum.

Every curriculum should have an extracurricular, and for this quarter, mine will take place outside of my usual environment. I plan to find a volunteer opportunity for May and June, ideally something community based or outdoors.

This is important to me because it shifts my focus outward. It allows me to contribute my time, connect with others, and experience something beyond work and personal development.

Success here is simple. Showing up, being present, and being helpful.

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Closing Reflection

Q2 is not about doing more. It is about doing things with more intention.

It is about maintaining skills, practicing consistently, engaging with learning in a more natural way, and making space for experiences outside of my usual routine.

This quarter feels lighter, but also more grounded.

Learning Outcomes from my Q1 Personal Curriculum

 This year, I decided to engage in a Q1 personal curriculum. The personal curriculum is meant to be 12 weeks, thus its progress being measured by the 12 weeks of Q1. 

The three main subject areas that comprised my personal curriculum was German learning, Global Mobility, and learning about Canada's immigration system. 

I'll go ahead to share my progress and the learning materials that assisted me in my learning in each of the 3 buckets. 

German Learning 

This was a bucket I wanted to continue, as I had been practicing my German language skills on/off since the end of last year. Making it a part of my Q1 personal curriculum definitely helped with consistently practicing. To be honest, I didn't achieve penultimate consistency levels (in this case, practicing it daily), but I was more consistent than the previous year, so that is progress in my book. 

I utilized a few things to help me this go- around, incorporating some medium from last year: 

Novel: I read a German novel - das doppelete Loetchen  - fun fact, the film the Parent Trap (1998) starring Lindsay Lohan originates from this 1949 German novel. Really cool for me, as Parent Trap was one of my favorite films growing up (and still a beloved comfort film for me for sure).

Vlogs: I watched German vlogs from a German lifestyle vlogger. I like watching vlogs regularly, mostly lifestyle vlogs, so it made sense to include this as part of the tools I use to engage in this bucket. Which brings me to my first pro tip: a low hanging fruit way to engage in your personal curriculum is to incorporate tools you already use in your learning or avenues to learn. If you already listen to podcasts for example and you want to learn about a certain historical period, seek out podcasts on that topic. If you watch Youtube videos regularly already, no need to switch up URL's for the sake of the personal curriculum - watch Youtube Videos. If you watch film regularly, find films related to the topic to watch etc. I could go on and on about so much medium - books, radio, X, Instagram - point is you can use all of these avenues to learn, especially if you were already using it for your entertainment in the first place. 

screenshot of the Youtuber I mostly watched, Fabienne Bethmann 

Still on YouTube, not only did I add closed caption German subtitles to the German vlogs I watched, I also added them to any video watched in English as well. Yes, YouTube provides the ability to auto-translate in your preferred language, captioning the video's dialogue in that specific preferred language. See the below photo for example. 

An Arise news video I watched with the captions auto translating to German 

Podcast: I found a German language podcasts (these were learning based, so dialogue was a bit slower). I didn't listen to as much of these as I could have simply because the ones I found were a bit more elementary for the language proficiency I had already attained, but if you are a beginner, this is actually great. 

All in all, I believe a bulk of my language learning came from watching the YouTube videos and reading the German book. To make the podcasting arm more effective, I will definitely seek out an advanced proficiency language podcast or podcast where German is fluently spoken. 

Which brings me to my next announcement: *drum roll please* I'll be continuing German Language learning into Q2! yay! Continuing YouTube vlogs (& auto-translated subtitles) but also including two major tools: the advanced language podcast, and a language partner. This quarter, I want to find a personal language partner online that I'll pay and we just get online and chat about things, in German. It won't be tutoring or language lessons, but just personal, 1:1 practice. I look forward to adding this speaking component into my German Language Q2 personal curriculum. 

Global Mobility Certification 

I started the WERC Global Mobility Course last year but never completed it nor did I take the exam. It's a 7 module course and based on their schedule, it is meant to take about 6 months. Thus, at the start of the year it was important for me to complete it. I was on module 3 by the time I put a pin on this certification at the end of the year, right before I traveled. Thus, from February after my birthday I picked up where I left off. 

By April 4, a few days after the end of Q1, I finished all seven courses (see the badges issued for completion below) and then April 14th, I completed the global mobility certification course. 

Cheers all around! I feel happy about my accomplishment. I shared it on LinkedIn, printed the certificate, and plan to hang up the certificate in my home. Soon come, after I get back from my cheeky Dallas weekender (I think the April 28 will be the "official/unofficial start to my Q2 personal curriculum because of how it's the day I get back from Dallas and it marks the start to getting back serious again lol - with goals etc)

A job well done, indeed. 

Canada Immigration

The final bucket was not started until literally a few days before the end of Q1, when I realized it was ending and I still had no understanding of how the Canadian Immigration process works. For what it's worth I just wanted a general overview. It's funny though, that even with all the cramming this is the lesson I remember the most, maybe because of how it is so similar to U.S. immigration and I consider myself a U.S. immigration specialist (basically, there are three different categories of Canadian immigration - work/school which provides express entry (mostly used), work permit after school and/or or points towards express entry/provincial entry, or sponsorship from an employer where the labor market is tested which is not as commonly used also nota bene that Quebec has its own provincial entry system and is not a party  to the express entry system; there's the family/reunification stream; and there's the humanitarian stream  interesting to note here that interest groups can sponsor your asylum even from you being outside Canada. 

A very interesting learning curriculum to say the least and I learned essentially that Canada's system is oriented around attracting talent to various provinces and the more delicious your profile is (based on points) the more likely you are to be able to relocate to Canada even without a job offer in hand. Oh, also points are accumulated by different things such as ties to Canada, education level, having worked for a Canadian employer, gone to a Canadian school, age, and English proficiency, amongst other things. While the word "draw" is the choice-word used when describing their selection system, Express Entry draws are not a lottery - the process is strictly merit-based. 

To put a nice and neat bow on this two-day crash course, I created a PDF booklet of Canada's Immigration System using Claude (for the content) and ChatGPT for the cover page here. 

It's a nice to have because I can refer to it at any time. 

To conclude my Q1 personal curriculum, I would say it was great motivator for me to finish up the global mobility course and to also continue my German learning (at best, in a structure way). I will definitely continue the German learning in the ways mentioned above. Learning about Canada's immigration also gives me foundational knowledge about concepts I see coming up on my LinkedIn (and other social media) feed relating to any updates to their program, etc. I can also provide foundational advice to clients regarding migrating to Canada if there's any inquiry. 

 

Here's to a productive Q1, stay tuned for my Q2 personal curriculum. 

Funmi 

Angela Davis: Women, Culture , and Politics

March 2026, I read Angela Davis' Women Culture and Politics. It was really good. There were quite a few concepts & issues discussed that I want to note (I pretty much summarized them in my Notes app as I was reading and then fed to Claude to flesh out based on my already placed thoughts).

