O-1 Visa Application/Sponsorship
Donation protected
------ PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING UPDATE ------
For those who have seen or shared this campaign, again, I would like to say thank you. I do want to reiterate, I made this out of a time sensitive matter and I'm reaching for help to the people who are able to help (especially folx who has more privilege and benefited off the system in America in particular, I, in no ways, expect anything from other folx that does not have the capacity to help besides sharing which is also more than enough!!). The other reason I made this is because I'm really unable to find the funds right now and I don't have to elaborate my family's economic status. I know that as an immigrant, I personally have the privilege and I'm in a better position where I'm still able to come back to my hometown. I do however, chose to stay, because being here honestly is the best thing at the moment where I know I'm able to make 2-3x more money that I will back home in order to help my family. If you have any questions please do let me know.
On March 14th, I was able to get in touch with a different attorney that would work better with my situation. The cost is slightly lower, and they were able to give me a payment plan in which they asked to separate payment (one to start the case, and one once the case is approved by the USCIS). With that said, I lowered the campaign amount due to this circumstances and this campaign will be helping me to get a head start with the application.
FEE UPDATE:
previous attorney fee: $5,000
CURRENT fee: $4,500
- The first payment will be in the amount of $1,975
*in which I will be able to pay right away through the help of this campaign
- Second payment (once the application is approved) $2,525*
* since it takes roughly about 3-5 months for all of it to come together, during this time span I will be able to work a lot more and save up in which gives me the ability to pay the rest of the fee on my own & the ability to pay everyone back who have helped me.
Previous application fee: $495
CURRENT fee: $450
Previous letter from union fee: $500
CURRENT fee: no changes
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Hi everyone, first and foremost I wanted to say thank you for your time to read this and potentially supporting me one way or the other. There's a lot I can't publicly disclose but please do let me know if you have any question! This is not merely me trying to ask for funds and not return it back.
MY REASON:
I know that being a visa holder I have the option to come back to my hometown, and you all are probably curious why I chose to stay instead. It is definitely a personal decision and a conscious decision I made. With that said, I feel like I'm responsible to figure this out on my own and not put extra burden on my family's end. They have helped me enough and right now this is something they are in a rough position to help me with this.
MY STORY:
For those who doesn't know me, my name is Anissa Amalia, I am a 23 year-old Indonesian, a filmmaker, photographer, and an artist who currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia for 17 years of my life. At the age of 17, I moved to the United States by myself (my family is still back home in Indonesia), in hope to pursue my dream. With hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, my family, through their sweat and tears have helped me to continue to be able to live in the United States and able to help me get my degree.
I am currently staying here with an F-1 (student) visa under the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program. For you who might not know, every time an F-1 visa holder graduated with a degree, they are able to stay for another year under OPT (or two, if you graduated from a STEM degree) to work and use their degree in the real world. However, every story must end, and OPT itself has to come to an end. In my case, I only roughly have 3 months left since my OPT ends in late June.
This definitely has been a big aspect in my life that worries me often living in the United States, I left everything behind and sacrificed many things in order for a better life and opportunity not knowing that I, too, might have to leave this place and leave the life that I've created on my own behind. I definitely do not want to give it up and give up in general, and trying my best to find options to stay here.
With that said, I am currently seeking for support (whether financially or just from you sharing this campaign!) in order to help me to stay in the U.S. With a lot of research (hours and hours of research) and asking different people, I came into conclusion that I will be trying to apply for an artist visa called the O-1 visa. I was lucky enough to be signed by Adolescent Content, a media company, and to find a lawyer who is willing to help me apply for the visa. The only issue is that the application is very costly, here is the breakdown.
This is definitely a huge cost to even to be able to stay in the U.S longer, and it's definitely not the money I have personally. I work two jobs both part-time, working almost 6 days a week (unable to really freelance and work on creative jobs), still doesn't give me enough money and sometimes I still struggle paying rent and to just live month-to-month in LA.
It is a very difficult reality and a big heartbreak if I have to leave everything I build in the U.S behind, hence why I'm not stopping yet and hoping that some of you would be able to help me reach my dream. I will be willing to send you all a personal thank you letter and 2-3 photo prints of my work because I know this is definitely a lot to ask and it is very hard for me to reach out for help.
Once again, I wanted to thank you for your time to read this. Your help in many ways, shapes, or forms will be immensely helpful and I will be forever grateful for you to even have faith in me to help me and believing in me to follow my dream.
