Hi, my name is Dino and I am a Filipino living in The USA. I am a registered nurse working in the home health industry. I moved to the US in 2017. I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to work as a nurse for a home health agency who sponsored my visa in Chicago, IL. The nature of my job is to do home visits to patients who are homebound and are not safe to leave their homes to see their physicians. As a home health nurse, I have met a lot of patients and treated everyone as my family as I helped them recover and improve their health at the comfort of their homes.

My visa sponsorship was processed by an immigration lawyer who was recommended by an acquaintance. The legal fees and filing fees were expensive but had to pay for them to be able to stay. My employment sponsorship and greencard application was processed in 2017. Unfortunately, the application got denied in 2019. It was denied because my attorney did a lot of mistakes on my application. He messed it all up. He messed up to the point that when I was reading USCIS' denial letter, I agreed with the decision because my lawyer filed the wrong things. It cost me time, money, and even my relationship with my employer. I had to leave my employer because I was scared that I might have to leave the US due to the unfortunate events. I had to move to a different state.

I was fortunate enough to find a different employer who is willing to process the sponsorship. They recommended an immigration lawyer who costs more than my previous lawyer. She filed my application in October of 2019. We filed for premium processing (expedited) which usually take 2 weeks and costs at least $2,000 more. A month has passed and I did not hear from my lawyer and found out that it was denied without her telling me. We finally had an in-person conversation in January and I asked her about my case. I had to ask why it was denied, and she told me that one of the requirements that she submitted (document from Department of Labor) was expired. She didn't even apologize. My case was denied because of her carelessness, submitting an expired time-sensitive-document to USCIS. I asked her what her next plan is and she told me that the only thing to do is to file for a new one. History repeated itself again, time and money wasted. I was never reimbursed for the filing fee, and had to pay again for the new application. When we parted, we agreed to file the new application in January. She came back to me in April and told me that it was just filed. She waited another 3 months before filing it, and who knows, maybe the document she submitted expired again before filing it. 

I have been anxious and traumatized by what my lawyers have done with my case and am beginning to think if this is all worth it. I am starting to question if I am meant to stay in the US. I've been living in the US for 4 years now trying my best to make it, while I waste my money and exhaust all my resources on my lawyers' mistakes. But, at the end of the day I cannot nurse hatred in my heart... and just wish that these things will not happen to anyone else.

I try my best not to ask for help from anyone because it is exhausting and I know that there are more people out there who needs it better than I do. I am creating this fundraiser because my Employment Authorization Document (work permit) is expiring this December 2020 because my lawyer did not apply for a new one. If you decide to help, it will be greatly appreciated. The funds that I will raise will be used to file for my greencard and a new work permit. If there will be a little extra left, it will be used to help me survive, and pay rent and bills while I am unemployed, waiting for my new work permit (which might take up to 6 months). I am scared of what may happen while I am unemployed.

If you decide not to help, please browse through the other campaigns here on gofundme and choose the cause that you truly believe in.

Thank you for reading my cause. Thank you for the love. Please help spread kindness.

Love,
Dino