That leaflet in your conbags…
So, it’s been a week since most of us left, what I think we’d all agree, was probably the best Tokonatsu to date! I’d like to spend some time thanking those involved in making it so from our perspective, and to go into detail what made it so awesome for me, but I’ll save that for a later article.
Today, I’d like to talk to you all a bit about an issue that, for me, is a lot closer to home. With in all of your con-bags, you would have received a leaflet that looks like the below, and on a casual glance, it looks like a bit of fun on a gaming channel. Well, though I hope it’s that, what I think I failed to convey on the leaflet was the seriousness of the situation for my family and I and would like to go into a bit more detail regarding our story.
If you just want details on the live stream, feel free to skip to the headed section below.
If you are interested in helping, but not in the story or the live stream, thank you, You can do so here.
GoFundMe : https://www.gofundme.com/f/visa-fees-for-deanna-mckenna-mother-amp-wife
For continuing to read past here, thank you.
Our Story
I am a British citizen, married to an American citizen, and together, we have an amazing little boy. Because of our origins, we have had to fight to have what comes more easily to most couples. First being able to get married legally was more complicated than if we’d married someone in the same country, and then just being able to stay together passed that becomes a nightmare of fees and visas.
To give you a quick idea of what we’ve been through already; we had first planned to live and get married in the States, so I had to get an engagement Visa to even be in the country to get married, and then had three months to apply for a marriage visa to stay. Between moving to the US, the wedding, and being out of work for months because my work let me go after finding out I was moving, we had no money at this point. We qualified for a Fee waiver, but after 6 attempts to get this Visa through, and getting declined over their clerical mistakes, I had to move back to the UK. I had a job offer before moving, and it was th
e only smart thing to do.
We then had to spend 9 months apart to conform with the specified time in employment to meet the first Visa’s requirements. Cue another group of fees, and costs in that, as well as getting my wife here with all her things.
That is only step one though, after 2 years, an extension must be applied for, which lasts for 3 years, and costs more than the first Visa.
Then after that, we are here, at the point where we can finally apply for the permanent residency visa. It comes just after being forced to move house due to our previous landlord choosing to sell up, and as such, our savings are depleted. On top of that, the visa costs more than twice the cost of the last one, coming in at a shocking £2,400.
We just can’t afford this. It would require not paying rent for the months left before the Visa for us to even come close.
So, this is where the flier and the live stream comes in!
I’m reaching out to my friends, family, those in the communities I’m in, and pretty much anyone I can reach to help us out. The more people I can reach in this, the better!
This Saturday, 17th August 2019 at 10am till 6pm, I’ll be running a gaming marathon fundraiser.
This will be hosted on my Twitch Channel : https://www.twitch.tv/rezal_vision
Anyone donating £10 or more will get a free game until I run out. I have A LOT so if I run out, I’ve probably hit my target!
10am – 2pm
The first 4 hours will comprise of a “Challenge Rezal” section, where anyone that donates £15 or more during this period can set me a challenge in a set list of games. If I can’t complete the challenge first time, your get 3 games instead of 1!
I’m notoriously bad at games, so it’s an easy bet.
2pm – 4pm
During this period, I’ll be hosting a Beat Saber tournament! Each player will get a go on one normal and one hard setting song. The best average score wins!
Winner gets cupcakes!
4pm – 6pm
Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament! Knock out style, with once again, the winner getting cupcakes!
6pm
I’ll also be running a prize draw with three tiers!
Entry Tier – Donate £15 and get entered in to the entry tier prize draw!
Games in this bundle are:
Mad Max
ABZU
Astebreed
Dungeons 3
Mid Tier – Donate £20 to be entered in to the Mid-Tier prize draw! If you don’t win, you will be automatically added to the Entry tier prize draw also!
Games in this bundle are:
This War of Mine
Valkyria Chronicles
ENSLAVED™: Odyssey to the West™ Premium Edition
Fallen Enchantress Ultimate Edition
Half Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy
Just Cause 3 XXL Edition
Top tier – Donate £30 to be entered in to the top tier prize draw! If you don’t win, you will be automatically entered into the Mid-tier and then the entry tier if you don’t win that.
Games in this bundle are:
A Hat in Time
Batman Arkham Origins
Hollow Knight
Tales from the Borderlands
Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You
The Escapists 2
The Escapists DLC: Alcatraz
Galactic Civilizations® III
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Age of Wonders 3
Shadowrun Returns
Wasteland 2 Director’s Cut – Standard Edition
Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition
