Clifford and Anne-Marie are a Haitian couple who decided to build their life and careers in the United States. Clifford is the co-founder of Cura, a fintech company focused on cross-border payments for small and mid-sized businesses. Anne-Marie is a medical doctor specializing in public health. Together, they navigated the O-1A visa process with Tukki’s support to relocate from Haiti to Boston.
Q: Why did you decide to move to the U.S.?
C: We wanted to build a better future, not only for ourselves but for the communities we could impact. Through my fintech company, Cura, we aim to improve financial access for Caribbean immigrants living in the U.S. while supporting families back home. To make that vision real, I needed to be in the U.S., where the resources and networks are available.
A: The business being based in the U.S. was the main reason. For it to grow, Clifford had to be there legally. And for us, as a couple and as parents, it was also important to stay together and support him in this process.
“We believed we could build a better future — for the U.S., for Haiti, and for the Caribbean community.” — Clifford
Q: How did you start exploring visa options?
C: I first learned from classmates at MIT who had already gone through the process. Some had applied for EB-1A or O-1A visas, so I talked with them and with several immigration lawyers to understand what to expect. One of my classmates who had worked with Tukki told us to contact their team and explain our situation, especially coming from Haiti, where things can be complicated. That’s how we got in touch with Tukki and started our journey.
Q: Why did you choose Tukki, and what stood out from the experience?
C: We were looking for the right support system, not just a lawyer, but a structure that could help us move efficiently and stay organized. Tukki offered that combination of expertise, technology, and guidance.
A: The platform was very helpful. It gave us a clear, visual way to track where we were in the process — what we had already completed and what was still pending. Seeing that progress helped us stay organized and focus on what we needed to do next.
A: I also appreciated how the team worked with us. They didn’t limit what we could present as evidence; they took time to review everything with the lawyers, explain what could or wouldn’t work, and even research additional context when needed. It was a collaborative process that made our case stronger.
“Both the platform and the team worked well to give us the support we needed to get the result we wanted.” — Anne-Marie
Q: How did you feel when your EB-1A visa was approved?
A: We were surprised, happy, shocked, ecstatic — all of it. Because of the current situation in Haiti, we weren’t sure what to expect, so the approval brought a mix of emotions, but all positive ones.
C: It really felt like a before-and-after moment. Once you know it’s approved, your whole mindset changes; you start planning how to move forward.
Q: What would you tell others about the U.S. visa process and about working with Tukki?
C: Don’t go through it alone. The process is complex, and you need experts who can look at your background, your skills, and your goals to choose the right path. Tukki had the lawyers, the tech system, and the follow-up that kept everything on track.
You’re not just getting legal guidance; you’re also getting a tech system that reminds you what to do, helps you follow up, and keeps everything moving. That combination made a big difference for us.
A: Understand what kind of support system you’ll have. Some firms are just one lawyer, others have a full team. We felt that Tukki really supported us at every step, even when things got uncertain.
A: They weren’t afraid to take the risk with us, and we always felt they had our best interest in mind.
“Choose a firm that will walk with you through every step. Tukki is that firm.” — Anne-Marie