Help a Long Distance Disabled Queer Couple
Donation protected
Hello everyone!
This gofundme is for Fern and Megan Mackay, we are a now married couple who have been struggling to move for a while now due to health issues.
We are trying to get Megan to move from the US to the UK on a family visa! As some of you may know, visas are not cheap, and the checklist for receiving a visa is incredibly hard. But it is harder for me (Fern) as I struggle with a variety of disabilities and health issues.
Me and Megan have been in a long distance relationship for 7 years now, and it is unfortunate that we can’t receive the same rights as those who can get the visas because they don’t have the illnesses that restrict them from money income. Megan is also technically a full time carer for me, but also my wife, we shouldn’t have to be separated because of my disabilities. So that is why we need some help.
Megan works full-time with behavioural needs kids, and I am my own boss as I work through art commissions. Commissions is my only source of income, and is currently a line of work that I can manage with my health!
But, that means I still don’t make enough alone to meet the annual income that the visa wants us to prove. The annual income is around £18,000 annually. This doesn’t include Megan’s income, it has to be from the sponsor from the UK (that’s me).
On the topic of my health, here is my extensive and absolutely fun list of my health issues:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis / Joint Hypermobilty
- Severe Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Seizures
- Tourettes
- ARFID (Eating Disorder)
- Dyscalculia
All of these effect my day to day life, let alone work. I was working in retail for nearly 3 years before, but had to quit as it was effecting my health, and I was only working part-time. I really struggle to work an average full-time job, and I want to work, but I worry about losing jobs as I can struggle. I can’t work alone to keep up an income, so having Megan here will really help.
I have tried a few times, and still am trying, to get awarded for PIP. PIP is a disability allowance in the UK that allows people with certain illnesses to receive money/benefits to help them through life. Unfortunately PIP is rather ableist (surprising, I know) and they keep denying me. PIP could’ve helped me and my Wife on applying for the visa and bringing her to the UK, as it proves that I don’t meet the annual income that is needed for the visa.
(disclaimer: I wasn't applying for PIP just for the sole purpose of the visa, I genuinely need it for help)
This is now our last option, and it is a rather big amount of money that the visa wants us to have. If we have £60,000 in savings, that will be enough to bring my partner over to the UK as it shows we have significant funding (we are sponsoring her).
Megan’s home life isn’t great, and she doesn’t have much family she can stay with in the US, she is currently living with her mum to save money for the move. Megan also struggles with mental health and has recently been diagnosed with ADHD.
We just need that jumpstart to bring her into the country, the rest we can figure out ourselves, we know that once she finds a job, then I will hopefully be able to find a job that works for me too and we will be ok from there.
- Some things you might be wondering (FAQ): -
- What will you both be doing with that amount of money? -
- We will use it to help Megan, and her dog, to settle down in the UK while she looks for work. We won’t be using the money for luxury, we want to use it for my health (buying equipment that can help me, such as joint supports, paying for my medication, walking aids, physiotherapy, etc. these things can be expensive) and paying for Megan’s health surcharge, and she will also be paying for medication for her ADHD.
- We might will also use it to buy Me and Megan a car and UK driving license so she can go to work. (I am not able to drive at the moment because of my seizures).
- The rest will be savings for general and/or emergencies and travel expenses. We will love to give some of the money to charity, if we are allowed to.
- Are you bringing a dog to the UK also? -
Yes! Megan has a dog, a Pomeranian/Chihuahua named Cooper!
And because he is a pomchi… he is a handful.
We will be bringing him on the plane with us on an extra paid seat, he will be too anxious to travel alone.
It will be expensive, But he is worth every cent! :)
- What exactly do you need to pay for to bring Megan (and Cooper) to the UK? -
- The visa itself is £1,500.
- Health surcharge - £624 per year (£3,120 for 5 years)
- Re-applying for the visa every 2 years for 5 years (around £1,030 every 2 years)
- Plane tickets, roughly around £400 - £800 per person (this includes the dog)
- Shipping expenses for Megan’s stuff
- Stuff to help make Coopers plane journey as stress free as possible, which includes a pet carrier.
Even £1 or $1 will help, or even shares!
If you prefer, I am accepting commissions if you would rather help us through that!
You can contact/DM me through any of these if you are interested:
- Twitter
- Instagram
You can also support me and my art on kofi !
Thank you for taking the time to read this VERY long description!
