I chose my passport as the focus for this essay, as it offers a unique insight into both my migration journey and identity. A passport is not merely a document to me;  it defies practical use as a travel permit to become a crucial aspect of my migratory story. From the age of 15, I’ve been an international student, and I’ve had to rely on it for my travels.  It served as a link between my identity, my family’s history, and my migration journey.  A passport is a symbol that holds immense significance in different regimes of meaning, especially in national identity. Passports function to offer legal recognition and officially identify one as a member of a particular country. This legal status could be seen as just bureaucratic, or for some, it can represent a sense of belonging. In my case, my passport was a reminder of a country that I could call home, and this offered a sense of security and reassurance throughout my migration. During the process of migrating, especially to a foreign country, that connection was vital to maintaining my sense of self. The passport was not just a document that granted me access to other countries; it was a symbol of my roots, which helped to keep me grounded. As I looked at the word “Ubumwe,” meaning togetherness, that was written on the front of the passport, I felt a strong familial bond to my home country
 
 

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant