A Nigerian graduate, Deborah Boms, has shared her difficult experience of trying to secure a visa-sponsored job in the United Kingdom after completing her studies, a journey that ultimately led her to return home.
Deborah revealed that despite applying for thousands of roles and attending numerous interviews, none resulted in employment that would allow her to remain in the UK legally. Her experience has resonated widely online, especially with international students facing similar visa and job-search challenges abroad.
In a video posted on her social media, Deborah documented her shift from a hopeful international student to a graduate forced to leave due to employment and visa barriers. The video opens with an emotional phone call to her parents in Nigeria as she prepared to return. Her father reassured her, saying, “We’re waiting for you. We cannot reject our own.”
She went on to share the struggles her audience never saw. Deborah explained that the pressure of trying to secure a sponsored role nearly undid everything she had worked for.
“At some point, I stopped counting,” she said. “I made about 3,000 job applications and attended 24 interviews looking for a sponsored job. None of them worked out — it just never clicked.”
While many people saw her adjusting to life in the UK, studying, and graduating, Deborah said few understood the emotional and financial strain behind the scenes.
“What you didn’t see was how close I was to losing everything I was trying to build,” she added, visibly emotional.
