Immigrants make up about 13% of the United States Population; are you aware of this?
Omar Nasr is a 27-year-old Lebanese immigrant who immigrated to the United States one year ago, this November. Born in Syria but raised from the age of three in Abey, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, he moved to the U.S. after a whirlwind romance with his now wife, Cheyeanne.
Cheyeanne and Omar met on Facebook in a random Facebook group in 2020 where they started messaging and soon began an international long distance relationship. Though they were unaware of the logistics involved and the journey ahead, they pursued their relationship and were wed in Lebanon May 12, 2022.
After seeking advice from a lawyer and gathering all the materials needed to move forward, they began their 16-month long immigration journey in July, 2022. Though the process was long and strenuous, they remained united and hopeful while they navigated what seemed like a never ending experience.
After seven months since their last visit, November 28, 2023, Omar finally landed, with his visa in hand and an exhausted smile on his face at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The journey of a long distance marriage was ending, but the new journey of American living was just about to begin, for Omar.
“Omar, you have been in the US for almost one year, now, congratulations! Can we start by talking about your first day here?”
We chatted for a bit about his first few days, because he told me on his first day he and Cheyeanne mostly slept due to his 15 ½ hour flight, where he was too nervous to sleep, and Cheyeanne, working third shift the night before, and then driving straight to Chicago to pick him up.
“When I first landed, I was confused as to why the aircraft marshal was so bundled up. It was so sunny that I had no idea how cold it was in Chicago, especially in November. When I left Lebanon, it was 15 degrees Celsius (roughly 60 degrees Fahrenheit.) That day in Chicago, my wife said it was only 16 degrees Fahrenheit, and I knew in Celsius that was way colder than anything I had ever felt!”
After meeting his father in law, Charles, in person for the first time, Cheyeanne’s father drove them from Chicago to Omar’s new home in Toledo, Ohio. He met his mother in law, Cynthia, and his two brothers in law, Michael and Joshua. He also met their dog, Penny, whom despite never meeting him, they called their dog, as Cheyeanne got her very shortly into their relationship.
They went to bed, and after they awoke, they spent their first full day watching movies and taking Omar to Walmart for the first time. “My first couple days were very relaxed, my wife took time off work, and we spent time together after being apart for so long.”
“So you immigrated November 28, 2023. Can you tell me what your immigration timeline and process looked like?”
There’s a lot of talk about illegal immigration and how people should come to this country the correct way, but I never knew what all the immigration process involved.
“The process is quite complicated,” Omar states, “even though they say immigration through marriage is the easiest way to get a visa, we had to do a lot of research and gathering of evidence. We got a lot of help from immigration support groups on Facebook, since we couldn’t afford to hire a lawyer.”
Omar explained how every time Cheyeanne visited Lebanon they had to photograph all their interactions, both together and with friends and family. They also had to keep all their receipts and Cheyeanne’s flight information.
One of the most tedious tasks they had to do was keeping track of their call logs and text message communications. They did this by screenshotting their interactions and keeping a file on their computers.
All of this was what was known as their evidence. Their evidence was compiled into a slideshow and filed with their governmental documents. They filed what is known as their i-130 Petition for Alien Relative with USCIS on July 21, 2022, just two months after they married.
Their i-130 was approved May 16, 2023, just a few days after their one-year wedding anniversary. “That was the best anniversary gift we could have ever received,” Omar stated.
Next, they moved on to what is known as the NVC stage. They filed their i-864 Affidavit of Support with the NVC May 25, 2023 and were approved on June 26, 2023. They were so excited and thought maybe he would have his visa and be in the US by his birthday, August 1st, but they were wrong.
“We had to wait 60 days before we could inquire about an interview date. We waited the 60 days and didn’t hear back. So we wrote a letter to congresswoman Marcy Kaptur in October, and within 2 weeks, our case was expedited and my interview was scheduled!”
Omar passed his interview on November 15, 2023 and received his visa ten days later. He then flew out November 27, 2023 and arrived November 28, 2023.
“That was such a laborious experience it sounds like, would you say it was well worth it, though?” I asked. Omar explained that it was beyond worth all the paperwork, evidence gathering and distance apart.
“Besides the obvious joy of being united with my wife, I love America. It’s very big and truly is the land of many opportunities. I got my first job in January, working for a wholesale company. I’m making a good living and now coach soccer for Ottawa Hills High School, as well.”
Omar explained that soccer, or football as it’s called everywhere else but the US, is a major passion of his. “I wasn’t sure if I would be able to continue pursuing soccer in the US so getting to coach was a huge achievement for me,” he said.
Omar talked about missing his family, especially his mother Nibal, but having his wife by his side while he navigates his new life in America, makes it all worth it.
“Things are very different here. We have businesses such as Walmart, Costco and Amazon, which we don’t have in Lebanon” Omar states. “There’s a lot of services in America; there’s an app for everything!”
America, the land of many opportunities, a big place and a new world for a first generation immigrant. Omar explained how he thinks most Americans don’t understand how big the United States truly is, but the Toledo metropolitan area itself is 45% the size of Lebanon as a whole.
Every country has it’s struggles but seeing your country through the eyes of someone who fought their way here, gives you a different appreciation for it. We tend to often take America for granted.
