Life Update – News that will change my life forever!

Hamburg – most of you, who have been following me on instagram or youtube throughout the last year know, that one of my biggest dreams has always been to move to the States, to be exact to Los Angeles, to work and live there. Last year one of my best friends Lina and I started towards that dream. We booked a ticket to L.A. and so the adventure began. Lucky Lina had already won the Greencard and was allowed to work, buy a car and pay insurance, taxes, get an apartment and all those things that come with a new start in a new country. I was on a very long vacation, we traveled, took tons of pictures, went partying and simply had a great time. However, I did not have any permanent visa yet so I wasn’t sure if I could really continue my dream with Lina. While Lina and I were at an appointment at an American bank to create an account we met a former model and tv personality from Eastern Europe who then told me that she applied for the O-1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability) and got it. The more people I met in the fashion and movie business, the more told me they were eligible for the O-1 Visa, which used to be my favorite visa as well. However, prior to my first longer stay in L.A. (February last year) a German lawyer told me I would probably never get it and that it’s really hard to get the O-1 Visa – especially as a blogger, since there is no such category. I was thinking about applying for a journalist visa, but what I always really wanted was the O-1. Because this visa is valid up to three years – the perfect amount of time in my eyes, to really get to know a country, culture and working atmosphere to see if I want to build up my life there. So when I met this former beauty pagent from Moldova she gave me a really good recommendation for an American visa lawyer and a few weeks later I had my first appointment at Kate Raynor Associates.

First of all – the O-1 visa truly is hard to get! You really must have a special talent, be an expert and belong to the top 5% percent in whatever you do in your country. I knew I had enough press (TV shows, magazine interviews, editorials, pictures and big famous brands I had worked with before) but there’s never a guarantee that you will really get it. And there is much more to it. The press, the ‚proof‘ of you being ’someone special‘ is one thing, but believe me most of the work comes afterwards! You need recommendation letters (at least five – rather ten to fifteen), really good ones from important and known people from the industry, people that will proof and underline how important you are, what benefit you would bring to the American blogger and fashion world and that will recommend you as a person / talent. Furthermore you need a ’sponsor‘ or someone (models usually have agencies that are filing the visa for them) you will work for in the U.S. Someone who can guarantee and explain why they need you more than anyone (American) else, what your special talent is that they will benefit from at their company, what makes you special. In February I won an award as the best International Blogger 2015 which also is a great proof of one’s expertise as a blogger. If you have all of that. Good for you! Now, paper work! Lots of paper work!

All in all the whole process took me pretty much one year now. I used to have a different sponsor who pretty much cancelled on me last minute because he was busy partying in Ibiza, instead of replying to my emails and work position. However, you all know me! In the end things always work out other than you thouht – and mostly better! Everything happens for a reason! I found a sponsor I had worked with before, someone I trust, admire and have been friends with for a long time now. In the end it all works out! I’ll be supporting their team, help them build their brand and cannot wait to be working as a blogger, influencer and social media expert for Opinit! You’ve all heard about this brand new app before – and if not: remember it! It’ll be the next big thing! Forget instagram, pinterest, facebook – watch out for Opinit! I can’t wait to be back In L.A. and to finally feel like someone who belongs there, someone who can truly build up a life there and work, travel and live the life I always wanted. Because today I got one of the best emails I have ever recieved! My lawyer contacted me and told me: „Congratulations on the approval of your O-1 visa application!“ (watch my snapchat to see HOW excited I was!) 🙂 Now I ‚only‘ need to make an appointment at the U.S. embassy in Munich to get my final visa stamp and have everything approved and then I want to go to L.A. end of October for two months, go back home over Christmas to see my family in Germany, and then return to Los Angeles next year! Excitement would be an understatement! I am simply happy and so thankful that all the hard work finally paid off!

Follow me on my adventures on instagram, snapchat (luisaslions), twitter, facebook or simply here! I’ll certainly keep you updated!

PS: Never let anyone tell you EVER that you cannot achieve something, that you won’t make it, won’t get it! Because you can! If you work hard enough, focus on your goals and believe in yourself you can become anything you want! You can achieve anything you want and you will!

Love,
Luisa