Hello, my name is Melissa Rojas. Today I write with a heart full of fear and anxiety, but also with hope that someone may help me.

I am an international student from Costa Rica studying to become a nurse. My student visa has expired, and the government will not allow me to renew it. I have been asked to leave within 30 days, but I do not have the resources to do so. My sponsor family moved and I had to stay behind for school. In the past year I have survived alone—working and studying, then struggling without a work permit, living in an old donated car or in temporary shelters. I have temporary housing through the end of the year, at which point I have to leave the country.

I have two inseparable companions: an emotional support dog and a cat. They are my only family, and I cannot leave them behind.

Returning to Costa Rica will not be easy. I lost my grandparents during the pandemic and have no other close family. I have no place to go back to. Still, I need to return for my safety and to start over.

My fundraising goal is $5,000. With this amount, I hope to cover plane tickets, pet transportation, food, and temporary housing while I renew my documents and begin searching for a job.

I kindly ask for your support. Any donation, no matter how small, will be a blessing. If you cannot donate, I deeply appreciate your prayers so that God may give me strength and wisdom on this journey.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my story. I leave behind unforgettable people and a wonderful country that once opened doors for me, but now closes them. May God bless America and all its citizens.

PS: I will be updating my situation and journey here. If you would like more information or verification, please feel free to contact me.