Love Beyond Borders: Immigration Stories-logo

Love Beyond Borders: Immigration Stories

Storytelling Podcasts

Love Beyond Borders is a podcast dedicated to sharing the real life stories of families affected by the complex US immigration system. Each week I'll bring you a guest or a thought to help you reflect on this highly politicized topic. We'll also discuss related topics such as multicultural marriage, language barriers, culture shock, adjusting to life in a new country and more! I don't have all of the answers, but I hope this podcast will serve to inform and inspire you and me both. Whether you're going through a complex immigration process yourself (K1 visa, I130, I601 waiver, I601a waiver, etc.) or you're simply here out of curiosity - welcome! I'm so glad you're here!

Location:

United States

Description:

Love Beyond Borders is a podcast dedicated to sharing the real life stories of families affected by the complex US immigration system. Each week I'll bring you a guest or a thought to help you reflect on this highly politicized topic. We'll also discuss related topics such as multicultural marriage, language barriers, culture shock, adjusting to life in a new country and more! I don't have all of the answers, but I hope this podcast will serve to inform and inspire you and me both. Whether you're going through a complex immigration process yourself (K1 visa, I130, I601 waiver, I601a waiver, etc.) or you're simply here out of curiosity - welcome! I'm so glad you're here!

Language:

English


Episodes

25. Uncertain Times

3/25/2020
We made it to episode 25! In this episode, we reflect on the past 6 months of the Love Beyond Borders Podcast. Normally this would call for a celebration, but we are in uncertain times with COVID-19 turning our world upside down. Tune in to hear how the Coronavirus is affecting immigration in the US and to find out what's in store for the Love Beyond Borders Podcast.

Duration:00:07:51

24. Queren - Growing Up Undocumented in the US

3/4/2020
Queren left her home in Mexico and moved with her mom, dad and brother to the United States at a young age. She didn't realize the full gravity of her status in the US until she was a bit older and started to see some of the consequences. She went through some very dark times, like when her father and brother were detained at the border and deported, and when she was unable to attend her father's funeral in Mexico. Queren is now a US Citizen, but she's still dealing with the psychological effects of spending so many years living in fear due to her status. Tune in to this episode to hear Queren tell her powerful story. *Check out Queren's Instagram: @querenking

Duration:00:53:56

23. Patty - Detained, Deported & Denied

2/26/2020
Patty and her family have been through a lot. Her husband Joel was detained and held for two months in ICE custody before being deported to his native country, El Salvador. Together Patty and Joel have two small children who are now missing their father. Listen in to this episode to hear Patty explain what it was like to see her husband detained right in front of her, to learn what it was like for Joel in the detention center and to hear her talk about the devastating effects family separation has had on her family.

Duration:00:47:59

22. Lia - Culture, Language & Vulnerability: How They Affect Our Relationships

2/19/2020
Lia is an interculturalist. She researches the role culture plays in communication, leadership, psychology, learning and change. In this interview, she shares fascinating research with us that can help you better understand how culture, language and vulnerability can affect your intercultural relationships. *Check out Lia's Instagram: @globalbonez

Duration:00:30:40

21. Kate & Val - Finances for Multicultural Couples

2/12/2020
Kate and Val are dedicated to teaching multicultural couples how to manage their money in order to build their American or Canadian dream. Finances can be a very complicated topic for any couple, but maybe even more so for multicultural couples. Countries and cultures around the world view money differently, so it's no wonder it can become a stressor in relationships. In this episode, you'll hear some great advice from Kate and Val about having a common vision as a couple, creating short and long term financial goals, how to responsibly help family abroad, what to do with feelings of guilt around money, and introducing finances to your children. This interview is jam-packed with helpful information you won't want to miss, so be sure to tune in! *Visit their website: www.kateandvalfavstov.com *Check out their Instagram: @kateandval *Facebook: www.facebook.com/KATEandVAL *Youtube: Kate and Val Favstov

Duration:00:45:29

20. Sadhana - DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

2/5/2020
Sadhana grew up knowing she was undocumented. She moved to the US with her family from Guyana at the age of thirteen. Her status kept her from accomplishing many of her goals, like getting her driver's license and going to college, but that all changed when DACA was introduced. DACA opened up doors for Sadhana but it wasn't a permanent solution. Especially after the 2016 election and the threat to end DACA from the new administration. Tune in to find out the brave decision Sadhana and her husband made to free themselves from the weight of living undocumented in the United States. I hope this conversation will shed light on a topic that is often in the news but still misunderstood by many. *Listen to the Above Status Podcast *Check out Above Status on Instagram: @abovestatus *Check out Sadhana's Instagram: @mysinghlove

