Help the Rossouw's Secure Their Future in the US

Hello, friends and family,

We are reaching out to you with a heartfelt request for help. JP and I are facing a critical situation with our visa status in the United States.

We came to the US from South Africa to pursue my dream of obtaining a master's degree in Jazz studies at the University of North Texas. After successfully completing my studies, I was offered a position at Syracuse University in New York. And so we packed up and moved across country to start a new adventure. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Syracuse University is unable to sponsor my work visa.

Our current visas are set to expire on the 12th of July, leaving us with limited time to secure an alternative. We have found a lawyer who can help us apply for an O-1 artist visa, which is our best option to stay in the US. However, this visa is very expensive, and we do not have the necessary funds.

JP, who during our time here has found a new passion and is pursuing a new field of study, unfortunately, is not legally allowed to work, which has been financially difficult for us. We need to raise $9000 for the application and lawyer fees. The initial cost to start the process is $3500, and upon filing, they will need an additional $3500 plus filing fees of approximately $2000.

Any contribution, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated. Your support can make a huge difference in our lives, helping us secure our future in the US and continue pursuing our dreams. Thank you for considering our situation and for any help you can provide.

We truly believe God has placed us in Syracuse for a reason and we have purpose in our community. We would love to keep serving our community here in Syracuse and grow our family in the US. Teaching at SU has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. Witnessing the positive impact I've had on students has been truly rewarding. As we navigate the complexities of securing a visa, I'm reminded of the valuable opportunity I've found here. It would be disappointing to miss out on the chance to continue nurturing talent and contributing to the future of jazz education at SU. I'm fully committed to this pursuit, driven by my passion for teaching and my dedication to fostering a vibrant learning environment.

Edit* - We have received very generous donations from our amazing Thrive City Church community and other donors privately through Venmo to get the process started faster, and that has amounted to $2250.

And with what has been raised on GoFund me so far, we are able to make our deposit to the lawyer and can get our process started!! Whoooop!!!

We want to be fully transparent with our donations, and so I updated our goal amount! If we receive any other personal donations I will edit our goal amount.

Thank you sincerely,

Daniëlla and JP (and Red our little wiggle butt )