"My family and I are from Brazil, and we are BDV clients. I’m here to share a bit of our story and hopefully encourage others who have a dream to fight for it.
But first, let me go back in time a little. From an early age, I always wanted to live in another country because, as a ballet student, it's natural to dream of being part of a prestigious school or international company. I dedicated myself to classes, studied English, and did everything to reach my goal as soon as possible. Despite my dedication, things didn’t go as planned. Time passed, and neither the scholarship nor a position materialized, which was demotivating. Eventually, I stopped believing in my dream. I continued dancing professionally for a few years, but surviving as an artist in my country wasn’t easy.
So, I graduated, got married, had kids, and started a company with my husband. Ballet became more of a hobby. After some vacation trips, my husband and I rekindled our old dream and thought it would be a great experience for the whole family to live abroad.
There were many nights of research to find the best way to do it because being illegal in any country was not an option! I explored most visa options, and after feeling like I didn’t qualify for any, we applied for a student visa. The plan was to study, experience the culture, and return when necessary.
We arrived in America in 2018, and the feeling of belonging was overwhelming! But I had no idea how to stay. That’s when I discovered BDV, and we decided to apply for a position right in Florida where we were already staying. Initially, the amount of information was scarce, and the fear was immense. However, as the process began and we met other applicants, we started hearing several success stories, and that boosted our confidence!
Unfortunately, our Labor Certification (LC) was audited, and the process stalled for many months. It was a tough phase, and we started to doubt whether we’d make it. More than a year later, with no response, I decided to try a plan B and apply for another type of visa based on my ballet career.
The BDV team provided incredible support, from financial help with payment plans to emotional support, always answering our questions. This encouragement was essential for us to keep going! I applied for another position, and surprisingly, this time, the process moved extremely quickly. By December 2020, I had approvals for both processes! It was an emotional moment because, for someone who once had no idea how to stay, having the choice of which path to take was a huge victory!
I couldn’t believe it for days, especially with the ballet process, which had little value in my country but was recognized in the U.S. as an area of national importance! After much thought and analysis, we decided to proceed with the EB-3, considering the support we would receive from BDV, the lawyers, and the sponsor in this new beginning. It was the best decision we made! Our green card arrived in the mail in 4 months without even needing an interview!
Before starting to work, I had mistakenly thought that because it was a position without qualifications, I would feel inferior. But I found a company that was grateful for our work, with kind managers and colleagues willing to help us whenever possible. People treated each other with respect, regardless of job title or position. Many times, I felt more valued in this work than in others with higher status in Brazil!
Today, I couldn't be happier or more grateful for everything and everyone who contributed to making my dream and that of my family come true. My kids are receiving the education I always dreamed of, in a safe place with a bright future. My husband has his company and is working in his field. As for me, I’m in the second act of my life! I went back to taking regular ballet classes, participated in auditions, and became part of a professional company. I divide my time between work, my kids, and my classes. I've also been invited by other companies to participate in their shows, with a full season of performances on beautiful stages I never thought I’d be able to dance on!
Thank you to the entire BDV team and especially those who helped me closely—Jorge, Mitchell, Britt, Chris, Isaiah, John, and Carolina!
And my advice for those who have the dream of immigrating is this: Ask for guidance, study, research, plan, believe, and come live your best version in this country of opportunities!"