My name is Doug Briney, and I am a Tennessee resident currently stranded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with my minor stepson Emanuel. We are waiting for his IR-2 immigrant visa case to finally be resolved. Our interview at the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro was completed on March 9, 2026, but since then, we have faced prolonged administrative delays and repeated notices that the case requires “final approval,” with no clear timeline provided.

During this process, Senator Bill Hagerty’s office has contacted the Department of State on our behalf and continues working to help us receive answers. Meanwhile, my wife remains back home in Tennessee while Emanuel and I continue living in Brazil indefinitely. What was originally supposed to be a temporary trip has now turned into months away from home, work, and family stability. Because I operate a small cleaning business in Tennessee, being stranded abroad has significantly impacted my ability to work and support my family normally. At the same time, we continue facing the daily cost of housing, food, transportation, school expenses for Emanuel here in Rio, and ongoing obligations back home in Tennessee.

We are not asking for luxury or anything excessive. We are simply trying to hold our family together while we wait for this process to move forward. Every donation, no matter the size, will help offset temporary housing and living expenses in Brazil, food and transportation costs, school-related expenses for Emanuel, lost income from being unable to work normally in Tennessee, and ongoing family obligations while we remain separated. Most of all, your support helps remind us that we are not facing this alone. Thank you for reading our story, for sharing it, and for helping our family through this incredibly difficult season.