90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days star Avery Mills has denied claims she purchased her online store's Middle Eastern jewelry at T.J. Maxx in America.
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But rumors have been swirling some of the jewelry pieces Avery and Omar allegedly bought in Syria to sell on their website actually came from the United States, essentially suggesting the married couple's business is a fraud.
"Is it true you are selling jewelry from TJ Maxx? Pictures are all over FB of your 'syrian' jewelry at TJ Maxx!" one of Avery's followers wrote on a picture Avery had posted on Instagram earlier this month.
Avery commented the following on the selfie of Omar and herself: "Anything I sell that I say is from the Middle East is made and sold in the Middle East and that's where it was bought, I'm always very open if something isn't from the Middle East."
"When I travel I find different jewelry," she replied.
"I did buy some jewelry while in america and even showed the tags of what brand it was and where it was made, one of the brands is sold at tj max apparently but none of those were the ones that I ever said was from the Middle East."
Avery concluded her post by shaming the haters out there who are supposedly trying to bring her relationship down.
"People are very upset to see Omar and I succeeding and will try to do anything to belittle our name and it's very sad that that is the world we live in but hey it is what it is lol!" Avery wrote.
"If anything it gave our business more publicity."
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A description of Avery and Omar's store online reads, "Albakour Kouture is an online accessory store that's built by a couple that found each other from 6,000 miles away. Omar is from Syria and Avery is from the United States. Avery traveled to Beirut, Lebanon to meet and marry Omar."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW"Avery fell in love with the beautiful handmade products made and sold in the middle east. Together they thought of Albakour Kouture an online store that will help people like you get your hands on one of kind items from the other side of the world!"
In addition to jewelry, Albakour Kouture is currently selling mosaic boxes, purses, prayer rugs, Arabic wall art, and hijabs. However, many items appear to have already sold out.
Avery initially hinted she would be starting an online store in an Instagram Stories posting in late August.
"It's an online store I am opening soon in Sha Allah... mostly selling accessories/fashion items from Middle East," she wrote on Instagram.
"In Sha Allah" is not the name of a place or location but means "God willing" in Arabic.
Avery's social-media postings have strongly suggested she and Omar are still married and living in Lebanon instead of Syria, as they originally intended.
Before opening the store, Avery had asked her followers what they'd like to see it carry, and they gave her suggestions that included prayer rugs and hand-made soap.
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Avery's Instagram is also stocked with happy photos of the couple, recent as well as throwbacks.
"It's been over a year since we met, time really flew by. Who would've thought when we first met each other online how far we would go for each other. 6000 miles never stopped us," Avery captioned one photo on October 7.
Avery, a 19-year-old former Christian who recently converted to Islam from Columbus, OH, and Omar, a 24-year-old Muslim man from Latakia, Syria, met on a Muslim dating app over a year ago.
Avery -- who lived with her mom Teri, stepdad, five siblings and grandparents prior to meeting Omar -- was a cheerleader and gymnast who dressed sexy and liked attention before she decided to flip her life upside down and convert to Islam in order to show off her inner rather than outer beauty.
Avery claims she had converted to Islam six months before meeting Omar, whom she thought had "a beautiful heart."
Omar's dating profile initially said he lived in America. However, Avery continued the relationship even after she found out Omar was living in Syria -- despite concerns from her family that Omar was using her to escape a war in Syria and come to the U.S.
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Avery was "already hooked," and after just a month of talking, Omar asked Avery to marry him. He then sent Avery an engagement ring in the mail.
Avery then made plans to fly to Lebanon to finally meet her fiance in person and get married. The couple decided on Lebanon since it would be a safer, nicer place to meet for the first time.
Despite a U.S. travel ban on Syrian citizens, Avery hoped to bring Omar, a dental student, to the United States on a visa sometime in the next three years after they got married in Lebanon.
However in the meantime, Avery planned to live in Syria with Omar so they wouldn't be apart for too long.
Despite cultural differences, Avery was shown marrying Omar on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days. Their wedding took place on February 11, 2019.
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Teri, however, was prepared to do everything in her power to convince Avery to stay in the United States long-term.
"Now that I've met Omar, I'm glad she married him. I just don't want her to live in Syria," Teri told 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days' cameras in a recent episode.
"When I get back to the United States, I'm going to do whatever I can to help him get a visa, but I don't think she should move to Syria. I have a few months."
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90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days then showed Avery saying goodbye to Omar in order to board her 30-hour flight back to America.
Avery and Omar expressed their love for one another, and then Avery broke down into tears before walking to security. Avery wished she could stay with her husband, but she said she'd remember her time with him forever.
"I'll remember this trip for the rest of my life. Every second I had with Omar, I am grateful for, and I hope and I pray I get more," Avery said, adding that there was a chance she might never see him again.
Once Avery's plane landed in Columbus, she told the cameras she'd definitely be moving to Syria despite objections from her parents.
"I'm going -- and I'm not coming back [to the U.S.] until he comes with me. I don't want to hurt them, but it's something I've got to do," Avery said in a confessional.
Once Avery returned to Columbus, OH, she and Teri met with an immigration lawyer together so she could get the visa started and hopefully bring Omar over to the United States.
Avery insisted Omar was a good man with no criminal record, but since he lived in Syria, the lawyer said, "Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to get a visa because the government is prevented from issuing visas" to the citizens of that country.
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"But we can request a waiver so that the travel ban may be waived for him," the lawyer added. "However, the waiver process, it's really uncertain how long it may take -- if at all."
A typical case took about a year, but the lawyer said this case could take significantly longer since a travel-ban was in place. He also told Avery that less that five percent of travel-ban cases are actually approved for a waiver.
Avery started crying at the meeting and vented to her mother, "I don't want him over there!... I'm just worried about him. I'm sorry... I was expecting good news. I don't know why."
The lawyer told Avery that they could still try and start the application process because applications still being accepted and were just remaining pending and not actually being denied.
The lawyer added that if Avery moved to Syria, it would lower her chances of obtaining a waiver.
Avery had to show she lived in the United States, made money in the U.S., and could support her spouse if he happened to move here. The lawyer also said separation would prove hardship for the couple, which would only better Avery's chances of getting what she wanted.
"Do you think going over there and ruining his chances of coming here is worth you going over [to Syria] for a few months?" Teri asked her daughter.
"I'm scared," Avery replied as her cried in her hands.
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Teri wanted Avery to be with her husband, but she said Avery was still young and immature and just jumped into things without knowing the consequences.
Avery decided to start the process immediately even though chances of it working were slim.
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"This is not the news I expected to hear."
Avery determined she and Omar must find another place to live together, even if the location wouldn't be desirable or ideal.
Avery suggested Qatar, Dubai or Kuwait as possible options, but Teri didn't want to say goodbye to her daughter.
Avery struggled with what to do next because she didn't want to leave her family behind. Avery wanted to watch her brother grow up, and she'd miss her mother terribly.
Avery realized that in order to start a family of her own, she'd have to neglect and leave behind the family she already had, and that left Avery feeling very emotional.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
