Woman denied US visa relocates to Canada via Mastercard scholarship
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Millicent Adjubi was denied a US student visa at the embassy in August 2025 despite holding a Clark University admission offer
- After her rejection, Adjubi contacted over 400 professors seeking assistantships and applied to countless scholarships in search of a way forward
- Exactly one year after her visa denial, Adjubi shared a viral LinkedIn post revealing the extraordinary turn her academic journey had taken
Millicent Adjubi, a Ghanaian scholar, went from standing outside the US Embassy in Accra heartbroken to enrolling at one of Canada's leading universities on a fully funded scholarship, all within a single year.
On August 13, 2025, Adjubi walked into the US Embassy in Ghana carrying what she described as a strong personal story and a confirmed admission offer from Clark University, backed by a partial scholarship.
Her visa interview lasted only a few minutes. The answer was no, with no specific reason provided.
From US Visa Denial to Canadian Dream
Rather than abandon her postgraduate ambitions, Adjubi channelled her energy into an intensive search for alternative routes.
She wrote to more than 400 professors across universities, seeking research assistantships, and applied to a large number of scholarships simultaneously.
The rejections were frequent and discouraging, but she continued refining her applications using YouTube tutorials and independent research to sharpen her strategy with each attempt.
The effort eventually produced results she had not anticipated.
On August 13, 2026, exactly one year after the embassy turned her away, Adjubi arrived at the University of British Columbia in Canada as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar.
The programme is widely regarded as one of the most competitive and comprehensive fully funded scholarship opportunities available to African students globally.
Mastercard Foundation Scholar's LinkedIn Post Goes Viral
She marked the milestone by sharing a LinkedIn post alongside two photographs: one captured on the day of her visa rejection in 2025, and another taken at her orientation at UBC in 2026. The contrast between the two images drew significant attention online.
"If I could turn a visa denial into a fully funded scholarship at one of the best universities in the world, so can you," she wrote, directing the message at anyone who had been close to abandoning their own goals.
Adjubi also indicated that she intends to publish the full details of her application approach, including the setbacks she encountered and the lessons those setbacks taught her, in posts to follow.
Her story has resonated widely, particularly among African students navigating the uncertainty of international study applications, where visa denials and funding gaps frequently derail even the most prepared candidates.
Netizens react to Adjubi's inspiring story
The post drew warm responses from across LinkedIn, with many users sharing their own reflections on perseverance.
@Victor Izegbu said:
"C. W. Longenecker: In the poem The Victor, the writer notes that success begins with a person's own will and belief."
@Ferdinand Ibezim said:
"Never say never. No, sometimes means, 'Not now.' It hardly ever means NEVER FOREVER. This is true in sales. It is even truer in life. Congratulations Millicent Adjubi."
@WinniesOdawo said:
"A stranger is proud of you for not giving up."
Kenyan Man Recounts US Visa Denial After Months of Preparation
In a related development, TUKO.co.ke reported earlier about a Kenyan man whose US visa was denied despite securing a scholarship and spending months preparing for his studies abroad.
His experience highlighted the uncertainty students can face even after receiving academic funding and admission opportunities.
Source: Legit.ng
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.