Bills & expensesLegal & immigration
Legal fees for Sônia's family reunification petition in São Paulo
A family reunification petition deadline is approaching and Sônia can't afford the lawyer.
🇧🇷 Brazil835 views
I'm facing a family reunification petition. My hearing is scheduled for April, and the filing fees and the lawyer's retainer come to $700. 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 São Paulo 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.
Funds cover only the filing fees, translations and attorney retainer.
Where the $700 goes:
• Court-appointed interpreter and travel: $25
• Attorney retainer: $580
• Certified translations and document copies: $95
You're what makes this possible, and I'll never forget it.
Updates from Sônia
Thank you all. We're at 43% now ($304). I'm honestly stunned. the first invoice got paid this week.
- Aarón W. Gutiérrez 🇪🇸 · $10
- Jamal Majid Trabelsi 🇸🇦 · $20
“Take care of yourselves. Been where you're, it gets better. - Mecca”
- Omkar C. Zaveri 🇮🇳 · $25
- Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $50
- Mahin Shafiq Sheikh 🇧🇩 · $10
“Blessings. I'm in Cox's Bazar, thinking of you. - Cox's Bazar”
- Danielle J. Duran 🇺🇸 · $20
- Rahayu Siti Nasution 🇮🇩 · $20
- Gabriela Stan 🇷🇴 · $100
“Take care of yourselves. Please keep us posted. - Timișoara”
- Colton K. Romero 🇬🇧 · $18
- Samir Samir Mebarek 🇪🇬 · $54
“Every little bit. Thought of Sônia all day after reading this. - Shubra”
- Aisha Akello Onyango 🇰🇪 · $100
- Mariana M. Fuentes 🇪🇸 · $51
- Mahnoor Nimra Mirza 🇵🇰 · $100
- Javier G. García 🇲🇽 · $10
“Wishing you the best. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Tehuacán”
- Xuân Hà Phung 🇻🇳 · $30
“All the best. Thought of Sônia all day after reading this.”
- Umar Umar Hashmi 🇵🇰 · $78
- Viviane Eliane Fonseca 🇧🇷 · $15
- Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $20
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Thinking of you. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. My neighbor in Quezon City donated after I showed her your page.
hope it all works out. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Love from Charlotte.
Sending love, Sônia. Looking forward to the next update. I'm in social work myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you.
it takes guts to ask. Well done. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like. All the best
Good luck. Your post was clear and honest. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double. All the best.
Thanks for sharing this, Sônia. This could happen to any of us. Thinking of São Paulo!
Sending love. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. My neighbor in Wiesbaden donated after I showed her your page. Take care.
You're not alone, Sônia. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money. All the best.