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Justice shouldn't depend on a bank balance: Mercy's work-permit appeal

A work-permit appeal deadline is approaching and Mercy can't afford the lawyer.

🇺🇸 Oakland, California, United States3,877 views
Mercy M. Rodriguez
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Oakland
I'm facing a work-permit appeal. My hearing is scheduled for June, and the filing fees and the lawyer's retainer come to $3,600. I have been told by three legal-aid offices that their waiting list is longer than my deadline. I have all of my paperwork ready, and my caseworker at the Oakland Community Legal Centre has confirmed that my case is valid. If I miss the deadline I could lose my right to stay with my family and my job. My children were born here and this is the only home they know. I'll share any non-sensitive updates as the case moves along. The money goes to the immigration attorney's trust account and the court filing office. I'll upload receipts with sensitive details removed. Where the $3,600 goes: • Attorney retainer: $2,400 • Filing and biometrics fees: $890 • Certified translations and document copies: $210 • Court-appointed interpreter and travel: $100 With deep gratitude, Mercy

Updates from Mercy

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  • Shawn H. Hatfield 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Hope things get better! - Knoxville”

  • Gizem Coşkun 🇹🇷 · $10
  • Paolo N. Domingo 🇵🇭 · $12

    “All the best. Shared with friends too. - Taguig”

  • Carter H. Hunt 🇬🇧 · $1,000

    “Stay strong. Hope the June deadline works out. - London”

  • Jacob S. Campos 🇺🇸 · $25

    “Stay strong! - Winston-Salem”

  • Ashok Hari Tamang 🇳🇵 · $10

    “Shared with friends too. - Bhaktapur”

  • Marcus S. Mosley 🇺🇸 · $20
  • Anthony T. Cortez 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Jignesh P. Amin 🇮🇳 · $10

    “Get well soon. Only $10 but hope it helps. - Aurangabad”

  • Arief Bagus Budiman 🇮🇩 · $10
  • Opio Dennis Rashidi 🇺🇬 · $20
  • Geeta P. Dubey 🇮🇳 · $25

    “Hope the June deadline works out. - Mysuru”

  • Daniel Olof Fredriksson 🇸🇪 · $10

    “Wish I could do more. I'm in Uppsala, thinking of you.”

  • Alberto L. Guzmán 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Praying for you. Only $50 but hope it helps. - San Diego”

  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $51
  • Uwe Matthias Schmitt 🇩🇪 · $40.50
  • Dinda Utami Yuliani 🇮🇩 · $20
  • Seema H. Sachdeva 🇮🇳 · $250
  • Veronika Alyona Alexeev 🇺🇦 · $25

    “Good luck. I'm in Kyiv, thinking of you. - Kyiv”

  • Jack K. Oliver 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Every little bit. Hope the June deadline works out. - Austin”

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  • Thanks for sharing this, Mercy. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. I'm in customer support myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. God bless.

    • Thinking of you and your family, Mercy. I hope things turn around soon. I have a 14 year old who wants to send good wishes too. All the best.

      • looking forward to the next update. I went through something like this 12 years ago and strangers helped me out. Blessings

        • hope this works out for you. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Thinking of Oakland.

          • Ezra K. ReidQuestion

            is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Mercy.

            • Mercy M. RodriguezOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

              It's all in the list in the story. attorney retainer is the big one at $2,400, I'll post a receipt when it's paid. Let me know if you want more detail.

          • Thinking of you, Mercy. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Take care.

            • hope it all works out, Mercy. Hope you get there.

              • Wishing you peace, Mercy. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Thinking of Oakland.

                • sending love, Mercy. Shared this with my family. I went through something like this 6 years ago and strangers helped me out

                  • you're not alone. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. It's not much but it's yours. Blessings.

                    • Evans Mugisha MachariaAddress verified

                      Praying for you. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Put this on a community board in Newcastle this morning

                      • Thinking of you and your family, Mercy. This could happen to any of us. Take care.

                        • Sending good thoughts, Mercy. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. We're a small family in Nagpur but we're thinking of you

                          • Praying for you, Mercy. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. God bless

                            • Sending strength, Mercy. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Blessings.

                              • Thinking of you, Mercy. I hope things turn around soon. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. Love from Juiz de Fora.

                                • It takes guts to ask. Well done. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. Love from Miami.

                                  • You're not alone, Mercy. Looking forward to the next update. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. God bless.

                                    • Sending good thoughts, Mercy. I hope things turn around soon. Don't give up

                                      • I hope things turn around soon. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Thinking of Oakland

                                        • It takes guts to ask. Well done. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Love from Sukkur

                                          • Hope this works out for you. Wish I lived closer to Lahore so I could bring a meal.

                                            • Good luck, Mercy. Gave what I could, wish it was more. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it

                                              • Thanks for sharing this, Mercy. Your post was clear and honest

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