Part 3: National Interest Waiver (NIW) Visa Part 2

Within two years, it was adopted by over 15,000 small businesses across Germany, processing transactions worth over $100 million. The platform’s analytics dashboard provided merchants with insights into customer behavior, boosting their profitability. PayLink attracted €5 million in European venture capital and earned recognition from the European Central Bank for advancing financial inclusion.

Chidi’s vision extended to the United States, where financial exclusion remains a challenge. According to the FDIC, 5.4% of U.S. households are unbanked, and many small businesses struggle with outdated payment systems. PayLink could empower these businesses, particularly in underserved communities, by offering a cost-effective, user-friendly solution. Its data analytics could provide policymakers with insights into economic trends, supporting the U.S. Treasury’s 2024 initiative to enhance financial access. By creating jobs and promoting economic equality, PayLink’s impact is nationally significant, aligning with Matter of Dhanasar criteria.

Chidi applied for an NIW to expand PayLink to Silicon Valley, leveraging the visa’s ability to bypass labor certification. An inexperienced attorney’s petition failed to include U.S. market data or evidence of economic impact, triggering an RFE. “I felt betrayed,” Chidi said, recalling sleepless nights worrying about his future. The Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram took over, rebuilding his petition with letters from U.S. economic development organizations, FDIC statistics, and projections of job creation. They coached Chidi to articulate PayLink’s national importance.

At his Berlin consular interview, USCIS officers questioned the consistency of his business plan, possibly influenced by his Nigerian heritage, which can prompt additional scrutiny. With his dream on the line, Chidi awaited the decision. Would his vision for a financially inclusive America falter?

To find out if Chidi’s vision survives, stay tuned for Part 4, where we’ll explore long-term NIW outcomes and meet Sanjay, a French educator transforming lives.