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Reset my life - work visa.

Over 3 years ago, my dream of living abroad was fulfilled. In 2009 I was recruited to work in the United Kingdom for a London borough as a social worker, and moved there in 2010. Everything was alright... or so I thought.

When it came time to renew my work visa, my employer was strangely unhelpful. It took weeks, if not months, to get any help and that help was mostly from a friend. My employer wouldn't sponsor anyone again until no more than 6 weeks before one's visa expiration date, and didn't give me a new certificate of sponsorship until less than 3 weeks beforehand. I was then told I had a 3 month grace period in which to apply upon receiving my sponsorship, even though my visa was expiring. I thought "Great. This will give me time to save extra for the visa", which is £578.00 - a big chunk of a social work paycheck.

On August 8, 2013, I received a letter from the Home Office stating that my visa renewal application was denied because I stayed past the original expiration date. I did not have a right to appeal and was subject to deportation at any time. When I called the Home Office the next day, I told them what my employer said about the sponsorship giving me an extra 3 months' grace, and the representative said "They misinformed you. They shouldn't have done that."

When I told the employer about the letter:

- Although I was a good worker - with them for over 3 years - and never had any misconduct issues whatsoever, the employer placed me on unpaid leave. As a result...

- I couldn't pay my rent or bills, and I was evicted in the beginning of October from the only place I lived since moving there in 2010. The landlord harassed me and treated me like garbage, despite me being a faithful paying tenant for over 3 years. I've lost almost everything.

- I had to report to my local Home Office immigration reporting center - once weekly at first, then once biweekly once they saw me faithfully reporting - starting 5 days after receiving the refusal letter.

- The employer penalized me for the visa situation, and they've not helped me with anything at all. A relative bought my plane ticket. I returned to the United States on October 22, 2013, with nothing except some possessions in my luggage. I've couch-surfed since the eviction and since returning to the U.S.

- The employer will now dismiss me because of the expired visa, even though this happened because of their misinformation, and they've not paid me anything. There are employees who've engaged in gross misconduct, yet they were placed on paid leave.



1 week before leaving the United Kingdom, I got a call from a recruiter for a great opportunity in another England county. They interviewed me and offered a position less than 2 hours later. I'm willing to work for them, and they're keen to accept me, but a new visa will cost $815.00.

Those who know me well, know I hate asking for help. But I've applied for numerous jobs - including some for which I'm overqualified - since receiving that letter in August. I want to pay for the visa myself, but no one in the U.S. has contacted me for work. A few friends suggested crowdfunding, so here I am... reluctantly.

Any help you provide will go toward a new visa application. Thank you for your consideration.

Organizer

Porsche Holcomb
Organizer

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