Amanda & ZZ Want To Come Home
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Luke Ross and my Sister & Nephew are stuck in Canada!
They’re moving back to the US from Canada!! We were all excited for them! February 21st could not come fast enough!
All the boxes were packed & moving truck loaded, cars sold, overnight bags filled and the plane tickets in hand. DJ drove the moving truck south across the border and Amanda & ZZ were flying.
They took their flight from Saskatchewan to Toronto with anticipation and excitement! The picture above was taken on their first flight. When they went to pass through US Customs they were turned away because of some issues with the immigration paperwork. By this time DJ had already crossed the border and surrendered his work visa. He could not cross back over.
Not knowing the exact problems they began to dig for answers asking any immigration official and US Consulate at the Toronto Airport why this was happening. Very few answers were given. Phone numbers were exchanged and more questions than answers remain as it became more clear that staying overnight was not sufficient time for the matter to resolve. With this little progress the reality that going to the US tomorrow or even next week set in and flying back to Saskatchewan was a necessary reality. Sadness set in.
Carrying all their possessions in their over night luggage with disappointment, questions and heartbreak squarely upon them they flew back homeless. Some great friends of theirs took them in as the hunt for answers really started. After friends & family contacted Congressman Kevin Yoder & Senator Jerry Moran’s respective offices we started making some progress as to what the next step was. Ethan from Kevin Yoder’s office was a HUGE help to provide some clarity and direction!
Amanda spoke with an immigration lawyer in Kansas City that advised her and due to the complexity then was referred to the best immigration lawyer in the US whom agreed to take their case. She believes they have a very strong case due to Amanda’s due diligence in the immigration process but political pressure will still be extremely advantageous. The downside of having the best comes at a substantial monetary cost but at this point there’s NO time to play around. Legal fees will pile up quickly.
That’s where the majority of the funds to be raised are needed. The fundraiser goal is for a six-month time period. The hope and prayer is that everything can hopefully be finalized and wrapped up in that timeframe.
Estimated funds needed break down into three categories:
Legal fees - $14,000
Living Expenses - $7,000
Travel/Transportation - $4,000
Due to the demands of the process, extensive documentation needed and some of the tough traumatic experiences ZZ went through Amanda may or may not be working during this unknown walk of diligence, love and patience.
A little backstory...Amanda & DJ moved to Canada and entered with work visa permits to work and do ministry there. Amanda’s initial job crossed paths with a cute eight month old little guy named ZZ. There was never an intention to adopt but help care for this cute boy who had been in a difficult family situation. He was moved in to foster care in hopes that ZZ would be safe and his family situation would stabilize and be restored. Unfortunately after numerous attempts to do so that would never happen. After a roller coaster of a journey and being with Amanda & DJ since twelve months old ZZ had found a permanent home!
Now he and Amanda would like to finish that final leg of this part of that journey!
Please consider giving toward this cause and help bring Amanda & ZZ home to the US!
Thank you.
Luke
#BringAmandaAndZZHome
They’re moving back to the US from Canada!! We were all excited for them! February 21st could not come fast enough!
All the boxes were packed & moving truck loaded, cars sold, overnight bags filled and the plane tickets in hand. DJ drove the moving truck south across the border and Amanda & ZZ were flying.
They took their flight from Saskatchewan to Toronto with anticipation and excitement! The picture above was taken on their first flight. When they went to pass through US Customs they were turned away because of some issues with the immigration paperwork. By this time DJ had already crossed the border and surrendered his work visa. He could not cross back over.
Not knowing the exact problems they began to dig for answers asking any immigration official and US Consulate at the Toronto Airport why this was happening. Very few answers were given. Phone numbers were exchanged and more questions than answers remain as it became more clear that staying overnight was not sufficient time for the matter to resolve. With this little progress the reality that going to the US tomorrow or even next week set in and flying back to Saskatchewan was a necessary reality. Sadness set in.
Carrying all their possessions in their over night luggage with disappointment, questions and heartbreak squarely upon them they flew back homeless. Some great friends of theirs took them in as the hunt for answers really started. After friends & family contacted Congressman Kevin Yoder & Senator Jerry Moran’s respective offices we started making some progress as to what the next step was. Ethan from Kevin Yoder’s office was a HUGE help to provide some clarity and direction!
Amanda spoke with an immigration lawyer in Kansas City that advised her and due to the complexity then was referred to the best immigration lawyer in the US whom agreed to take their case. She believes they have a very strong case due to Amanda’s due diligence in the immigration process but political pressure will still be extremely advantageous. The downside of having the best comes at a substantial monetary cost but at this point there’s NO time to play around. Legal fees will pile up quickly.
That’s where the majority of the funds to be raised are needed. The fundraiser goal is for a six-month time period. The hope and prayer is that everything can hopefully be finalized and wrapped up in that timeframe.
Estimated funds needed break down into three categories:
Legal fees - $14,000
Living Expenses - $7,000
Travel/Transportation - $4,000
Due to the demands of the process, extensive documentation needed and some of the tough traumatic experiences ZZ went through Amanda may or may not be working during this unknown walk of diligence, love and patience.
A little backstory...Amanda & DJ moved to Canada and entered with work visa permits to work and do ministry there. Amanda’s initial job crossed paths with a cute eight month old little guy named ZZ. There was never an intention to adopt but help care for this cute boy who had been in a difficult family situation. He was moved in to foster care in hopes that ZZ would be safe and his family situation would stabilize and be restored. Unfortunately after numerous attempts to do so that would never happen. After a roller coaster of a journey and being with Amanda & DJ since twelve months old ZZ had found a permanent home!
Now he and Amanda would like to finish that final leg of this part of that journey!
Please consider giving toward this cause and help bring Amanda & ZZ home to the US!
Thank you.
Luke
#BringAmandaAndZZHome
Organiser
Luke Ross
Organiser
Overland Park, KS
