Meet my friend, Watum, who I met through the International Healthcare Professionals Program of Literacy Council of Lancaster in Lancaster, PA, as a volunteer tutor. Watum is a hardworking man who came to the country 6 years through the UN refugee resettlement program. He has worked hard to master the English language and completed career training in the medical field. He is currently employed as a Patient Care Technician by a a local Hospital and completed his Medical Assistance training through Tec Centro. He currently holds a Medical Assistant certificate. It has been such a pleasure helping Watum in his career and life journey.

Along the way, I learned that his wife and children were currently residing in a refugee camp in Uganda. A committed husband and father, he applied for immigrant visas for his wife and two children to join him in the US. This process began almost 5 years ago, and in February 2025, they were granted interviews by the US Embassy in Kenya. To finalize the official government paperwork, Watum had to fly back to Uganda to complete all the paperwork and documents in person. This was a long and extremely difficult process. After he traveled to Uganda, he had to submit the official documents to the US Embassy in Kenya. There were significant expenses while in Uganda completing the necessary paperwork including completing his wife and children’s medical exams for the second time which was very costly. At this point in time Watum is back in Lancaster, but the family is still in Uganda in a refugee camp. We learned recently that their VISAS are now APPROVED. Because of the type of immigrant visa they received, they are responsible for all expenses to the US and all expenses within the US. When they leave the refugee camp they must travel to Kampala (4 hours away) to pick up their Visas. There will be USCIS immigrant fees, travel expenses to Kampala, lodging and food expenses, as well as travel expenses to the US. In addition to help with travel expenses, they will also need all kinds of things when they get here like beds, car seats, personal items, and household items. Any help that you can give Watum is greatly appreciated.