Without further ado, here goes. Enjoy! 

The Socialism-Feminism Connection

• Davis argues that feminism divorced from economic analysis is incomplete; you cannot liberate women without dismantling the material conditions that oppress them. She presents socialism not as a foreign ideology but as a practical framework for addressing the specific wounds of Black communities: chronic unemployment, healthcare gaps, income inequality, housing instability, and reproductive coercion. Davis is unambiguous about where she stands politically. Capitalism, in her view, is not a neutral backdrop to women's oppression; it is one of its root causes. The same system that extracts labor from workers extracts reproductive labor from women and extracts both from Black people simultaneously. At the intersection of race and gender, capitalism does double and triple damage. Socialism, for Davis, is not an abstract ideal but a concrete political answer to the compounding crises that Black women face precisely because no single-issue movement, whether feminist or civil rights, can dismantle a system that operates on multiple axes of exploitation at once
• The personal is not just political; it's also economic

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Global Solidarity vs. Mismatched Priorities

• Davis exposes a fundamental tension in the international women's movement: whose issues get to define "women's issues"? The White Woman's Burden dynamic plays out on a global stage. Western/white feminists tend to center issues like FGM, refugees, and "saving" women in the Global South. Black and Third World women's movements counter: what about unemployment, homelessness, mass incarceration, and infant mortality at home? This plays out concretely in two case studies:
•   UN Decade for Women: U.S. feminist priorities often reflected white middle-class concerns, leaving Black and poor women's crises sidelined
• • Egypt: Davis unpacks the contention over what Egyptian women themselves identify as their primary struggles vs. what Western feminists project onto them. The disconnect isn't just cultural; it's political and patronizing

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South Africa & Apartheid as a Women's Issue

• Davis connects apartheid directly to feminist struggle. Racial capitalism doesn't just oppress Black men; it devastates Black women, families, and reproductive life. She challenges the American women's movement to see South Africa not as a foreign cause but as an extension of the same fight against racial and economic domination

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Military Spending vs. Human Welfare: Then and Now

• Writing during the Vietnam War era, Davis makes a pointed argument: every dollar spent on military aggression is a dollar stolen from welfare, healthcare, education, and housing
• She essentially asks: what does "national security" mean to a Black mother who can't afford childcare or medical treatment? This argument hits differently in 2026. Watching the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" funnel historic sums into defense while gutting social safety nets, Davis's critique reads less like history and more like prophecy. She would not be surprised. She would be furious, and she'd be right.

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Art as Resistance: Music, Photography & Rupert Garcia

• The final chapter pivots to culture as a political weapon.Davis argues that art isn't decoration; it's documentation, preservation, and mobilization. Rupert Garcia becomes the anchor example: his life's work is defined by a singular mission to create human images that preserve awareness of racial and national heritages and honor collective struggles for freedom and dignity
• Garcia's photography refuses to let communities be erased, sanitized, or spectacularized; he insists on dignity. Music functions similarly in Davis's framework. Spirituals, blues, and protest songs serve as vessels of collective memory and survival

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The Through-Line: Cohesion vs. Fracture

• The book's quiet tragedy is the lack of solidarity, not because women don't share struggles, but because the movement keeps allowing racial and class hierarchies to reproduce themselves internally. Davis's call to action: genuine coalition requires centering the most marginalized, not the most comfortable. Until Black women's specific material conditions are treated as the feminist issue rather than a niche sub-issue, the movement remains fractured and therefore weakened.

Funmi 

Anything Good Can Wait

 That is what I told myself when I randomly woke up this morning in the middle of the night, scrolled through social media (quite briefly so as to not make it a habit to cut my sleep for the sake of socials), saw that Tems dropped a surprised EP and made a conscious decision to indulge at my own time, when I am most available. 

Anything Good Can Wait

 

This is a major deviation from 20-something year old me, willing to sacrifice my wellness for the sake of having a  first listen to a song as soon as it dropped at 11:59pm EST either because I was too excited about the project or because I, in true main character form, overestimated how much my opinion mattered on such content (most times it was a toxic mixture of both).

If it's that good, I'll consume & engage in it eventually. 

I plan to extend such a saying to other parts of my life. relationships, friendships, etc. 

Isaiah 60:22  

Funmi 

On Marriage and Making Money

 I read two books in the past two months, one on marriage and one on making money. Each brilliantly as good in their own respects, I felt it proper to write a few pointers of important concepts/thing learned from each that I don't want to forget anytime soon. 

I'll start with Earn What You're Really Worth by Brian Tracy and will then pivot to God is a Matchmaker by Derek Prince 

Earn What You're Really Worth by Brian Tracy 

• Contribute Value
• Personal knowledge and ability to apply it are your most valuable assets. 
• Where are the customers? What do people want to buy? Which businesses and industries are serving customers best? Which businesses are growing in this economy which are declining? 
• Become indispensable
• Learn what you need to learn
• Specialize in that area and become extremely knowledgeable in that area
• What activities have been most responsible for my success in life to date -utilizing such skills to realize future success. 
• Stay productive
• fish where the fish are
• what are your skills? What can I do well? What have I learned through education or experience that enables me to make a valuable contribution to my employer?
• What have I done well at various jobs in the past? What activities have been most successful in my work life today
• Contacts, Credibility, Competence
• Intelligence: ask intelligent questions; curiosity 
• Leadership Ability: take charge, volunteer for assignments, accept responsibility for achieving results in the required assignments
• Integrity, Likeability, Competence: getting the job done, Courage: taking risks, Inner Strength: perseverance in the face of adversity 
• Keys to Marketing Yourself 
• Specialization -what are my skills
• Differentiation - what to do to not only be different but better? 
• Segmentation - look at marketplace and see where to apply yourself 
• Concentration - focus and do a good job
• Top people are in constant learning mode. They are curious, interested and eager to absorb new knowledge. They are hungry to learn. 
• Develop a sense of urgency, fast tempo, bias for action. Do it Now. Do the easy things immediately (take an important phone call right now and deal with it) 
• Posteriority: discontinue lower value activities 
• Grooming is important 
• Be idea oriented at work 
• Continuous learning: podcasts, etc
• Learn how to learn
• speed and dependability
• networking, join professional organizations 

God is a Matchmaker by Derek Prince 

• The Gateway: offer your body to God as a living sacrifice 
• God gives his best to those who leave the choice to Him 
• Four areas to cultivate if you want to enter into God's plan for marriage: 
• attitude toward marriage
• attitude toward yourself 
• attitude toward other people 
• attitude toward your parents 
• Eight guidelines to follow
• walk in the light of God's word 
•  cultivate fellowship 
• be led by the Holy Spirit 
• guard your heart 
• be prepared to wait 
• be prepared for death and resurrection 
• seek the counsel of godly men and women 
• cultivate God's favor 
• 12 suggestions on women preparing for marriage
• be a helper 
• cultivate your relationship with the Lord 
• cultivate commitment and loyalty 
• cultivate your own self-esteem 
• be willing to learn 
•  be willing to serve 
• be willing to adjust to your husband's priorities 
• learn to pray and intercede for others 
• learn proper care of your body 
• observe the wife's behavior in exemplary marriages 
• Trust God. Be willing to wait. 
• Set your goals. establish your priorities 