Duration:00:44:41

19. Katie - A Culture Apiece

1/29/2020
Katie is from the US and her husband Markus is from Austria. In this episode, you'll hear how they've navigated life in two countries, two cultures, two languages, with two families and two weddings! Katie talks about their differences and how they've been able to work together to better understand one another. She shares the importance of having family who appreciate their cultural differences. She tells us how she managed homesickness and what it's like to live as a digital nomad! This is a fun, light-hearted episode that you won't want to miss! *Visit Katie's Blog: http://acultureapiece.com/ *Check out her Instagram: @acultureapiece

Duration:00:31:45

18. Stacy - Facing Family Separation

1/22/2020
Stacy is a US Citizen but her husband is undocumented. Together they are raising five US Citizen children. In this interview, Stacy shares the heartbreaking ordeal her family is facing. Her husband is in removal proceedings and may very likely be deported to Mexico. Stacy and her family must make a gut-wrenching decision: Uproot their lives and move to Mexico to keep their family together or remain in the US and face long term, possibly permanent family separation. This is a decision she wishes no family had to make. Listen in as Stacy details the complex immigration process they've gone through thus far, including the I-130 and the I-601A Hardship Waiver. She'll also talk about the 10 year, 20 year and life time bans that can destroy the lives of immigrants and their families. This is an episode you can't afford to miss, as this very same situation is happening to families across our nation.

Duration:00:33:42

Our Story - Part Three (Rebroadcast)

1/15/2020
Hey guys! Tiago and I are in Brazil visiting family for a few weeks. While I'm gone I thought I'd rebroadcast the very first episodes of Love Beyond Borders. (I'll be back with new episodes in January) Episodes one, two and three are all about our immigration story. Today you'll hear the dramatic conclusion of our three part immigration story. Find out what happens with our I-601 Waiver for Grounds of Inadmissibility and whether or not we are able to move home to the US.

Duration:00:19:04

Our Story - Part Two (Rebroadcast)

1/8/2020
Hey guys! Tiago and I are in Brazil visiting family for a few weeks. While I'm gone I thought I'd rebroadcast the very first episodes of Love Beyond Borders. (I'll be back with new episodes in January) Episodes one, two and three are all about our immigration story. Today you'll hear part two of our three part immigration story. By now you know the tragic outcome of our K1 Fiancé Visa process. Stay tuned hear about my move to Brazil and the next steps in our immigration journey, including an I130 Petition for Alien Relative Visa and an I601 Waiver for Grounds of Inadmissibility. It has only just begun...

Duration:00:25:14

Our Story - Part One (Rebroadcast)

12/18/2019
Hey guys! Tiago and I are in Brazil visiting family for a few weeks. While I'm gone I thought I'd rebroadcast the very first episodes of Love Beyond Borders. (I'll be back with new episodes in January) Episodes one, two and three are all about our immigration story. My Brazilian husband and I navigated the complex and unforgiving US immigration system for over five years. Stay tuned to find out how we met, fell in love and the path we took to be together forever. It included the K1 fiancé visa - yes, the one from that show 90 Day Fiancé! We had no idea what we were getting into...

Duration:00:19:57

17. Tiago's Perspective on Our Story and Life in the US

12/4/2019
Today's episode features a very special guest - my husband, Tiago! If you've listened to Love Beyond Borders since the very beginning, then you know all about how we met and the immigration nightmare we went through. If you haven't already, go back to episodes 1, 2 and 3 to catch up on our story. In this episode, Tiago is going to share his perspective on some of the things we've been through together as a binational couple - the good and the bad! He's also going to share what it's been like for him as he adjusts to life in the US as a recent immigrant. He's pretty great, but I might be a little biased. Tune in and find out for yourself!

Duration:00:35:52

16. Jitesh - Immigration Through Storytelling and Humor

11/27/2019
Today's episode will have you laughing out loud. In this conversation, I'm joined by Jitesh Jaggi. Jitesh is a Chicago based story teller and two time Moth Story Slam winner. He's a recent immigrant from India and has a great sense of humor. Jitesh walks us through the immigration process he went through to get here and helps us understand why humor might be the best way to talk about hard topics like immigration. Enjoy! *Send Jitesh an email: jaggi.jitesh@gmail.com *Connect with Jitesh on Instagram: @the_pun_dit *Find Jitesh on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamthepundit/

Duration:00:41:09

15. Marce - Language in Intercultural Relationships

11/20/2019
Calling all language lovers...this episode is for you! Have you ever wondered how an intercultural relationship works when both partners speak a different first language? Do you face challenges in your relationship due to a language barrier? Today's conversation is with Marcela (Marce) Cacace. She's from Colombia and her first language is Spanish. Her husband Michael is from the US and his first language is English. Marce knows all about the role that language plays in relationships like theirs. In this episode she'll share what her experiences have been and what's worked for them. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! *Visit Marce's Blog: https://marcecacace.blogspot.com/ *Check out her Instagram: @becausewife_

