By: Natalie Greene
Wladimir still laughs at the contrast: he’s 6-foot-3; his wife, Inez, stands 4-foot-9. “Small in stature, big in courage,” he said. “She’s the rock of our family.”
Their story began in the early 2000s. At 19, fresh out of high school and living in Florida, Wlad flew to Panama to visit his uncle. There, he met Inez — a friend of his uncle’s wife. The two women were studying English, and Wlad pitched in to help. “That’s how I met Inez, and we started dating,” he recalled.
She was a little older, in her early 20s, and, as Wlad tells it, he instantly knew that she was “the one.” They married in Panama, and though Wlad soon had to return to the United States for work, the couple was already expecting their first child. Inez joined him in Florida just in time to welcome their daughter.
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The Oath and the Lifted Weight
Wlad is an American citizen by birth; his mother is from Costa Rica and his father from the Dominican Republic. Shortly after marrying Inez, he returned to the U.S. and completed the paperwork to apply her visa so she could join him.
Growing up in Miami, Wlad often heard stories from Cuban and Venezuelan friends about life without basic freedoms. Those conversations made him realize how fragile security can be — and why citizenship carries so much weight. So when he saw Inez sworn in as a U.S. citizen, it was a defining moment.
“As soon as she had that citizenship, I was like, good — that’s it. We don’t have anything else to worry about,” he said. “Immigrants… they’re worried about their status. What if a paper is wrong? What if a deadline is missed?”
Wlad says he was beaming with pride as he watched her on that unforgettable day. “I told myself, ‘Now she can go anywhere. She is America. This is her country now.’”
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Finding Her Footing
In America, there were years of adjustment.
“Language is one of their main hurdles,” Wlad explained of new arrivals. For Inez, that was the toughest part. But she refused to let it hold her back.
“I’d go to work and she would get on the bus by herself, take the kids to the mall,” Wlad said. “She learned how to be independent very quickly. She wasn’t afraid of going out in public. She figured out a way to communicate with everybody.”
The young family had lean years early on, but Inez always found a way to stretch what they had. “One time, for a whole month, the budget was tight and Inez made a different type of soup every day,” Wlad laughed. “It seemed like a miracle — she just kept finding different recipes for it.”
Another moment stands out for him. He recalled Inez walking into a Winn-Dixie with their baby in the shopping cart. In broken English, she asked the manager, “You got a job for me?” “The manager said, ‘Actually, I do,’” Wlad remembered. “Just like that, she got herself a job cutting fruit. She’s always been able to do that. If she says she’s going to do something, it gets done.”
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Building a Life in Texas
By 2011, the couple realized Florida’s high cost of living left little room for stability or dreams of homeownership. Wlad, who holds a degree in film and video production from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, was able to transfer to his company’s sister station in Houston. Although no longer there, he continues to work today as a photojournalist in one of Houston’s top award-winning newsrooms.
Inez charted her own path. She decided to pursue a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and became a school bus driver for a Houston-area district — a job she still holds. “She speaks better English now, and all the kids love her,” Wlad said. “She’s short, and she drives a big old school bus!”
Their children are thriving as well. “Our oldest daughter graduated from Texas State Technical College with a degree in environmental science,” Wlad said. “Our second daughter is at the University of Houston studying MIS [Management Information Systems].” Their youngest child – a son – is in high school and plays soccer.
The family also treasures their roots. They travel to Panama each year to visit Inez’s parents, who have never been to the United States. Closer to home, they spend weekends fishing in East Matagorda Bay. “That’s our thing,” Wlad said. “We care a lot about making fishing sustainable and taking care of the earth because the earth gives to us.”
Finish the Journey
The couple is approaching their 25th year of marriage. “Twenty-five years of her standing me, with her supporting me,” Wlad said with a smile.
Asked what he would say to others considering naturalization, Wlad didn’t hesitate. “Don’t leave the job half done,” he said. “You already sacrificed. You already left your country. If you have the opportunity to become a U.S. citizen, do it. Don’t leave your opportunity on the table.”
Your Path to Citizenship Starts Now
Resources and tools are available to help you every step of the way:
- Take free citizenship preparation classes — Learn the test material, practice English, and build confidence.
- Join local community organizations — Connect with people who have gone through the process and can guide you.
- Get help with your application — Find assistance with forms, fees, and legal questions.
- Learn your rights — Understand how citizenship protects you and your family.
For more information, visit BecomeACitizenToday.com — your one-stop hub for resources, checklists, and local events that can help you make the journey from permanent resident to proud U.S. citizen.
