Skip to content
HelpBLESS
Bills & expensesLegal & immigration

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 States3,878 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

No updates yet. Supporters are notified when the owner posts one.

  • Carter H. Hunt 🇬🇧 · $1,000

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

  • Seema H. Sachdeva 🇮🇳 · $250
  • Hazel H. Andrada 🇵🇭 · $200
  • Anonymous 🇯🇵 · $100
  • Yolanda B. Cortés 🇲🇽 · $100

    “Sending love. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Monterrey”

  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $100

    “From my family to yours. Hope the June deadline works out. - Fresno”

  • Maya Irma Yuliani 🇮🇩 · $76.50

    “You got this. Shared with friends too. - Jakarta Barat”

  • Marilyn M. Duran 🇺🇸 · $75

    “Be well. - Syracuse”

  • Paolo H. Domingo 🇵🇭 · $70

    “Blessings. Thought of Mercy all day after reading this.”

  • Shazia Uzma Yousafzai 🇵🇰 · $68
  • Liam S. Connolly 🇮🇪 · $52.50
  • Anonymous 🇳🇬 · $51
  • Shawn H. Hatfield 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Hope things get better! - Knoxville”

  • Alberto L. Guzmán 🇺🇸 · $50

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

  • Jack K. Oliver 🇺🇸 · $50

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

  • Naomi C. Greene 🇬🇧 · $50

    “Hope it all works out. Small amount but sent with love. - Liverpool”

  • Sarah Hart 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Stay strong. Small amount but sent with love. - Corpus Christi”

  • Luca F. Jimenez 🇬🇧 · $50

    “Good luck. My brother told me about this one. - London”

  • Mirjam Karin Van der Heijden 🇳🇱 · $50
  • Anna Lina Brandt 🇩🇪 · $50

Reviews

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

No reviews yet.

Questions & comments

Ask before you give. Email-verified members can comment and ask questions - no donation needed.

Sign in or create a free account to join the conversation.

  • 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

                                                $3,953.50 raised of $3,600

                                                Give

                                                More people who need help