• Don't overlook the role of parents in seeking a spouse 
• "And my confident response to young people today who desire ardently to marry, and who doubt God's love for them because they have no mate, is from Psalm 37:4: 'Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart' "

OK, one more inspiration I got is listening to Patricia Bright on Madame Joyce's podcast. A bonus, if you will. 

to be a millionaire you need to "see someone else (achieve it), not be jealous, be inspired, then take action" - Patricia Bright 

The action taking part resonates with me because I have two projects that I am working on this year that although a bit scary and cumbersome, I am committed to taking action on. I look forward to coming back to this post and seeing how far I've come since writing this, so help me God. 

Funmi 

Routines and Travel: a Kite Blog Post

 

Travel is one of life's greatest joys, but if you've worked hard to build a solid daily routine, the thought of disrupting it can feel like a necessary trade-off. The good news? It doesn't have to be. With a little intentionality, you can explore the world and keep your wellness habits intact. Here's how.

1. Anchor your routine to time blocks, not rigid schedules. 

The goal isn't to replicate your routine at home down to the minute, it's to preserve its spirit. Take running as an example. If you normally lace up at 6:30 AM, the real habit isn't the exact time, it's that you run in the morning. So on a holiday where sleeping in is part of the pleasure, a 9 AM run still counts. You're honoring the routine without letting perfectionism kill it.

And on the odd day where life genuinely gets in the way, an early 5 AM excursion, a packed schedule, a delayed flight, don't abandon ship entirely. A quick stretch, a short walk, or even a few minutes of mindful breathing is infinitely better than nothing. Then make it a point to get back on track the following day. The mindset shift here is simple but powerful: you're not working around your routine; you're building your schedule with your routine in mind.

2. Pack for your habits, not just your outfits. 

Your suitcase tells a story about your priorities. If running is non-negotiable, your running shoes aren't optional, they go in the bag before anything else. The same principle applies across the board.

A weekly pill organizer pre-loaded with your vitamins means you're never scrambling to remember what you've taken and when. A journal tucked into your carry-on means your writing practice survives even a transatlantic flight. Whatever your anchoring habits are, identify the tools they require and treat packing them as mandatory. When the physical items are with you, the routine has a fighting chance.

3. Use tools that keep you accountable. 

Willpower is finite, especially when you're in a new environment full of distractions and novelty. That's where simple accountability tools earn their keep. Set your alarm the night before so your morning run actually happens. Block out time in your calendar for your workout, your journaling session, or your wind-down routine and treat it like any other commitment on your trip. What gets scheduled gets done. 

4. Plan ahead with a solid itinerary.

Routines thrive on structure, and structure comes from planning. When you map out your days in advance, you can actively build your habits into the schedule rather than hoping they'll fit. You'll quickly spot the days that need flexibility and the ones where sticking close to your normal rhythm is very doable.

Speaking of planning ahead, Kite can help you build a smart travel itinerary in seconds, so you can spend less time organizing and more time actually enjoying the trip.

5. A little research goes a long way. 

If you juice daily, spend five minutes finding a juice bar near your hotel. If you follow a specific diet, pull up the menus of places you're interested in before you sit down and look for the iron-rich options, the plant-based dishes, the things that align with how you eat. If yoga is your anchor, search for a local studio and book a class. You might even discover a spot you love more than your one back home.

The point is: the resources to maintain your routine almost always exist wherever you're going. You just have to look for them before you land, not after you're already hungry and off schedule.

6. Communicate your needs on group trips. 

This one is underrated, especially for group travel. When you're coordinating with other people, your personal routine can easily get lost in the shuffle or worse, become a source of friction. The fix is simple: tell people upfront.

Let your travel companions know that you like to get a run in before the day kicks off, or that you need to swing by a specific spot on the way back to the hotel. They don't need to join you, they just need to know. It removes the guesswork, prevents awkward moments, and gives the group a chance to accommodate you without even thinking twice about it. On a group trip, communication isn't just courteous, it's what makes sticking to your routine actually possible.

Travel doesn't have to mean hitting pause on the habits that keep you feeling your best. With the right mindset and a bit of preparation, your routine can come right along for the ride.

My Problem with First-World Problems

I was sitting on a plane recently when the guy next to me started sniffling. Not a one-time thing, a rhythmic, relentless, every-thirty-seconds kind of sniffle. The kind that burrows into your brain and makes it impossible to think about anything else. I felt the frustration bubbling up, and my first instinct was to mentally draft a complaint blog it - My Problem with Flight Seatmates, if you will. Then I caught myself. Here I am, hurtling through the sky at 35,000 feet in a metal tube, and my biggest grievance is my neighbor's nose. That's when I realized that I was about to become the very thing I on average cannot stand: someone complaining about a "first world problem" (a first world problem is a minor inconvenience or frustration that only exists because of the relative comfort and privilege of living in a wealthy, developed country). 

And look, I get it. Annoyances are annoyances and dismissing them entirely with "people in other countries have it worse" has its own kind of hollow. But what actually gets under my skin isn't the complaint itself; rather it is the passivity and wallowing that comes with it. Here's the thing with first world problems: they almost always come packaged with first world solutions; we just don't look for them as hard as we look for someone to commiserate with.

Take my sniffle situation. The moment I stopped mentally complaining and started thinking, the answers were obvious. I put in my noise-cancelling headphones and the problem solved in about fifteen seconds. Other "solutions" for someone that gets irritated easily could have included outright buying a business class ticket knowing this dramatically reduces the number of people in your immediate orbit. Booking a window seat means you only have one neighbor instead of two. These aren't revolutionary insights; they're just things you notice when you're looking for a fix instead of a grievance.

This pattern plays out everywhere. One could complain that the coffee shop is too loud to work in, but you could find a quieter spot, invest in a good pair of headphones, or simply work from home (for those with the privilege of doing so). Your phone battery dies too quickly but there are portable chargers small enough to slip into a jacket pocket, and most of us have known about this problem long enough to have solved it ten times over. Traffic is terrible, but there's usually a podcast that makes it enjoyable, a route app that finds a better way, or a schedule adjustment that avoids the worst of it altogether. The gym is packed after work, but it's a ghost town at 6am or midday if you can swing it. Slow Wi-Fi is maddening but a quick router reset, a different spot in the house, or a call to your provider can often sort it out faster than the time you spent complaining about it in a group chat.

