Help me go home #LiveEpic

AMIYN AL-ANSARE Start Date: Oct 11, 2022 - End Date: Feb 10, 2023
  • Kansas City, MO, United States of America

My Travel Story

by: AMIYN AL-ANSARE Start Date: Oct 11, 2022 - End Date: Feb 10, 2023
  I live in Kuala Lumpur with my wife and two children age six and eight. I am from Kansas City, MO and stay in Malaysia on a visa and and work in a permit which I must renew annually. Because I am American, Malaysia has decided to deny me a local driver's license (see my video for the document from the Malaysian JPJ or their DMV) because they recognize US licenses. Basically, their government does not want to waste effort on a foreigner, even a 1st world citizen. The state of Missouri requires me to renew my license in person, unless I am active duty military, which I am not. I was last in Missouri before the pandemic while undergoing intensive chemotherapy. I fought cancer for three years including my recovery (read my cancer timeline here); during this time I was disabled and without income and eventually without savings by the time I was well and back to work in KL. Just as I had began to recover my savings and restore my credit, in 2021 my employment was intereupted when my work permit needed updating and Malaysia closed their immigration office for 90 days, leaving me unable to work and I was again without income besides the stimulus, which was difficult to secure from overseas. My 2019 return is stuck in IRS backlog so I don't have any cash guranteed besides what pays the bills, gas, and groceries. I am employed full time but I cannot afford to travel to Missouri to renew my driver's license before it expires in March 2023. My family depends on me being able to drive legally in Malaysia and my Missouri driver's license is my only way to do that. I need a round trip from Kuala Lumpur to Kansas City, which includes transit from international airports in the US. It's enough for just me to go with $2800. If anyone is more generous and can empathize, my parents have not seen their granddaughters in four years and they are both disabled by stroke and cancer survival and cannot travel. I need $8000 or more to make this happen

It's not easy to talk or write about this and my heart is sinking with each line. I am sure there are others in greater need than myself, but I cannot afford to be proud. I thank you for your attention.
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  • Kansas City, MO, United States of America

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