Aid Johann and Elna Swanepoel as they rebuild their lives

Rebuilding Through Resilience, Faith & Vision

We are Johann and Elna Swanepoel, a South African family with a simple yet powerful dream: to live in safety, contribute meaningfully to society, and build a future grounded in faith, hard work, and entrepreneurship.

After surviving multiple traumatic events—two armed robberies and a home burglary—we made the heartbreaking decision to leave like so many others our homeland.

Though I (Johann) had over two decades of experience in the grain milling and commodity industry, the economic and personal instability in South Africa made it impossible to thrive. With a clear vision and a deep belief in our purpose, we set our sights on the United States.

The Legal Path We Took—And the Roadblocks We Faced

Following professional legal advice, we secured citizenship in Grenada—a treaty country with the U.S.—to apply for an E-2 Investor Visa. We entered the U.S. legally on B1/B2 visas in February 2024, and under the guidance of our immigration attorney, filed for a change of status to the E-2 visa from within the United States.

However, in March 2025, The USCIS informed us that they intent to deny our application. It was only then that our attorney admitted to critical legal misguidance: we were never eligible to file from within the U.S. as we had been instructed. The correct route would have been to apply directly through the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, which handles Grenadian applications. We however need to reside in Grenada while applying.

This error has cost us dearly—emotionally, financially, and practically. We lost over a year, drained our resources, and were left without social security numbers, the right to work, or a clear path forward. After receiving just one week’s notice to leave the U.S. we had no choice but to urgently relocate to Grenada. This unexpected move left me with an open lease on both an apartment and a vehicle- commitments I couldn’t legally break in time.

Where We Stand Now

We are currently in Grenada, waiting to submit our application through the proper channel. But we’ve been caught in yet another bottleneck: embassy appointments in Barbados are unavailable, and without one, we cannot pay the visa fee or proceed. Meanwhile, our U.S.-based business—into which we’ve invested everything—is fully operational, but we are unable to return and manage it. We are currently maintaining two households in two countries, as well as ongoing commitments in South Africa, including medical insurance, life policies, and storage for our household belongings. The financial strain, paired with the emotional toll of separation and uncertainty, has stretched us to our limit. Yet, we are holding onto hope.

This Campaign Is Not Just About Support—It’s About Purpose

We are not merely asking for help—we are inviting you to become part of a story of resilience.

Your support will help us:

• Cover visa processing costs and legal expenses

• Pay for travel logistics between Grenada and Barbados

• Sustain double household expenses during this limbo period

• Preserve the dream we have built from the ground up

• Return to USA and resettle again.

Every donation, share, or message of encouragement helps carry us through. It reminds us we’re not alone in this.

Thank you for standing with us. Your kindness is helping us not only to survive this season—but to rebuild with purpose.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Johann & Elna Swanepoel