Ukrainian exchange student in Toronto faces difficulty in reuniting with former host family in U.S.

Anastasiia Sobol is Ukrainian exchange student living in Toronto for the last six months, studying business marketing at Seneca College. She was scheduled to return home at the end of the semester in late April to be her family but is now facing financial hardship and possibly nowhere to live.

“My dad is giving first aid and they’re trying to find more bomb shelters for people because there’s not enough. And they’re cleaning bomb shelters and giving places to live for refugees from other cities,” said Sobol.

As she watches the horrific images of what’s happening in her home country she eagerly awaits calls from her parents, sometimes feeling helpless being so far away.

“It’s so hurtful to watch and I feel so useless here. My parents do so much in Ukraine. They help Ukraine so much.”

Sobol says while she can’t be with her family in Ukraine, she’s hoping to reunite with her host family whom she lived with while she was an exchange student in New York State. The Gammack family has asked her to move in with them for the summer to help ease some of the financial burden but the process to get her to the Unite States has been difficult.

“When the invasion of Ukraine started they were really worried about me. They really want me to come and give me a big hug, support me and be there for me,” she says in describing the support she has received from the Gammack family.

“It would be our daughter coming home. We consider her that. Our daughter coming home”, said Lorrie Gammack.

Gammack has contacted New York State Congressmen Chris Jacob and Chuck Schumer for their help after seeing how long it would take to get a visa approved.

“The B1 Visitor Visa, the wait time, since the war started on March 1st until Sunday night, it went from 200 one day to 359 days. Then on Sunday night, the wait time for the visa was 505 days,” she explained.

Gammack has taken to social media to share Ana’s story hoping someone could help expedite the visa application process. That post has since been shared thousands of times.

“Just blown away and so touched by total strangers that have reached out and their encouraging messages and offers of help,” said Gammack.

Sobol says she is grateful for all the support she has received so far especially during this difficult time.

“This family, this feeling of family, that you’re there with them, that you’re safe and that you’re secure, it means a lot. And I would love to see them and give them a big hug say how much I’m grateful for them”.

The Gammack family has started a GoFundMe page to help with Anastastiia’s expenses and education fund which has so far raised just over $5,000.