Green Card Relief Fund
Donation protected
April 2021 --
My dear friends!
Firstly, thank you for granting me a minute of your time.
Being an immigrant in the US doesn't define me, but it sure takes a huge financial and emotional toll on my life. This is an update to my story.
If you remember, I had self-petitioned in February of 2020 for a Green Card (Permanent Residency in the United States). After one year and one month, job loss, and a pandemic (see below), I finally got my decision in the mail (just 48 hours short of leaving the country): the self-petition was approved and I can now sit back and rest in the assurance that I'll have my permanent residency in 8-12 months.
In the meantime, the US government allows petitioners such as myself to apply for work and travel authorization, so that we can start working (and travelling abroad) before we receive the actual green card in the mail. This is amazing news, and a generous benefit from the immigration services. The only problem is that the work authorization takes between 3-6 months to come through, and we are not allowed to leave the country while we wait.
So, you see the pickle I'm in. On the one hand, I can't leave the country and, on the other hand, I can't work for the next 3-6 months.
Expected to not have an income for the foreseeable future, I come to you again (thank you for your incredible help in May of 2020, when we were all so lost and scared with Covid) for financial relief.
If you can, please help me stay afloat in the United States until my authorization to work comes through. I vouch to live in the cheapest places I find (headed to South Carolina next month) but even with expenses down to a bare minimum, I still need to pay for housing and food.
I thank you tremendously in advance, and please share this with your own friends and communities.
My dear friends!
Firstly, thank you for granting me a minute of your time.
Being an immigrant in the US doesn't define me, but it sure takes a huge financial and emotional toll on my life. This is an update to my story.
If you remember, I had self-petitioned in February of 2020 for a Green Card (Permanent Residency in the United States). After one year and one month, job loss, and a pandemic (see below), I finally got my decision in the mail (just 48 hours short of leaving the country): the self-petition was approved and I can now sit back and rest in the assurance that I'll have my permanent residency in 8-12 months.
In the meantime, the US government allows petitioners such as myself to apply for work and travel authorization, so that we can start working (and travelling abroad) before we receive the actual green card in the mail. This is amazing news, and a generous benefit from the immigration services. The only problem is that the work authorization takes between 3-6 months to come through, and we are not allowed to leave the country while we wait.
So, you see the pickle I'm in. On the one hand, I can't leave the country and, on the other hand, I can't work for the next 3-6 months.
Expected to not have an income for the foreseeable future, I come to you again (thank you for your incredible help in May of 2020, when we were all so lost and scared with Covid) for financial relief.
If you can, please help me stay afloat in the United States until my authorization to work comes through. I vouch to live in the cheapest places I find (headed to South Carolina next month) but even with expenses down to a bare minimum, I still need to pay for housing and food.
I thank you tremendously in advance, and please share this with your own friends and communities.
My best regards,
Marina
May 2020 --
Mine is not an easy story but here it goes...
In the last six months I've wrestled with the following:
- Diagnosis and surgery for Lobular Carcinoma in Situ, a low grade form of breast cancer (Dec. 2019);
- Self-petitioned for Green Card under the National Interest Waiver category - paid $10K out of pocket and waiting to hear decision from Immigration offices (Feb. 2020);
- Furloughed from employer (March 2020);
- Denied Employment Insurance from NYDOL, due to immigration status: seven years legally working (work visa) and paying taxes is not enough to find support when you most need it in New York State (May 2020);
- Terminated from employer (May 2020);
- Unless I find an employer willing to take on my work visa, I'm required to leave the country in the next 60 days (May 2020);
- To date, not a word from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) under the CARES Act - in fact, may not be eligible altogether (May 2020).
Let me see... yup, I think this is it. Not too shabby for a list of misfortunes, right?!
Sharing this list of setbacks is not an easy thing to do: it's both so private and personal as it is mortifying. It makes me wonder if my American journey has failed or if I'm somehow wrong to have picked New York City to be my home and my community.
Deep in my heart, though, I know the life-changing decision I made seven years ago (of moving to this country) is neither a mistake nor a failure. It's where I made a new life for myself, brimming now with friends, a strong support system, a welcoming and kind church family, and the unending possibilities that this country has to offer.
I'm trying to stay positive and strong, and a big part of this stregth comes from you: dear family, relatives, friends, and community. Please cover me with your blessings and generosity by giving and sharing this.
Best wishes,
Marina
Marina
May 2020 --
Mine is not an easy story but here it goes...
In the last six months I've wrestled with the following:
- Diagnosis and surgery for Lobular Carcinoma in Situ, a low grade form of breast cancer (Dec. 2019);
- Self-petitioned for Green Card under the National Interest Waiver category - paid $10K out of pocket and waiting to hear decision from Immigration offices (Feb. 2020);
- Furloughed from employer (March 2020);
- Denied Employment Insurance from NYDOL, due to immigration status: seven years legally working (work visa) and paying taxes is not enough to find support when you most need it in New York State (May 2020);
- Terminated from employer (May 2020);
- Unless I find an employer willing to take on my work visa, I'm required to leave the country in the next 60 days (May 2020);
- To date, not a word from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) under the CARES Act - in fact, may not be eligible altogether (May 2020).
Let me see... yup, I think this is it. Not too shabby for a list of misfortunes, right?!
Sharing this list of setbacks is not an easy thing to do: it's both so private and personal as it is mortifying. It makes me wonder if my American journey has failed or if I'm somehow wrong to have picked New York City to be my home and my community.
Deep in my heart, though, I know the life-changing decision I made seven years ago (of moving to this country) is neither a mistake nor a failure. It's where I made a new life for myself, brimming now with friends, a strong support system, a welcoming and kind church family, and the unending possibilities that this country has to offer.
I'm trying to stay positive and strong, and a big part of this stregth comes from you: dear family, relatives, friends, and community. Please cover me with your blessings and generosity by giving and sharing this.
Best wishes,
Marina
Organizer
Marina Gee
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
