Connect With Us

FacebookTwitterRSSYoutube
TOP STORIES:
Moffat Thanks Doctor Who Fans For Not Ruining The John Hurt Reveal
"Who" In Gallifrey Is John Hurt Playing?
Doctor Who "The Name Of The Doctor" Clara Mystery Solved
NASA Confirms Magrathea/ Gallifrey-type Planet

Binational Couple- US/Croatian- Face Separation After Seven Years

More about Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Posted by: Bridgette P. LaVictoire on August 3, 2012.

Jon Eric Evans and his husband Nedo have a problem. The hours are ticking down to the day that Nedo must choose- either to stay in the United States illegally or leave the love of his life and head back to his home in Croatia. Their story is like so many out there. Two people from two different nations fall in love and are going to be separated because they are of the same-sex.

Jon explains that:

Let me go back in time and tell the story of how Nedo and I met. In April of 2005, I decided to take some time off from work and travel to Europe with the intent of finding a place I could live while I finished a college degree. I literally stumbled onto the Stradun in the charming medieval, walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. I fell in love with the country and its people, but one particular Croatian hunk ended up stealing my heart. Having been a pretty jaded guy living in San Francisco I had pretty much given up on my dream of finding a soul mate. Even typing that I still flinch a little bit because I know it just sounds so corny.

I remember sitting in a coffee bar on a warm September night near Pile Gate, an entrance to Old Town, as it is called, and seeing Nedo for the first time. He had come to the location because he had heard from one of the workers that there was a handsome American whom he should come check out. He was beautiful and I was enamored but we didn’t know at that moment that our paths were meant to cross again. The next time I saw him I was eating ice cream at another coffee shop. I was caught a little off guard and couldn’t understand why he was starting at me so I kind of hid a little bit behind an umbrella. We laugh about it today because he couldn’t believe I would try to hide from him. He was determined, as he proudly states today, to get to know me.

The next time I saw him was when I brought a friend from the U.S. into the store where Nedo worked. I didn’t realize the “hot Croatian guy” that I had telephoned my friend back home about worked at this store. It felt like fate was dealing us our cards. I was so happy to see him again. We got to talking and Nedo asked me for my cell phone number; he called me almost immediately after we left the store wanting to drop off a bracelet that he “fixed” for my friend. That, it turned out, was a pretext to get to know me better.

Jon also wrote:

Nedo and I live in San Francisco today and we are very blessed. We have been through a lot together and have always been taken care of. We have a certain faith in our respective higher powers that our love is special and that we will be taken care of.

Each year we participate in the Diversity Visa Green Card Lottery and this last year was especially bitter for us as we are running out of time on Nedo’s visa. The Green Card Lottery is our final hope. Nedo is tired of being in school and cannot continue to study as his heart is not in it. He also misses his family terribly and wants to see them badly. Because his visa will be up in February of 2013 we are running out of options.

Injustice continues in the United States. You can read their entire story at Stop The Deportations.

The Obama Administration has been doing everything that they can legally to counteract this kind of injustice, but there is little that they are able to do. In the end, it will be up to the courts to put an end to the Defense of Marriage Act and allow Jon and Nedo- and so many other binational couples- to remain together.

Share This Post

4 Responses to Binational Couple- US/Croatian- Face Separation After Seven Years

  1. Ruth

    August 4, 2012 at 10:48 am

    Thanks for publishing this story Bridgette. I hope Jon & Nedo win their battle for themselves and for the countless other couples who are in the same situation.

    • Jon Evans

      August 4, 2012 at 1:03 pm

      Thank you Ruth! Obama could act today to allow us to apply for green cards and put them on hold pending one of the SCOTUS outcome on one of the many cases against DOMA. We need to get the word out that Obama must act now.

      Nedo and myself do not have time to wait for change- we are fighting for our marriage and those of others in our situation.

      Right now our future has a big question mark and this is unjust and unfair. Obama’s job is to protect US Tax paying (and voters) from discrimination caused by laws like DOMA. He is playing politics once again with our community and he is allowed to do that. However- we are trying to bring the message to him that we know what he is doing and we are going to appeal to our families to help us fight to get him into action.