Have a lovely day <3
This gofundme is for Fern and Megan Mackay, we are a now married couple who have been struggling to move for a while now due to health issues.
We are trying to get Megan to move from the US to the UK on a family visa! As some of you may know, visas are not cheap, and the checklist for receiving a visa is incredibly hard. But it is harder for me (Fern) as I struggle with a variety of disabilities and health issues.
Me and Megan have been in a long distance relationship for 7 years now, and it is unfortunate that we can’t receive the same rights as those who can get the visas because they don’t have the illnesses that restrict them from money income. Megan is also technically a full time carer for me, but also my wife, we shouldn’t have to be separated because of my disabilities. So that is why we need some help.
Megan works full-time with behavioural needs kids, and I am my own boss as I work through art commissions. Commissions is my only source of income, and is currently a line of work that I can manage with my health!
But, that means I still don’t make enough alone to meet the annual income that the visa wants us to prove. The annual income is around £18,000 annually. This doesn’t include Megan’s income, it has to be from the sponsor from the UK (that’s me).
On the topic of my health, here is my extensive and absolutely fun list of my health issues:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis / Joint Hypermobilty
- Severe Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Seizures
- Tourettes
- ARFID (Eating Disorder)
- Dyscalculia
All of these effect my day to day life, let alone work. I was working in retail for nearly 3 years before, but had to quit as it was effecting my health, and I was only working part-time. I really struggle to work an average full-time job, and I want to work, but I worry about losing jobs as I can struggle. I can’t work alone to keep up an income, so having Megan here will really help.
I have tried a few times, and still am trying, to get awarded for PIP. PIP is a disability allowance in the UK that allows people with certain illnesses to receive money/benefits to help them through life. Unfortunately PIP is rather ableist (surprising, I know) and they keep denying me. PIP could’ve helped me and my Wife on applying for the visa and bringing her to the UK, as it proves that I don’t meet the annual income that is needed for the visa.
(disclaimer: I wasn't applying for PIP just for the sole purpose of the visa, I genuinely need it for help)
This is now our last option, and it is a rather big amount of money that the visa wants us to have. If we have £60,000 in savings, that will be enough to bring my partner over to the UK as it shows we have significant funding (we are sponsoring her).
Megan’s home life isn’t great, and she doesn’t have much family she can stay with in the US, she is currently living with her mum to save money for the move. Megan also struggles with mental health and has recently been diagnosed with ADHD.
We just need that jumpstart to bring her into the country, the rest we can figure out ourselves, we know that once she finds a job, then I will hopefully be able to find a job that works for me too and we will be ok from there.
- Some things you might be wondering (FAQ): -
- What will you both be doing with that amount of money? -
- We will use it to help Megan, and her dog, to settle down in the UK while she looks for work. We won’t be using the money for luxury, we want to use it for my health (buying equipment that can help me, such as joint supports, paying for my medication, walking aids, physiotherapy, etc. these things can be expensive) and paying for Megan’s health surcharge, and she will also be paying for medication for her ADHD.
- We might will also use it to buy Me and Megan a car and UK driving license so she can go to work. (I am not able to drive at the moment because of my seizures).
- The rest will be savings for general and/or emergencies and travel expenses. We will love to give some of the money to charity, if we are allowed to.
- Are you bringing a dog to the UK also? -
Yes! Megan has a dog, a Pomeranian/Chihuahua named Cooper!
And because he is a pomchi… he is a handful.
We will be bringing him on the plane with us on an extra paid seat, he will be too anxious to travel alone.
It will be expensive, But he is worth every cent! :)
- What exactly do you need to pay for to bring Megan (and Cooper) to the UK? -
- The visa itself is £1,500.
- Health surcharge - £624 per year (£3,120 for 5 years)
- Re-applying for the visa every 2 years for 5 years (around £1,030 every 2 years)
- Plane tickets, roughly around £400 - £800 per person (this includes the dog)
- Shipping expenses for Megan’s stuff
- Stuff to help make Coopers plane journey as stress free as possible, which includes a pet carrier.
Even £1 or $1 will help, or even shares!
If you prefer, I am accepting commissions if you would rather help us through that!
You can contact/DM me through any of these if you are interested:
You can also support me and my art on kofi !
Thank you for taking the time to read this VERY long description!
Have a lovely day <3
Organizer and beneficiary
Megan Burkholder
Organizer
England
Fern Mackay
Beneficiary
