To cut a long sad story short I was basically denied my extension. Which meant one of two things.. either stay in the country and not work while the PM Application is being processed or leave the country and return to Australia. Neither of those options were sitting well with me.
So I went to see a immigration lawyer who said she could help me get both my work permit and my PM and still be able to work during this process which is the good news.. the bad news is the cost. just little over $10 grand, up front. I literally thought my life was coming to an end at that point. I mean who has that money lying around. I understand the importance of setting up an emergency fund now.
So I sucked up my pride and began to think about ways I could "borrow" this money to pay for this lawyer. So I ended up asking my work if they would loan me the money to help me get this lawyer to stay in the country. They, thankfully, agreed to help me out. After all its an investment for them as well. I get to stay here and they keep me on and don't have to worry about finding a new person (which in this industry can be a revolving door of people coming through)
So I have officially hired the immigration lawyer to help me out and officially going to be broke for the next 100 years teehee.. well year at least. I have set myself a goal of paying off completely or a least most of that debt off within a year. I have crunched the numbers and it can be done me and the BF just have to work really hard for the next little while. I am thinking of, once my work permit is officially in or extended, of getting a part time job over the summer to help pay it off quicker.
So unfortunately my debt total has risen a bit ($10,000 to be exact) and all travel plans have been put on hold.
But whatever.. this has to be done for me to legally be able to stay in the country and work, which in the end is a good investment. I know I can pay off this debt and hopefully the BF is on board with this to and will stick to it and not be selfish in taking out money to spend on himself. Things are going to be tight for a while but I am looking forward to seeing what ways I can save money and spend less of it. It will be a good exercise all round. That's the way I am looking at it.
Things could be worse. I could be without a lawyer, without a work permit and a plane ticket back to Australia.. Things just have turned in a different direction and I have to learn to change with it or suffer and go mad..
Like I said I have given myself a goal of a year to pay off the debt to my work. So the plan is as follows:
- Owed in legal fees - $10090.00 -
Savings - $1000.00 (already in the bank from travel savings) -
New Total - $9090
Divided by 12 months = 757.60 per month minimum back
Again this story right here should motivate me and anyone else the importance of having an emergency fund in place.. in case something unexpected like unemployment or like me, lawyer fees, happens.. once I get my debts paid off I will work towards a emergency fund