Aliens with Visas

Welcome to the final piece of the puzzle! To understand what it truly means to be American, we listen to the views of Rashan as he talks about America's obsession with image, how it impacts the mind right from high school and how a lot of what comes out of America is truth mixed in a lie. This episode is as real as it gets when it comes to exploring one's own insecurities and biases with their identity and how to come out feeling empowered by something that often feels like a burden.

South Asians collectively are referred to as brown people but being brown is a different experience within the community. Episode 8 is about understanding that difference by taking a look at the Indian American experience. Vivaswan talks about growing up desi in the 90s and how identity impacts his life & career. Being Indian in America strays away from being a model minority today. He believes it comes with a stronger sense of responsibility and understanding on what it means to be a person of colour.

Identity can be defined as "qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and/or expressions that make a person (self-identity) or social group. Season Two of Aliens with Visas is an investigation of this very self identity, through the perspectives of American people and those well on their way to citizenship. In this episode, Ravi takes us through experiences in work, relationships and daily interactions that have shaped his identity as an Indian expat in America.

Shout out to the many forces that helped this idea come to life.

If not the legal route, the international student chooses to head back home. The internal process with re-assimilation tends to clash often with the past and this is the focus of episode six, where Anushya Badrinath reflects aloud on her experiences as a photography student in New York.

What do you have to keep in mind when looking for an immigration attorney is the focus of this episode. Liz & Lorraine of D'Alessio Law Group also lay down priorities to keep in mind during OPT, creative solutions for entry & mid level individuals, and talk about bottlenecks to expect in Hollywood.

Drawing out a legal timeline after school is the focus of this episode. An international student is eventually allowed to work in the USA through the provisions of CPT and OPT. Further down exists the option of an artist visa. Attorney Sharon Brenner provides a first look at the legal considerations involved.

How do artists handle the OPT phase? This is the focus of episode three. When school is over, the immediate concern is to get a job! but for an artist, that approach can be tiring and not necessarily fruitful. Nipun Nair talks about his journey as a musician, the dynamics of the entertainment industry and making it in Los Angeles.

What are some of the big lifestyle changes faced by international students who are enrolled in STEM courses? The experience of a STEM student is the focus of episode two, examined through the journey of Arjun Shankar who arrived in the US to study industrial engineering. The importance of being assertive, strain of money and how family plays into it are some of the key themes addressed.

What’s the appeal in studying abroad and what are the events that lead to take off? This is focus of episode one and we examine this through the journey of Kulanandini Mahanta (who goes by Kula), an aspiring cinematographer. Her experiences throw light on the importance of exploration and self belief in success, particularly in a creative field like film production.