None of this is to say that systemic inconveniences don't deserve to be called out. Bad service, broken infrastructure, things that genuinely need fixing at a larger scale, those are worth raising. But the everyday friction that we turn into running complaints? Most of it has a workaround if we're willing to look. The gap between problem and solution is usually a lot shorter than the gap between problem and complaint.

And underneath all of it is something worth remembering: the fact that these are our problems at all is a form of privilege. Clean running water, reliable electricity, the ability to fly somewhere, access to coffee and fast food and streaming services and same-day delivery. These aren't defaults for most of the world. They're extraordinary by historical standards, and we've normalized them so thoroughly that we've started resenting them when they're slightly inconvenient.

So, the next time something minor derails your day, I think it's worth pausing on two things. First: is there a solution sitting right in front of me that I haven't bothered to try? And second: am I grateful enough for the world I'm operating in that this problem even exists? Most of the time, the answer to the first question is yes. And if you sit with the second question long enough, the complaint tends to lose most of its weight on its own.

Reading List 2026

continuously updated 

• The Forgotten Era: Nigeria Before the British Rule - Max Sioullun
• The World Was In Our Hands - Chitra Nagarajan
• Becoming Nigerian: A Guide - Elnathan John
• Fireflies on the Lagoon - Tunde Leye
• Butter Honey Pig Bread - Francesca Ekwuyasi
• I Do Not Come to You by Chance - Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
• Angela Davis: Women, Culture & Politics - Angela Davis
• Hail Mary - Funmi Fetto
• Lagos Sugar Baby - Ebere Joy Ekekwe
• Das Doppelte Lötchen - Erich Kästner
• Earn What You're Really Worth - Brian Tracy
• Tremor - Teju Cole
• In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular - Alexander Kustov
• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
• An African Abroad - Olabisi Ajala 
• The Tragedy of Victory -  Godwin Alabi-Isama
• One Leg on Earth - Pemi Aguda
• So Long a Letter - Mariama Bâ
• This Thing Called Love - Oreva Ode-Irri
• On Rotation - Shirlene Obuobi
• Building a Second Continent - Howard W. French
• Destination Biafra - Buchi Emecheta
• God is a Matchmaker - Derek Prince with Ruth Prince 
• Made in Japan - Aoki Morita 

My Personal Curriculum, Q1

 Inspired by Ire Aderinokun’s blog post on this topic , I decided to write out mine (all three of these were already somewhere on my to-do list for this year), but I like how this formalizes and measures it. 

 

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🎓 My Personal Curriculum — Q1 2026

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📅 Key Dates

• Start: 5 January 2026

• End: 31 March 2026

• Duration: 12 weeks

💡 “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” — Brian Herbert
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

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📚 Subjects

🌍 Global Mobility Certification (WERC)

Goal: Obtain or be exam-ready for WERC Global Mobility Certification
Why this matters: Strengthens my credibility and technical depth in global mobility, corporate immigration, and cross-border workforce strategy.

Focus Areas

• Global mobility fundamentals

• Compensation & benefits

• Tax, payroll, and compliance

• Policy design & program management

Outputs

• Completed WERC coursework

• Practice exams

• Certification exam (or scheduled date)

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🇩🇪 German Language Improvement

Goal: Improve conversational and professional German fluency
Why this matters: Supports my international background, EU mobility expertise, and long-term global practice goals.

Learning Methods

• German books (graded + professional topics)

• German movies & TV (with subtitles → without)

• Daily vocabulary + sentence building

• Weekly speaking practice (self or partner)

Outputs

• Comfortably hold everyday conversations

• Improved listening comprehension

• Professional vocabulary refresh

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🇨🇦 Canadian Immigration – In-Depth Knowledge

Goal: Build strong, working-level knowledge of Canada’s immigration system
Why this matters: Expands my immigration expertise beyond the U.S. and positions me for global immigration or advisory roles.

Focus Areas

• Express Entry & CRS system

• Work permits (LMIA, exemptions, intra-company transfers)

• Study permits & pathways to PR

• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

• Compliance & employer obligations

Outputs

• Personal reference notes/playbooks

• Ability to confidently advise at a high level

• Comparative understanding (U.S. vs Canada)

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🧠 Weekly Structure (Optional Add-On)

• 2–3 hrs: WERC study

• 1 hr: German (daily micro-sessions encouraged)

• 1–2 hrs: Canadian immigration deep dives

• Weekly reflection: What I learned + what to adjust

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This was cool to make, and in efforts to not take life too seriously this year and have fun with things, I’ll take the learning process in stride, enjoy it, and look back on the 12 weeks come April to see the progress made <3 

Funmi

Implementing Artificial Intelligence in Immigration Law: A Practical Guide for Attorneys

The legal field often feels like it's always one step behind technological advancement, but it doesn't have to be. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can offer immigration attorneys powerful tools to streamline workflows, improve client service, and increase efficiency. Here's how you can practically implement AI into your immigration practice.

1. Automated Timeline Templates for Client Intake

One of the most time-consuming aspects of client onboarding is explaining the procedural timeline for various visa categories. AI can generate customized timeline templates for H-1B petitions, PERM labor certifications, adjustment of status applications, and other immigration processes.

This reduces hours of back-and-forth communication by providing clients with clear, professional timelines from the first interaction, immediately building trust and demonstrating preparedness. You can streamline time to answer clarifying questions, even utilizing those questions as a guide to revising the templates to make it clearer during the first few iterations of template distribution.

2. AI-Generated Intake Questionnaires

Most immigration cases require gathering extensive information from clients. AI can draft comprehensive intake questionnaires tailored to specific visa categories, ensuring you collect all necessary information from the start.

Questionnaires generated based on category reduce the risk of missing critical information while minimizing follow-up emails and delays. Complete information from the start enables more accurate case evaluations and stronger strategy development – always be sure to review and include other critical information that the AI tool may have missed.

3. Job Description Optimization for PERM Advertising

The PERM process requires condensing detailed Prevailing Wage Determination job descriptions into concise advertisement text. AI tools are great at this task once prompted, compressing lengthy job requirements into compliant ad copy.

AI can generate multiple compliant ad variations in minutes rather than hours, ensuring all recruitment materials align perfectly with the original job description while meeting DOL requirements. This dramatically reduces billable hours spent on administrative drafting tasks while maintaining consistency across all advertising materials. There may be other job descriptions that need compressing into ad text and vice versa. The good thing is that AI tools are there to do this in minutes, yielding efficiency in workflow.

4. Case Law and Precedent Research

AI-powered legal research tools can quickly identify relevant case law, AAO decisions, and policy memoranda applicable to your client's situation.

 AI tools can complete in minutes what might take hours through traditional research methods, uncovering relevant precedents and policy memoranda you might have otherwise missed. You can thereby build stronger, more persuasive legal arguments while staying current with rapidly changing immigration policies and judicial decisions. Please note this should never be a replacement to your own independent research processes, but rather a supplement.

