The asylum maze of requirements, deadlines, inconsistent laws and a slow response from government entities makes it a difficult process for people seeking asylum. I am part of the team of folks helping Valery Sante through the this difficult maze of requirements. A maze requires one to make all the right turns to exit, a wrong turn makes you try another way out. Like the asylum process confusing and wrong information or unresponsive government delays for approval of asylum is discouraging and makes one feel like there is no way to be be granted asylum. Here is Valery's story:

Valery filed for Asylum on April 20, 2020. It was the law when he filed, that he would have to wait 180 days before he could obtain a work permit. He applied for a work Permit December 24, 2021. The government couldn’t find a copy of his first filing, although Valery hascopies. He filed a second application for amnesty March 18, 2021 and learned that the law had changed and he would have to wait another 365 days. Needless to say, he has not been able to find a job other than odd jobs. And is still awaiting the government to take action on his applications for asylum.

Valery Sante fled Cameroon seeking asylum for safety. He traveled from Cameroon to the United States by foot and car, it took him six months. Passing through Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras , El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and finally spent six weeks in the immigration camp before being released on bond with an ankle monitor that he wore for six months.

In his own words:

“I am doing all I can to survive while waiting for my documents . While I wait for the documents that will allow me to find a full-time job, I have taken any job (washing cars, landscaping, house sitting…) to help pay for my living expenses and have also depended on the generosity of others. But the opportunities for finding resources without a work permit is difficult. My access to housing and food is determined by how much resources I can find.

In the meantime, I am taking advantage of free community classes to help me find a job in the health and medical field and taking general education courses at a local community college. I am getting a Community Health Worker certificate and will explore other opportunities to help the community. But until I receive my work permit, this is not possible.

“Until I can get the documents I will not be able to sustain my education, health, living expenses. I am hopeful with the support through this campaign, I will be able to focus my energies on education in the health and medical field while I wait for the proper documents to allow me to work. I am looking forward to becoming a health resource for the community.”

A basic budget for Valery to sustain a basic healthy environment (rent, food, transportation and educational expenses) would be a minimum $900 a month as a result we are setting our goal for 12 months of expenses which would be $10,800. If we could reach that goal, perhaps in that time the government will produce the documents necessary for him to work for a living wage.

This Go Fund Me appeal is started by Pastor Sarah Reyes, New Bridges Presbyterian Church part of the accompaniment team that is helping Valery learn how to get through the maze of

Your help will be very much appreciated. Thank you for your support.