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Visa Issues

@visa.issues

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OFFICIALLY VISA ISSUES LLC
#visaissues

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS: PAULA

*traducción al español en los comentarios*

“I am a creator and an immigrant. I was brought here by my mother from Colombia when I was 10 years old and, since that moment, I have lived in two worlds. Never Colombian enough, never American enough.

I went to a fashion industry high school right around the corner from FIT. My photography professor saw my creative passion and encouraged me to pursue it – something I never considered for myself before. I was so focused on surviving my day-to-day - creative expression was a leisure activity, not a means of providing my next meal. He gave me my first camera, an old Nikon. Then I just had to figure it out - I had to help with bills somehow. My first big job was for Milk Studios. I spent years freelancing and working serving jobs. And now I’m here, able to support myself entirely through a creative path.

My journey pursuing legal status in the US took over 10 years, and thousands and thousands of dollars. During this time spent waiting and pursuing each next step, I became deeply interested in telling stories about the immigrants that I met, many in USCIS waiting rooms. I started a project six years ago called “VISA ISSUES,” which focuses on collecting and sharing the stories of immigrants living in the US. I find that power is not only derived from status, but also from the dignity that comes from sharing your experience.

I feel that my status as an immigrant has sadly become who I am. Everything in my life is so affected by this issue that it’s impossible to separate myself from it. It consumes what I do, who I spend time with, and how I have conversations with people. Now it’s a balancing act. I have to talk to people about it. Not talking about it is how I grew up, and I felt expressionless because I didn’t have the words to articulate what I was going through. However, sometimes I have to make the choice to lose the political lens over my life. I have to balance the heaviness of day to day life with finding joy.” taken in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn by @visa.issues

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2 months ago

by @visa.issues

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a year ago

The speculative future so many like myself have spoken of is here. I used to have nightmares about what’s happening now, living a nightmare is quite different. The utter certainty of current violence is beyond what I’ve speculated.
This is just the beginning. 47’s administration is slowly and quietly destroying judicial guard rails that kept us immigrants in the gray space “safe”. I don’t have any words of wisdom, advice or encouragement. Just a solemn reminder, that the allure of ease creates a pacification. by @visa.issues

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a year ago

“$tars and $tripes”
@thishasbeendonebefore by @visa.issues

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2 years ago

The Mourning of America. Obituary 11.6.2024
LINKED IN BIO by @visa.issues

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2 years ago

After a forced break from this account.. a story for another day…
I’m happy to say I finally have received an appointment date.
My case was finally reviewed after 9 years of processing and wait time. I’m currently in Colombia awaiting said appointment.
For years I’ve dreamed about this moment, and honestly it’s been quite anti-climactic. Like anything that’s yearned after, for too long it becomes larger than life. I received an automated email with very straightforward language stating my identity, case number and appointment date. I cried , then quickly moved on because I don’t know how to host happiness for longer than a few moments at this point ( when it comes to my case, there’s always a BUT) this is a defense mechanism that’s been built of the years of visa issues. I’ve been in Colombia 10 days, feeling home sick when I’m home feels like a joke. I’m not American but not Colombian enough culturally, to feel embraced.
Non the less I’m happy to be here and slowly learning to host a semblance of “happy”.
Slide 1-2 are part of on going project titled “PATRIMONIO” or birthright ( self portrait)
3. Avianca airlines
4. Home-sick when I’m home commission by: @thishasbeendonebefore
5. Me as a child in Ciloé ( deemed on the the most dangerous neighborhoods in Colombia) weird because it’s just home
6. My grandmother on our land
7. My husband, aunt, helping my grandmother walk to get street snacks
8. I always thought my affinity for fast vehicles, specifically motorcycles was due to the trends in my age/ tax bracket. But now realizing it’s a deeper yearning for home. More on this another time
9. The sign at the airport in Cali, reads: we are happy you’ve returned to your home 🇨🇴

-talk soon
P. by @visa.issues

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2 years ago

Over 500 hours pledged. Absolutely beautiful, mutual aid should be for everyone.
Mutual aid with No financial burden. Just time ( one could argue time is money) but this is how we build... Helping one another using out talents. ❤️✨📢🙏🏽

Looking for pledges for the following in order to give you all access to these lovely hours.

*Website building - for visa issues.com
*Photo studio time - visuals
Event space - meet ups ( LA -NYC) by @visa.issues

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3 years ago

Come to the swap meet! 1-7 pm!
Bring @khalilah.pianta and I snacks. taken in Superchief Gallery L.A. by @visa.issues

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3 years ago

Artifacts of the American Dream: Artifact 1A "STOLEN TIME"

A physical representation of time theft within the visa issues process. The piece is part of a series that explores the American dream within physical objects.

The watch signals luxury, class, and status. Upon closer inspection, you notice "VISA ISSUES" on the custom dial paired with the "Notice statement" at 6 o'clock, language lifted from the USCIS/ immigration letterhead warning/reminding you its not your time yet.

WATCH SPECS:
Material: Stainless Steel
Case size: 40 mm
Movement: NH35 (Japan)
Type: Automatic
Power Reserve: 41 hours by @visa.issues

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4 years ago

THE LONG GOODBYE
Arrivals- Departures PT1

The Long Goodbye (TLG for short) is a multi part series exploring my emotions surrounding my soon departure from America, which will prompt a 10 year ban for me. The idea of not being able to return for a decade scares me.
Part one focuses on the international Arrival-departures gates at the airport, In an attempt to document, analyze and comprehend my emotions utilizing a voyeuristic photographic approach. Using the emotions of other individuals partaking in Arrivals and departures, the condensed interactions hold attraction to me as my way of processing my impending exit.
TLG is a multi part series starting now till my return “Home” to America.

On view now ( Saturday march 11)
Palette studio,
1638
Babcock St, Costa Mesa CA.
92627 by @visa.issues

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4 years ago

OATMEAL HOODIE

As a young immigrant, eating school provided breakfast and lunch meant eating foods that at the time were completely new to me.

Oatmeal was very strange to me, in Colombia breakfast is used as a large meal that establishes a huge part of your nourishment and calories for the day. Accustomed to hot chocolate freshly hand-frothed by my grandmother, large plates of fluffy scrambled eggs, sausage, pork belly rinds, and crunchy corn dough arepas with big hearty chunks of fried cheese. Foods my family in Colombia referred to “comida de pobre” (poor people food :passed down from farmers to help sustain the long days)

When I arrived in America I expected opulent table settings, almost buffet style school lunches.All based on movies watched dubbed in Spanish. I was instead faced with oatmeal cups, fruit cups, cereal cups, and milk cartons with percentages written on them. Peanut butter jelly sandwiches. My idea of American school foods shattered.

The oatmeal hoodie is a wink to my shock with American breakfast foods, Oatmeal being the one staple. by @visa.issues

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4 years ago

Voice of @poulsenprojects link in Bio to full letter. by @visa.issues

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4 years ago