Álvaro Garcia - New U.S. Citizen
In June 2022, Garcia learned about One Percent for America (OPA) from his wife, who had seen a news segment about the program on television. Despite emigrating from Venezuela 20 years earlier, the high cost of the citizenship application had kept him from pursuing it. “I made the call to OPA, sent in my information and the next day, I was approved for a loan,” he says. With OPA’s low-interest loan, he was finally able to apply for citizenship. By November 2022, he became a U.S. citizen, and now is able to petition for his wife’s citizenship as well.
“When people put their money into OPA, they are helping people achieve the American dream, something those people couldn’t do before, because they lacked the $900 or $1,500 they needed for the paperwork.”
Garcia is excited to tell his friends about OPA. He notes, “There are thousands of people whom OPA could help.”
The Garcias moved to the U.S. after the Venezuelan government nationalized Garcia’s business. Today, he works in solar panel sales and actively promotes green energy. Over time, his entire family followed. “In the past four years, my sister and my brother moved here. My mother came two years ago. Living in this country, she had to start from scratch — but she is so happy here.”
“If you have always been in this country, it is hard to appreciate what it offers. I am most grateful for the mobility. I can get in my car and drive from Miami to Seattle, and no one will stop me, asking to see my papers.” He continues, “That freedom is one of the main reasons we moved to this country — and why people risk crossing the Rio Grande or arriving on rafts. We all want to get to the best country in the world.”
“I see the American flag now, and go, ‘Yes!’ This is a country that opened its arms to me in a unique way, and now I am part of it. I am so grateful that my wife heard about OPA.”
