Can Your Nigerian Degree, HND or NYSC Help You Qualify for the EB‑3 Visa?

One of the most practical – yet widely misunderstood – options is the EB‑3 employment‑based immigrant visa. It leads directly to a U.S. green card for the main applicant, spouse, and unmarried children under 21.

Because of this, EB‑3 has become a hot topic across social media, WhatsApp groups, and “travel agent” circles in Nigeria.

But a question keeps coming up: “I have a BSc (Bachelor’s degree) / HND (Higher National Diploma) / OND (Ordinary National Diploma) and I’ve done NYSC (National Youth Service Corps.). Does that mean I qualify for EB‑3?”

The honest answer is: your certificates are important, but they don’t tell the whole story.

What Exactly Is the EB‑3 Visa?

The EB‑3 visa is an employment‑based immigrant category in U.S. immigration law. The “E” stands for employment‑based; “B‑3” is the third preference level. It leads to lawful permanent residency (a green card), not a temporary work permit.

EB‑3 covers three types of workers:

• Professionals – Jobs that normally require at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent.

• Skilled Workers – Jobs that require a minimum of 2 years of training or work experience.

• Other Workers (Unskilled) – Jobs requiring less than 2 years of training or experience, but which are still full‑time and permanent.

Whichever sub‑category you fall into, you must have:

• A U.S. employer willing to offer you a permanent, full‑time job, and

• That employer must go through a regulated process (PERM Labor Certification, then a petition to USCIS) to sponsor you.

So EB‑3 is not simply about having certificates; it’s about matching your background to a specific job that fits one of these categories.

How U.S. Immigration Evaluates Foreign Qualifications

Before answering whether a Nigerian degree or HND “qualifies” you, you need to understand how the U.S. views foreign education.

Credential Evaluation

For jobs in the Professional subcategory (degree‑required roles), U.S. immigration usually requires a credential evaluation by an independent agency. This evaluation compares your Nigerian qualification to the U.S. education system.

General trends (these can vary by institution and evaluator):

• A four‑year Nigerian bachelor’s degree from a recognized university is often treated as roughly equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.

• A Higher National Diploma (HND) may sometimes be evaluated as equivalent to “some U.S. bachelor‑level study” or, in some cases, as comparable to a bachelor’s depending on specific coursework and institutional standing. It is not automatically accepted as such.

• An Ordinary National Diploma (OND) is usually considered below bachelor’s level and typically would not, by itself, meet the “Professional” requirement.

U.S. employers and immigration lawyers rely on these evaluations to decide whether you meet the educational standard for a professional role.

Experience Plus Education

For some professional roles, work experience can be combined with education to reach an equivalent level. For example, a job that normally requires a U.S. bachelor’s might accept “three years of progressive post‑secondary experience” in place of one year of formal education, depending on the employer’s needs and the legal strategy.

This is highly case‑specific, and only a qualified immigration attorney can design that kind of argument. But it means that experience matters as much as certificates, especially if your qualification is not a straightforward bachelor’s degree.

EB‑3 Professionals: Where a Degree or HND Can Help

The Professional category is the one where your BSc or HND plays the most direct role.

Who Fits the EB‑3 Professional Category?

To qualify as a Professional under EB‑3, you generally need:

• A job that normally requires a bachelor’s degree in a specific or related field.

• A foreign degree that is equivalent to that U.S. bachelor’s, proven by credential evaluation.

• Your degree must be relevant to the job.

Examples of jobs that may fall under EB‑3 Professionals:

• Accountant

• Civil or mechanical engineer

• Certain IT roles

• Secondary school teacher

• Some specialized business or management positions

How Nigerian Degrees Fit In

If you have, for example:

• BSc in Accounting + NYSC completed in an accounting‑related role

• BEng in Mechanical Engineering + some years of relevant experience

• BSc in Computer Science + software development experience

then a U.S. employer recruiting for an accountant, engineer, or IT professional could potentially sponsor you under EB‑3 Professionals—if they cannot find qualified U.S. workers locally and are willing to go through the sponsorship process.

In such a case, your Nigerian degree and NYSC become strong assets.

What About HND Holders?

HND holders occupy a grey area. In many Nigerian contexts, HND graduates are highly skilled and practically trained. However, in U.S. immigration, two questions arise:

• Does the job actually require a bachelor’s degree?If it doesn’t, the employer may file under Skilled Worker instead, where a degree is not mandatory.

• Will a credential evaluation treat the HND as equal to a U.S. bachelor’s?Sometimes it will not. In that case, you may not meet the strict definition for “Professional,” but you may still qualify as Skilled if you have 2+ years of relevant experience.

For many HND holders, this means that Skilled Worker EB‑3 may be a more realistic route than the Professional track, although every case needs individual assessment.

EB‑3 Skilled Workers: Where Experience Speaks Loudly

The Skilled Worker category is arguably where a large number of Nigerians can fit, especially those with strong hands‑on experience but not necessarily a bachelor’s degree.

Skilled Worker Requirements

A skilled worker job must:

• Require at least 2 years of training or work experience, and

• Be permanent and full‑time (not seasonal or temporary).