Warmest,
Anissa
For those who have seen or shared this campaign, again, I would like to say thank you. I do want to reiterate, I made this out of a time sensitive matter and I'm reaching for help to the people who are able to help (especially folx who has more privilege and benefited off the system in America in particular, I, in no ways, expect anything from other folx that does not have the capacity to help besides sharing which is also more than enough!!). The other reason I made this is because I'm really unable to find the funds right now and I don't have to elaborate my family's economic status. I know that as an immigrant, I personally have the privilege and I'm in a better position where I'm still able to come back to my hometown. I do however, chose to stay, because being here honestly is the best thing at the moment where I know I'm able to make 2-3x more money that I will back home in order to help my family. If you have any questions please do let me know.
On March 14th, I was able to get in touch with a different attorney that would work better with my situation. The cost is slightly lower, and they were able to give me a payment plan in which they asked to separate payment (one to start the case, and one once the case is approved by the USCIS). With that said, I lowered the campaign amount due to this circumstances and this campaign will be helping me to get a head start with the application.
FEE UPDATE:
previous attorney fee: $5,000
CURRENT fee: $4,500
- The first payment will be in the amount of $1,975
*in which I will be able to pay right away through the help of this campaign
- Second payment (once the application is approved) $2,525*
* since it takes roughly about 3-5 months for all of it to come together, during this time span I will be able to work a lot more and save up in which gives me the ability to pay the rest of the fee on my own & the ability to pay everyone back who have helped me.
Previous application fee: $495
CURRENT fee: $450
Previous letter from union fee: $500
CURRENT fee: no changes
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone, first and foremost I wanted to say thank you for your time to read this and potentially supporting me one way or the other. There's a lot I can't publicly disclose but please do let me know if you have any question! This is not merely me trying to ask for funds and not return it back.
MY REASON:
I know that being a visa holder I have the option to come back to my hometown, and you all are probably curious why I chose to stay instead. It is definitely a personal decision and a conscious decision I made. With that said, I feel like I'm responsible to figure this out on my own and not put extra burden on my family's end. They have helped me enough and right now this is something they are in a rough position to help me with this.
MY STORY:
For those who doesn't know me, my name is Anissa Amalia, I am a 23 year-old Indonesian, a filmmaker, photographer, and an artist who currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia for 17 years of my life. At the age of 17, I moved to the United States by myself (my family is still back home in Indonesia), in hope to pursue my dream. With hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, my family, through their sweat and tears have helped me to continue to be able to live in the United States and able to help me get my degree.
I am currently staying here with an F-1 (student) visa under the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program. For you who might not know, every time an F-1 visa holder graduated with a degree, they are able to stay for another year under OPT (or two, if you graduated from a STEM degree) to work and use their degree in the real world. However, every story must end, and OPT itself has to come to an end. In my case, I only roughly have 3 months left since my OPT ends in late June.
This definitely has been a big aspect in my life that worries me often living in the United States, I left everything behind and sacrificed many things in order for a better life and opportunity not knowing that I, too, might have to leave this place and leave the life that I've created on my own behind. I definitely do not want to give it up and give up in general, and trying my best to find options to stay here.
With that said, I am currently seeking for support (whether financially or just from you sharing this campaign!) in order to help me to stay in the U.S. With a lot of research (hours and hours of research) and asking different people, I came into conclusion that I will be trying to apply for an artist visa called the O-1 visa. I was lucky enough to be signed by Adolescent Content, a media company, and to find a lawyer who is willing to help me apply for the visa. The only issue is that the application is very costly, here is the breakdown.
This is definitely a huge cost to even to be able to stay in the U.S longer, and it's definitely not the money I have personally. I work two jobs both part-time, working almost 6 days a week (unable to really freelance and work on creative jobs), still doesn't give me enough money and sometimes I still struggle paying rent and to just live month-to-month in LA.
It is a very difficult reality and a big heartbreak if I have to leave everything I build in the U.S behind, hence why I'm not stopping yet and hoping that some of you would be able to help me reach my dream. I will be willing to send you all a personal thank you letter and 2-3 photo prints of my work because I know this is definitely a lot to ask and it is very hard for me to reach out for help.
Once again, I wanted to thank you for your time to read this. Your help in many ways, shapes, or forms will be immensely helpful and I will be forever grateful for you to even have faith in me to help me and believing in me to follow my dream.
Warmest,
Anissa
Organizer
Anissa Amalia
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
