We have the privilege of living across the street from the Pilchers from Australia. Andrew, Lara, Raphael, and Chaya have become close personal friends since they moved in a few years ago, and we want to stand beside them in their current time of need. After Andrew’s job was very suddenly eliminated because of budget cuts at his employer, the Pilchers’ immigration status in the US is threatened. They need our help, and we are asking anyone who is willing to join us. Here’s what the Pilcher family is facing:

Recently, because of budget cuts at his employer, Andrew’s job was unexpectedly eliminated without notice, and his employment ended that same day. With 20+ years of experience as a Physical Therapist, he has spent much of his career quietly helping dancers, actors, singers and touring performers keep doing what they love.

For the Pilcher family, this is far more than a sudden loss of income. Andrew’s employment is the basis of the family’s U.S. immigration status, creating an immediate immigration emergency. If Andrew cannot secure his next qualifying role and complete the required immigration process quickly enough, the family may be forced to leave the United States and uproot their children from their home, school, friends and community in Georgia.

Andrew is already interviewing and doing everything he can to find his next role, and the family already has an experienced immigration attorney. They are not looking for job leads or another lawyer. The challenge is that even if Andrew receives an offer tomorrow, he cannot legally begin working until the required immigration process is completed, and he cannot take temporary or gig work in the meantime.

That means the family urgently faces thousands of dollars in premium immigration processing, legal and government fees, while their regular income has ended. Lara’s ability to work in the U.S. will also be interrupted for a minimum of about five weeks and potentially up to five months.

The timing has been especially difficult. Less than three months before Andrew lost his job, his employer had supported the family’s visa process, which cost them close to $10,000 out of pocket to complete.

They are doing everything they can to keep their family together and protect the life they have built here, while leaning into their faith in God that His plan is “to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

The job can come. The immediate challenge is paying for the immigration solution and keeping the family afloat until they can legally earn normally again.

Donations will help cover urgent immigration costs and essential expenses like housing, utilities, transportation, medical expenses and food.

Thank you for standing with the Pilcher family through a crisis they never expected and could not have prepared for.