In December of last year, Deon Van Deventer and his family arrived in Tennessee from South Africa with suitcases and an American dream after contemplating for years whether to take the risk.
"If we stay, we will not go ever again. If we go, this is it," Deon recalled.
In South Africa, Deon helped to launch a marketing and promotions business which employs about 40 people. In February of this year, his business launched in Tennessee.
"Absolutely everything that we have has been invested here," said Deon.
In less than a year and hundreds of thousands invested, Deon has employed four people and business has been good.
"Well, it's not good enough," Deon said.
On Monday, Deon learned his application to renew his work visa was denied. He must leave at the end of the month.
"Absolutely stunned. It was like someone hitting me with a baseball bat in my face," said Deon. "According to their standards the business is not big enough. I do not employ enough people as well as I do not qualify as an executive."
We spoke with Immigration Lawyer Milen Saev who said the process to renew visa applications can be subjective since most of the time it depends on one person sitting behind a desk. Typically smaller companies have a higher risk of being denied, and since the Trump administration has moved in, applications are being reevaluated from scratch and denials have sky rocketed.
"It's hard, but unfortunately it is what it is," said Deon.
Now he's taking his son out of school and preparing for an uncertain future. However, he has this message for his Spring Hill community
"Just thank you," Deon said with tears in his eyes.
When Deon first applied for his work visa in August of 2016, with everything he has now, it was approved. Several business owners in Williamson County have reached out to state legislators for help, but it seems help is not on the way.
Deon said his parents live down the road and are becoming U.S. citizens. His sister also lives in Middle Tennessee. Moving back to South Africa is not an option. “Crime has spiraled out of control. You constantly live in fear, and you constantly live in a jail cell of your own making,” said Deon.
