With your support, Antonio will gain the energy to get back on track
Imagine you’re standing at the airport and want to return to the country where you’ve been living, working and studying legally for almost a year and a half. And they won’t let you on the plane. Because the authoroties made a mistake when issuing your visa. The consulate is only responsible for citizens of the country. The embassy responsible is in another country and doesn’t have a telephone number.
That’s what happened to Antonio. In 2022, after a visa process lasting around a year, a lot of perseverance and support from third parties, he was granted a visa to study in Canada (London, Ontario) for two years. This with the aim and prospect of obtaining a permanent residence permit in the medium term. He has been a top student there since August 2022, although he also works 20 hours a week as a sales assistant at Zara and supports his mother financially in Venezuela.
In January 2024, he pays a visit to his best friends in Barcelona, financed by a prize he won for a study project. His problem: A mistake was made when issuing his visa and, despite having a valid residence permit, he cannot return to Canada.
Understandably, he is devastated. But he has overcome too many obstacles and invested too much to give up now. He flew to Bogota onFebruary 5 because it is the only place where he has a chance of obtaining a new visa within a good month. And he doesn’t have much more time. The semester ends at the beginning of April and he can only complete part of his studies online. The pressure is enormous: without finishing his studies, the extension of his residence permit is highly at risk.
The new visa application was submitted on February 6. What he needs now is patience and trust in justice. That is why I am launching this appeal. With your support, you are showing him that not only I but many people believe in him and share in his very individual fate.
My project is special because ...
Since I met Antonio in 2020, I am even more aware of my privilege to have been born in Switzerland. Antonio was born in Venezuela and moved to Columbia after he finishes his studies, as there were no perspectives in his own country. He has developed enormously. From a depressed young man with no prospects, he has matured into a very reflective, ambitious and socially committed person. With your contribution, you are helping him to overcome this terrible setback emotionally and financially. Receiving support from someone he doesn’t know will be an incredible experience for him.
This is what I need backing for.
The small mistake in the visa issued has major financial consequences:
- Flight Barcelona - Bogota: CHF 500
- Flight Bogota - Toronto: approx. CHF 600
- Costs for immigration consultant and visa: approx. CHF 1000
- Loss of salary for two months: approx. CHF 1800
Total: CHF 3,900 Antonio will earn the equivalent of around CHF 2100 gross per month after his studies. I can advance him the money, but due to other projects I cannot cover these costs in addition to the previous investments.
