Boss and Worker Celebrate as US Asylum Request Approved
An employee in Virginia erupted with joy as his boss read a letter informing him that his asylum request had been granted after seven years living in the United States, allowing him to bring his family over from Cameroon to join him.
Footage taken in April last year and posted to TikTok on April 1, 2024, shows employer Frank Fumich reading a verdict letter to his employee, Bobo, at their place of work in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
After Fumich reveals the good news, he and Bobo hug each other in celebration.
Further video taken in November shows Bobo being reunited with his wife and daughter at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
Fumich told Storyful he met Bobo two years ago and hired him to work at his company because of “a gut feeling he would be a great employee, based on his hustle, politeness, friendliness.” When he learned that Bobo had been separated from his family in Cameroon for five years, Fumich hired an immigration lawyer to help Bobo gain asylum. Two years later, Bobo was granted asylum, and was able to bring his wife and daughter to the United States a few months later.
According to local news reports, Fumich raised $50,000 for Bobo and his family through a GoFundMe page, which he presented to the family a week after their arrival. Credit: Frank Fumich via Storyful
Video Transcript
FRANK FUMICH: Come on out here, Bobo. Well, so I don't know if I explained this. Wait.
BOBO: I'm excited.
- Hey, Bobo!
[LAUGHTER]
FRANK FUMICH: So the-- I don't know if you know this. This is the verdict.
BOBO: Yes, exciting.
FRANK FUMICH: I didn't know if you knew. Because Anna called me Friday and said they made the verdict. But we didn't want to tell you. Because I didn't want you freaking out all weekend. Because the only way to find out is when-- through this letter.
BOBO: OK, I see.
FRANK FUMICH: OK.
BOBO: Yes.
FRANK FUMICH: So do you want me to read it, or do you want to read it?
BOBO: No, you.
FRANK FUMICH: Are you sure?
BOBO: Yeah, because you already helped me to do everything.
FRANK FUMICH: OK.
BOBO: And do you want [INAUDIBLE]?
FRANK FUMICH: Now, I'm very optimistic. But, you know, god forbid if it's negative, we can still appeal.
BOBO: Exactly.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
BOBO: Yeah.
FRANK FUMICH: Jeez, I'm turning into a totally all-- I'm feeling myself getting a little emotional.
- Say, all right. We're men.
BOBO: First thing I need to tell you both-- the first thing is thank you God to put me front of you. Because you helped me a lot of time. And I say thank you for everybody for the support. And so I don't know how. Thank you, everybody.
FRANK FUMICH: Bobo, there they're like literally thousands of people. You would not believe--
BOBO: I know.
FRANK FUMICH: --the messages. I mean, it's literally unbelievable. Anyway, OK, so I don't know if this is going to be totally obvious. I think it is. So, on, man, Jesus, what is wrong with me? I'm more nervous than Bobo.
- I see.
FRANK FUMICH: Jeez. My finger is minus the thumb here.
- And you see, Jim.
FRANK FUMICH: So this is from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
[RUSTLING]
[DISTANT TRAFFIC HUM]
Oh, my god. The first thing I see, it says, asylum approval.
- Yes.
[CHEERING]
FRANK FUMICH: Yes!
[CHEERING]
FRANK FUMICH: Yes!
- Yeah, there you go.
- Yes.
BOBO: Yes!
FRANK FUMICH: So great! Awesome!
BOBO: Thank you, boss.
FRANK FUMICH: It says, approval.
- Yes.
FRANK FUMICH: Yes! But basically, dear Bobo, as of 4-7, you have been granted asylum in the United States pursuant to Section 208 of the Immigration Nationality Act. Your derivative family members listed above, you are-- who are President of United States, or indeed, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, asylum, that's it.
- Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
FRANK FUMICH: Congratulations.
- Yes.
FRANK FUMICH: How many years? How many--
- All right, Bobo!
FRANK FUMICH: --years have you been waiting?
BOBO: Seven years.
FRANK FUMICH: Seven years.
BOBO: Thank you. Thank you.
FRANK FUMICH: Yes.
BOBO: Thank you.
FRANK FUMICH: That's so awesome.
BOBO: Thank you, boss.
FRANK FUMICH: Yes. And thank you, Anna--
- Congratulations!
FRANK FUMICH: --and the law firm for doing such amazing work for Bobo. And next, the first-- tomorrow or-- yeah, tomorrow, we're going to start on your family--
BOBO: OK.
FRANK FUMICH: --and apply to get them here.
BOBO: Oh, thank you, boss.
FRANK FUMICH: All right, [INAUDIBLE]. Awesome stuff. Oh, man.
- Happy Sunday.
FRANK FUMICH: So great.
- Yes.
FRANK FUMICH: Thank you, God.
BOBO: Thank you.
FRANK FUMICH: All right.
BOBO: Thank you.
FRANK FUMICH: Awesome. I love you.
- Hey, Bobo.
FRANK FUMICH: You got some really good things in store for you. I promise.
BOBO: Thank you, boss.
FRANK FUMICH: Really excited about it.
- Congratulations, buddy!
BOBO: Thank you, [INAUDIBLE].
FRANK FUMICH: Jim, so awesome, man.
- Hey, Bobo, look at this.
BOBO: Oh.
FRANK FUMICH: Even the dog's happy. Awesome.
- Congratulations, buddy.
FRANK FUMICH: Oh, man.
BOBO: Thank you so much.
FRANK FUMICH: Love you. So good.
BOBO: Thank you.
FRANK FUMICH: So happy for you. Yes.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
FRANK FUMICH: No, no, it's my pleasure.
- That's right.
FRANK FUMICH: My pleasure.
BOBO: You helped me too much. Thank you, boss.
- Yeah.
BOBO: Thanks.
FRANK FUMICH: It's good news. So great. OK, that's it.
- Yeah.
FRANK FUMICH: Oh, man, unbelievable.
- All right, guys.
FRANK FUMICH: Unbelievable.
[CROWD CHATTER]
