When you visit the website of Astra Wijaya, you enter a world of dragons, warriors and fantastical creatures vividly illustrated in a palette of bright, bold colors. As you explore the site, you realize the illustrations are only part of this artist’s story ⎯ he’s also a photographer, graphic designer, and video game designer. This man of many talents is also a Golden Gate Global investor who recently received his I-829 approval for permanent residency.
“I was born in Indonesia and went to Singapore and Taiwan to study art before coming to the U.S. for my undergraduate studies at the Rhode Island School of Design,” says Astra. “It was a life-changing experience to be in a place that offered so many creative possibilities, as well as, so much diversity. By the time I graduated in 2008, I knew I wanted to make the U.S. my new home.”
Designing his career
Astra continued his studies at the legendary Parsons [The] New School for Design in New York and began to see how his many talents could work together in the emerging field of video gaming. “Integrating my work in illustration, photography, graphic design and video game design was a natural fit ⎯ everything came together.”
As his career progressed, he was approached to become part of a new educational program in Troy, NY teaching Game Design and Implementation. “We teach students the ins and outs of video game design, 3-D modeling, and computer programming. By the end of the program, they design their own games and create a virtual video game design company. It’s exciting to be part of this cutting-edge program ⎯ and it wouldn’t have been possible without the EB-5 program.”
Navigating the road to permanent residency
After researching various EB-5 projects and regional centers, Astra invested in Golden Gate Global’s Shipyard Fund I and worked through the EB-5 immigration process, which resulted in receiving his temporary green card and recent I-829 approval for permanent residency.
“Golden Gate Global has been a great partner throughout the process ⎯ so communicative and proactive,” says Astra. “They pushed to expedite the process this year and were able to help me get I-829 approval in May 2019. It has been exciting to be part of the Shipyard EB-5 Fund project, which is San Francisco’s largest-ever development project. I appreciate all they’ve done, and I look forward to our future partnership.”
Contributing to the community
In addition to his contributions as a teacher, Astra is starting a new business with his wife that’s also focused on giving back to the community ⎯ the Meong Cat Lounge. “Our vision is to create a space where writers, [freelance workers] and anyone in the community can go to read or work on their laptop and hang out with cats. The concept is simple: have a coffee or tea, fall in love with the cats, and adopt one. It’s a win/win ⎯ customers can connect with a pet, and the homeless cats get a second chance.”
Giving back is an ongoing theme in Astra’s life. “It has been quite a journey getting to where I am now ⎯ and it’s just the beginning now that I have permanent status. I’m excited about the future and finding new ways to contribute to my new U.S. community. I believe that every positive thing each of us does ⎯ , however, small ⎯ can be helpful to everyone around us.”
Astra Wijaya
- Visit astrawijaya.com to see samples of Astra’s illustrations, photography and more
- Contact Astra at: AstraWijaya@gmail.com
What’s Astra’s new favorite food in the U.S.?
“My parents are both of Chinese descent, so I grew up eating [Indonesian and] Cantonese cuisine. Recently, a new restaurant opened nearby that features cuisine from mainland China, which is very different from Cantonese cooking. I love the innovative dishes they create. It’s funny that I moved halfway around the world to discover a new Chinese cuisine here in the U.S.!”
Additional closing statement:
I am very grateful to all the people who have helped me on this journey: my family, friends, and everyone else who had welcomed me since I came to America, including the Golden Gate Global.
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