Living in Limbo
Claire Trudelle, a 21-year-old graduate student, navigates loss with resilience and determination to build a stable life abroad.
DOCUMENTARY BY JAY BYRD
Claire Trudelle’s world shifted unexpectedly during her junior year at Western Kentucky University. At 21, she had spent most of her life in the United States after her family moved from Windsor, Ontario, to Bowling Green, KY when she was in eighth grade. She grew up immersed in American culture, surrounded by high school friends, a new but soon familiar community, and a network of support that made her feel at home.
Her father’s job with Electro Mac brought them to the U.S., where Claire lived as a dependent on his L1 visa. But everything changed when her family’s green card process failed. The immigration officer overseeing the process made an error and submitted a visa renewal instead of a green card application. "We had no more visa renewals left."
Her father’s job with Electro Mac brought them to the U.S., where Claire lived as a dependent on his L1 visa. But everything changed when her family’s green card process failed. The immigration officer overseeing the process made an error and submitted a visa renewal instead of a green card application. "We had no more visa renewals left."
Within 30 days, her parents had to sell their property, leave the country, and move back to Canada. The move left Claire to navigate her life in the U.S. alone, forcing her to transfer to an F-1 student visa to stay in the country and continue her education. "I had to make a very quick turnaround trip. My boyfriend [Sebastian] and I went up to the border, we crossed and spent a night at my grandmother's house, and then we crossed back into the states... and I had to go through customs to switch my visa."
"I miss my mom. I miss my parents. I was going to have to move out at some point, but I didn't - I didn't expect my parents to move out."
Claire Trudelle, 21, works to find an immigration document on Dec. 3, 2024. that she has to provide the school every time she leaves the U.S. Claire plans to visit her family for Christmas.
While the transition allowed her to remain in school, it brought with it a wave of uncertainty. Despite the challenges, Claire was determined to stay. Her boyfriend remains a key anchor in her life, but she does not like the idea of rushing into marriage simply to secure her place in the U.S. Instead, she focuses on building a life she can be proud of, with hopes of one day achieving dual citizenship. She dreams of the opportunities such a status would provide, not just for herself but for the family she envisions in the future.
Claire walks to a Psychology and Reproduction final at EST on Western Kentucky University campus on Dec. 3, 2024.
Yet, uncertainty looms large. Even small decisions, like adopting a cat, are put on hold until her situation feels more predictable. The unpredictability of immigration processes, combined with the sudden upheaval of her parents’ move, left Claire cautious about planning too far ahead.
"I really want an orange cat," but due to her unpredictable visa status, Claire and her boyfriend, Sebastian, have agreed to hold off for now. "That doesn't mean I can't look at them though," Claire said.
Still, her resolve remains unshaken. Claire knows she can't give up, driven by a determination to create stability and permanence in a life that has been anything but. Her journey is far from over, but each step brings her closer to the future she hopes to build.
Claire works on her finals coursework, trying to obtain her Masters in Agriculture and Food Science at the Honors College on WKU campus on Dec. 3, 2024.