Your evidence might include:

• Detailed CV/resume

• Reference letters describing your duties and length of employment

• Certificates from vocational training or professional courses

• Proof of promotions or increased responsibility over time

Nigerian Qualifications That Fit Here

You might qualify as a Skilled Worker if you have:

• OND in electrical/electronic engineering + 3–5 years as a technician

• HND in hospitality management + 3 years as a hotel supervisor

• Extensive experience as a welder, plumber, mechanic, or machine operator

• In‑depth IT support or networking experience, even without a classic CS degree

In these cases, your OND, HND, or even diploma is supporting evidence, but the core requirement is your documented 2+ years of relevant experience.

NYSC service can help demonstrate continuity and early professional exposure. For example:

• BSc in Agriculture + NYSC on a farm or agribusiness + 2–3 years in commercial farming→ Potential fit for a skilled agricultural or food‑processing role.

Skilled vs Professional: Which Is Better?

From an immigration standpoint, both lead to the same green card. The main differences are:

• The type of job and salary level

• The educational requirements of the U.S. employer

• How easily you can be matched to real vacancies

Professional roles sometimes pay more and offer clearer corporate ladders, but they may also be more competitive and less available than skilled roles in certain industries. For many Nigerians, aiming at Skilled Worker EB‑3 is a smart balance between qualification and opportunity.

EB‑3 Other Workers (Unskilled): When Certificates Don’t Matter Much

The Other Workers or “unskilled” category covers jobs that require less than 2 years of training or experience. These are often in:

• Basic production or packaging

• Hospitality support

• Cleaning and janitorial services

• Some caregiving and non‑technical helper roles

Here, your degree or HND does not disqualify you, but it also does not guarantee anything. What matters is:

• Your willingness and ability to do the job

• Your physical and mental fitness

• Your readiness to start at a lower rung and climb over time

Many Nigerians are surprised to learn that people with degrees sometimes choose EB‑3 Other Worker roles because:

• They want a legally secure, faster‑to‑access path, and

• They plan to upgrade their career and education after obtaining their green card.

The key is to make this decision consciously, with a realistic understanding of the job conditions and pay level.

Where Does NYSC Fit in EB‑3 Eligibility?

NYSC is unique to Nigeria, but it can play a helpful supporting role in your EB‑3 profile.

What NYSC Shows

NYSC can serve as evidence of:

• Completion of a 12‑month structured service after tertiary education

• Exposure to real‑world work environments (schools, companies, ministries, NGOs)

• Basic soft skills: teamwork, responsibility, adaptability

For EB‑3 purposes, NYSC:

• Can count as part of your work experience, especially if your role was directly related to your field (e.g., an engineering graduate posted to a construction firm).

• Shows U.S. employers and immigration officers that you didn’t remain idle after school.

What NYSC Cannot Do

NYSC alone:

• Does not automatically make you a skilled worker if you don’t have at least 2 years’ total experience.

• Does not upgrade an OND to a bachelor‑equivalent.

• Does not replace the need for a genuine job offer and employer sponsorship.

Think of NYSC as a booster, not a golden ticket.

Common Mistakes Nigerians Make About EB‑3 Eligibility

• Believing a degree alone is enough.Without a matching job offer and proper classification, a certificate is just paper.

• Assuming no degree means no chance.Skilled and Other Worker tracks exist specifically for people without classic university degrees but with valuable experience and willingness to work.

• Letting agents “upgrade” them on paper.Any attempt to misrepresent your qualification or the job requirements can lead to denials and future immigration trouble.

• Ignoring the nature of the job.Some people focus only on “green card” and overlook the fact that they must actually perform the job they’re being sponsored for—often physically demanding work in the early years.

• Not planning long‑term.Whether you start as a professional, skilled worker, or other worker, you need a plan for savings, upskilling, and career movement once you arrive in the U.S.

How InvestMigrate Helps You Use Your Nigerian Education Wisely

Given all this complexity, trying to decode EB‑3 eligibility on your own—or through random WhatsApp groups—can be risky. A structured advisory firm like InvestMigrate helps by:

• Assessing Your Profile HonestlyWe review your BSc/HND/OND, NYSC records, and work experience to see where you genuinely fit within EB‑3 categories.

• Coordinating Credential EvaluationsFor degree holders, we help you obtain reputable U.S. equivalency evaluations so you know exactly how your qualification is viewed.

• Matching You to Suitable EmployersInstead of vague promises, we connect you with employers whose job descriptions match your actual education and skills.

• Designing a Long‑Term RoadmapWe talk through the implications of starting in a professional, skilled, or other worker role and how you can build on that position over time.

• Protecting You from MisrepresentationWe prioritize compliance. No fake upgrades, no invented experience, no shortcuts that could cost you your future.

Your Certificates Are Tools, Not the Whole Story

So, can your Nigerian degree, HND, or NYSC help you qualify for the EB‑3 visa?

• Yes, they can be powerful assets—especially for EB‑3 Professional and Skilled Worker roles.

• But no, they do not automatically guarantee eligibility without the right experience, job match, and employer sponsorship.

Think of your BSc, HND, OND, and NYSC as tools in your toolbox. The real question is how you combine them with:

• Solid work history

• A realistic understanding of the U.S. job market

• A compliant, structured immigration strategy

If you’re serious about using your Nigerian education and experience to build a stable future in the United States, the next step is to get a proper assessment, not generic promises.

You can start that process here: Sign up in the lead form.

With accurate information, ethical guidance, and a clear plan, your certificates can become the foundation of a secure, long‑term life for you and your family in the U.S.—not just pieces of paper hanging on the wall.