HELP WITH VISA COSTS

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US ON OUR JOURNEY AND DONATE TOWARDS OUR GOAL.

IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

Fairy Tales have happy endings…right?

It all started in 2016, actually a little before but that is another story on its own but the reason leading up to the events to follow. Well, this is the reason for our Go-Fund-Me page.

In 2016 I applied for an ancestral visa for myself & children (then 9 & 16), sold everything and we left South Africa suitcases in hand headed for the UK. After arriving I enrolled my daughter in school, bought a small car (the green goblin), opened a bank account, was in the process of finding a college for my son who is deaf and applied for various jobs. We stayed with a family member who said they had permission for us to stay until we got settled. However, this was not the truth and after 2 months everything I was working hard for came crashing down. My uncle was in breach of his tenancy and we were told we had to move out otherwise he would risk losing his accommodation. So without a job which would enable me to rent and not being able to rent without a job, I was in a catch-22 situation. With nowhere to go had no choice but to admit defeat and with heavy hearts and a huge financial loss returned to South Africa. The sad part was I received a letter for an interview a few days before we left. Had time only been on our side.

After 2 years of struggling in South Africa, we were fortunate to be offered temporary accommodation by family friends in the UK who kindly helped us have a start. So I sold my car and everything else and we returned to the UK in 2019. Some may think crazy, but I was determined to give my children a better future and opportunities they wouldn't have had in South Africa.

As we were out of the UK for 2 years of the 5-year visa, on returning once it expired in 2021 I needed to extend it for a further 5 years, criteria is you have to live a full 5 years in the UK before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain then British passports. This alone cost a small fortune, thankfully I had a guardian angel who helped towards most of this and a debt I intend to repay.

At the end of 2023 we need to apply for our Indefinite Leave to Remain. This is where we need help in raising the amount. Most would be thinking, ‘you were here long enough, why not save?’. As a single parent, with no support, no recourse to public funds and running a household alone it has been impossible to save. When I have managed to do so there is always an emergency that pops up.

It has been a struggle, but we have got this far. My daughter has thrived, she was chosen for Scholars Group, received Best in Form Award and looking forward to college. My son has gained work experience, able to catch a bus and train alone and has given him the confidence he needed. Being deaf he didn't have this freedom in South Africa. So yes, I am pretty proud of how far we have come.

So our plea is, could you help us through this almost last hurdle and raise the funds to allow us to settle without the uncertainty and be able to say, ‘phew…almost there.’

Our target (holding breath) is wait for it (drum roll) 8199 pounds. We would be most grateful for any help in reaching this amount. And from our whole hearts….a big THANK YOU in advance…The END (well sort of).