Hi everyone,

My name is Milan Liederbach, and my fiancé’s name is Al Santana. We are reaching out with hopeful hearts to ask for your support in helping us make our dream of being joined in marriage a reality. I am a full-time college student living in Birmingham, AL, while my fiancé, Al, was born and currently lives in the Dominican Republic. Al and I met earlier this year while I was traveling in the beautiful Dominican Republic. Since then, we have fallen deeply in love and are eager to begin the long, challenging journey to bring our love story to life. Unfortunately, Al does not have a visa to enter the USA. As a result, I have to travel back to the Dominican Republic whenever I can to see him. While we talk on the phone daily, we are both desperate to start our lives together here in the U.S. so we can wake up next to each other every day and build a future as one.

Unfortunately, the K-1 visa process, which will allow Al to legally enter the USA and make our dream of marriage a reality, is both expensive and time-consuming. For those who aren’t familiar, the process involves two lengthy stages, requiring legal assistance, multiple intermediate steps, and various fees. The total cost from start to finish typically ranges from $12,000 to $15,000, and the entire process can take up to 1-2 years or even longer to complete everything. To get started, we need to raise a significant portion of the funds upfront to cover the initial steps.

While we’re doing everything we can to save and budget, the financial challenges we face are steep. In the Dominican Republic, where my fiancé Al works, the average income is much lower than in the U.S. On a good month, despite working long hours every day, he earns less than $1,000 a month. I’m currently a full-time student, managing school expenses while also working full-time and doing my best to save for the visa. We’ve sacrificed personal plans, tightened our budget, and are working tirelessly, but we can’t do this alone. That’s why we’re humbly asking for your help.

If you were considering giving us a wedding gift, we would be incredibly grateful if you would consider contributing to this fund instead. Your support will go directly toward helping us navigate the costs of the K-1 visa process, allowing us to begin our life together as soon as possible. Any amount, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference in our journey.

Whether you’re a friend, family member, or someone touched by our story, your support means the world to us. Every contribution—no matter the size—brings us one step closer to starting our life together. If you’re unable to give, sharing our story with others would also be a tremendous help.

We truly wouldn’t ask if we weren’t in need, and we’ll be forever grateful for any assistance you can provide. Your generosity will help make our dream of being together as husband and wife a reality, and we promise to pay it forward in kindness and gratitude.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Milan Liederbach & Al Santana