Duration:00:37:03

14. Mohamed - The founder of Epimonia on giving back to the refugee community

11/13/2019
In this episode, you'll hear my conversation with Mohamed Malim, the founder of Dream Refugee and a company called Epimonia. Both of Mohamed's organizations do important work to highlight the stories of refugees and to give back to the community. Mohamed is a Somali-American and in this conversation, he shares his experiences of being born in a refugee camp and moving to the United States as a young boy with his family. Mohamed has an amazing perspective to share with us so you won't want to miss this one! *UPDATE: As mentioned in this episode, the refugee limit for Fiscal Year 2019 was limited to 30,000. For Fiscal Year 2020, that number was reduced to 18,000 - a new all time low. *Visit www.epimonia.com to purchase your "Embracelet"! *Visit https://www.dreamrefugee.org/ *Head to Instagram: @epimoniamn and @dreamrefugee

Duration:00:17:43

13. Jessica - The Travel Ban

11/6/2019
In today’s episode, you’ll hear Jessica and Pouya’s story. Jessica is a United States Citizen living in Maryland . Her husband Pouya is from Iran, but is currently living in Spain to complete his PHD. They have a really interesting love story - one you won’t want to miss out on. Unfortunately, Trump’s travel ban on Muslim-majority countries threw a big wrench in their plans to be together. Listen in to find out more about the effects the travel ban can have on families, including those of American Citizens.

Duration:00:28:05

12. Edit - Getting Married Multiculturally

10/30/2019
This week’s episode features the host of the Getting Married Multiculturally Podcast, Edit Vasadi. Edit was born in Serbia, grew up in Hungary, went to university in Italy and now lives with her American husband and children in the United States. In this interview, Edit details her upbringing, how she met her husband, her US immigration experience and the ups and downs of life as a multicultural couple. Edit doesn’t shy away from hard topics. You’ll hear her open up about what led her and her husband to the brink of divorce, how they managed to rekindle their relationship and start down a new path. You won’t want to miss this one! *Check out Edit's website:www.editvasadi.com *Find her on Instagram: @editvasadi

Duration:00:52:03

11. Nicole - Life in Exile - Part 2

10/23/2019
In Part 2 of this interview, Nicole gives us an update on their case. To re-cap, she's been living in Mexico for nearly 13 years waiting for her husband Margo's ban on re-entry to the United States to expire. She also gives us an inside look at the process of writing her book, Amor & Exile: True stories of love across America's borders. The book focuses on the early years of her relationship with Margo and coming to grips with the reality of his immigration burden. It details their early years in Mexico and grappling with the challenge of potentially never living in the US again. Nicole's story is interwoven with the stories of ten other couples who are living in similar situations. It also includes background on immigration policy and the history of immigration in the US. Nicole and her family are anxiously awaiting an interview at the US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez for her husband Margo. This interview will determine whether they will live indefinitely in Mexico or have a chance at life as a family in the US. Nicole's final message of this interview is one of true strength: learning to be okay with whatever the outcome may be. *EXCITING UPDATE: After the recording of this interview, Margo received a date for his interview in Ciudad Juarez. On October 21, 2019 Margo's visa was approved! Nicole, Margo and their daughter are busy celebrating the approval and will be taking their time to think about how they want to proceed with their return to the United States. Stay tuned for a future part 3 interview with more about this exciting news! CONGRATULATIONS NICOLE AND MARGO! *Check out the Amor & Exile website. *Head to the Amor & Exile Facebook Page. *Support the American Families United organization.

Duration:00:42:27

10. Nicole - Life in Exile - Part 1

10/16/2019
Nicole Salgado is the co-author of the book Amor & Exile: True stories of love across America's borders. Nicole has been living in exile in Mexico for going on thirteen years now. In this episode, Nicole will talk about what it was like to live in the US with her husband Margo while he was undocumented. She talks about the moment they found out that Margo's only chance to gain legal status would require him to leave the US and wait 10 years to apply for re-entry. She'll describe her difficult decision to leave the US with him and start their lives over in Mexico. Stay tuned to hear about Nicole and Margo's remarkable journey in this two-part interview. *Check out the Amor & Exile website. *Head to the Amor & Exile Facebook Page. *Support the American Families United organization.

Duration:00:36:50

9. Abbie - Immigration Attorney

10/9/2019
Today's episode is a conversation with Abigail Wahl, an immigration attorney. Abbie walks us through the complexities of our country’s immigration system and helps set the record straight on some of the biggest immigration myths. She answers these questions and more: -Is there a line? Is getting legal status simply a matter of filling out the paperwork and paying the fee? -What are the legal avenues for immigrating to the US? -How are US Citizens affected by our current immigration policies? -What are some of the concerns with the current administration’s stance on immigration? -What would be some beneficial changes we could make to the immigration system? At Puerta Grande Law Firm in Minneapolis, Abbie works on family based cases, humanitarian cases (asylum seekers), U visa cases (victim’s of crimes) and removal defense. *Check out the Puerta Grande website.

Duration:00:36:33