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Immigrant Interview
Sarah Overland
EDU 280-1003
Professor Connie Christensen
10 April 2016

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Immigrant Interview
Ednas journey, immigrating to the United States from her native El Salvador, began
when she was just seven years old. Hispanic Americans as a group include people who are
Mexican Americans, Central and South Americans, Chicanos, Spanish Americans, Latin
Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans(Manning, 2009, p.164). Her
fathers brother started the process by submitting a petition to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services for her father and his family to come to the US. Edna wasnt sure of the exact cost at the
time due to her being a minor, however the current cost to submit a petition is $165. The petition
took nearly 10 years to be granted, and when Edna was 16 years old, in 1996, her family was
given an appointment for an interview with the Embassy in El Salvador.
Extensive medical testing that cost approximately $600 per person was required. The
exam included a physical exam and lab work that would rule out any medical threats. The
interview consisted of extensive questioning as to why the family wanted to go to the US as well
as to verify the relationship between the family and the petitioner. Edna explained that a majority
of the questions were directed towards her parents, however, she was also asked some questions
regarding her educational and career goals. Financial records of the petitioner as well as the
family being petitioned are reviewed to ensure that resources are available to support the family.
Once approved at the time of the interview, the family was given six months to get their affairs
in order and leave the country. Due to age restrictions, Ednas oldest brother (25) and her sister
(23) were not considered part of the family under the immigration regulations. Included, were
Edna (16), her brother (21) and her parents. Upon arrival in the U.S., the family was interviewed
one last time in the customs department at the airport to verify their identities.

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The Family waited 3 months from the time of their interview in order for Edna to
complete high school in El Salvador. They arrived in Los Angeles, California in October, 1996,
with just $5,000 from her fathers savings; they spoke very little English. They stayed with
Ednas uncle who sponsored them for their first 3 months in the U.S. During that time, Ednas
brother got a job at Taco Bell and her mother began working in a laundry facility. Edna began
attending English classes at Evans Adult Education School in Los Angeles. Instead of making
an attempt to learn English, many do not perceive a need to develop proficiency in
English(Manning, 2009, p.172). Edna believes that immigrants make life in the U.S. harder
for themselves when they choose not to learn English.
In January of 1997, Ednas mother was offered a job and a place to live with her sister in
Ogden, Utah. The family moved there and her mother started a new job. They were very quickly
able to find and afford their own place to live. Edna did not like her life in the U.S. She felt
alone, and she missed her family and friends back in El Salvador. In October of 1997, Edna and
her parents went back to El Salvador for her older brothers college graduation. At that point,
Edna decided to stay in El Salvador with her brother. After living back home for one year, she
realized that she would be better off by going back to the U.S. and living with her parents to take
advantage of the educational opportunities that were available to her in the U.S. During the time
that Edna was living with her brother in El Salvador, her parents had yet again relocated in the
US. They were living in Las Vegas, Nevada, when Edna returned to the U.S. in 1999, and the
family has been in Las Vegas ever since.
Edna is currently married with two children and she appreciates being able to live in the
U.S. She feels that unlike El Salvador, there is opportunity for everyone in the U.S. Her family
does not fall into the 21 percent of Central American families below the poverty level in the

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United States (Manning, 2009, p.168). Edna holds high academic standards for her two
daughters and loves when they have an opportunity to share their culture at school.
Multiculturalism should extend to and permeate all aspects of the school (Manning, 2009,
p.191).
Ednas family moved to the U.S. because her father had been forced into retirement in El
Salvador because of his age. He still works to this day and she said that in El Salvador, he would
never be hired at his age. She also attributes her success in school and her place in the workforce
in the U.S. to the fact that she committed to learning English as soon as she came to the U.S. She
takes pride in the maintenance of her culture values, language, religion, ideals, artistic
expressions, patterns of social and interpersonal relationships, and ways of perceiving, behaving,
and thinking (Manning, 2009, p.25).
Edna described a perceived American Dream. She said that prospective immigrants
come with the idea that there is money everywhere in the US and you just need to get here to
pick it up. She said that it was definitely not that easy. However, she feels that those that are
willing to put in the hard work will have the opportunity to live the American Dream.
Although grateful for her life in the U.S., Edna said, with tears in her eyes, that she still feels like
she left a part of herself in El Salvador. Edna goes back to visit El Salvador every other year,
however, she still misses her family and friends so very much and nothing will ever change that.

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References
Manning, M. Lee and Baruth, Leroy G (2009). Multicultural Education of Children and
Adolescents. Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Education, Inc.