 

Best Practices for AI Implementation

1. Always Review AI Output

AI is a tool, not a replacement for legal processes. Every document, timeline, or suggestion generated by AI must be carefully reviewed for accuracy, completeness, and appropriateness to your client's specific situation. You remain professionally responsible for all work product as set out by your state bar code of ethics and conduct.

2. Protect Client Confidentiality and Data Privacy

Never input confidential client information into AI systems that aren't designed for secure legal work. Using public AI tools with client data violates ethical obligations and could compromise attorney-client privilege. Invest in AI tools specifically designed for legal practice with appropriate security measures or anonymize information before using general AI platforms.

3. Commit to Practice and Experimentation

This blog post was inspired by a friend's insight about the importance of actively engaging with AI tools to close the gap between your current knowledge and AI's full capabilities. His blog post, “Some Recurring Themes for Navigating Generative AI” emphasizes to not wait for the perfect use case. Rather, start small, experiment with different prompts and applications, and learn through practice, sharing what you are learning along the way (just as this blog post is doing). The attorneys who thrive will be those who develop fluency with these tools.

4. Develop Effective Prompting Skills

The quality of AI output depends heavily on the quality of your input. Learn to create clear, specific prompts that include relevant context, desired format, and any constraints. Practice is key, practice makes perfect. Treat AI interactions like delegating to a smart but inexperienced associate: the more detailed your instructions, the better the result.

5. Integrate AI Gradually into Your Workflow

Don't try to revolutionize your entire practice overnight or think you have to create your own robust AI powered system before you can say you are using AI effectively. Start with one or two specific tasks where AI can provide immediate value. I specifically used the example of AI assisting with shortening text to show that while it may be a simple task, it still adds value to my practice by saving time and being efficient. Master those applications, measure the results, and then expand to other areas. This incremental approach reduces disruption and allows you to refine your processes.

6. Stay Informed About AI Developments

The AI landscape evolves rapidly. Dedicate time to staying current with new tools, features, and best practices specific to legal practice. Join professional communities, attend CLEs on legal technology, and share experiences with colleagues.

 

What are ways you are using AI in your practice? Do share here.

 Funmi 

The American Dream Downtrodden in the Details: Why the New H-1B Fee Won't Survive Legal Scrutiny

Growing up, I heard many stories about the American Dream from my parents, who arrived in the United States from Nigeria in the 1980’s on student visas. It seems, based on their stories, that back then the pathway to permanent residency was clearer and far less contentious. While my parents never participated in the H-1B program - it wasn't created until 1990 – one fundamental truth remains: America's strength has always come from welcoming those who seek to contribute, whether through student visas in the 1980s or H-1B visas today.

The ties that bind us as humans should bring us closer together, not drive us apart. This growing divide in the country feels pointless when we consider that most of the issues raising dissent have common ground solutions. Instead of creating barriers to entry through exorbitant fees, the system could be fine-tuned, making it more equitable while still protecting American wages and jobs, and preserving the talent that seeks to call America home.

If care is not taken, America risks accelerating a talent exodus that will diminish its competitive advantage for years to come. True national security comes from economic strength and innovation leadership, not from pricing out the very minds that have driven American breakthroughs in medicine, technology, and research. Is America really the land of the free and the home of the brave if it cowardly retreats behind prohibitive barriers instead of competing on merit and opportunity?

Why This Rule Cannot Stand

The recently announced $100,000 H-1B entry fee represents more than just bad policy, it's likely illegal. Any legal challenge to this proclamation would have strong grounds for securing a preliminary injunction based on three compelling arguments.

1. Likelihood of Success on the Merits

Administrative Procedure Act Violations

The most apparent legal flaw lies in the process itself. Rather than issuing a Presidential Proclamation late on Friday, September 19th, to take effect just two days later Sunday, September 21st, such a drastic rule change should have been published as a proposed regulation in the Federal Register with opportunity for public notice and comment, as required by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

The APA mandates that proposed regulations be published, allowing the public and affected parties to submit comments. The government would then review all comments and respond when creating the final regulation. This proclamation's complete bypass of the notice-and-comment process constitutes a clear APA violation and renders the rule arbitrary, capricious, and not in accordance with law. Of course, the government’s retort could hinge on the Proclamation being in the interest of national security, but if the grounds for such national security concerns are solely based on what is written in the Proclamation, such retort would not pass muster. More on this in the next paragraph.

Existing Legal Framework Already Addresses Concerns

The Proclamation's justifications are hollow when examined against existing law. We already have extensive provisions that require employers pay prevailing wages specifically to protect against depression of wages and working conditions for U.S. workers. Moreover, enforcement mechanisms are already in place, including investigations by USCIS's Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit and administrative proceedings by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. I wrote about this last year here .

Statutory Fee Limitations

Perhaps most alarming is the Proclamation's violation of INA Section 286(m) (8 U.S.C. 1356(m)), which is interpreted to state that immigration fees cannot exceed the amount needed to recover the costs of adjudication. A $100,000 fee bears no rational relationship to processing costs and clearly violates this statutory mandate. 

Edited as of 9/21: The White House has since (rather erratically) published further clarification on the scope and parameters of the Proclamation. 

A fellow immigration attorney stated succinctly in their Linkedin post that "the Proclamation was drafted badly by someone who either can't tell the difference or wants to obfuscate the difference between a visa petition to USCIS, a visa application at a U.S.  consulate abroad, and an application for admission at a port of entry..." and such confusion could mean the difference between having presidential authority to impose the ban and creating a proclamation that violates proper administrative procedure. Hence the current back peddling to limit (read "clarify") the scope to next year's filings (amongst other things). 

2. Irreparable Injury

Demonstrating irreparable harm should be straightforward. The $100,000 per-employee fee is financially devastating for small and medium-sized businesses, colleges, universities, and nonprofits. Many organizations simply cannot absorb such costs, meaning they will lose access to employees with critical expertise, knowledge, and experience.

The ripple effects would run rampant: businesses will lose revenue, innovation will stagnate, research will suffer, and technological development will slow. For startups and emerging companies, this fee could prove fatal. Universities conducting cutting-edge research will find themselves unable to attract international talent essential to maintaining America's competitive edge.

3. Public Interest

The government will struggle to argue that this policy serves the public interest. The proclamation relies on unsupported nativist arguments that H-1B workers "take jobs" from U.S. workers, claims that ignore decades of economic research showing the job-creating and wage-enhancing effects of skilled immigration.

America's economic dominance stems partly from its ability to attract and retain global talent. This fee doesn't protect American workers; it rather weakens American competitiveness while other nations eagerly welcome the innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs it is turning away.

The Bigger Picture

This proclamation represents more than immigration policy; it's a fundamental question about America's identity. The legal arguments against this fee are strong, but the moral questions echo louder. America has always been at its best, it has embraced talent from around the world, recognizing that diversity of thought and experience drives innovation and prosperity.

