90 Day Fiance couple Rachel Bear and Jon Walters have shared a couple of exciting updates on their spousal-visa process and whether the pair have any plans to return to the 90 Day Fiance franchise on TLC.

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Rachel, a 36-year-old from Albuquerque, NM, and Jon, a 36-year-old from Weston-Super-Mare, England, have been together for four years and married for two of those years.

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When the couple appeared on three Season 4 episodes of TLC's 90 Day Fiance: What Now? that were released online in early April, Rachel revealed she had been let go from her job of seven years as an assistant director of operations for a local company in Albuquerque, which put Jon's spousal visa in jeopardy since Rachel was supposed to be his sponsor.

If Rachel could not find a way to financially support Jon in the United States until he's able to secure a job of his own, Jon's visa application would be automatically denied.

During a subsequent May appearance on 90 Day Fiance: Self-Quarantined, Rachel said Jon's visa process was at "a standstill" and since she didn't have sufficient income, she needed to find him a co-sponsor. Rachel's best friend agreed to take on that role.

But according to Rachel and Jon's latest update, needing a co-sponsor "is no longer an issue" because Rachel has secured a job and is doing just fine financially.

"It took a very long time to get to where we are now, but I have been offered a job and I have had a job now for quite a few months," Rachel said in a YouTube video posted to the couple's YouTube channel on Saturday.

Rachel explained she wanted to wait until her probationary period at her new company ended before announcing the news publicly.

"I am working from home permanently, which has been something I've always wanted to do... That is an amazing update for Jon and I, because that means our visa is no longer in jeopardy," Rachel said, adding that she can now sponsor Jon by herself.

"I make enough [money] and everything is golden on that end."

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Jon went on to clarify, "Basically our visa is back on track and we don't need [an outside] sponsor, and that it amazing."

The second update the couple wanted to share is that their visa process is actually moving along "rapidly" despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"Our visa is not behind like we thought. We thought our visa would end up being eight months behind because of the pandemic," Jon revealed.

"But what's actually happened is they got through that paperwork quicker. So, our visa application is moving along and this is our visa update. Our visa is currently just about ready for an interview."

Rachel went on to explain, "What we were [initially] told is they wouldn't even look at our application until the end of this year. Now they opened our visa case officially several months ago, five or six months ago, and started requesting information -- which was a shocker to not only us but even the lawyer's office... So that was amazing."

Rachel said USCIS is being responsive and the visa process is "now cruising along a lot sooner than we thought it would."

"Because of the virus," Rachel noted, "no one is able to do interviews right now, so they're just kind of whipping through the paperwork."

Jon expects to have an interview soon after the U.S. embassy in the U.K. lifts the suspension, and Rachel explained married couples "get priority" when it comes to scheduling the interviews.

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Rachel therefore predicted Jon could have his visa interview "in the next few months" -- but they'll probably need a waiver due to Jon's criminal history, which could add another year to their wait.

"He may or may not need that waiver," Rachel said.

Jon said if he doesn't need a waiver, he'll be given a visa right away and can move to the United States. If he does need a waiver, however, the couple won't be too upset because they didn't think Jon's interview would even take place for another year.

"It's moved a lot faster than we thought it would," Jon shared with fans.

"A lot faster, like six or seven months," Rachel confirmed. "When you're waiting on upwards of three years for an answer, we'll take it!... Our visa is rapidly moving."

As for whether Rachel and Jon plan to return to the 90 Day Fiance franchise on TLC, it doesn't appear that's going to happen any time soon.

Jon, who last saw Rachel when she visited him in January 2020, disclosed, "We are probably not going to be filming the next trip when Rachel comes. Because of the virus, the next trip will be in May [2021]."

Rachel explained there's a chance they may return to the show in the future but her upcoming trip will not be filming since her eldest daughter, Ella, will be along for the ride.

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Rachel finally received approval from Ella's father to take her to England.

"She can't be on TV. So when we do go in May, they can't film... And it's fine! I don't care. I'd rather have [my daughter] with me than ever film again," Rachel gushed.

This will be Jon's first time meeting Ella in person since he and Rachel got married in May 2018.

Rachel and Jon will therefore get to spend time as a family, both with Ella and Rachel's other daughter, Lucy.

"I cannot wait. I've known Ella since she was six and now she's 10. She's coming and we're going to do stuff, we're going to go to fun places. We're going to be together," Jon said, adding that he and Rachel are "so excited."

In December 2019, Jon revealed he and Rachel had finally saved enough money to submit his spousal-visa application when commenting on one of Rachel's Instagram photos.

"Where does his visa stand? [Were] you able to save up the $11,000 [necessary to apply]?" one follower reportedly asked Rachel.

Jon then commented, "Yes we did," and added, "Our visa application is in -- it's a long wait now, but the hard part is over. Thanks for asking."

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Rachel was 33 years old when she became acquainted with Jon, who was 34, for the first time on a karaoke-singing app.

Jon and Rachel were first introduced to fans on Season 2 of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days, but the pair had already established a relationship through video chatting and phone calls.

Rachel was pregnant at the time and never disclosed the biological father's identity, but Jon couldn't wait to become a part of the child's life and serve as the father figure.

The pair met for the first time in England in late 2017 after getting to know each other from different countries for a year-and-a-half.

90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days' second season documented Rachel and Jon meeting, getting engaged, and tying the knot in Spring 2018, but Jon's criminal past has prevented him from relocating to the United States with ease.

Jon explained on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days there are numerous assault charges and five convictions under his belt from younger years when he would get into physical fights with people.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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