By Josh Eiserike

Published: May 11, 2008

Jonathan Shachter can't do much to help his friend, a Peruvian expatriate. His friend, who declined to be interviewed for this story, is in somewhat of a bind, legally, about where he and his family can live now that his United States work visa is about to expire.

"His story really touched me because here's this honest, hard-working guy and he just got stuck in this strange situation," Shachter, 28, of Manassas, said. "I don't have a lot of money, but I do have a musical gift."

Shachter, a professional musician, is leaving for Japan Thursday to teach English for a year. But on Wednesday he and musician friends driving from New York City will perform a free brass quartet benefit concert at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas to help his friend.

"It sounded like a really good way to get together," said musician Scott Elliott, 29,who is driving down from Brooklyn for the concert. "We needed to hang out before he went to Japan."

Elliott plays trombone and is an opera singer. Shachter plays trumpet. Most of the musicians performing on Wednesday studied together at Virginia Tech. Wednesday's concert will include music such as Bach and Dixieland jazz.

"It should be a lot of fun," Elliott said of the hour-long concert. "It's a good program, a good variety."

Although his friend declined to be interviewed, Shachter told the story that inspired the con-cert.

"There were some troubles in Peru," Shachter said, adding that his friend had prob-lems with the family business and there was a threat of terrorism. It was a dangerous time to live in Peru.

Shachter's friend moved to the United States by himself sometime around 2003, to see if he could find work and send for his family.

"I think he had a visa where he could get temporary employment," Shachter said. His friend spent the money he made to send for his family, a wife and two daughters. They would try to get refugee status in Canada.

"[His family] met him in the United States and they took a bus, through New York, to Quebec," Shachter said. His friend worked hard doing steel manufacturing and part time custodial work, supporting his family. Two years later he had to leave Canada while they finalized his paperwork and citizenship. He had to leave the country with his family. If everything worked out, they could return as citizens.

Shachter said the United States granted his friend a temporary visa while the paper work was sorted out. The Peruvian relocated to Prince William County. Shachter does part-time maintenance work, where he met his friend.

"He had family in Virginia, his brother-in-law and sister live in Virginia," Shachter said. "A couple months ago he got a letter from Canada that devastated him. It said he did not have enough points. He had not been approved to be a citizen."

Shachter said his friend spent all his money trying to get into Canada. He has a date with a United States judge on May 14.

"On that day the U.S. is going to tell him his end date," Shachter said. "He was here legally… he just doesn't have the money and he's going to have to start a new life… It's been a really stressful situation."

Shachter said his friend doesn't think he can make an honest living in Peru.

"They're just thinking about it," Shachter said. "They might have to go back to Peru."

He added that there's a chance the family might go to Italy because the wife has roots there.

"He's just an honest, hard-working guy, kind of stuck," Shachter said. "He's just the nicest person I ever met."

Shachter isn't sure if his friend will be at the concert—as it's also his court date.

There will be a table for people to make donations.

"I feel sad when it sounds like all it takes to stay in America is money," Elliott said.

Staff writer Josh Eiserike can be reached at 703-878-8072.

WANT TO GO?

What's up: "Le Domaine Forget Reunion," to benefit Peruvian family

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: The Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas

Tickets: Free, donations accepted

Info: For more information contact Jonathan Shachter at 571-490-1512