      Lezgetreal- THANK YOU for helping us with our fight. You are an advocate to our families and we love you for helping us.

      Lets get Obama to stop the suffering imposed on our families and our futures.

      Let the thousands of bi-national couples living in exile and who are longing to be with the families they love plan for our futures together.

      We have now made national press in Croatia and are moved by the thousands of family and friends who have helped bring attention to our cause.

      ANY bi-national couples who are in this situation are encouraged to contact The DOMA Project today. We can not wait for change one more day as we are running out of time. Luckily Nedo and I are in the same country- the US which is our home- many others are forced apart or suffer trying to help from across an ocean. Enough is enough- most Democrats say “What choice do they have” – dont go there with me. I have a choice and so does President Obama- to do the right thing NOW.

      Thank you!!!

  2. Jon Evans

    August 4, 2012 at 12:36 am

    I am sitting here with goosebumps. Nedo and I so appreciate you publishing our story and I don’t know what to say but Thank you- Thank you- Thank you!!!

    The Obama Administration could fix this TODAY. The fact that they are doing nothing is an absolute disgrace to the LGBT community because they need our vote so badly. It is pure politics and he is allowed to play that card- but we are allowed to do it as well!

    Obama is responsible to make sure that no tax paying American suffers because of any laws written that could cause harm. DOMA tears families apart- ALL FAMILIES especially ones separated by oceans.

    Great that they have agreed to consider LGBT spouses as low priority for deportation- but that is almost as bad as DOMA in itself.

    It DOESNT GIVE LAWFFUL STATUS. That means that while we don’t have to worry about him being deported (unless Romney is elected) he is not able to leave the country or work.

    OBAMA COULD Allow all binational couples to apply for green cards and allow them to be put on hold pending one of the rulings on DOMA.

    That would let our partners have hope and see the light at the end of the tunnel. It would allow them to come and go and be here without fear. It would allow them to work and contribute to our future goals and dreams the are currently a big ?

    The fact that our partners would still here illegally hurts them because they are gathering “illegal Days” which could hurt them in the long run when they go apply for a visa.

    I am sorry- but moving to another country is not an option. Why do I as a tax paying American have to leave my amazing job (that paid 50K in taxes for the last couple of years) because my President is playing politics. Nedo and my family are here in the US. This is our home. We want a future without the cloud of fear of what will happen to us. We want to buy a home- start a business and Nedo wants to contribute to his full potential.

    Sorry to rant- but all binational couples need to fight and articulate the message and how unjust it is as well as painful. As Lavi says “you don’t wait for change- you fight for it” and I am going to get our story told as much as possible because what Nedo and I have is worth fighting for. I just want one chance at marriage and see many others on 3rd and 4th ones. If this was a straight issue it would be solved ASAP. This is clearly government (Obama included) condoned discrimination.

    The best thing about this entire process is meeting so many people who share our story but have a little different twist. The amazing level of support from over 900 Facebook users has touched us deep in our hearts.

    Lezgetreal is the first to cover our story and Nedo and I can’t thank you enough!! Everyone- please tweet and share our story – we need as much attention on this as possible.

    Sorry- I should have checked for spelling or grammar and hope you will forgive as I have typed with passion.

    The best thing we have learned through this is that we are all connected through our hearts! The beautiful people we have met along this journey just validate that our relationship is inspired by goodness. I have faith in a process I don’t understand at all times and know that our higher powers is taking care of us.

    It is through all of you who care enough to help us and all binational couples that we experience spiritual awakenings of the human kind! We are coming together and supporting one another and that is such a blessing and gift for our children and families futures. To all the binational couples out there- be strong, your day is coming. Contact – Stop The Deportations NOW. FIGHT for your marriage and our families!!

    LOVE Nedo and Jon

    • Bridgette P. LaVictoire

      August 4, 2012 at 12:52 am

      Jon, I’m so glad to have helped. This whole situation annoys me no end.