90 Day Fiance star Michael Jessen has explained why he has been shown denying Juliana Custodio de Sousa is a prostitute during promos for the TLC show's upcoming seventh season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Michael, a 42-year-old self-employed investor from Greenwich, CT, and Juliana, a 23-year-old from Goiania, Brazil, first met at a dinner party on a yacht in Croatia.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY KNOW? (PHOTOS)
After meeting, the couple experienced two difficult years of dating, during which they had both been denied tourist visas, according to the New York Post.
"We were asked during Juliana's visa interview in Rio de Janeiro if she had worked as a prostitute within the last 10 years," Michael told the newspaper. "And, of course, the answer was no. She's not a prostitute!"
ADVERTISEMENT
In the preview clip for 90 Day Fiance's upcoming season, Juliana admitted to cameras, "The visa interview was bad. They asked me if I've been working as a prostitute for the last 10 years."
"What does that make me?" Michael asked. "A pimp?... No, she's not a prostitute!"
Juliana, however, wasn't the only person in the relationship to be asked "insulting" questions. Michael, for instance, said in the 90 Day Fiance trailer people probably view him as being "an old, sleazy rich guy" going after a beautiful young model.
As Michael and Juliana were going through the process of obtaining a K-1 visa, they reportedly tried to figure out ways to see each other "almost a week per month."
"She was living in London for a bit so I'd visit her there, or I'd have business in Asia and she'd meet me there," Michael told the Post.
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' SEASON 7 COUPLES: MEET THE NEW SEASON'S COUPLES! (PHOTOS)
"We'd take special trips, Chile, Argentina, a special Bugatti driving trip."
90 Day Fiance reportedly finds and casts diverse couples for its show by reaching out to immigration lawyers for information.
Michael said he and Juliana "were toward the end of the K-1 visa process when our lawyer asked if we'd be interested" in starring on 90 Day Fiance, according to the Post.
The typical K-1 visa application -- which includes a request for photos, social-media posts, and travel receipts -- can reportedly take between six to 12 months and cost more than $3,500 just for the paperwork and lawyer fees alone. Costs increase due to the expense of international travel and more.
ADVERTISEMENT
Juliana has since obtained the visa and arrived in the United States. She had 90 days to marry Michael from the time of her entry or else she must return to her native country.
90 Day Fiance's seventh season, premiering Sunday, November 3 at 8PM ET/PT on TLC, will follow Juliana and Michael's relationship as well as six other couples comprised of American citizens and their foreign partners trying to wed in the United States within three months.
Michael teased viewers will watch Juliana and himself face many obstacles this season.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
While Michael didn't get into much detail about the issues the couple will face, they've both been married before. According to the Post, Juliana had been married for just 11 months in Brazil while Michael had been a husband for 12 years.
ADVERTISEMENT
Michael and his ex-wife reportedly have two children together under the age of 13, to whom Juliana is expected to become a stepmother.
Michael said he was concerned about how Juliana would adjust to "regular day-to-day life" in America given all of their previous trips had been fancy and elaborate. He admitted life in Connecticut was probably going to be a "reality check" for his love.
But Juliana told the newspaper she's excited to settle down with Michael.
"I've been to all the biggest cities in the world modeling, but now I finally get to see the US. I can't wait to see snow fall," she told the newspaper.
Hopefully the couple's chemistry and desire to make things work will result in a lasting marriage.
"When I saw his green eyes and smile, I just melted," Juliana recalled of their first meeting. "I really wanted to talk to him, but I couldn't speak English at this time."
To read more about 90 Day Fiance's seventh-season cast and what viewers can expect to see on Season 7, click here.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Want more 90 Day Fiance news? Click here to visit our 90 Day Fiance webpage!