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Call for Submissions: Why I Came to America — Immigrant Stories of Arrival, Identity, and Hope

Updated: Jun 21

We are seeking nonfiction submissions from immigrants—documented or undocumented, newly arrived or long-rooted—who are ready to share the story of what brought them to the United States, and what it has meant to stay, strive, struggle, and survive here.


This is a space to honor your voice, your truth, and your journey. Whether you crossed an ocean or a border, arrived on a plane or in your mother’s arms, we know your story didn’t begin here, but it deserves to be heard here.



What We’re Looking For (Among Other Things)


We invite personal essays, reflections, and narrative nonfiction that explore:


  • Why you or your family came to the U.S.;

  • The dreams, fears, or circumstances that shaped your decision;

  • Moments of arrival—big or small, triumphant or terrifying;

  • Your experience of building a life, navigating identity, or redefining “home”;

  • Acts of resilience, community, or unexpected kindness; and/or

  • The challenges of legality, belonging, or cultural dislocation.


We are not looking for polished perfection—we’re looking for honesty. Humor, heartbreak, contradiction, beauty: all are welcome.



Who Should Submit


We welcome submissions from:


  • First-generation immigrants;

  • Dreamers and DACA recipients;

  • Refugees and asylum seekers;

  • Individuals on work, student, or humanitarian visas;

  • Undocumented immigrants;

  • Those who immigrated as children; and

  • Those from mixed-status families.


If your journey has been shaped by immigration, this space was made for you.



Submission Guidelines


We welcome submissions across all open categories. Please follow the guidelines below to ensure your work is properly considered:


  • File Uploads: You may include up to five files with your submission. Accepted formats include Word documents, PDFs, audio recordings, photographs, and video files that support or accompany your written narrative.

  • Cover Letter: A cover letter is required for all submissions. This should briefly introduce you, explain the context of your piece, and note whether anonymity is requested.

  • Document Format: Written submissions must be formatted as a Word Document or PDF, using 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and clearly titled.

  • Deadline: Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, unless otherwise stated in your specific call.

  • Anonymity and Privacy: If you request anonymity, we will remove all identifying details and handle your submission with the highest level of confidentiality. Your safety and privacy are a core priority of this project. We adhere to strict ethical editorial standards to protect every contributor.

Please carefully review the specific submission requirements for the call you’re responding to before submitting. We look forward to hearing your story—and honoring it with the care it deserves.



Your Story Is Not a Side Note


In the face of political noise and legal barriers, it’s easy for immigrant stories to be reduced to policy or paperwork. But your story is more than a visa, a status, or a label. It is a living narrative of courage and humanity.


By sharing your voice, you help reclaim the immigrant experience as something complex, vivid, and unapologetically real.





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