After years of chasing the American dream, a Brazilian student finds herself on the brink of losing everything she worked so hard to build. Having arrived in the United States as a master’s student, she carved out a life she loved—an apartment that felt like home, routines that gave her comfort, and a deep sense of belonging that she had never experienced before.
But with her lease expiring and her Optional Practical Training (OPT) period already started, things took a painful turn. Despite a year-long job search, she hasn’t been able to secure employment. “I’ve had interviews, even made it to final rounds, but companies froze hiring,” she wrote in a heartfelt message online. Now, with no job and no visa extension in sight, she’s being forced to return to Brazil—a place that no longer feels like home.
Returning to a Life Left Behind
What awaits her back home is far from the comfort she built in the U.S. She will be staying in a shared room with little privacy, surrounded by an environment she describes as mentally and emotionally draining. “I won’t have my space, my comfort, or the freedom I fought so hard for,” she said.
Though technically she still has a slim chance—two months remain to secure a job and return—her spirit is dwindling. “After so many rejections, I’m not sure I believe it anymore,” she admitted. For her, the loss is not just of a country, but of a version of herself—the hopeful, free person she had become.
Coping With an Unexpected Goodbye
She’s doing everything she can to prepare: selling furniture, booking flights, and making logistical arrangements. Yet emotionally, she remains stuck, unable to fully let go. “It feels like there has to be a way out,” she said, “but I’m starting to realize I might have to grieve this fully.”
Her story has resonated with many international students facing similar uncertainty. As she seeks comfort and wisdom from others who’ve faced these crossroads, her words stand as a powerful reminder of how deeply immigration journeys are tied not just to paperwork—but to identity, hope, and the feeling of home.