Choosing Love, not Walls
Donation protected
Hello, friends, family, and neighbors of all kinds.
We have really good news to share--and would would love your support!
For many months of back and forth, research, and learning along the way, we had thought that our only chance to stay together as a family and to raise our newborn daughter was to return to Aida's native Mexico and eventually pursue a Green Card/Permanent Residency in the U.S. at some point in the future.
However! Two weeks after our daughter's birth, we met with an immigration lawyer who advised us that we are not required to leave the country after all. She encouraged us to begin the Marriage-Based Green Card process this month, September. The opportunity is here, we're going for it, and time is of the essence.
And at the encouragement and request of many loved ones, we're reaching out to community to help us make this big thing happen in about a hundred ways, but in this case, financially.
We've had to accept that covering the high cost of immigration fees just isn't possible with the rest of our additional expenses in this moment, but at the same time, we really don't have an option to delay this process.
Frankly, the whirlwind of immigration, borders, and drawing lines between humans begets a fragmented, fearful life. In our experience, this has put an enormous load of stress on our family in all aspects of life and living. What's more, our particular North American moment particularly doesn't inspire feelings of peace.
It is of equal importance to acknowledge that for millennia, immigration and movement on this planet in its most human form has been a social, community-based undertaking and no one family--ours or any other--should journey alone. Before we go any further, we offer our complete gratitude, and hugs and kisses to all those who have supported us in a thousand ways so far.
You have held our vulnerability so well.
So!
For you who want to walk with us, or continue to walk with us, here's the simple nuts and bolts.
The Basics:
-Aida can't work in the U.S. and Josh can't work in Mexico; wherever we are (without permanent residency) we have a hand, or often, two hands tied behind our back.
-Aida's ability to generate income through her company in Mexico City is very limited now that she will not be able to leave the country during the Green Card application process.
-If we pass on this opportunity, and wait, the process would cost twice as much and take twice as long.
-What we thought was our impending departure to Mexico has limited Josh on what kinds of projects/employment/commitments he could actually pursue here in the U.S for the past 6 months. So now the income search and creation is back on here.
-The attention and willpower given to the immigration process is essentially equal parts a part-time job, writing a novel, and getting another puppy. It demands a lot of energy.
-We have given all our savings to ensure that our daughter, Sol, had the safe and beautiful pregnancy and birth that she deserved.
-We're doing all of this with a newborn (!!!) She's incredible, by the way.
The dollars:
We want to raise $5,240.00
Two immigration forms ($535 + $1,225=$1,760 total)
An immigration lawyer ($2,500)
Additional travel expenses and costs related to the immigration process: ex. to go get our possessions in Mexico eventually, visiting the U.S. Consulate for our interview, driving often to meet with our lawyer, helping Aida's mom come meet her granddaughter, etc. ($1000)
The dates:
Step 1: A $500 deposit is due when we sign on with our lawyer (ASAP)
Step 2: A $1,760 fee is due when we submit both our forms at once (ASAP after Step 1)
Step 3: The remaining $2,000 for our lawyer can be paid off monthly over the course of the process, which is ~1 year (but ASAP the better)
We have really good news to share--and would would love your support!
For many months of back and forth, research, and learning along the way, we had thought that our only chance to stay together as a family and to raise our newborn daughter was to return to Aida's native Mexico and eventually pursue a Green Card/Permanent Residency in the U.S. at some point in the future.
However! Two weeks after our daughter's birth, we met with an immigration lawyer who advised us that we are not required to leave the country after all. She encouraged us to begin the Marriage-Based Green Card process this month, September. The opportunity is here, we're going for it, and time is of the essence.
And at the encouragement and request of many loved ones, we're reaching out to community to help us make this big thing happen in about a hundred ways, but in this case, financially.
We've had to accept that covering the high cost of immigration fees just isn't possible with the rest of our additional expenses in this moment, but at the same time, we really don't have an option to delay this process.
Frankly, the whirlwind of immigration, borders, and drawing lines between humans begets a fragmented, fearful life. In our experience, this has put an enormous load of stress on our family in all aspects of life and living. What's more, our particular North American moment particularly doesn't inspire feelings of peace.
It is of equal importance to acknowledge that for millennia, immigration and movement on this planet in its most human form has been a social, community-based undertaking and no one family--ours or any other--should journey alone. Before we go any further, we offer our complete gratitude, and hugs and kisses to all those who have supported us in a thousand ways so far.
You have held our vulnerability so well.
So!
For you who want to walk with us, or continue to walk with us, here's the simple nuts and bolts.
The Basics:
-Aida can't work in the U.S. and Josh can't work in Mexico; wherever we are (without permanent residency) we have a hand, or often, two hands tied behind our back.
-Aida's ability to generate income through her company in Mexico City is very limited now that she will not be able to leave the country during the Green Card application process.
-If we pass on this opportunity, and wait, the process would cost twice as much and take twice as long.
-What we thought was our impending departure to Mexico has limited Josh on what kinds of projects/employment/commitments he could actually pursue here in the U.S for the past 6 months. So now the income search and creation is back on here.
-The attention and willpower given to the immigration process is essentially equal parts a part-time job, writing a novel, and getting another puppy. It demands a lot of energy.
-We have given all our savings to ensure that our daughter, Sol, had the safe and beautiful pregnancy and birth that she deserved.
-We're doing all of this with a newborn (!!!) She's incredible, by the way.
The dollars:
We want to raise $5,240.00
Two immigration forms ($535 + $1,225=$1,760 total)
An immigration lawyer ($2,500)
Additional travel expenses and costs related to the immigration process: ex. to go get our possessions in Mexico eventually, visiting the U.S. Consulate for our interview, driving often to meet with our lawyer, helping Aida's mom come meet her granddaughter, etc. ($1000)
The dates:
Step 1: A $500 deposit is due when we sign on with our lawyer (ASAP)
Step 2: A $1,760 fee is due when we submit both our forms at once (ASAP after Step 1)
Step 3: The remaining $2,000 for our lawyer can be paid off monthly over the course of the process, which is ~1 year (but ASAP the better)
Organizer
Joshua Braden
Organizer
Floyd, VA