Ben and Maddie's Partnership Visa
Donation protected
All funds raised will go to expenses associated with keeping me (Maddie) from being deported. Mostly the partnership visa application fees, immigration healthcare surcharge, and solicitor/lawyer fees.
So what exactly is happening?:
For the last four years I have been living in the UK with my partner Ben. We moved in together after originally having a mostly online relationship, visiting each-other once every year or two for vacations. When we decided it was time to start living together we assumed (Like most people do) that we would have to eventually marry, and prove that we were in a valid relationship. Then get the marriage visa, and live happily ever after!
Unfortunately, we quickly learned that immigration through marriage was nothing like we had ever imagined. As of 2012 the UK introduced a very controversial, family destroying change to the spousal immigration process. The infamous “wealth requirement”. An income threshold all families have to meet in order to bring a non UK national into the country. We now are required to prove that Ben makes at minimum £18,900 per year or else I simply get deported and we are no longer allowed to live together. This is extremely detrimental to us as I am settled here. I don't live in my birth country any more. We share a flat and share expenses. My deportation would mean bringing an immediate halt to both of our lives and put us both in a financial situation we cant afford to be in. And we certainly don't meet that requirement.
Why cant we just make the money? Its not that much!:
My partner is currently a carer for his disabled mother. Being recognized as a carer by the government makes him legally not allowed to make more than £520 a month. Placing him WELL under the income requirement. His mother cant get another carer because she is also not financially capable of paying for long term care. This also prevents Ben from attempting to immigrate to the USA with me.
I am also not legally allowed to meet the requirement. Being an immigrant, my income and work hours are also restricted. I am also not allowed to make any money from freelance work. Which used to be my main source of income.
So what are we going to do to prevent my deportation?
We currently have a lawyer willing to work with us who believes we may have a chance for a future together. My current visa runs out August 1st. We MUST apply for the partnership visa (same as the spousal visa) between now and then. Otherwise my deportation will put both Ben and me into a situation that will likely prevent us from ever applying again (Dirt poverty and 1,000 mile separation doesn't exactly look good to immigration officers.)
The lawyers we have working with us are willing to put through an application under extenuating circumstances. This is a process that only a lawyer can make happen.
However, both the lawyer and the fees for the visa itself are not cheap. We need help to make this happen.
What are the donations going towards?:
As of January this year the NHS surcharge (A fee that is paid along with the visa application fee) has been raised to around £1,000.
The visa fee itself is around £2,000.
The fee the lawyers charge is around £1,000.
Extra expenses such as travel up to the embassy and VAT charges will likely make up to over £4,000.
Unfortunately, we have been completely drained of our savings after Bens work overpaid (Yes overpaid, hear me out) him by £10, causing all of our housing aid, and carers allowance to be revoked! Essentially halving our income and nearly causing us to be unable to pay the bills. This lasted for 3 months before we were finally able to get our income back to safe levels. But now we are left unable to pay for my visa.
Honestly we have both been really nervous to start a gofundme. I feel absolutely terrible for getting to this point and needing to beg for help. But we are desperate at this point. Every single cent will help no matter what happens and we will both be extremely grateful for the consideration! Its been a long journey for us and hopefully it will end with us staying together.
So what exactly is happening?:
For the last four years I have been living in the UK with my partner Ben. We moved in together after originally having a mostly online relationship, visiting each-other once every year or two for vacations. When we decided it was time to start living together we assumed (Like most people do) that we would have to eventually marry, and prove that we were in a valid relationship. Then get the marriage visa, and live happily ever after!
Unfortunately, we quickly learned that immigration through marriage was nothing like we had ever imagined. As of 2012 the UK introduced a very controversial, family destroying change to the spousal immigration process. The infamous “wealth requirement”. An income threshold all families have to meet in order to bring a non UK national into the country. We now are required to prove that Ben makes at minimum £18,900 per year or else I simply get deported and we are no longer allowed to live together. This is extremely detrimental to us as I am settled here. I don't live in my birth country any more. We share a flat and share expenses. My deportation would mean bringing an immediate halt to both of our lives and put us both in a financial situation we cant afford to be in. And we certainly don't meet that requirement.
Why cant we just make the money? Its not that much!:
My partner is currently a carer for his disabled mother. Being recognized as a carer by the government makes him legally not allowed to make more than £520 a month. Placing him WELL under the income requirement. His mother cant get another carer because she is also not financially capable of paying for long term care. This also prevents Ben from attempting to immigrate to the USA with me.
I am also not legally allowed to meet the requirement. Being an immigrant, my income and work hours are also restricted. I am also not allowed to make any money from freelance work. Which used to be my main source of income.
So what are we going to do to prevent my deportation?
We currently have a lawyer willing to work with us who believes we may have a chance for a future together. My current visa runs out August 1st. We MUST apply for the partnership visa (same as the spousal visa) between now and then. Otherwise my deportation will put both Ben and me into a situation that will likely prevent us from ever applying again (Dirt poverty and 1,000 mile separation doesn't exactly look good to immigration officers.)
The lawyers we have working with us are willing to put through an application under extenuating circumstances. This is a process that only a lawyer can make happen.
However, both the lawyer and the fees for the visa itself are not cheap. We need help to make this happen.
What are the donations going towards?:
As of January this year the NHS surcharge (A fee that is paid along with the visa application fee) has been raised to around £1,000.
The visa fee itself is around £2,000.
The fee the lawyers charge is around £1,000.
Extra expenses such as travel up to the embassy and VAT charges will likely make up to over £4,000.
Unfortunately, we have been completely drained of our savings after Bens work overpaid (Yes overpaid, hear me out) him by £10, causing all of our housing aid, and carers allowance to be revoked! Essentially halving our income and nearly causing us to be unable to pay the bills. This lasted for 3 months before we were finally able to get our income back to safe levels. But now we are left unable to pay for my visa.
Honestly we have both been really nervous to start a gofundme. I feel absolutely terrible for getting to this point and needing to beg for help. But we are desperate at this point. Every single cent will help no matter what happens and we will both be extremely grateful for the consideration! Its been a long journey for us and hopefully it will end with us staying together.
Organizer
Madeline McCurtain
Organizer
