FOUNTAIN - She's a nursing student, a petite 5-feet tall with raven hair and a winning smile - she's won the heart of Keyser's Rusty Fout.
Confined to a wheelchair since age 14, Fout has overcome overwhelming obstacles as he graduated in the top 20 of his class at Keyser High School, went on to earn degrees from Potomac State College and Frostburg State University, and started a successful accounting business on Cabin Run Road. But he is now facing his greatest challenge ever as he works to bring his fiancée to the United States.
Annalou lives in the Philippines, but with the red tape Fout has faced, one would think his alien visa petition would seek to bring her from another planet.
The two met online in August 2004, when Fout placed an ad looking for a Christian woman to share his life with. Within days he had 30 responses, but when he and Annalou began corresponding, he knew she was the one.
“You state that you have already overcome your physical challenges in many ways, achieving personal, educational and professional success. You indicate you have successfully mastered daily life and your personal hardships. You plan to support your fiancée and any future children. Consequently, the Service considers you able to comply with the two-year meeting requirement and that compliance would not result in extreme hardship to you," Novak said.
Having until March 14 to file an appeal, Fout, in the midst of tax season, requested an extension of 15 days to file. Another $110 and Fout filed his appeal, along with letters from his physicians, Drs. Sam Harshberger and Dr. Jerry Hahn.
In late March, citing issues from accessibility for his wheelchair to the use of restroom facilities during 18 hours in the air, Fout announced his plans to travel to the Philippines in May and requested that he be able to bring Annalou home with him upon providing evidence of their meeting.
“The most extreme hardship of all will be for me come back home and have to wait three to five months for your decision. That's a long time," Fout said, adding that, “I do this because I love her."
Plans did not allow Fout to depart May 1 as was planned, a detail that cost Fout $3,000. But on May 21 he, along with Carrie Duckworth, a nurse, and Scott Hamelin, a physical therapist, departed for the Philippines, where he met the love of his life and they were united in a ceremonial marriage.
While this should have been a fairy tale time for Fout, the trip proved many hardships beyond the $12,000 in costs. With little to no wheelchair accessibility, Fout experienced many close calls as he was loaded and unloaded on planes and vehicles and met armed guards at every turn. Returning home, Fout sent proof of his meeting to the USCIS.
In mid June he sent a request to Congressman Alan Mollohan seeking his help in getting his wife home. Mollohan's office learned the Fout's case had been closed. It was reopened in August to be denied in September because Fout had not met his wife within two years of filing the application.
“My only personal option is to re-apply. This will take three months and then another month for her to complete her physical exams in Manila. This is the best case scenario," says a frustrated Fout.
“Why does this process have to be so difficult?' is the question Fout is asking officials from President George Bush down to local senators and congressmen. Fout once again paid $165 and filed another visa application last month while he awaits his original documentation to be retrieved from the National Records Center.
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