Audio Story - Jour 3100

Yadira Blanco, an immigrant from Mexico, has spent 26 years preparing for her 21st birthday when she can petition for a green card. She faced uncertainty when her work visa expired during the pandemic, but it was eventually renewed. With her daughter's help, she is now working towards obtaining permanent residency. She hopes to have her card by 2025 and plans to visit her husband's family in Mexico once she does. Hello, my name is Adriana Hernandez from Multimedia Journalism's 3100, and I want to start the podcast with a question. What did you envision your day would look like when turning 21? For the majority of you, you would imagine spending the entire day at a club or a bar drinking with your friends and upgrading it the next day. And for the minority, still imagine that day at a lawyer's office filling up some paperwork. However, not the kind of paperwork that bans you from getting out of trouble, but the kind that can let you stay in the country you immigrated to. For many immigrants, the majority of their 20s are spent preparing them for their 21st, when they can be eligible to petition to get a green card or a permanent residency card. And for Gainesville resident Yadira Blanco, it has been a 26-year journey to get hers. Born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, she immigrated to Brownsville, Texas when she was 9 years old and took in her new surroundings with ease. My dad brought us over here when I was 9 years old to have a better life in the United States, and now he wants to help me to get used to living here. At 21, she moved with her family to Gainesville in hopes of making money through the city's booming chicken plant industry. It wasn't easy coming to another state. She was constantly worried about her residency card. Although she had a work visa at the time, she was still scared of the uncertainty, and in 2020, her fears would come true. I went to the HR office, and they told me that my work visa expired. I told them that I submitted my renewal, but because of COVID, it was taking more time. They told me that I had to leave until I got my new one, and then they'll give me back my job. She ended up not working for a month, but thankfully, her visa got renewed, and she went back to her job. With the help of her daughter, she was beginning the process of getting her permanent residency card. Although she knows the journey would not be easy, she can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. She hopes that by 2025, she can get her card and live for the first time without worrying about getting kicked out of the United States, and she already knows what she plans to do when it comes. First thing I want to do when I get my residency card is go to Mexico so I can visit my husband's family. I have been your host, Adriana Hernandez, and until we meet again, have a lovely rest of your day.