After spending several exciting years in New York City, our friend Heidi is now facing the challenging administrative process of renewing their O-1 Visa in hopes of securing another three years to live and work in the United States. The O-1 Visa is a non-immigrant status granted to artists who demonstrate extraordinary ability in their field, allowing them to build their careers, audition, and pursue their creative passions in the U.S. Unfortunately, the renewal process comes with a hefty price tag—around $8,000 to $10,000 (not including expedited processing fees)—and the past two years have been financially difficult for Heidi.

Seeing how overwhelming this financial burden is for Heidi, it’s disheartening to think that such an accomplished artist could be forced to leave simply due to a lack of funds. Instead of watching them pack up and go, we have an opportunity to come together and help ensure they can complete this process and continue following their dreams in New York City.

Where the funds go: Everything raised will go directly toward Heidi’s legal fees for renewing their O-1 Visa for artists of extraordinary talent. With recent policy changes, costs have increased, and expedited processing may be necessary to meet deadlines. While there is always a chance the application could be denied, Heidi has successfully renewed once before, thanks to their impressive contributions to the arts. Let’s help them stay and keep creating!