Help me apply for my US residency
Donation protected
Hi friends and strangers of the internet,
I feel very uncomfortable about asking for help as it is not something I like to do (or know how to graciously do.) As you may know or not know, my parents brought me to this country when I was 5. I have lived in this country ever since. I have navigated most of my youth and early twenties as an undocumented immigrant and consequently I have missed out on a lot of opportunities in my life because of my immigration status. Learning how to drive (Arizona where I lived at the time I was 16, would not issue licenses to undocumented youth), going to college (I do not qualify for financial aid even though I work and pay taxes like everyone else), traveling abroad or traveling back to my home country to see my extended family (I cannot leave the country, I have not seen them for over a decade.) Amongst other things, the hardest part has been emotionally and financially navigating the series of hardships of being an immigrant in this country.
Currently, I am covered by DACA.
An affirmative action program that started under the Obama administration, that provides me the opportunity to have a legal work permit. I apply for it every two years. However recently under the advice of a volunteer lawyer at NWIRP I was strongly urged to begin the process of attaining my legal residency ASAP, as the future of DACA is starting to become more and more uncertain with the current president in office. Dalton (my partner) and I put this off for a couple of months after we got married thinking we had time to save up and set aside the time to sort this incredibly long and tedious ordeal out, but alas nothing is consistent or certain under this presidency. I am lucky to have consistent income and a steady job, but I simply don't have all the money to put into this process at the urgency it calls for all at once. Especially after I just paid 500 for my DACA renewal in one go a week ago. So I am raising 2,200 to cover legal fees and application fees.
I-130 $355
I-485 $1010
biometrics $90
Mandatory Doctors appointment to make sure I have no communicable diseases or suffer from severe mental illness $100
Lawyers fees - 300 initial consultation
160 for every consultation afterwards.
If you feel inclined to contribute anything I sincerely thank you. I have nothing but gratitude and love for my community. I feel undeserving of this help and I feel shame for asking for help but I'm also just so tired of being in financial and legal limbo all the time for a decision I had no say in as a child.
Thank you you for reading and for your generosity.
All my love,
Z
I feel very uncomfortable about asking for help as it is not something I like to do (or know how to graciously do.) As you may know or not know, my parents brought me to this country when I was 5. I have lived in this country ever since. I have navigated most of my youth and early twenties as an undocumented immigrant and consequently I have missed out on a lot of opportunities in my life because of my immigration status. Learning how to drive (Arizona where I lived at the time I was 16, would not issue licenses to undocumented youth), going to college (I do not qualify for financial aid even though I work and pay taxes like everyone else), traveling abroad or traveling back to my home country to see my extended family (I cannot leave the country, I have not seen them for over a decade.) Amongst other things, the hardest part has been emotionally and financially navigating the series of hardships of being an immigrant in this country.
Currently, I am covered by DACA.
An affirmative action program that started under the Obama administration, that provides me the opportunity to have a legal work permit. I apply for it every two years. However recently under the advice of a volunteer lawyer at NWIRP I was strongly urged to begin the process of attaining my legal residency ASAP, as the future of DACA is starting to become more and more uncertain with the current president in office. Dalton (my partner) and I put this off for a couple of months after we got married thinking we had time to save up and set aside the time to sort this incredibly long and tedious ordeal out, but alas nothing is consistent or certain under this presidency. I am lucky to have consistent income and a steady job, but I simply don't have all the money to put into this process at the urgency it calls for all at once. Especially after I just paid 500 for my DACA renewal in one go a week ago. So I am raising 2,200 to cover legal fees and application fees.
I-130 $355
I-485 $1010
biometrics $90
Mandatory Doctors appointment to make sure I have no communicable diseases or suffer from severe mental illness $100
Lawyers fees - 300 initial consultation
160 for every consultation afterwards.
If you feel inclined to contribute anything I sincerely thank you. I have nothing but gratitude and love for my community. I feel undeserving of this help and I feel shame for asking for help but I'm also just so tired of being in financial and legal limbo all the time for a decision I had no say in as a child.
Thank you you for reading and for your generosity.
All my love,
Z
Organizer
Zaira Reed
Organizer
Seattle, WA
