90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days stars Jon and Rachel Walters (née Bear) share one of the most unique stories to ever hit the franchise — but are they still together?
How Did ‘90 Day Fiance’ Stars Did Jon and Rachel Meet?
Jon and Rachel first debuted their love story back to TLC viewers back in 2018 on season 2 of the spinoff. Meeting while singing duets on a karaoke app, the Albuquerque, New Mexico, native traveled to England with her infant daughter, Lucy, to meet Jon for the first time. While the pair hit it off, ultimately tying the knot in 2018 on her second trip, bringing her new husband to the U.S. would prove to be draining due to his criminal record — including an assault charge, to which he pleaded guilty for bodily harm without intent while he was in college.
“When I was young, I grew up in not a great area, having to choose between being stamped on or fighting to get away,” Jon spoke of his past on the show. “And when I felt people wronged me or saw things I didn’t like, I acted. And some of the times I got into a fight with multiple people.”
Has ‘90 Day Fiance’ Star Jon Walters’ Visa Been Approved?
Unable to make the move to the United Kingdom as Rachel currently shares custody with her ex of her eldest daughter Ella, the couple has spent the last several years struggling to obtain a United States visa for Jon.
Despite finally being granted an interview after three years of waiting, Jon’s visa was denied in 2021. While the two had prepared themselves for a negative outcome, the next step in the process was applying for a waiver that would ultimately allow them to explain their story.
“The waiver is basically not just asking for forgiveness but asking for the initial denial to get gone because he’s not that person,” the mother of two clarified during an Instagram Live in August 2021. At the time, Jon explained that the waiver process could take anywhere from six to nine months.
The pair returned to share an update on an April 2022 episode of 90 Day Diaries, and Rachel and Jon were still going strong with their long-distance marriage. While the two haven’t been together in person since January 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the pair keep the spark alive with video calls and monthly virtual dinner dates. The 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Day alums also shared plans for Jon to adopt Lucy legally.
If the waiver did get denied, the couple prepared to do whatever it took for them to be together. “We’re not going to give up on marriage,” Rachel explained in a confessional. “So, we just have to figure out what we’re going to do from there.”
In August 2022, the pair shared a heartbreaking update on their journey to reunite as a family. “Sadly, we are still waiting for an answer on the visa,” Rachel wrote via her Instagram Stories. “Every time we are due for an answer, they have pushed the wait time back another month. Hopefully, we will have an update for you soon.”
Unfortunately after more than a seven-year visa journey, Jon confirmed a heartbreaking outcome in May 2024.
“I will not be joining Rachel and the girls in the United States. The future we wanted for so long isn’t the future we will have,” Jon shared via his personal Facebook page. “We knew before we started that it would be hard but always had hope to keep us going when things got tough.”
The United Kingdom native called their visa situation “hopeless” and was unsure what the next chapter in their lives entailed as they finally had a definite answer regarding his visa.
Are ‘90 Day Fiance’ Star Rachel and Jon Still Together?
Hours after Jon shared the news regarding his visa, Rachel confirmed their split via Instagram on May 7, 2024.
“It absolutely pains me to post this. This isn’t the update we wanted to share,” the mom of two wrote in a lengthy message. “This isn’t the ending we were hoping for. Nor is it the finale we were thinking would happen. Long distance relationships can be brutal on the toughest of couples.”
Despite working for years to get Jon to the United States, she said the distance and time apart had “taken its toll.”
“We have unfortunately, grown too far apart. The decision has been made, on our end, to not continue,” she continued. “The visa journey is sadly over. It’s the end of an era and was not an easy decision to have to make. Please give us the privacy and time to adjust to our new reality.”
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