izizwe
the place for immigrants
Welcome to IzIzWe.com . "Izizwe" means foreigners in Zimbabwe's Ndebele language. Ethel has successfully navigated the U.S. immigration system since 1997 and has never sought legal advice because she could not afford it.
IzIzWe.com was inspired by Ethel Matshiya’s immigration journey, which began in late 1997, from Zimbabwe to the United States of America.
Ethel entered the green card lottery and was selected as a visa recipient. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006 and has since successfully petitioned for her family to obtain U.S. permanent residency.
Migrating to any country involves a plethora of complex processes. This was the case when Ethel began her migration process 13 years ago. Little has changed today as immigration policies are much stricter.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and National Visa Center (NVC) websites are excellent sources of immigration information. However, individuals undertaking the migration process without an attorney’s guidance may find the information myriad to be intermediating and discouraging.
IzIzWe.com 's objective is two-fold:
To assist individuals who may find the immigration process impermeable by sharing information as simply and succinctly as possible.
Serve as an arena for individuals to share their experiences or ask questions through the Migrants' Voices section.
As of Jan. 2010, the hourly rates for an attorney with eight to ten years of experience averaged at $330. This guideline is based on the Laffey Matrix, used by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. However, some attorneys charge a flat rate calculated based on the nature and complexity of the case.
Legal expenses exclude USCIS biometrics or application fees.
Ethel is still learning and continues to assist others in their migration journey. She shares migration resources and her experiences on An African Immigrant’s Diary.
Ethel's Bio
Ethel is a Suite101.com contributing journalist and has worked for WGNO ABC26NEWS, the Tribune affiliate in New Orleans, as a news intern between 2003 and 2005. Her experience includes working as a field producer covering current U.S. Senator David Vitter’s 2004 election. She also interviewed then U.S. Congressman and current Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
Ethel has worked as an assistant producer/director for the Miss Zimbabwe Trust, the sole organizer of the Miss Zimbabwe Beauty Pageant and as a volunteer reader for WRBH radio for the blind and print handicapped.
She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).