Bridging the gap between cultures allows the individual to find themselves and their way when migrating to a new country.
Migration/Immigration
According to the United Nations, by mid-year 2020, the United States (U.S.) had 50.6 million international migrants. This number accounts for those individuals who voluntarily relocate to a new country not including refugees, those forced to leave their home country because of war or natural disaster. Immigration is defined as the relocation to a country while migration refers to the movement from one region to another – either within a country or across national borders.
There are vast differences between traveling to a new city or country while on vacation and permanently moving to a new destination.
Each year millions of immigrants walk into unfamiliar circumstances and must acclimate themselves to new surroundings. For migrants facing this challenge, moving to a new country, and embracing a new culture can definitely be a cause for anxiety. There are many reasons for families or individuals to relocate, such as work, school, health, and to reunite with family.
Migration starts with a thought but does not end there. The process can be complex and lengthy. On average, there is a 12-step process to obtain a Visa for the U.S., which starts with obtaining a petition from a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Additional steps vary depending on the immigration policies of the country of origin. Once a Visa is approved, the immigrant must submit additional documents within the first month, year, and at various times over the next 5 years in order to become a U.S. citizen. These documents may include state identification, a driver’s license, social security card, and work permit.
Department of State- Office of Consular Affairs, U.S Visa filing
Things to Consider
Oftentimes, families rarely have the luxury of considering the best time of year to travel. This decision is complex because of the deadlines associated with submission of required documentation and filing fees even after visa approval. These deadlines must be met within the allotted travel time, and yet, when to move is still important and has a major impact on resettlement. Families must decide whether to migrate in between the academic year and/or during winter weather.
Immigrant students are often asked to repeat a grade based on the part of the academic year completed prior to leaving their home country. While kindergarten through high school (K-12) education is free in the U.S., applications based on school zones and districts are still needed.
Parents must be proactive in educating themselves on what schools are in their district, what exams are required, and whether school-aged children qualify for any additional assistance. This support could be in the form of transportation assistance via school bus or free public commuter cards, free school meals such as breakfast and lunch, and various after-school programs.
Another key factor to note for immigrants is the impact politics and politicians have on U.S. immigration. Changes in state, local, and presidential leadership often result in changes to immigration laws and requirements. For example, one major policy change that has occurred between the current Biden Administration and the past two administrations has to do with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act. A portion of this Act directly affects the ability of childhood immigrants, who are now adults, looking to file and obtain work authorization documents.
The main thing to remember when relocating is to prepare, prepare, prepare. If the proper documentation is not submitted on time, a legal immigrant can become illegal in a day. Time is always of the essence for immigrants. A preparedness mindset is beneficial and helps to manage the voluminous amount of information and processes immigrant families must navigate in an effort to be ready for the transition. It starts with adults and extends to the children.
The U.S. differs from many other countries because of its fifty states. When moving to the U.S. from another country, immigrants must acquaint themselves not only with the country, but the state, city, and neighborhood as well. Immigrants must strictly adhere to timelines and deadlines to avoid falling into deportation status, so again, preparedness always matters.

My Experience
I was born in Jamaica and have lived in the United States for 19 years. My family and I traveled to Detroit, Michigan in 2003 to unite with my father. My father’s side of the family lives in Michigan, and my mother’s side lives in New York. Initially, he traveled to the States to join his siblings while my mother, brother, and I remained in Jamaica. It would be several years later before we traveled to the U.S. so our family could be reunited.
We lived in Detroit for three years then moved to New York to live with my grandmother when she became ill and needed assistance. All of these transitions occurred in the early years of our stay in the U.S. while still needing to complete filings and meet immigration deadlines.
One of the biggest challenges that we faced was recognizing that certain laws changed by state. Although most immigration laws are instituted at the federal level, we still had to address specific state requirements in order for my family and I to attend school and resume work. As students at the time, my brother and I experienced major challenges academically. The education quality in Jamaica differs from the U.S., but standards vary by state as well. When I arrived in Detroit, I was considered top of my class based on my academic achievements in Jamaica.
However, I encountered some setbacks while adjusting to the different teaching methods. I utilized the after-school program assistance offered by the school which helped me adjust faster. After moving from Detroit to New York City (NYC), I had to repeat some previously taught course material because the academic requirements were different between the states.
The redundant nature of the classwork hindered my growth, and I used the after-school assistance again to adjust to the new workload. During my high school years, I also participated in tutoring, SAT/ACT preparation, and college coursework offered after school. This allowed me to start my undergraduate studies with ten credit hours, and I am currently a graduate student at Marymount University with a 3.9 grade point average (GPA).
When adjusting to a new country, it is natural to feel like you do not belong, you may feel like a foreigner. I am not entirely sure if there is anything you can do to alleviate this feeling in the beginning. It is simply the direct result of leaving the place that has always been home and moving to an entirely unfamiliar place, culture, and circumstance. At home always felt familiar, but for many months, outside felt like a completely new world. I remember as a child that even the air quality was different!
I encourage immigrants to embrace the change while merging what is familiar with the things that are new. While in Detroit, my family and I attended the neighborhood block party to meet our neighbors. This is how I met most of my friends, who would eventually turn out to be classmates. My family was able to successfully merge cultures because our home always felt familiar even as we implemented a lot of American culture into our daily lives.
Most importantly, every immigrant family must educate themselves on immigration laws. Our immigration process was not an easy one, and unfortunately, this is the case for many people. Understanding the laws is the cornerstone of a smooth transition. The average U.S. citizen may not fully understand and know immigration laws. Immigrants must be aware of how these laws affect them and their loved ones.
Every day I thank God for my mother who took the time to understand what was needed and when. My family’s journey to citizenship started in 2003 and only recently concluded in 2019. While the road to citizenship in the U.S. is complicated and lengthy, do not be discouraged. Millions have undertaken this task and persevered. Preparedness will ensure a successful transition.

Recommendations
Develop a filing and storage system for all important documents. Immigrants can acclimate seamlessly into their new lives but are often waylaid by incomplete filings or missed filing deadlines.
Do not be discouraged if you have to file paperwork more than once. This can occur for many reasons and is not a sign of rejection.
Double-check paperwork to make sure filing requirements are met, and always monitor individuals involved in the process on your behalf.
Adjusting to new surroundings involves more than just the environment. It includes your identity as well, so have discussions with your family to acknowledge the change and assess how well they are acclimating.
Get involved in community activities to get to know your neighbors and allow your new surroundings to become more familiar. Also, when you travel the same paths often, the surroundings will become more familiar. ❦

List of resources available to aid immigrants with a successful transition.

Department of State -Office of Consular Affairs
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit.html

Immigration Legal Resource Center
https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources
U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services
https://www.uscis.gov

Homeland Security
https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-resources-help-you-navigate-citizenship-and-immigration-services-process

Migration Resource Center

Home

NewBridges Immigration Resource Center

Home

National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM)
https://nrcrim.org

About the Author
Shanique Gayle is an intern with the PWPORG.ORG. She recently relocated to Virginia to further her education and begin gaining valuable knowledge and experience that will help her positively impact the justice system as it stands today. Whether by pursuing advocacy work or becoming an investigative analyst, she is dedicated to helping those in the community around her.

She is a former graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a current student in the Forensic and Legal Psychology program at Marymount University in Virginia. Ms. Gayle is also a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology since starting her graduate degree in fall of 2021.

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