Operation Reunite John and Jen!
Donation protected
Can you imagine what it would be like to not see your spouse for a year and a half? Can you even begin to fathom how broken the US immigration system is to keep apart a legally married couple for this long, repeatedly asking them to pay thousands of dollars and to prove that they really do love one another? Please note this is their friend Dana setting up this page "“ they are determined to do this by themselves and would never think to ask for help, but I cannot sit by and watch them suffer any longer. Listen to Jennifer and Joao's story and please help them out if you are so inclined!
Jen and John were married in the summer of 2009 in New Jersey "“ she's a US citizen and he was in the US via green card working in the restaurant business "“ It was basically love at first sight. After a whirlwind romance and marriage, they decided to do what we all dream of "“ quit the daily grind and move to paradise to slow down, enjoy life and fulfill their dreams. They took a huge leap and left the states to move to John's home country of Portugal. They stayed with John's family outside of Lisbon and lived a modest yet wonderful life together for 3 years. Unfortunately the realities of the Portuguese economy prevented them from making enough money to strike out on their own so after a few years of struggling they knew something needed to change.
In mid-2012 they made the tough decision of moving back the States. Jen left in the fall with the plan of getting job and getting settled with the hopes that John would follow in 3-4 months. While Jen was able to land full time work pretty much immediately, the realities of US immigration processes prevented John from returning. His green card expired while they were overseas, so Jen decided to come back first and contact a lawyer "“ they wanted to do this 100% by the book and get John citizenship once and for all. She paid thousands of dollars and submitted reams of paperwork in the hopes of getting her husband back into the country legally, a process she was told would take about 9 months in total.
Fast forward to early 2014, 15 months later "“ at what we thought was the end of the process, John had to go to France as there was no local immigration office in Portugal anymore and stay there for several weeks awaiting the decision. We thought he was going to be approved to return to the states in March when we received another crushing blow: he was denied and the process for reversing this decision will take several thousand more dollars in legal and processing fees and at least another 6 months. WHY?
According to Jen's lawyer these embassy agents have the ultimate power. If there is one thing they don't like about you or your application, then it's "“DENIED! Now Jen has to prove to the embassy that she will break down mentally if her husband is not allowed to come home. This means documented therapy sessions, more paperwork, more money, and more time. They've paid thousands of dollars already and are looking at several months of waiting and thousands more dollars for additional legal fees, background checks, etc.
This couple wants nothing more than to be together and finally get a chance to start their lives on their own after so many years. All their money is going towards these legal fees as well as keeping John in France so he can continue the immigration process near the office "“ he is working part time in construction but cannot take a long term position while living in limbo like this. Jen continues to work full time and funnel all of her money for this effort but it's just not enough. We are hoping to raise a few thousand dollars to help to pay the remaining legal fees as well as to buy Jen a plane ticket to fly to France and see her husband for just a couple of days! Won't you please consider helping this amazing couple out, whatever you can give will surely help them be together ASAP!
Jen and John were married in the summer of 2009 in New Jersey "“ she's a US citizen and he was in the US via green card working in the restaurant business "“ It was basically love at first sight. After a whirlwind romance and marriage, they decided to do what we all dream of "“ quit the daily grind and move to paradise to slow down, enjoy life and fulfill their dreams. They took a huge leap and left the states to move to John's home country of Portugal. They stayed with John's family outside of Lisbon and lived a modest yet wonderful life together for 3 years. Unfortunately the realities of the Portuguese economy prevented them from making enough money to strike out on their own so after a few years of struggling they knew something needed to change.
In mid-2012 they made the tough decision of moving back the States. Jen left in the fall with the plan of getting job and getting settled with the hopes that John would follow in 3-4 months. While Jen was able to land full time work pretty much immediately, the realities of US immigration processes prevented John from returning. His green card expired while they were overseas, so Jen decided to come back first and contact a lawyer "“ they wanted to do this 100% by the book and get John citizenship once and for all. She paid thousands of dollars and submitted reams of paperwork in the hopes of getting her husband back into the country legally, a process she was told would take about 9 months in total.
Fast forward to early 2014, 15 months later "“ at what we thought was the end of the process, John had to go to France as there was no local immigration office in Portugal anymore and stay there for several weeks awaiting the decision. We thought he was going to be approved to return to the states in March when we received another crushing blow: he was denied and the process for reversing this decision will take several thousand more dollars in legal and processing fees and at least another 6 months. WHY?
According to Jen's lawyer these embassy agents have the ultimate power. If there is one thing they don't like about you or your application, then it's "“DENIED! Now Jen has to prove to the embassy that she will break down mentally if her husband is not allowed to come home. This means documented therapy sessions, more paperwork, more money, and more time. They've paid thousands of dollars already and are looking at several months of waiting and thousands more dollars for additional legal fees, background checks, etc.
This couple wants nothing more than to be together and finally get a chance to start their lives on their own after so many years. All their money is going towards these legal fees as well as keeping John in France so he can continue the immigration process near the office "“ he is working part time in construction but cannot take a long term position while living in limbo like this. Jen continues to work full time and funnel all of her money for this effort but it's just not enough. We are hoping to raise a few thousand dollars to help to pay the remaining legal fees as well as to buy Jen a plane ticket to fly to France and see her husband for just a couple of days! Won't you please consider helping this amazing couple out, whatever you can give will surely help them be together ASAP!
Organizer
Dana Bushman
Organizer
Santa Rosa, CA