The American Dream my parents pursued in the 1980s shouldn't become a luxury item available only to those who can afford a six-figure entry fee.

This rule won't survive legal scrutiny, and it shouldn't survive our moral scrutiny either. 

P.S. If you found this blog post insightful and want to hear me yap more about this topic, I'm giving a talk in collaboration with Immigration Question on Wednesday, September 24. Register here 

Funmi Oke 

The Best of Lagos: Food Edition

 This year for my birthday, I decided to extend my stay in Lagos, past the typical departure period of the average 'IJGB' that spends time in Nigeria's most populous city and economic epicenter for the holidays (apparently , if you're not from Lagos you can't call yourself an IJGB, but for all intents and purposes, here we are). Anyway, I stayed in Lagos, Nigeria till around February 8th , essentially meaning that I spent all of January and first week of February in one of my favorite cities, and got to slowly try many great food spots along the way (thanks to the exchange rate that was very much in my favor up until a few days before my departure, my pockets did not feel it as much even as the price points of the restaurants visited have risen). 

I really enjoy slow travel and take every opportunity to do so when I can. 

Doing so for Lagos via my extended stay was a no-brainer (read: there was actually alot of internal back and forth regarding this decision, but I'm glad I decided to stay in the end - typing this as 3-4 inches of snow has fallen in Chicago, IL).

 How was my experience? Words truly cannot express how much I enjoyed myself. Waking up most mornings to run with my friend Veno and her dog at Eko Atlantic Boardwalk, having slow mornings (due to the time difference, I worked in the evenings), the weather, the interesting environment, and of course, the food. 

                                                          Which is why we are here. 

I wanted to take time to share the restaurants, eateries, food delivery orders that I tried while in Lagos that deserve mention due to the quality - especially those where the meal and/or dining experience matched the price point (or even at times where I felt as if I underpaid). This discussion is worth having because in Lagos, there are equally as much terrible low quality, low experience restaurants as there is high quality, high experience. A few conversations and reading online reviews would allow you sift accordingly, which is what I did. Here are the top food experiences I had while in Lagos, in no particular order and not limited to a specific dining type: 

Stories Lagos (Lekki) 

Their drinks are amazing. Probably one of the best drinks I had in Lagos. I had to message my friend that recommended the spot to me that I was having a great time, because literally that's how I felt in the moment. I had wings and fries, and that was also good but the kicker, literally, was their very tasty slow burn drink, the Zombie.

Grey Matter Social Space (Victoria Island)

I kid you not when I say that I planned a second visit simply to get the same meal I ordered the first time I visited, because it was that good. A big kudos to the chef. Grey Matter offers a (what I would consider) Michelin rated food menu at a quarter of the price. The meal I had to circle back for was the Suya Prawns and battered fries (p.s. don't get the plantain fritters - it is not as edible as the creatives that came up with the dish would think). The jumbo prawns came in a very healthy serving size - tbh they were quite generous with the size of the prawns, I felt like I underpaid. & Their drinks? having a standard tasting pina colada (or two) was not a bad way to top off my experience. 

Slow

Anyone that knows me knows that this is my go-to spot. My baby. I have an affinity for Slow because if you're looking for a standard meal, at standard price, without the frills and thrills (annoying service, crowd, etc), SLow is your spot. Plus they have a great menu, tempting you to get all parts of a course lunch or dinner. I did this with a friend, and it was the best money I've ever spent on a three-course dinner. Try the Cocoslow (it's even nonalcoholic!), you will thank me later. 

Ofe Uto 

Given my diet, I primarily stayed away from swallows/heavy foods this Christmas/my extended stay, but since I heard so much about Ofe Uto, I had to try it. I am a novice to the eastern soups/dishes so I was a bit lost with the menu, but thanks to Google, I ended up with the Ofe Owerri and eba. I told myself I'll just have a few bites once my food arrived but ended up almost finishing the dish. It was that good. I had to force myself to take the rest home to avoid overfeeding. pro tip: order to-go, because the dining experience was not that great. 

Bature Brewery

Great spot for after work drinks and a great vibe. Their grilled fish is lovely. Not too spicy. I don't have much to say about their drinks though, but dining experience is great if you are the outdoor lounge and vibe type. 

Salmas

Their hummus is mad. Also a great outdoor lounge and vibe dining experience, as they are located by a body of water. Good luck getting a seating by the water during peak hours, though, as they are always reserved. 

Their Salma Colada is great. 

Indomie Cafe

One of my favorite fast-food spots in Lagos. I love their variety of Indo-Mie. I put my friend on to it, and she really enjoyed her meal and was happy for the recommendation. 

Definitely try the Prawn-Mie. 

Can I stop here and say that the amount of seafood options readily available for consumption in Lagos (goes without saying) is every pescatarian's dream 

Gourmet Twist 

Their banana bread lured me in, but their jollof rice and turkey meal pack kept me a loyal patron. Another "fast food?" spot (I put the question there because there are a lot of restaurants that kind of fall in between - meaning they are not low quality enough to be considered fast food but are also not on the fine dining level. I actually love these kinds of restaurants in Lagos - I believe they are called pick and go canteens (Black Bell, Foodies, My Food by Hilda), where they offer an assortment of Nigerian dishes at market price. Gourmet Twist is great addition to these (although I think their menu is not as expansive). Their meal packs are time friendly, affordable, and delicious. 

Papa's Grill

small chops heaven. I need the puff-puff recipe. 

500 Chow

I ordered from here 3 times a week for their akara and pap. They made the best in the city, and that's from me trying two to three other vendors. 

I love akara and pap, so thank you, 500 Chow. 

Fresh County

I primarily patronize them for their juices. They had great juices. 

Brisk Lagos

Enjoyable dining experience. I have them on my list primarily for their bread and butter. 

Altogether, the Lagos food scene is quite the experience. It always gives not here for a long time, but a good time, so hopefully by the time you decide to try a few options from the list, the spot is still thriving and hasn't decreased in value, cut their quality, or is not altogether shut down. 

Funmi Oke

A Lesson In Love

written on 12/23

This blog will be short and sweet because it’s the holidays and I felt discussing the movie “Christmas in Lagos” and the takeaway from it would be a great way to wrap my blogging up for the year in a nice and neat bow (all pun intended).

Christmas in Lagos, while a bit choppy and holey was a fun, feel-good film that I liken very much to those cheesy American Hallmark Christmas movies. The key takeaway that I really loved and took note of was how the protagonist, despite her strong interest in her best friend, ended up by herself on New Years day -  her saying "happy new year fiyinfoluwa" was the explicit evidence of such. This conclusion is quite atypical to the standard rom-com narratives we are used to: best friend boy meets best friend girl, best friend boy eventually realizes it was best friend girl all along and they live happily ever after. Quite the contrary, in this film and despite the protagonist’s efforts, best friend boy sticks with his love interest, and they end up happily ever after. The writers definitely ensured to emphasize as a side note that platonic friendships between opposite sexes do exist, and although there may be a thin line between platonic and romantic, sometimes that demarcation is striking, as was the case in this film. 

