Let's Bring Paula Home!!

If you're seeing this, you know either Paula or Josh (hey that's me), but you don't know the entire story of how we met and why we're going to be your favorite couple ever. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but you will come to love us and our story.

We met while working for an online company and quickly learned that we really like each other! Like really really like each other. So much so, that I made 2 trips down to Chile (within 3 months of each other) to visit her. While I was there we both quickly learned that we also emotionally connect exceptionally well and have truly found 'the one'. I know that sounds cheesy, but there's no real other way to explain it.

We both knew that we had to distance ourselves from the aforementioned online company because it didn't agree with either of our moral codes. So we both wound up quitting and started freelance businesses. Paula is an amazing graphic designer, web developer, and photo/video editor. I picked up my camera again and started taking photography seriously and am now a full-time photographer. We both love what we do, it just doesn't bring in money as consistently as we hoped since we are both continuing to grow our new businesses. This brings me to the reason for GoFundMe.

We are looking to bring Paula home, to the US (SoCal specifically). She's been in Chile for 18 years and needs to get out of the country. The environment there is not conducive to her mental and physical health. The country has gotten so bad that she fears leaving her apartment because of getting mugged (or worse). People in her family have had guns pointed at them and robbed in broad daylight, so the fear is real. Being forced to stay indoors has caused her to become depressed and get severe anxiety and her natural amazing character and attitude have diminished over the last 18 years. She loves swimming in the ocean and going to movies, but has been unable to for years because of the turmoil in the country.

This GoFundMe will help bring her to the US. It will cover all the lawyer fees and applications to get her here as soon as possible. We decided to use a lawyer for this as when she did come to visit the US a few years ago she was harassed at Customs and was denied entry to the country. It was so bad that she got diagnosed with PTSD from her harrowing experience. It's even difficult for her to talk about it to this day. The lawyer will help us make sure all documents are correct and no issues will arise when she does come to stay in the US.

Not long after she arrives we will be getting married. While yes, it's the law to marry within 90 days, we are also just very excited to finally be together and to get her out of Chile and home safe with me. If you're local, we'd love for you to come celebrate with us when the time comes. We plan on coming to see all her friends and family nationwide and see everyone she hasn't been able to see in years! Her family in the states that she loves dearly she hasn't been able to see in a long time!

Here's how the GoFundMe funds are broken down-

USCIS FOIA lawyer fee: $700 (this is to investigate the incident from a few years ago and clear her name)

K-1 Fiance Visa: $3,000 (this is the big hitter of the GoFundMe, but also the most important as this is what is the most necessary for her to come to the USA)

DS-160 form: $1,500 (this is the lawyer fee for processing Paula's civic paperwork)

There are other travel fees and government fees, but Paula and I will be able to handle those ourselves. We are just hoping for help on the biggest charges to get things started. The whole process will take over a year to complete, so the sooner we can get started, the better.

Thank you so much for taking the time and reading my essay. As things progress we will share updates with everyone and keep you all informed.