“I’m writing to you because I no longer know where else to turn—but I still believe that stories matter, and I hope mine is one you’d consider hearing.

My name is Stephanie Ortiz. I’m a 36-year-old woman from Mexico who has been living and working legally in Norway for the past six years under a skilled worker visa. Despite this, today I find myself completely unprotected by—and invisible to—the system.

Here is a brief overview of how I got here:

• August 2019: Entered Norway on a job seeker visa.

• 2019–2024: Held skilled worker residence permits and worked full-time in qualified positions.

• December 2023: Applied for permanent residence after fulfilling all criteria

• September 2024: My skilled worker residence card expired while awaiting UDI’s decision.

• February 2025: My most recent job contract ended.

• March 2025: Applied for unemployment benefits.

• May 2025: my application for unemployment benefits was rejected. The official reason: “Oppholdstillatelsen din tillater ikke at du tar alle typer arbeid, som du må for å være reell arbeidssøker. Derfor har du ikke rett til dagpenger.”

The result is a system that contradicts itself: UDI says I can work; NAV says I cannot. Both statements are true.

I’m legal—but structurally excluded.

When I sought help through JURK, I was referred to a free legal consultation. The lawyer listened and said: “Maybe ask your boyfriend for help.”

That sentence landed like a punch. It made visible how fragile one becomes, even when doing everything right.”

What does it mean to be “real” in the eyes of a state that prefers its stories simple?

In May 2025, Stephanie appealed NAV’s rejection of her unemployment benefits. The appeal was denied.

In September 2025, she tried again submitting a new application for dagpenger, and was rejected once more.

Searching for alternatives, Stephanie applied for Kvalifiseringsprogrammet (KVP), a program intended for people who need close follow-up from NAV to enter work. Her application was rejected with the explanation:

“Du har gode muligheter til å komme i jobb. Målsettingen for kvalifiseringsprogrammet er arbeid. For å ha rett til kvalifiseringsprogram må du være mellom 18 og 67 år, og ha behov for tett oppfølging fra NAV-kontoret for å komme i jobb. Har du rett til andre rettigheter etter folketrygd- eller arbeidsmarkedsloven, har du som regel ikke rett til kvalifiseringsprogram. Får du svært lite utbetalt, kan du likevel ha rett til kvalifiseringsprogram.”

The decision assumed that Stephanie, as an educated skilled professional, did not require additional support, overlooking the well-documented barriers that many immigrants face, including lower call-back rates for job interviews when they have foreign-sounding names. (We Belong Norway plans to address this reality through future surveys targeting both job seekers and employers.)

On 22 November 2025, almost 23 months after applying, Stephanie finally received her permanent residence permit.

Today, she is working to rebuild her financial stability and rebuild her sense of safety after a period of deep uncertainty.

“This experience didn’t break me. It transformed me.”

It became the foundation of We Belong Norway, and Stephanie is committed to turning what happened to her into action, accountability, and visibility for everyone who is still sitting in Norway’s waiting room.

Extract from my personal diary, The Waiting Room.