Now going back to the key takeaway, of it being ok to be by yourself. I'm always a fan of films that don't force a love interest on the protagonist (the last film I remember watching whereby this was the case is Frozen). They didn't have her meet a new potential lover on New Year's Eve nor did they have her rekindle anything with anyone. I even took note that while she had all her family and friends around her, she didnt have a best friend side kick wishing her a happy new year, based on "we're all we’ve got" (as tends to be the case when both friends are single) None of these scenarios were the case for the protagonist, and the film emphasized that this was OK. We don't discuss much about how to treat not being partnered in adult female spaces. Sometimes even the forcing can put women in less-than-optimal situations, sometimes wholly unfavorable to them. 

The protagonist's quiet but resolute "Happy New Year" to herself is a beautiful moment of self-love and acceptance. It reflects a truth that often gets overshadowed in romantic narratives: our value is not determined by our relationship status. Happiness can come from within, from the connections we have with family and friends, and from the journeys we undertake on our own.

This portrayal of self-sufficiency and contentment in solitude is a powerful message. In a society that often glorifies romantic relationships as the pinnacle of personal fulfillment, “Christmas in Lagos” reminds us that being single is not a failure or a void that needs to be filled. It is simply another state of being, one that can be just as meaningful and fulfilling as being partnered.

As we wrap up the year and look toward new beginnings, let this film’s message inspire us to embrace where we are in life. Whether partnered or single, surrounded by loved ones or spending time alone, it’s important to recognize that joy and fulfillment are not exclusive to one particular path. Love, in its many forms, starts with how we care for and cherish ourselves.

So here’s to a new year of learning, growing, and loving ourselves as we are. And who knows—maybe “Christmas in Lagos” will be the unexpected holiday tradition we all didn’t know we needed.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Funmi Oke 

10 Guidelines for 2025

 1. Invest in yourself 

2. Invest in the people that invest in you

3. Learn to be comfortable in your own space and alone 

4. Level your head. don't see yourself so highly that you fail to self-correct. Balance confidence with reason. 

5. Leave a good first (and lasting) impression

6. Everything you need is right in front of you. Be present

7. It is OK to say 'no'. Be comfortable with your unconventional preferences

8. Start goals incrementally

9. Stop relying on your feelings and emotions. Routines help with getting things done, even when you don't feel like it

10. Be kind to yourself

Seriously praying for a blessed year ahead. 

2025, my year of restoration, leaning in, and creating space. 

Matthew 6:26-34

The Digital Traveler: How Technology Transforms and Challenges Solo Travel

In the age of smartphones and digital connectivity, solo travel has undergone a remarkable transformation. Technology has become the ultimate travel companion, making exploration easier, more convenient, and increasingly accessible to travelers around the world. I am currently in Cape Town, South Africa, and so far, I have been able to explore 3 beaches, find 3-4 "off the beaten path" restaurants, and live "in the mountains", thanks to technology. 

Technology: A Pocket-friendly Digital Travel Assistant

Given that I started solo travel in the Tenties, I have no recollection of how solo travel was without our smartphone (or any other smart device).  Were people even comfortable enough to travel by themselves? The only image that pops up in my head when I think of travel prior to the "Digital Age" is groups of people who would land in a foreign city clutching a physical map, struggling to communicate, and potentially feeling overwhelmed.

 Today, technology has completely revolutionized the solo travel experience. With a few taps on my smartphone, in most places I travel to, I can:

- Order a ride instantly through Uber or Bolt, eliminating the anxiety of navigating unfamiliar public transportation

- Have meals delivered directly to my hotel room through apps like Uber Eats or local food delivery services

- Navigate complex city streets with precise GPS mapping, removing the fear of getting lost

- Discover hidden gems and top-rated restaurants through crowd-sourced review platforms like TikTok or Google Reviews

The convenience is unprecedented. Translation apps break down language barriers, booking platforms simplify accommodations, and digital maps provide real-time navigation that was unimaginable just a decade ago.

The Hidden Cost of Convenience: Lost Human Connections

However, this technological ease comes with a subtle but significant drawback. As we increasingly rely on digital solutions, we're losing something precious - genuine human interactions that once defined travel experiences.

If I were to further my aforementioned imagination of people travelling prior to technology, it would probably consist of people: 

- Asking locals for directions, sparking unexpected conversations

- Seeking restaurant recommendations from hotel staff or street vendors

- Discovering off-the-beaten-path locations through spontaneous interactions

Now, we're more likely to consult an app than engage with local residents. This digital dependence means missing out on the rich, unpredictable moments that make travel truly transformative.

The Algorithmic Tourist Trap

Moreover, technology tends to funnel travelers toward popular, highly-rated locations. While these spots are undoubtedly beautiful, they often represent a sanitized, commercial version of a destination. The truly authentic local restaurant - the one known only to residents, tucked away in a narrow side street - might be completely overlooked by algorithm-driven recommendations.

Perhaps the most stark reminder of our technological dependency comes when devices fail. A dead battery, lost phone, or poor internet connection can suddenly leave a solo traveler feeling vulnerable and disoriented.

 Finding the Balance: A Hybrid Approach to Travel

The solution isn't to abandon technology, but to use it wisely. The best travel experiences come from striking a balance:

- Use digital tools for primary navigation and safety

- But remain open to spontaneous interactions

- Allow yourself to put the phone down and engage with your surroundings

- Keep a physical map or guidebook as a backup

- Ask locals for recommendations, even after checking online reviews

A good example of such has been my trip to Cape Town so far. I was intentional about getting a space in Hout Bay, or "in the mountains". This five-day getaway experience (out of my 10 days in Cape Town) afforded me time away from my phone, getting to interact more with people, and of course a serene and peaceful time with nature. 

Technology has undeniably made solo travel more accessible and convenient. But the most memorable journeys are those where we use technology as a tool, not a substitute for genuine human connection.

Travel is about experiencing the world, not just documenting it through a screen. Embrace the digital age but never lose the spirit of exploration that makes travel truly magical.

Funmi Oke

America Has Decided: What to Expect for Business Immigration Under the New Administration + Preparation Tips

With a new administration taking office, foreign nationals and businesses relying on skilled immigration may be wondering how immigration policies could shift and what those changes might mean for their future. While many aspects of U.S. immigration policy remain under review, some likely trends are beginning to emerge. Here’s a breakdown of the changes business immigration stakeholders might expect and how to prepare.

Heightened Scrutiny on H-1B Program

The H-1B visa, used by companies to bring highly skilled foreign workers into the U.S., has been a frequent target of regulatory scrutiny. Under the new administration, H-1B sponsors should prepare for increased requests for evidence (RFEs), denials, and site visits. Employers, especially those in IT consultancy roles, could face additional pressure when placing H-1B employees at third-party client locations. Detailed documentation will be required to demonstrate a clear employer-employee relationship and specialty occupation status, including a precise itinerary and task outline for each assignment.

Tighter Regulations on the L-1 Visa Program

The L-1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer employees from foreign offices to the U.S., but it has often been scrutinized for misuse. Employers might experience increased RFEs, and site visits will likely be more common to confirm job duties, salary, and other conditions of employment.

Increased Audits Under the PERM Program

PERM labor certifications, which are a vital part of the employment-based green card process, may see more audits under the new administration. Additionally, if budget cuts reduce the Department of Labor’s resources, processing times for employment-based green cards could extend even further, exacerbating existing delays.

Stricter Scrutiny on F-1 Students and CPT Programs

F-1 students using Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to gain work experience in the U.S. could face more restrictions, especially those attending institutions known as “CPT schools,” which grant work authorization from the beginning of the program. Consulates may increase the number of 221(g) requests for these students, placing additional pressure on F-1 visa holders.

Higher Standards for National Interest Waivers (NIW) and EB-1A Visas

National Interest Waiver (NIW) and EB-1A applications have already seen a high rate of RFEs, and this trend may continue or increase. These visas, often pursued by highly skilled professionals, may come under more scrutiny as the administration evaluates their benefit to the U.S. workforce.

Reassessment of Work Authorizations by Executive Order

The fate of certain work authorizations, like the H-4 EAD and STEM OPT EAD, could be affected, as these were established by executive order. While immediate changes may not occur, any policy change here could disrupt the plans of many foreign nationals.

Potential for Reinstated Biometrics Requirements

There is speculation that the new administration may reinstate biometrics requirements for H-4 dependents, a policy removed to ease processing delays. Bringing it back could mean increased wait times and additional documentation needs for families.

Tougher Entry Requirements and Restrictions Based on Country of Origin

The new administration may seek stricter entry requirements for foreign nationals from specific countries or regions, similar to the travel ban instated in 2017 and 2020. This could mean added delays at the border, additional documentation checks, and longer processing times.

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Preparation Tips for a New Administration 

Given the potential policy changes ahead, here are some strategic ways for immigrants and businesses to stay prepared:

1. Stay on Top of Deadlines: Start all applications and renewals as early as possible, especially for visas and work authorizations that may face processing delays or renewed biometrics requirements.

2. Maintain Thorough Records: Keep an organized file of all immigration-related documentation, including job descriptions, evidence of employment relationships, itineraries, and academic records. Detailed, clear records can help minimize delays and bolster your application’s success.

3. Regularly Consult with an Immigration Attorney: Immigration policies may shift frequently, and an attorney can help ensure you’re up-to-date on new developments, compliance requirements, and potential obstacles.

4. Use Reliable Resources: Stay informed about potential changes from trusted sources like USCIS, the Department of Labor, and your attorney. Misinformation can lead to costly errors, so relying on accurate updates is essential.

5. Plan for the Long Term: If you’re pursuing a green card, understand that extended processing times may require patience and flexibility. Prepare for this and take any early steps possible, like saving documentation for future use in your application.

While the road ahead might present more challenges, with careful preparation and an informed approach, foreign nationals and their employers can navigate these changes with greater confidence and resilience.

Funmi Oke 

Bridging the Gap in U.S. Healthcare: How Immigration Waivers Support Foreign-Born Physicians Amid Physician Shortages

Foreign-born physicians have long been essential to the U.S. healthcare system, especially as the country faces a severe physician shortage. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects that by 2034, the U.S. could see a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians, including both primary and specialty care. The shortage is exacerbated by an aging population, increased healthcare needs, and high rates of physician retirement. This deficit is felt acutely in underserved urban and rural areas, where access to healthcare is already limited.

Many foreign-trained doctors enter the U.S. on J-1 visas, which allow them to complete their residency or fellowship training here. However, a home residency requirement attached to the J-1 visa mandates that these physicians return to their home countries for two years after completing training unless they qualify for a waiver. This requirement often deters qualified physicians from staying in the U.S. and contributing to healthcare in communities that critically need their skills.

Programs such as the #Conrad30 waiver program and waivers available through Interested Government Agencies (IGAs) allow these physicians to stay in the U.S. and serve medically underserved areas, helping to address the pressing physician shortage.

The Conrad 30 Waiver Program: Expanding Access in Underserved Areas

Under the Conrad 30 program, each U.S. state can sponsor up to 30 foreign-trained physicians annually, providing waivers for their home residency requirement in exchange for a commitment to work in underserved areas. In most cases, the commitment requires the physician to work for three years in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or Medically Underserved Area (MUA). By focusing on these locations, the program directly tackles the shortage where it’s most pronounced, increasing access to care in regions that might otherwise lack adequate medical services.

 How Interested Government Agency (IGA) Waivers Help Fill Gaps in Specialty Care

Some foreign-born physicians may not qualify for Conrad 30 waivers or may wish to work outside traditional HPSAs and MUAs. For these doctors, IGA waivers can provide a critical pathway to remain in the U.S. Federal agencies, like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), can sponsor physicians who agree to work in roles that align with the agency’s mission, such as providing care to veterans or conducting public health research. 

This allows foreign-born physicians to address highly specialized needs within the U.S. healthcare system, such as veterans’ care or specific health research, helping to ensure that even specialized care shortages are met. By enabling physicians to serve in varied roles, IGAs broaden the scope of healthcare services available to underserved populations.

Alleviating the Impact of the Physician Shortage 

Both the Conrad 30 and IGA waiver programs make a measurable impact on reducing the physician shortage. As demand for healthcare professionals rises, particularly in underserved areas, these programs not only retain talent but also expand access to care in areas where resources are otherwise limited. Studies show that foreign-trained doctors are more likely than their U.S.-trained counterparts to practice in rural and underserved areas, which makes their retention crucial for alleviating care gaps in these locations. 

In rural communities, for example, a foreign-trained physician might be the only primary care provider for miles. In underserved urban areas, these doctors bring valuable cultural and linguistic diversity to patient care, ensuring individuals from various backgrounds receive empathetic, high-quality treatment. Retaining foreign-born physicians through these waivers is a win for patients, communities, and the U.S. healthcare system as a whole. 

A Forward-Thinking Approach to Immigration and Healthcare

As the U.S. grapples with a growing physician shortage, waivers like those offered through Conrad 30 and IGAs are vital tools for building a sustainable healthcare workforce. They address both immediate and long-term needs by not only helping retain skilled physicians but also filling a diverse array of medical roles. By supporting policies that retain foreign-born physicians, the U.S. can strengthen healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that all communities have access to the high-quality care they deserve.