Meet Martin R.
This has been the financial bridge I needed
In 1999, Martin R. found himself faced with limited economic opportunities in his hometown in Mexico. His uncle, who had previously emigrated to United States, shared about the lucrative job opportunities in America and Martin decided to follow suit. Initially, he wasn't sure how long he would stay, but after a quarter-century and two children later, he's still here.
I want to rebuild my life and set a good example for my children
Martin obtained a residency permit in 2002, settled in New Jersey, and started a family. Over time, he secured a green card, and even managed to get visas for his parents to visit and for himself to travel back to Mexico. He successfully ran three restaurants-two Tex-Mex and one deli-providing a comfortable life for his family. However, the pandemic drastically impacted his businesses, forcing him to seek new options..
Why Citizenship Became a Priority
With two US-born children, he knew that citizenship would make travel easier and open up better job opportunities. Martin views citizenship as a way to feel more secure living in the U.S.
He would also like to travel back and forth between Mexico and the United States when he retires. "I would like to return to Mexico for 6 months, then spend a year here and so forth," he explains. "It would be nice to be able to be here or in my country, without risk that my residency will expire and they won't let me back into the States."
Two decades after receiving his residency permit, Ramirez learned about One Percent for America on Facebook in 2002. He felt a sense of relief; the pandemic had strained his finances, making it difficult to renew his green card. With a loan from OPA, he was able to renew his green card and then take out a second 1% interest loan to pay for his citizenship fees. "This has been the financial bridge I needed."
Support That Felt Personal, Not Transactional
Martin says. "The experience was both professional and personal. It didn't feel like getting a loan; my loan servicing specialist felt like a friend who was helping me accomplish something," Martin concludes.
One Percent for America is honored that Martin trusted OPA on his journey to achieving U.S. citizenship - congratulations, Martin!