Hi, my name is Jennifer and I am fundraising on behalf of my wife Rachel and I.

We have known eachother for almost 10 years, and this year I flew down to Minnesota and we got married at a courthouse! Our plan is for her to relocate to Canada in a couple of months (mid-November or so) and apply for a spousal visa for her to become a Canadian citizen.

I have managed to find a good-priced apartment for us, but unfortunately there are many expenses involved in starting a life together even aside from rent, especially when you live far below the poverty line.

For context, Rachel and I are both AuDHD and I am on disability. However, once she moves in with me I will stop receiving any income because the government considers household income when accounting for whether I qualify for disability. Because we will be a two person household, her money is held against me and they penalize me for being married by taking away my entire source of income and my independence.

We will be relying entirely on savings (mostly hers) for at least the first year until she can get her permanent residency and work here. I am currently unable to work due to disabilities, multiple mental health issues and severe POTS.

We do not have a lot of savings but are desperate to be together here in Canada, and we just need some help financially to get us on our feet. Whatever you can donate would help immensely.

The money would go toward:

• Paying off my credit card debt I made for purchases for apartment necessities (furniture, supplies, food etc)

• The costs of the spousal visa application and potential legal fees

• Renting a moving truck and moving

• Travel costs for her to fly here

• Our wedding next year (we are legally married but want to have an actual ceremony where all friends and family can be present)

• Health fees such as my medication which will no longer be covered, her medication, and her health fees until she is approved for Medicare

• Travel costs like bus passes since we will have no vehicles

• A honeymoon to Toronto (Canada's Wonderland and FanExpo) next summer

• Pet care costs for our two cats Moon and Scoobey

• Everyday bills like tenant insurance, internet, phone, etc

This is the first time in a long time I have felt like there is a future for me, and Rachel is quite hopeful as well. We have both spent a lot to meet together twice this summer and I am so worried it will all be destroyed by government policy. It is hard to find the will to keep fighting society but I can't give up.

Thank you in advance to friends, family and strangers who donate and/or share